Shemed January Starters - Thread 3

[FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden]

Wow thread 3! I just went to post on the other thread and realised we'd got to the end. I hope everyone finds us - I wasn't able to post a link!

This thread is a support thread aimed at those who started with the Shemed 1 year plan in January (or there abouts).

How is everyone?

I am not nauseous today and seeing light at the end of the tunnel- but so glad I have stuck on 5mg for the next one. I am definitely eating less too - I'm hoping that lasts!
@OneAzureMaker - ah we can be second 5mg pens together! I really want to do some exercise but similarly will have to wait until I have some energy. @tinyemmy Yay hope you are still going okay too - will be a few of us on our second 5 pens!

@Reginaphalangeeeee

Wow - fantastic results! And great the side effects have remained calm. I've had side effects each weekend of the 3 5mg jabs I've taken but they've decreased. This weekend was much more manageable for me. I think the suppression is more constant now too. I will stay on this dose if it carries on like this for a while.

@JBJ Yay for more loss - and good luck with 5mg

@BruhWhy Is the nausea easing?

@Needtomust96 I think some people in the facebook group have - you can use the section at the end of the form to request it and do say why. From reading randomly online it does seem some people need the higher doses to respond although a 1kg a week is what I'm aiming for. You might find that 5mg does it for you in a way 2.5 doesn't.

@Monmonss I did my questionnaire early Friday morning and the pen is supposed to be arriving Tuesday (tomorrow) . I think they issued it Sunday. Hope it settles for you - have you tried taking anything and all that?

@YouWillFindMeUnderCats I was the same - 13lbs and not quite the stone! I am now though - slow and steady does keep adding up. Hope the 5mg goes okay for you.

@Mazd323 How has today been? I think I'm eating less on 5mg but it still wears off towards the end of the week

@Lostatsea10 and @MrsMidgeMaisel and @Follydear I am sorry you are both still struggling. :( It's a hard thing to weigh up isn't it. It does seem Shemed do let people out of the contract if they're struggling or give them the option of Wegovy, and definitely seem to let them stay at 2.5 for longer if needed. Good luck whatever you both decide.

@Humptyandhambel Yay for a steady weight loss and hope 5mg is treating you okay.

Tagging people as I couldn't put a link onto the other page - hope that's okay and please do tag anyone I've missed out (probably quite a few!)
@afromom @kittykarate @floweryjones @Earthgirl3971 @Bananaramram @ForPeachSake @SnowieBear @bluesmartie83 @bertieallsort @Brighton2019 @TLMoo @Newshoesnewname @Bigknickers56

Minimum of 1% a month 😬

The 1% a month has got to be crackers hasn't it.

In the recent email to me the pharmacist said 0.5-1kg a was NHS ideal. Im averaging just over 1kg a week but it did slow down for the 3 weeks which she agreed and she said they usually put people up after 3 months on 5mg. Do email and challenge (and ask to speak to a pharmacist) if not happy as my initial reply was from a random cut and paste call /email handler but much more human once a pharmacist replied.

Could I please join in again? I’m restarting tonight after some ups and downs.
Started a few months back on 2.5. After 4 weeks I went to 5mg, and around 48 hours later I became very ill. Violent vomiting and diahorrea. I felt so ill I lost a whole day. In the end I was in my bed from Sunday till Friday. Didn’t eat at all during that time. SheMed recommended going back down to 2.5, so after a week off that’s what I did.
2 weeks ago I again injected my first increase of 5mg. I always inject Friday night so I was really nervous for a few days waiting for SE but they didn’t come like last time. Until the Wednesday. Yet again another 3 days of really violent expelling of even water from my body from both ends. I was so ill.
I didn’t inject last Friday. Sitting now in two minds whether to try it again. Thing is I really really want to lose weight so badly. I started at 13 stone 13lbs. I’m now at 13 3 so it did something, even if I only lost whilst too sick to eat.
I hate my body. I have zero self confidence and can’t bear to look at myself in the mirror.
i am 54 and 5’2”. Until a couple of years ago when I became disabled I had been 8 stone most of my life. I feel like I ate myself.
Do I push through the awful 3/4/5 days a week when I can only lie beside the toilet pan until it all passes? Will my body get used to it and it will pass?
I didn’t lose much at all at 2.5 so staying at that dose isn’t an option.
Think I’m gonna inject. But I am so scared 😭
I did it.

