Continuing Mounjaro... Part 24

[Jimmyneutronsforehead]

Pointers for newbies:
Please note: Mounjaro will only be be prescribed initially if your BMI is above 30. If you have additional health conditions you can get the medication with a BMI 27. (Prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart problems)
Mumsnet does not allow promo codes. Please do not post any. If you want one, ask and someone will PM you a code or there are now threads on the promo page that have codes for Mounjaro link below:
Promo codes :
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/promo-codes-bargains
For all threads so far, pointers for newbies, weightloss tracker, links to discount codes, tips and tricks and high protein recipes.
Site with all the info :
https://wattnext.notion.site/e880d9342b7a4bab94c244b34e0e5841?v=cc1edc3f1c2b41dab3011c8d9063df0a
Miss Mounjaro UK has the most up to date price comparison charts: https://www.missmounjarouk.com/

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THEIR GOALS WHETHER THEY WERE SMALL GOALS OR BIG GOALS!

Health and safety information regarding the medication:

Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), outlines several potential side effects associated with its use. Common side effects include:
- Nausea
Diarrhea
Decreased appetite
Vomiting
Constipation
Indigestion (dyspepsia)
Stomach (abdominal) pain
These gastrointestinal symptoms are typically mild to moderate and often diminish over time as the body adjusts to the medication.
However, Mounjaro may also cause serious side effects, such as:
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis): Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe, persistent abdominal pain that may radiate to the back, with or without vomiting. - I want to personally add that not all pancreatic pain radiates to the back and can present a-typically in that it can just be present on the front or be hard to locate the source of pain.
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): The risk increases when Mounjaro is used in combination with other medications that can cause hypoglycemia, such as sulfonylureas or insulin. Symptoms may include dizziness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, shakiness, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, hunger, weakness, and feeling jittery.
- Serious allergic reactions: Discontinue use and seek immediate medical help if you experience symptoms like swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting; or rapid heartbeat.
- Kidney problems (kidney failure): Dehydration resulting from nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea can worsen kidney issues. It's important to maintain adequate fluid intake to reduce this risk.
- Severe stomach problems: Inform your healthcare provider if you experience severe or persistent stomach issues.
- Changes in vision: Report any vision changes during treatment to your healthcare provider.
- Gallbladder problems: Symptoms may include pain in the upper stomach, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), and clay-colored stools.
Eli Lilly emphasizes the importance of discussing any side effects with your healthcare provider, especially if they are bothersome or persistent. They also advise reporting side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or via the FDA MedWatch website.
For comprehensive information, refer to the Mounjaro prescribing information provided by Eli Lilly.

Please all remember that we aren't medical professionals and so if you do have questions about side effects it is important that you contact your supplier, as well as 111 or your GP as soon as possible.

Another side effect is hair loss, this is normal for anybody new to this discussion. I hope I can put your mind at ease. Our hair goes through 2 phases, the anagen stage, where it is active growth, and the telogen stage where the growth stops. Whenever your body is in a deficit, and is finding it's new equillibrium, your hair is likely to go into a telogen stage, and so an increased amount of hair shedding is to be expected.

Things that can help are making sure that your hair is nourished, and that you're using the right type of hairbrush for your hair so you aren't causing more breakage which then gives the appearance of more significant hair loss, as well as really making sure you're hitting your protein goals for the day.

Protein isn't the only important thing you need to focus on. You need fibre. Natural sources of fibre are going to be best as in vegetables and fruits, but if you have to supplement that's also fine. Fibre intake is important for bowel movement regulation, as Mounjaro does slow down the digestive system.

Lastly, make sure you're getting in enough liquid. It's very easy to dismiss thirst if your appetite is suppressed. It will stave off a lot of the headaches that are common with Mounjaro, keep you feeling your best, and will also help with any constipation you may be having.

Happy thread 24 everybody, and the first thread of 2025 in this series. It's wonderful having you all, and I can't wait to see what this month brings us all.

Hi all and well done to those amazing weight losses! I’ve been on MJ now for around 10 months and haven’t lost a huge amount since Xmas but now I’m starting to think about titrating down as although I’m still keen to loose another 2 or 4 kgs, I want to get into good maintenance, reduced MJ in my system and keep it off! I’m so paranoid about putting the weight back on, but I don’t want my brain wired thinking about mj but Is there a mumsnet group who have finished taking MJ by any chance and share their stories? I gather a few people are finishing mj for various reasons.

By the way LucyBnotG don’t beat yourself up about weight, we all eat and it’s no one’s business why we put on weight or how it’s come off. Be proud that you decided to do something about this and you’ve achieved the weight loss you want and will lose more if that’s what you chose. Hopefully you find something you feel good in to wear for your family get together and enjoy yourself. Be kind to yourself and be proud, you’ve done really well!

Well, the step up to 15 has been challenging. Maybe I'd lost touch with just how simple the food I eat is these days. We are away for the weekend and I was offered a croissant. I should have said no. It could have upset things anyway even as a normal one, but it turned out to be a vegan croissant with jam filling - about as sweet, fatty and processed as could be. I spent the day sick as a dog. Back to my very plain food tomorrow.

