Shemed January support - Thread 2

[FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden]

Fantastic we made it to thread 2!

This is a thread for all those who have started or are about to start the Shemed programme in January.

Those waiting for blood tests /first pens hope you hear soon!
Those on their first/second jab hope it's going well - do come and tell us how it's going.

This is designed as a supportive space to share with each other how it's going, worries, side effects as well celebrating wins and results :)

@JadeB85 you’re going to love it! It feels quite odd to begin with, like something’s missing.

best of luck for next week. I was very wisely advised on here to read through the side effects card well and to take it easy.

Such a bizarre thing happened today. W2D3 and this morning my son got rushed to hospital having an anaphylactic reaction (don’t worry, he’s absolutely fine now but safe to say it was a terrifying, horrible, stressful day).

Got back home after spending the day being monitored and have not had the slightest desire to eat the entire contents of my cupboards! It happened first thing before I’d eaten breakfast, there was no cafe or shop open at the hospital and they only do food for patients so all I’ve had all day was a water and a Coke Zero from a vending machine. Was definitely hungry by the time I got back but I stood and cooked the dinner I’d planned and have not had the desire to have anything else. Going to have a protein bar in a bit just purely because I’m low on calories but this is life changing for me! I’ve always been an emotional/stress eater. If this had happened last month I’d have come home and eaten junk till I felt sick.

Hi all

W2 D2

Well, effects have kicked in!

The good news, I've had good suppression today, only being able to eat half my meals

Bad news, for 24 hours from just after I posted yesterday I had the worst diarrhea. Bout after bout of pure liquid, not helped by Loperimide unfortunately.

I'm hoping it was the chippy tea on Thursday. I had read all the advice but thought as the Mj wasn't working anyway it would be ok. Lesson to self.....🙈

@TaliaTalia thank goodness he's ok!! Well done on being able to focus and stick to your food plan!!

I'm on my first period since starting. Good LORD this is not fun at all! Can't wait for it to be bloomin over I am struggling! Bit of a shock to the system for me as I've had no side effects up to now but this is the worst period I've ever had! Now will be living in fear for the next one when I'm on 5mg!

Really pleased to hear most of you are feeling the suppression effects. I'm W3 D5 and honestly I haven't really noticed any difference. Really hope 5mg starts to work.

Oh my gosh! Glad your son is okay.

glad you’re enjoying the obsession-free journey too, liberating, isn’t it?

@TaliaTalia Gosh your poor son. Glad it was okay in the end. And can so relate to the need in the past for food in stressful situations. Its actual magic how it works.

Wow @Bananaramram pole fitness is impressive!! You must be so strong. And yes I can see how weight loss would show quite quickly! I think for me with so much to lose it may well be quite a few months before it will show.

@Mieliwood yup cramps and headache here today - mine isnt as bad as its been okay with drugs but comes back every time next dose is due! Hope you are better tomorrow. @TLMoo oh no you too. Honestly I'm normally light and 2 days and sporadic. THis is something else. And probably why I'm exhausted and nauseas to be fair.

I did get nausea/ tiredness later on today (slept an hour this afternoon) but I was fearing D and V so on balance I'm okay with it. I may just block a day out each time i go up a dose.
@JadeB85 welcome and yay for starting!

@Newshoesnewname missed your post - gosh that sounds horrible. Has it cleared up now? Has the meds helped at all? Hope you are okay...

Thank you @meatyryvita you've given me some hope 😊

Still not heard anything further. It's been a few days now.

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden thanks. Yes I've been ok today.

Was taking double dose of immodium after the first 8 hours but was still up every hour in the night.

It was truly horrendous, but lesson learned. No chippy tea for me this week 😂

It was all going so well, literally no side effects apart from the positive one of food suppression, until yesterday, W3D6!! Woke up with diarrhoea and stomach pains. No idea if it was something I ate or if it's a build up of the medication. Took pepto bismol and felt pretty off all day but managed to keep my plans and eat small amounts. Just before bed on the toilet again not so much diarrhoea but black!!! Googled, which you should never do and scared myself to death until I remembered I'd had 2 doses of the pepto bismol and it turns out that's one of the major side effects. Who knew?! Woke up in the middle of the night, stomach feeling raw and my anxiety kicked in massively thinking what have I done to myself and what's going on inside me. Has any of this happened to anybody else? Was it a one off or once it started did it keep happening. I've got my last dose of 2.5mg tomorrow then I'll be moving onto 5mg the week after which I'm now very worried about in case it is the medication and doubling it makes things worse. I'd really appreciate hearing other people's stories which will hopefully calm my mad thoughts down!!

Oh no! I'm not as far along with you so I can't really say I'm wk3d3 now on 2.5mg and as I'm sticking to small amounts of healthy food I haven't experienced any side effects.

Could it be something that you ate. ? I've seen pizza and other fried fatty foods are responsible for most side effects, there seems to be a pattern developing. The only time I ever felt awful was after eating fried Chinese food in my first week first day which I did as a trial by fire.

I'm now a salad monster and have lettuce with all my main meals/ everything which really helps fill me up and keep portions small.