I'd stick to a lower dose or go to wegovy. You shouldn't be feeling ill. The medication should help you make better choices not make you lose weight because you've been ill.
I've now lowered my dose from 5mg (although I had no real side effects to speak of) to 2.5mg to see if I can try and maintain as I found the suppression so (too) good on 5mg.
You want the drug to take away the food noise and make you feel fuller on smaller meals, you don't want side effects if you can help it!

It does seem a slightly strange way in which they do things are consistency is definitely not there.

I started at 130kg, so not much different to you. I hope you have a really good week coming up.

One thing I thought I would mention, I had a couple of awful weeks on my 3rd pen of 5mg. I literally wanted to eat everything in sight, and I found it very, very hard to control what I was eating - to the point that I couldn't!!

But this last week on 5mg it was as though everything settled down again and I had good suppression.

Hang on to what you've achieved it will (and is) happening!

Hi ladies,

Ive been a lurker here since December when I was interested in joining the she med trial. I chickened out in the end and missed the opportunity to join the trial. But I’ve been following your journeys and have been really inspired.

long story short, I finally plucked up the courage and took the plunge- signed up with shemed & started my first dose of Monjuaro yesterday.

I’ve got a lot to lose - starting at 124 kg yesterday. I’ve always been bigger - but during my twin pregnancy I piled on a lot of weight. My twins are nearly 8 now - but I’ve not been able to lose the weight - and have yoyo’d between 117 and 127kg.

A couple of years ago I stopped dieting and have focused on being fit and healthy - rather than slim. I walk lots (15k steps a day) and I do strength & cardio session twice a week so my fitness isn’t too bad.

my main reason for starting is because we’ve booked a holiday abroad (first for 10 years) and I’m scared about not fitting in the plane seats 😔. The holiday is 12 weeks away so hoping this world for me & I can drop a couple of stone by then. First goal is 115 kg.

Anyway I just wanted to say hi - and thank you for the inspiration. This is my first ever post on mumsnet! I’ll see if there is a board for May starters- but if it’s ok will keep following along on this board too.

@minerva7 I'm really not sure what I'd suggest. Could you ask for a callback from the clinician (after filing in a side effect form). I've had some pretty strong side effects but worked out it's been worth it for me overall. But I don't think they've been as enduring as for you. (At one point I was "losing" a day each weekend) Also it's so much easier now I'm further down the line. But yours sounds quite severe. A clinician might know if there's any other drugs that might help or if it's bad enough to stop?

I know some people have tried wegovy instead too.

@Woodywig welcome!! There's a few of us with a lot to lose and also there's a 5stone (and 10stone) plus threads. It is a different challenge with more to lose but so very worth it from my current perspective! I started 138, currently 119.8 (no not at all 120 😁). It's the first time ever I've seen consistent weight loss and although side effects for me have been hard it's been so freeing not focusing on calories and having to "diet" (many people still do as everyone does it differently - but one of my favourite things about MJ for me is being able to put in place all the things I've wanted to around eating (upf free, proteins, nuts/bananas if hungry) etc which I couldn't when my brain/gut wasnt working properly!

Welcome @woodywig.
firstly wanted to say at my start weight 136kg mid Jan, I could fit in a plane seat & get belt around me but it needed to be longest length to do up. I was ok sitting next to my children but embarrassed being squashed next to others.
Biggest seat concern was at theatres in London, really struggled to get in & then out 😬.
I am 115kg today & so much less worried about fitting in chairs. You’ll get there no problem. Xx

Thank you @OneAzureMaker, that’s good to know. I finish my 4th pen tomorrow! Still considered topping up with a syringe to add some of the ‘golden dose’ to my 5mg but not decided yet.

overal a good weight loss again this week (1Kg off) but found it tough.
SW 136
CW 115
This is the lowest I have been in 5 years.
My period finally came today & surprised weight loss as good as it was this week.
Today, as often do end of injection week I have a ‘cheat meal’ or something a bit more indulgent before injection day tomorrow. A friend was over & I ate crepes & icecream out, and nachos for dinner. I mean I felt full & uncomfortable, didn’t eat as much as others but so much more than I’m used to now….. feel so sick, all evening 🤢, can’t sleep now!
I do sometimes feel nauseous with start of my period but know this is fatty food indulgences induced. So cross with myself not having control 🫣

Thank you @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden I will email SheMed. Don’t think they can do anything g now though as sent 5mg out already & I guess 1Kg weight loss again this week. Maybe it won’t be tomorrow with official weigh in given food consumed!
arghhh I just have to ride out the nausea. Taken magnesium & gaviscon!