@Tireduk I feel your worries about regaining. I think most have us have been a yoyo before finding mj and I sometimes think about staying on it for the foreseeable to stay on the straight and narrow. As I'm still miles from goal, I'm trying to avoid thinking about it at the moment. It's incredible that you're so close to goal and I hope that you feel proud of yourself. An post mj maintenance group on mumsnet sounds like a good idea.

Thank you for your kind comments about my upcoming party. I'm going to try charity shops in posh areas this weekend and see if anything jumps out at me. I will also practice smiling and nodding if people start talking about how 'well' I look.

@LucyBnotG This might sound a bit weird but I have just cleared a lot of stuff from my wardrobe. The sizes might be too big for you as I still have a lot to lose but, if you want to share or PM me your size, I could look if I have anything worth sending you pictures of if that's any help

@QueenOfHiraeth That's not really weird at all and very kind. I will send you a PM. Thank you.

I've replied to you x

been on MJ since May 2024, highest dose I have went to is 5mg. In the last week I’ve had a lot of palpitations, anyone else had this?

I would definitely speak to your doctor ASAP and see if you can get your blood sugar checked out, and express your symptoms to them.

Just so then it's on a recent page:

Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), outlines several potential side effects associated with its use. Common side effects include:

• Nausea

Diarrhea Decreased appetite Vomiting Constipation Indigestion (dyspepsia) Stomach (abdominal) pain These gastrointestinal symptoms are typically mild to moderate and often diminish over time as the body adjusts to the medication. However, Mounjaro may also cause serious side effects, such as:

• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis): Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe, persistent abdominal pain that may radiate to the back, with or without vomiting. - I want to personally add that not all pancreatic pain radiates to the back and can present a-typically in that it can just be present on the front or be hard to locate the source of pain.
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): The risk increases when Mounjaro is used in combination with other medications that can cause hypoglycemia, such as sulfonylureas or insulin. Symptoms may include dizziness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, shakiness, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, hunger, weakness, and feeling jittery.
• Serious allergic reactions: Discontinue use and seek immediate medical help if you experience symptoms like swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting; or rapid heartbeat.
• Kidney problems (kidney failure): Dehydration resulting from nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea can worsen kidney issues. It's important to maintain adequate fluid intake to reduce this risk.
• Severe stomach problems: Inform your healthcare provider if you experience severe or persistent stomach issues.
• Changes in vision: Report any vision changes during treatment to your healthcare provider.
• Gallbladder problems: Symptoms may include pain in the upper stomach, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), and clay-colored stools.

Eli Lilly emphasizes the importance of discussing any side effects with your healthcare provider, especially if they are bothersome or persistent. They also advise reporting side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or via the FDA MedWatch website. For comprehensive information, refer to the Mounjaro prescribing information provided by Eli Lilly.

Sorry, I also forgot to add that you shouldn't just assume your palpitations are caused by the medication.

It's something that needs investigating as a whole and let your doctors make the decision, but if they've been going on a week then definitely get checked out.

Oh gosh it's been a while since I posted.

I've been clinging on for dear life while 2025 throws me about!

Seems my trapped nerve in my shoulder was a compressed nerve in my neck! I'm only just starting to feel like I can move again.

Weight loss as ever has been slow - but with so much happening, I lost my step dad, and in the process of being made redundant but messed about by work I'm taking it as a huge win for me that I haven't put on weight.

I'm 52lbs down
13st 2 now and just under 32 bmi.

In a NSV I put my engagement ring in for repair before Xmas. I hadn't worn it for a while as it got so tight that I was in danger of it being cut off and one of the settings was catching. I picked it up this week and even though I've only lost a few pounds since Xmas it fits again!

April 1st will be the start of a new chapter I hope when I'll commence my 'early retirement!' I've got so much to do to sort my life out and will have some much needed breathing space!

Oh gosh 2025 has really thrown you a curveball so far hasn't it. I'm really sorry for your loss, and your redundancy, and your shoulder!

I will cross everything for a wonderful early retirement for you.

Today I went for my BMI and blood pressure doing for the NHS WLI referral, and only went to the wrong bloody place for my appointment.

D'oh!

They've managed to squeeze me in for tomorrow though so not a terrible loss, just a bit of damage to my pride as I had to tuck my tail between my legs to the receptionist and admit I have read the text message with the location on, I'm just really not that bright.

I had an interesting chat with a GP friend today who was having a rant about weight loss providers contacting GPs. Apparently they are getting quite a few letters now and their feeling is that the providers are trying to fob responsibility onto GPs who are already swamped. Some areas are pushing back by telling the providers it is the responsibility of their prescriber and to ask patients to supply info from the NHS app or for the GP to class it as private work and charge for any replies .

He said the letters usually say "the patient has consented for us to share this info with you" but don't recognise that the GP has not been given consent to share NHS info the other way so they then have to spend time contacting the patient, which inevitably leads to questions, discussing, advising, etc. none of which is in their scope of work and all unpaid (not to mention not covered by their state-backed indemnity).

