Thinking about stopping MJ

[JJDogmum]

Hi,
I’d really appreciate any advice or experience.
I’m day 6 of my second week of 2.5mgs. First week was problem free, second week I’ve had more nausea and vomited once. (I’ve since realised the vomiting was related to what I’d eaten the day before so have adjusted).

I’ve lost about 10lbs which must be mainly water/inflammation I expect.
I’ve prioritised fluids, electrolytes, protein but struggle to eat enough and feel bloated quite quickly.
I want to start exercising but don’t really have the energy.
I’m taking nexium and have got kwells for the nausea, peppermint and ginger for nausea/bloating.
My food noise is gone and suppression is good - almost too good really.

I’m also considering injecting into my thigh as read that can reduce side effects.

I feel conflicted - it seems I’m taking lots of extra things to manage side effects. I don’t feel comfortable eating so little and this weight loss doesn’t feel healthy.

I also know a lot of medication can take a few weeks to settle down.

Did you find initial mild side effects settle and appetite improve?

thanks for reading. I’m grateful for any advice.

Hello, I was the same as you - the effects were a little too strong and I struggled to eat enough calories, although I didn't vomit. I lost about 8.5lb in my first 2 weeks.

For week three I took a half dose (1.25mg) because I needed to feel normal and eat some more. That worked and I still lost 1lb but ate and felt much better. The next week I went up to 2mg and then back up to 2.5mg again the week after, and those weeks were much more manageable. I'm on week 11 now and still haven't made it up to 5mg

I've realised that I need to take it much slower than the recommended schedule as I'm quite sensitive to it. I also think that bread and pasta, even small amounts, fills me up and bloats me too much - it can make me feel rubbish for 2 days, so I'm avoiding now.
Total weight loss is 25lb so far, and I've reached 50% of my weight loss goal. Oh and I've always injected in my thigh - definitely give that a try.

Thank you so much. Your post is very reassuring.

Can I ask how many clicks are 1.25mgs?

Depends which pen you have, but I use this table:

The first few weeks for me the tiredness floored me and I had to be careful what I ate. The suppression does wear off to a more comfortable level, for me it it was by the end of the first pen.

It does get better, you might already be over the worse of it. You have already found you need to control what you eat, try to eat mainly protein and veg and cut back to minimal carbs so you are getting nourished and reduce portions - if you have potatoes, rice, pasta keep portions small. I ate lots of salmon and roasted veg, no sauces, those first weeks because it was lighter. Perhaps try calorie dense foods to get some calories in to help with energy - I liked snacking on Graze Chilli Lime nuts, not filling but helps bump the calories up. It will only be a couple of weeks and you should be able to eat more, use the end of each week to get in more nutritious food while suppression is at its lowest. Perhaps eats small and often which might help with feelings of nausea until it settles down.

Drink water, try for 2L a day (I would never manage the 3-4L some do), it will help if/when the constipation kicks in. Clear protein drinks can help get some extra protein in and helps with drinking water as it has some flavour.

Now you, hopefully, have the vomiting under control so I would stick with the current 2.5mg dose for the 5 weeks of your first pen and allow your body get used to it.

Injecting in the thigh seems to give some people less side effects as it absorbs slower there (though I have never tried it) - it is most quickly absorbed in the stomach, then arm then thigh.

You do not need to increase to the next dose 5mg at this end of this pen, you can stick with 2.5mg while it is working for you. It is not uncommon to stick to the starter dose 2.5mg for a few pens, but worth buying 5mg for your next pen as it gives you the option to inject either 2.5mg or somewhere between 2.5mg-5mg.

Good luck.

@JJDogmum You might also be able to pick up some tips from here. Also remember you should be able to speak to your provider for support on any side effects you are having.

Sorry to hear you’ve had a rough start. I too was floored week two. Took time off work with nausea and fatigue. I’d picked up by time came for my third jab and decided to try again. Used thigh not stomach and was shocked to be completely fine. Had low grade acid/nausea for another few weeks but it sorted out in the end, for me.

I felt comfortable moving up after 5 weeks on 2.5mg but at the same time nervous about the jump to 5mg. 3.75mg worked brilliantly for 7 weeks for me.

I still mostly use my thighs for jabs but do do 5ths into stomach as find easier w insulin needle. No longer makes a difference, I’m almost completely without side effects thigh or stomach.

I’m six months in now have made it up to 6.25mg, nearly at target, will be reducing dose and staying on for maintenance for a few months.

Good luck, you’re not alone in feeling rubbish week two, and there is good advice uppost. Hope you’re feeling better soon.

Thank you for all your advice and support; it’s really kind and helpful.
Unfortunately, I’ve started having diarrhoea this afternoon and feel totally washed out.

There is no way I will be taking my 3rd jab tomorrow. I will see how the next few days go and may micro dose at the end of the week.

My last dose should be at half life now so I’m hoping things will settle down

Hope the diarrhoea passes quickly (excuse the pun). I had it twice, once in week 3 I think and once in week 5. Both times it lasted just the one day and it was gone the next morning. 24 weeks in and I haven't had it since (but constipation returned with a vengeance last night and I was in the loo until 2am 😫) hopefully it's a short term side effect for you too.

If you look at what you have eaten today/yesterday is there anything different that might be worth avoiding for a while.

I felt horrendous after my second injection. I remember thinking ‘I just want this out of my body’, however I stuck with it and the side effects definitely were not as bad when I had my 3rd dose.

So I felt hideously bloated all last night and ended up vomiting at about 10.30. Felt better after that. This morning I had diarrhoea again first thing but nothing since.

I tentatively had a protein shake this morning , very mild burps afterwards, then a cappuccino and a small protein bar early afternoon.
As the day has gone on, I have felt better and better - almost normal for the first time in a week!

I’m going to see how the next couple of days go and if all ok, will micro dose on Thu evening.

thanks again for all the lovely support x

Hi @Cocoaone,

Hope things are going well for you?

I injected 1.25mgs in my thigh last Thursday night.
Felt fine, good food noise suppression and appetite suppressed but not as severe.
Day 3 I felt queasy for a few hours but then felt fine.
Day 5 (today) I was sick - not as explosive as last week and again all settled down and I felt fine after a couple of hours.
No horrendous bloating like last week!

I’m thinking of dropping to 0.5mgs as effects good for me on 1.25mgs so I’m thinking worth a go.
I’ve read online about a few people who are doing this and getting good results.