Thanks so much for the warm welcome 😊

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden congratulations on your loss! I like the sound of your approach - I don’t want to do a heavily restrictive diet. The meals we eat as a family are already, home cooked & nutritious - but I need to eat less - and my downfall is sweet snacks. If I could ditch the snacks with the help of MJ I’d be very pleased!

@Reginaphalangeeeee thanks for the reassurance about the plane. I feel annoyed with myself and a bit embarrassed that I’ve let myself gain so much weight that I actually have to worry about chairs ffs! Hopefully the Mounjaro works for me - I’d love to be where you are - around 115 before we go. Congrats on your weight loss.

Week 14 check in and 10th dose of 5mg.

Small loss this week of 0.9lbs, BUT I’m officially under 19st for the first time for as long as I can remember!!! Struggled this last week though as been really hungry like I was at the beginning of 5mg. Definitely been eating bigger portions and have just felt different this last week to previous weeks. Got my first camping weekend of the season coming up at the end of this week, so hoping the suppression is strong this time else I know it’ll all go to shit once I’m sat in a field with my friends 🤣

I took Jab 17 on Saturday, still on 5mg and dealing with terrible nausea / bloating / vomitting for a few days after every jab. It's managable but not ideal.
I've lost 28.2 pounds since starting. BMI has dropped from 43.7 to 39.1

I do feel a bit jealous of those with huge losses and no side effects but I'm trying to focus on my own journey. Without Mounjaro I wouldn't have been able to lose 2 stones. I like being tied in to the study as it keeps me focused for the long term.

SW 122.5
CW 109.7

Next goal is to get to below 100 !!!

Sorry to hear from those that are struggling. I'm one of the super responders, although quite sad that this week I'm currently "only" at a 0.8lb loss for the week, official weigh in on Wednesday.
I'm liking the drop to 2.5, I have quite a lot of temptation but the cupboards aren't calling me. I'm able to eat which has it's pros and cons! Although I still don't know what to eat (I only fancy sweet things!)
2.5 weeks until my holiday and 4.2lbs to go. I hope that I can do it!

So mad at myself. Had my first gain since January. On my last dose of 5mg today and wishing I was starting the 7.5mg already. I’m having no suppression whatsoever and have quickly gone back to bad habits. Need to drum up some willpower and get through this last week and pray the suppression kicks in again on the 7.5mg. I did wonder if there was any way I could use the remaining dose on 5 to up this week somehow but don’t know where to start. Has anybody else done this?

@Mazd323 sorry to hear you struggling too.
I injected yesterday last dose from 5mg pen and now beginning my 5th month so sad I wasn’t prescribed 7.5mg yet. I feel like I need some ‘hope’ but wish I wasn’t chasing the suppression this way. Doesn’t feel ‘healthy’ relationship with food still for me.

Anyway, speaking from experiences yesterday (and a bit of regret).
I injected my last normal dose of the 5mg pen then extracted the ‘golden dose’ as an additional dose which was just over 0.6ml with diabetic needles I got from a pharmacy.
Seemed simple enough but a lot of pull pressure needed to extract it.
I looked up and explore and thought well 0.6 ml = 5mg which I already had.
so half (0.3ml) would be half too and = 2.5mg. That would give my total dose as 7.5mg.
I decided to do less and aim just 0.1-0.2ml additional above my normal dose. I chose to inject away from my normal dose in center of tummy.
Well the flippin needles were much harder to inject into and needed a lot of pressure.
It created a little bubble under my skin (much less that 0.1ml). I freaked out, dabbed it with the wipe and I think it mostly came out 🙄
Decided I am not for the faff with additional needles 🙄

Anyone tried similar?

@Reginaphalangeeeee I decided (after a good google) it probably wasn’t worth the effort to try and get the extra dose out and to just get through this week and pray the 7.5mg works better for me. Really hope things improve for you too. I have to keep reminding myself it’s a 12 month journey and big losses won’t happen overnight.

