Mounjaro February to April 24 starters - Thread 4

[ObsidianTree]

4th thread!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5207564-mounjaro-february-to-april-24-starters-thread-3?page=40&reply=141722167

@TimeIretired I've just had a look at DAM and the pens they have are definitely not mounjaro - bastards! Assume your pens have "Dr Frank" on them? I'm gobsmacked a pharmacy supposedly based in central London is advertising pens which are not legal in the uk??? How is that even possible?

Sorry you've been put in this position. Hope you get your money back (I'm fairly sure you will!) and find a genuine pen to use soon! Just don't inject this crap into your body please!!! Good luck.

@CiderJabs they have nothing but Tirzepatide and the dosage on them. Can’t give more detail as they are at home and I’m (supposed to be) at work. I’ve actually had a few pens previously direct from ordering via Dr Franks that are defo the Eli-Lilly ones.

The InnoPharma order was via a FB ad (but then so was Voy and several other suppliers widely mentioned on here). It was only when I received an email from EPP (no reply address) said my prescription from Dr Franks was due which confused me as I’d recently received an order from them. I fully expected to have to prove ID etc after filling the details out too which didn’t happen with InnoPharma.

Waiting on them responding to my email but half hoping they don’t so I can do the chargeback.

That's awful, @TimeIretired , hope you get it sorted asap. Just shows there are unscrupulous people everywhere.

My exciting news is that I finally broke the 150lb mark (stalling for weeks at that weight) AND hit the 100lbs lost total. 37lbs was by myself in 2023, then 63lbs since starting MJ nearly a year ago. I'm very chuffed! A few more lbs to lose to get to my 10 stone target but the end is definitely in sight (and then the regain battle starts).

I've ordered a number of items from Vinted and cannot get used to holding up what looks to me like a too-small pair of shorts and then being able to happily fit into them. I hope that feeling never changes!
What does annoy me on Vinted is that if you filter by size, size 12 comes up as L. That doesn't help me feel like I'm smaller!

Something I've really noticed is that even though my cup size hasn't changed massively, the fact that I have less flesh on my rib cage/chestbone etc means that I feel far less busty than I did, which I'm loving, as I always felt that my boobs were inescapable

Had my consultation with Hira today. What a lovely lady. Came clean about my stockpile and agreed I will start buying from her at the end of May. The one thing we didn't talk about was the 5th dose (so when working out how long I have meds for, we counted 4 doses per pen) and I didn't dare mention counting clicks!
Does anyone know whether she "accepts" the fact that we take 5 and not 4 doses per pen?

@CiderJabs
I've regularly had a 4/5 week gap in ordering and no questions asked. The order form requires an explanation if you go over 6 weeks between orders, which suggests a recognition that many do a 5th dose but I guess in her position, and with the loons on the FB page, she can't publically endorse it. When I started maintenance, and was losing too much, she was fine with me counting clicks to reduce my dose but I didn't advertise that on FB group obvs. She's not daft, sure she knows but as long as it's done quietly, she's pretty pragmatic especially as it's still within the 30days. If I was you, I'd just do what you do, without kicking the arse out of it, then order with your maintenance codes, and deal with any any questions if they arise - bottom line is I can't imagine her chucking you off the med because you're a few weeks later with your 1st order.

@KrankyKumquat ah thank you, that's very helpful. I agree she is lovely and I felt completely at ease when I confessed to my stockpile!
I have been using pens for over 30 days and I know that's against the rules so I won't mention that. I think I'll finish one or two weeks later than she expects me to so hopefully that will be ok. Thank you :)

Hello, lovely people! I lost you all. Massive well dones to those of you still losing or maintaining so well.

A while back someone posted an excellent article about the massive fake MJ market in the states, and that said that even pharmacies over there are ending up with fake stock as it's so widespread. I think our NHS supply route must alleviate much of that, but it's obviously not foolproof.

I am now officially BACK on MJ. 2.5mg injected this afternoon. I went cold turkey in mid-December and it's been a mixed bag. As of this morning I was only 3lbs more than when I stopped, but I've had such RAVENOUS days that it's been unpleasant - I can eat a meal and still feel as hungry as I did beforehand. I'm going away for a week to an AI soon and while I am controlling myself at home with distractions and just plain denial, I was really worried I would come back a stone heavier after a week. It doesn't happen every day, and it's getting better gradually too, but still.

Plan is one month on, one off, agreed with Hira.

Checking into the new thread - I've been a bit quiet recently, with nothing much to report. I'm still at target, but thinking of moving down from 7.5mg to 5mg. I ordered with Medexpress on Tuesday, was approved pretty much instantly and delivered on Wednesday. I've never known such quick service!
No questions either, which did surprise me a bit. 2 pens ago they refused a 10mg pen ordered, and made me go down to 7.5 as I was under BMI25.

I want to start titrating down, but am a bit nervous. I am happy at the weight I am, have been up and down a pound or two over the last month on 7.5mg. I really need to get my focus back on eating well, and prioritising protein again. I have been a bit lax recently, and eating more bread - I really must stop making sourdough, it's inevitable that I'll eat it!

