Tips for first dose?

[PresidentBarklett]

Taking my first 2.5 mg dose tomorrow evening.

I wanted to ask if people had any tips re: injecting for the first time. I think I'm OK with the basics of injecting myself, i.e the where and the how.

However, I'm more thinking about things I can do before and after to make it go as smoothly as possible and minimise any side effects if possible.

So far I've stuck to a light, balanced diet over the last couple of days with limited high fat or sugar foods in the hope this might, say, prep my stomach. Any additional advice very welcome.

Do you tend to take it after a meal or on an empty stomach?

Any foods I can avoid during the day tomorrow to ease the way?

Anything I could/should eat or drink afterwards?

Anything I should buy in in readiness?

Honestly, I'll take any wisdom anyone has to offer! I know avoiding side effects is never fully possible and this may well be a bloody fool's game. But worth a go right?

My best tip would be not to over think it too much.

I take it in the morning, in the leg. And do absolutely nothing else special.

Try to eat lots of protein and drink
Lots of water and you'll be grand.

Don't eat shit though.
If you eat fatty food or super rich food you may find your guts don't like it,

It doesn't really matter if you've eaten or not immediately beforehand. Some people do the injection in the evening before bed to sleep off any emerging side effects. I do mine in the morning on Fridays as I work from home then, and prefer to have the highest level of suppression over the weekend. Then, I'd just continue with your light balanced diet, but prioritise protein if you can. Remember to stay hydrated.

Side effects are usually gastric, so possibly constipation, diarrhoea, more rarely vomiting, so it can be useful to have some over the counter remedies for those sorts of things.

Also, bear in mind it's a long term process and some people don't have much response until the higher doses. So don't despair if you have a slow start or not much response for a few weeks.

Give yourself time before you inject and make sure you won't be interrupted. Get everything together. Read the instructions twice, then make sure you do everything step by step. You'll be doing it weekly, so get into good habits.

It won't hurt to pop by the chemist tomorrow and pick up some just-in-case supplies. Something for diarrhoea, constipation, anti nausea and electrolyte/rehydration. If you never need it, that's great, but if you do you'll really glad to have it on hand.

I do it on Thursdays in the evening because I picked it up after work the first time so that's when I had it. I jab in the belly because it's just a load of flab and I barely feel it 😂

In terms of side effects, I've never had any, I eat lots of protein and fibre and don't have greasy or overly fatty foods. It's worth remembering that one of the ways it works is by slowing down your digestion, so if you have a KFC then that will sit in your guts a lot longer than it used to and is likely to make you feel pretty rubbish.

Best tip is to make sure the little countdown window is facing upwards so you can see it when you do the injection, that way you can see when you're nearly at the end of dispensing.

Lots of great info. Two things I wished I'd had on hand - electrolytes and glucose tablets. If you feel a bit off/lightheaded/shaky it can be low sugar. It really doesn't affect everyone, but just in case :)