Mounjaro / Wegovy with > 5st / 30kg to lose: Thread 4

[VelociraptorsVelociRapping]

Thread 4 (!) of this lovely community. Anyone using weight-loss injections to lose more than 5 stone or 30kg is very welcome to join us.

No discount codes, please - these need to go in the dedicated thread on this board and they will be deleted.

I didn’t know the pens could fail. Where can I get insulin syringes from in case? And how do you know how much to draw up?

PP aren’t talking about the standard four doses but the additional fifth dose that many of us choose to extract. It’s previously been possible to get this by twisting the pen hard but I think the manufacturer is wise to this and has modified the newer pens to make it more difficult. If your pen fails on one of the four main doses then it is faulty and your prescriber should replace it.

They don't fail when used normally for the intended 4 doses. It's only when you deliberately break the pen lock mechanism in order to access the remaining liquid to use as a 5th dose. Which, if you're deliberately forcing the mechanism, it may well break or not function how you hope.

You can use a syringe to puncture the red seal where you normally attach the needle, and draw out the liquid. A full dose on any pen is 0.6ml. You can work out the dosage you want from that.

Ah ok thanks.

Another question I have is how much time do you give to reorder? I’m with Asda currently. I’ve seen people saying they have spare pens in their fridge, which confused me. I’m not sure when to reorder, as I don’t know whether I’ll go to 5mg or stick to 2.5 yet.

I tend to reorder on the day that I do my third injection from the pen. Asda have been very prompt to date in approving and sending out within a day or two. I leave it till then exactly to be able to decide what dose to order based on how I'm feeling with the current dose level.

@Kay2000 normally place your order after your 3rd dose once you have decided what you are ordering for your next pen.

Most people do not stockpile, it can be a risky approach because you don't know in advance what doses you will need in the future, or even if you might become intolerant and have to stop altogether. Those that do have usually done it to take advantage of discounts, but there seems to be regular discounts happening anyway if you keep an eye out for them for your next pen.

Thanks, will worry about it next week then.

I get paid on a certain date every month and so I always order my pen on payday as we haven't got a lot of money and I worry if I wait then it'll be spent on other things. Sometimes this means I have an extra pen hanging around

For example, I got paid slightly early for Christmas so ordered my next pen on 20th December although with delays over Christmas it arrived 31st. I'm using my bonus dose Monday so won't actually start that pen until 20th and then will order my next one on the 24th when I get paid

I tend to rotate where I stick the pen. Literally the nearest accessible bit of stomach/legs at the time. I don't use syringes to extract the 5th dose though. I have a huge needle phobia and wouldn't cope with having needles and syringes in the house, let alone actually using them on myself.

As for the pen, I tend to reorder when I have 2 doses left. That's purely because post can be a bit dicey where I am and I'd rather not take the chance. I can't see the point in stockpiling multiple pens- mainly because I couldn't afford it.

Although I'm on 7.5 and have been for a while I'm going to increase it to 10 for the next dose. The food noise is back with a vengeance. Might have something to do with the fact it's currently -10 outside (yes, it really is!) and all my brain is telling me to do is eat, eat, eat or you'll freeze.

My 7.5mg hasnt hit the same this week either. Normally by today I am still not hungry by lunch time but today I was ravenous. I usually have a couple of days really struggling to get 2/3rds of my calories in but none of those. Hope its just an off week as I am due my period.

I have a full pen still to use so I will be using it, and will give 7.5mg another couple of weeks to prove itself, but maybe I will consider using the the extra dose to top up the other doses if it doesn’t do much!

I tend to re-order on pay day to be honest - or I'll change slightly depending on if I'm going to be out on work visits a lot and might miss the post.

I've been in a dead-stall for the last week - least it's not going up! I have another 5mg pen to start tomorrow but I've ordered a 7.5mg for after that.

I started out on one of the subscription services, where they send you a questionnaire and take the money from your account on week 3 and then despatch the next pen. That was fine but I did feel a bit panicky if there were any delays or shortages (which there were back then) as it was so automated.
I now use Ashcroft Pharmacy who I have found very good (they are contactable by phone and very helpful with advice/queries). You can buy two or even three pens in one go, there's no price reduction but you pay less in postage so, now I'm stable on a higher dose, I buy 2 at a time and reorder after starting my last pen, which works for me

I tried to do less clicks today for. A shot and the pen jammed on me
Few minutes nothing came out

Fiddled around and the dose went flying into the air ?!!!

So I will need to stick to the full clicks it seems?

Hey

I've not posted for while, but have been in and out of this thread since day 1.

But wanted to share, I've bloody done it! I'm finally at goal weight (which has reduced a little since I set it)

SW on 25/4/24 15st 11lb
CW 9st 7lb
Starting BMI 37.9
Current BMI 22.7

Total loss 6st 4lb.

I had originally set a target of 10st but that was still top end of the healthy range so I have given myself a bufffer.

I'm now facing the challenge of maintaining and also bringing my body fat % down with some exercise.

Thanks for the support and words of encouragement I've had in this thread, and good luck to everyone on your journeys.

@Eminybob Huge congratulations- that is an amazing result.

That's fantastic @Eminybob , another massive congratulations from me too!

How many clicks was it @hellohellooo ? Did the pen plunger mechanism move to the next dose marker line, or only partially?

@Eminybob that is a magnificent result. Amazing work - you must be so pleased.

Best of luck with the next steps re maintaining.

That's such a wonderful update

Well done

Just astounding !!!!!

@SilenceInside only partially

Bit of a pain but lesson learnt

Wonderful to see your name pop up @Eminybob with such a fantastic update!

@hellohellooo did the needle prime ok before you tried to inject?

It sounds like the mechanism just jammed a bit and then suddenly released. I don't think that's going to have been caused by counting clicks to do a lower dose.

@hellohellooo I once had that happen but think I must have been pressing at a funny angle as I was trying to inject my arm.
As @SilenceInside said, it would be odd for counting clicks to make it jam as the plunger would have to go beyond that point for a normal dose. I have counted clicks for the last 2 weeks on my most recent pen with no problems

15/11 SW 20st
20/12 SMJW 19st 5lb
10/1 CW MJ week 3 18st 11lb

It’s coming off, slowly but surely. Feeling more motivated than ever.

Feeling hunger at but no cravings or snacking between meals.

That's amazing