I'm in the no boobs and bum club. Although how an F cup is no boob I don't know. Filling the bottom of the cup, nothing at the top. And why don't they make push-up/maximise bras in anything over a D cup?

My order from Medicine Marhet is on its way!
They what's mapped me saying that I had to send ID etc, proof of previous prescription and a video saying how long I had been on it and if I had any side effects, how much I have lost.
Not had to do that before. Not my favourite thing but it was 30seconds out of my life! It was just my face, with which I attempted to generate a double chin😂. Then I just what'sapped it back to the same person. Who then sent me a video saving all approved.

@Smallsalt Have heard good things about Medicine Marketplace - certainly, their checks seem very thorough which bodes well.
@pinktransit My new bra arrived yesterday (30FF!). My immediate thought was that it was too tight but decided to persevere rather than return as I did measure very carefully. I've decided maybe I've been wearing the wrong size for so long that this is actually how they are supposed to be? Plus, my ribs are very thin so no padding to reduce the pressure. It was less than £20 so I guess if I can't bear it, not too much lost. My boobs remind me of the thawed ice bags we get with our jabs, very much not bouncy or buxom.
Re titrating down - this is what I've done, 1mg every week or two, from 10mg to 4mg and it's been fine, no bounce back hunger. You can always jump back up 1mg the following week if it feels wrong. But, nothing to say you have to reduce if 7.5 is working well - I was aiming for 2.5 but now thinking 'why?' so think I'll hang about at 4mg for a while.

@pinktransit I had a maintenance call with Hira yesterday and she suggested taking a dose every 9 days before going down - so if you're on 7.5, keep that dose and increase the gap to 8/9/10 days before moving down. That might work if you're worried?

I've decided to stay on 5 for now. My weight is going up and down from 9st 6 to 9st 10 so I'm fairly happy but don't want to put any on. If I manage to stabilise where I am, I think I'll do what she suggested and add an extra day or two between doses and see how it goes.

A prescriber suggested a dose every 8-10 days instead of every week? Wow - it's good advice but am surprised she openly suggested it.

@pinktransit the other thing you could do is try 5mg and, if you don't think it's enough suppression top it up after 4-5 days. 7.5mg for two weeks is 15mg over 14days. So, if you know relatively quickly that 5mg is too low you could take 5mg every 5 days for three doses to get you 15mg over 15 days which is practically the same consumption as two x 7.5mg doses.

I read somewhere about kiwi fruit and, my god, they've been amazing. One a day has ensured one a day, for over a week now. Had to share this if anyone else is struggling, literally 😅

@Choux yeah she did - she did say I'd still have to be within the 30 days so 4 doses every 9 days would still be 28 days as she didn't mention the bonus dose. Agree both could work - same dose with more days in between or smaller dose with fewer days.

Do you eat the skin as well? I hear it’s integral to motility. I just have to get around the texture issues!

@Chucklesisters
I manage about half the skin, it's just a bit tough but otherwise ok.

So is anyone else considering skin removal? I'm two pounds from goal now having lost a whopping 9st 2! I think from seeing other videos I've at least 14 pounds of skin that could be removed. I have visible folds under my bum cheeks which you can see through leggings now too :( Planning on doing something towards the end of 2026 once I've established my weight, not gained and also let my skin settle.

I keep getting told to build some muscle but I don't want to be any bigger than I am. I'm a decent size still and have a fair chunk of muscle. Just under 3 weeks to lose the last 2 pounds

I've been quite lucky with skin, but in my face.

I'm considering fillers in my jawline and deffo gonna get botex when I have paid for my master's

I'm hoping the skin tightens up next year, but even if it doesn't, I think I'll live with it. It can all be hidden!

My face has had to have a load of filler and botox as it had d r o p p e d 😄

@Flapearedknave I've found an amazing woman an hour from me who is great. I've just had small lip filler at the moment but looking at Botox and a small amount of filler when finances allow

I suppose I've been obese since early teens and a few babies on top of that haven't helped either. I'm hoping skin will settle a fair bit but I think I may need muscle repair too.

How have you found it? I'm genuinely scared!

It's worrying trying to find someone who won't wreck my face 😭

I'm looking at Botox/fillers also. At 49, losing a third of my body weight has definitely shown in my face.

I had heard that Botox wears off more quickly if you're on Mounjaro. Any Botox veterans experience this?

@YouAreEffluentKim I hadn't heard that but it makes sense. I'd read zinc helps them to last longer the best combo is zinc and phytase but can't seem to get that over here. Studies show it can extend it up to 30% though.

I did have a lip flip last year actually and that lasted about 9 weeks so not too long.

@Femeia @Scalessayeek well done on your losses. Great work 🎉

I received my first pen order in many months today. I was tempted by 15% off and chanced buying from simple online pharmacy who I'd only ordered from once before. I bought 2 x 5mg as I thought that would be less likely to raise questions than asking for a 10mg. They asked for a photo and whether I'd had a break from MJ. No request for previous prescription evidence which was good as I couldn't have proven anything.