Hello! It’s been ages since I’ve posted on here - busy times! Still been here lurking, though!

I’m now nearing three stone lost, which is absolutely bonkers to me. I honestly never thought I would be slim again - and I’m not yet but it is getting more and more real! Comfortably fitting into size 16s after starting in a 20-22, and I’m eyeing up a size 14 dress on Vinted for a friend’s wedding at the end of June.

This last pen has been awful for food noise, though. I’m still more controlled than I was without MJ but it’s taking willpower! I am starting my fourth pen on Friday, which will be 7.5mg, but last week I ended up doing my dose and then getting a few more clicks out of the pen and using that. Was maybe an extra 1/4 of a dose so not much but I do think it’s helped.

Weirdest thing, though, has been a change in my belly fat. I still have a lot of it, but my stomach used to be quite hard and firm and now it’s super soft and jiggly. According to Dr Google, this is probably due to my visceral fat decreasing significantly, and the jiggly fat is subcutaneous, so I guess it’s a good thing!

I've not done it for me but hubby also on this journey but not with SheMed and has just this month decided to use the golden dose from his pen. I also noticed that it is really hard to get out but seemed normal to jab into (I do his jabs). You can blunt the needle when you extract the dose so that could have happened.

My weight is holding, to be fair this has been a previous set weight of mine so might take a bit of effort to push past and I'm eating slightly more, but not a lot more (unlikely to have much of a difference), anyway I've decided to stick to my usual losing calories today and skip breakfast in the hope the scales drop tomorrow for my official weigh in and second jab of the 2.5

Thanks @tinyemmy maybe I did blunt the needle… or maybe my technique not good as needle looked longer. Clearly it just bubbled under the skin & not deep. Not sure what you could do if needle blunt as these syringes can’t change on so how on earth would you get it out?

hey @Bananaramram
Sound like you are doing really well!
Starting 4th pen (week 16) & similar weight loss to me.
Feeling disgruntled this morning I wasn’t prescribed 7.5mg. Emailed SheMed to ask why.
Think I am happy to do some extra clicks each week to boost dose but don’t want to mess with the syringes again.

@Reginaphalangeeeee I have seen people share info on syringes with changeable needles. I don't have a link but I believe they exist!

@Bananaramram interesting on subcutaneous Vs visceral fat. I used to have much harder thighs and stomach and they are very squishy. Could also be smaller fat cells in the same size skin. Either way I hope it tightens up a bit as I have no plans for surgery. I look ok in clothes, it's just a bikini that's not so great. But no one will be squishing me on holiday so hopefully that's ok!!

Interesting, I've been moved up to 7.5mg!

I didn't ask or make any sort of comment in the survey so maybe they've seen my slowing losses and decided it's time? Bit nervous about going up now though 😳

@Reginaphalangeeeee I didn’t fancy drawing out with another needle but I have read that if you stop mid injection you can turn the pen again to increase the dose? Not sure I’m brave enough to change dosage but might be worth it if you wanted to increase your dose?

Same. though I'd commented that the pain relief of the 5mg was wearing off and that my portion sizes were getting bigger and I was starting to snack more. I guess they think it's time then.

X

Final jab of 5mg & check in completed.

1.1kg down, fantastic for me as a somewhat slower loser. Pleased my progress is very much back on track.

After thinking on it, I’ve chosen to take 7.5mg next week rather than count clicks to stay at 5mg. A bit nervous like others have mentioned, but trusting the process.

Jab 16 // 5mg dose // 11.3kg loss so far

Good luck with it @DearRaven
It feels a leap to go up but guess this one not a big as jump from 2.5-5mg.

I have emailed SheMed and awaiting a reply about why I unlike so many others haven’t been put up to 7.5 for my 17th dose (5th month).
I have lost a grand total of 1.8KG this month which is less than 1lbs a week.
Apparently the minimum is 1% which for me is 1.4kg.

I am eagerly awaiting SheMeds reply. I am sure they will put it up next pen but in the meantime I am more than a bit concerned about getting through. My hopefulness has faded a little.
I know I have had incredible weight loss so far and it is clearly working but with at least 5 stone to loose I am not feeling very confident right now.

I have serious FOMO for all you 7.5mg jabber this month but very best of luck. Hope it goes well x