Hope you feel better quickly. Nothing worse than poorly tummy. Hugs 🤗

X

Where is everyone injecting? I did my first dose in the stomach but have felt so rough since and particularly unwell overnight. I read that the thigh or arm allegedly reduces gastric side effects, though no idea if it’s true!

Thank you @tinyemmy @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden and @OneAzureMaker

Really appreciate the kind words.

It is Jab day. I did manage to get some needles from pharmacy (novo fine 6mm I hope works ok) and found scales but not sure how accurate they are but could allow me to do the check in.

My dad has deteriorated and because he has MND I just don't know if It will be hours or days but my very sad hope for him is not long. So although I don't know how long I'll be here I will prioritise him right now.

I think as long as I can do the 'check in' with scales, I could inject another day this week if timing felt better.

My one question... I don't have the alcohol wipe thing for pen as I expected them to come with needle pack.
What should I do?

Ps no body knows I am doing this and I think would be mad if knew I was

Don't worry about the wipe, is their any Dettol or Milton in the house? I use isopropyl alcohol ( glasses cleaner) if I have forgotten my wipes.

So, week 4 day 3 and side effects started overnight. Heartburn, diarrhoea, dizziness and generally feeling grotty. In the end I got up and slept in a chair which helped with the heartburn.

Typically Sunday is my busiest day at work, not entirely sure how I shall get through it!

So sorry to hear you're suffering too. Really hope you feel better today. I bet you thought you were one of the lucky ones escaping the side effects like me 😫. Are you moving up to 5mg next week?

I began 5mg on Friday. But I had 2.5 days of uncontrollable diarrhoea on week 2 of 2.5mg.

It is definitely a bit miserable!

@Reginaphalangeeeee so sorry to hear what you’re going through.
@Mazd323 @OneAzureMaker it sounds awful - I got horrendous side effects for a few days on 2.5 mg, it felt like a lifetime but passed. At the time I was also questioning my decision to start MJ.
Since moving up to 5mg a few days ago I’ve been anxious about a recurrence but so far so good, even after a night of over- indulging and some alcohol.
Daioralyte helped with dehydration headaches and lots of ginger tea.
Hope you’re feeling better soon.

@Reginaphalangeeeee sorry to hear about your Dad. My uncle passed with MND about six years ago and once his breathing deteriorated it was quite quick. It’s a nasty disease and not one I want to ever experience again.
I reckon as long as your hands are clean and you wipe the area and pen with a piece of kitchen roll with a disinfectant spray you should be fine.
i didn’t realise about the wipes for my first jab and pretty sure it didn’t do me any harm.
Look after and be kind to yourself over the next few hours/days. Our MJ journey will be there tomorrow spend time with your dad.

Oh @Reginaphalangeeeee so sorry about your dad. I can't imagine.

I wouldn't worry about inaccurate scales - just do what you need to to stay on the scheme and sort it out later.

@Mazd323 and @OneAzureMaker sorry you're suffering with the side effects 😬. It's not an easy ride is it. I hope it all calms soon

I've been in bed most of the day I have really bad fatigue and nausea. I think it's a mix of the MJ and it bringing in a heavy period and a crazy time at work. I'm just giving into now and watching unforgotten!

In good news though - I've "lost" 2lb since my weigh in Friday. I think I get period weight and bloating. I am now wee-ing for Britain.

I so want to be at the stage of it showing. Or better clothes. I am getting excited now. I think I was scared to hope before and now it seems possible. I will maybe write of a weekend a month and expect Saturdays to be a bit rough. But it's still better dealing with this than surgery (for me).

Good evening everyone. I’m enjoying reading all about your experiences and seeing how everyone is getting on. Sending positive thoughts to those with suffering with side-effects and love to those experiencing personal difficulties. I haven’t yet worked out how to tag posters.

Sunday is my check in and injection day. I lost 2lbs this week and have just done my 3rd jab. I’ve noticed some slight constipation this week and also had a couple of moments of needing the loo quickly…linked, I think, to eating something I shouldn’t have. But nothing unmanageable and actually not too different to my usual loo habits!

I've completed the questionnaire for my next prescription so following the experiences of those who have moved up to 5mg closely.

I hope everyone has a great week.

Ooh excited the next pen is in sight!

I think I've not had a fab weekend but it's similar to when I had my first pen so maybe if you've been mainly okay you'll be okay. 🤞

I really hope I’ll be ok. It feels like this is my last chance to really get control of my weight. I have so much to lose and being this big is having an effect on everything. I just want to not have to think about it.

I hope you’re over the trickiest part now and you start feeling better. We’ve got this!

Hi all, I've also been lurking for a while. I signed up a few weeks back, but had some trouble with the app so was delayed in doing my blood test. Anyway, results came back on Thursday but after reading all of your posts I don't think I've got full results. I've only got 1 result for blood glucose (which is in the red 😔). No other results at all on the report. I'm really worried I. Not going to get accepted. Has this happened to anyone else? Has anyone else been approved in the red?

Anxious but hopeful 🙏