He said they have had a few where patients have not disclosed health issues so are just responding with "We believe this to be inappropriate for this patient but do not have the patient's consent to share records. Any future prescriptions will be the responsibility of the issuing prescriber" or similar. He also mentioned one from a local beauty clinic where a patient who had been seen at the surgery recently and BMI recorded as low 20s had been seen in person and issued MJ by a nurse prescriber.

He was not happy and it does worry me where all this will end

Interesting @QueenOfHiraeth. Dammit. I just thought that the GP got a letter informing them it had been prescribed and the most they would have to do would be to read it. I certainly think it should be the prescriber who takes responsibility for their processes. Which is likely to mean increasing restrictions as incidents, bad outcomes and lawsuits slowly pile up.

So I’m officially off MJ, but today is my one year MJ-iversary so doing a final weigh in.

SW- 20.2 stone
CW- 12.7 stone
Total loss- 7 stone 9lb

I took a couple of pictures this morning because I loved seeing how other people had changed so here’s mine too :)

@QueenOfHiraeth
I've read that some pharmacies are seeking more information from patients and GPs (Medexpress particularly) such as wanting copies of medical records, suddenly after several months, for no apparent reason. I think most are sending just the notification letter still though which doesn't require any extra work from GPs other than logging it on the patients record. Hopefully, it won't become the norm.

Well bloody done!!!! That's a fantastic transformation.

❤️ love how far you've come and I've no doubt you've got the tools to keep up the good work even without the mounjaro.

@GlueNoGlue Love the pics, well done!

@KrankyKumquat @PermanentTemporary I think the GPs suspect this may be the thin end of the wedge and, apparently the NHS may start to roll it out later this year too (although no guarantees on that!)
I have a real bee in my bonnet about MedExpress as I hate this culture of codes, allowing some to build up credits in the thousands and I suspect they do anything for an easy profit, including refusing people with any obvious potential issues and trying to fob off prescribing responsibility to anyone they can
I have a joke with my family that when things annoy me I say "When I'm running the world..." and I've added hounding MedExpress and redistributing their ill-gotten millions to the list. Having said that I'm of an age where I'm irritable and the list is very long and wide-rangeing so, in the event I do seize power, I may become the next Trump

Where has everybody gone?? I thought MN was malfunctioning when I realised I had no notifications about this thread! Hope everybody is OK

I just came to brag loudly to you all that I AM OVERWEIGHT!

I have been obese for most of my adult life and this is the lightest I have been for over 10 years

I'm sure there have been posts more recently than this. Is there another thread?!

Hello... I guess there are lots of threads. Iv3 thought about posting but decided it would br too dull... apologies if so!

Congratulations @QueenOfHiraeth it's such a milestone. Dp is really seeing it now and it feels really great. I'm especially noticing this week that the deposits of back fat I had are much much less prominent. My hips are slimmer too.

Having said that, 15ml is brutal. I've had two episodes of hefty vomiting on weeks 1 and 3 of this month. I'm now experiencing a much stronger version of the effect too. I came home at 6 this evening having only felt able to have about 220 calories all day. Dp stepped in and made me dinner which helped a lot.

I seem to really struggle with apples now. I normally eat 3 or more a day but i just cant at the moment. Bananas have been difficult for a long time but are practically impossible now. Tangerines and berries are OK. I'm also barely touching alcohol, having drunk steadily through all other doses. It's weird.

That's amazing.

Im afraid I've been quiet because I've gained weight back 😩

I stopped taking mounjaro a week before my bloods and obs appointment to see if I could get it on the NHS and I've been weary about starting it back up again incase they need more medical information from me between then and my referral, but I stepped on the scales and I'm back over 100kg.

It's only been like 2.5 weeks!

Also with all the media about the cuts to benefits it has had me in a bit of a pit, which probably explains the weight gain as I've been stress eating.

I'm going to get back in touch with my GP on Monday though and ask if it's ok for me to use up my remaining pen while I wait for further instruction from them or oviva because at this rate I'll just have gained it all back.

Not by me if there is one. Not checked though as I only tend to stick to this one on this board.

I think I've done myself a disservice by not posting more though as it held me accountable by posting rather than hiding away any misdeeds as well as triumphs so I will be pulling myself back and doing a regular post

Hello! I’m still here but a little quieter since starting maintenance.

I’ve continued to lose since tiltering down (now on 2.5mg) and have lost over 100lbs! For the first time in my life I’m weighing myself to make sure I haven’t lost more weight 😅.

SW: 240.8lbs (17st 2lbs)
CW: 140.2lbs (10st)

Amazing news @QueenOfHiraeth, it’s the best feeling.

That sounds tough @PermanentTemporary, I hope you feel better soon/ manage to eat.

@Jimmyneutronsforehead, keep going 💪🏼. I hope you have good news about getting it on the NHS.

I’m so much happier and healthier now which is amazing, but the difference in how I’m treated now (BMI 21.5) compared to June (BMI 37.3) is quite astonishing. It isn’t everyone but had it with medical staff, some colleagues and strangers… makes me really sad for past me/ other obese people as the only thing that’s changed is my weight.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.