Late April starters - thread 3

[wlinewbie0425]

We’ve filled another thread already, with fantastic support as most of us reach week 3 or 4 and think about pen 2! Thread 3 now as we enjoy the unexpected early summer and move into our second month of Mounjaro, lighter in both scales and mood.

@Nearlyhadenough I got an email from my provider saying if I was on HRT and MJ book a HRT review - I use the coil for the progesterone part so haven't had to change anything - I think this only effects people on the oral progesterone because of the delay in digestion with MJ.

This was my email if it's helpful to anyone:

We'd like to make you aware of a change in guidance from The British Menopause Society (BMS) which applies to people using weight loss injections and ORAL progestogen as part of their HRT.

Weight loss injections (like Mounjaro, Wegovy and Nevolat) slow down how quickly your stomach empties. This means that it’s possible some oral medicines are absorbed into the bloodstream more slowly than usual.

With oral progestogen HRT, it’s possible that this reduced absorption could mean there is less protection for the lining of the womb from endometrial (womb) cancer. However, this is only a theoretical risk at the moment and more research is needed in this area. We do know that obesity is a risk factor for endometrial cancer, and that losing weight will reduce this risk, so we would recommend continuing any weight loss injections as prescribed.

To help overcome the theoretical risk of reduced oral progestogen absorption, the BMS has suggested either a change in the oral progestogen dose, or change to the type of HRT.

If you're currently using injections for weight loss and are taking oral progestogen (tablets or capsules) for HRT, please make a routine appointment with your HRT provider to discuss what’s most appropriate in your situation.

Hi, i can’t get an appointment with my Dr until June 25th for a review on HRT and MJ so after researching, i have (maybe stupidly) taken the decision to double my utrogestan to four tablets a day. Im on day 4 of doing this now ( i take it on days 15-26) on 5mg MJ and feeling really unwell. Ive had to go to bed when getting home from work this week and today i am absolutely exhausted, vision is slightly blurry and i have a headache. Couldn’t drive now feeling like this. I feel like i’ve walked 10 miles over the Malvern Hills or when i was anaemic and needed an iron infusion. Think im going to make an urgent appointment 😞

Please do make an urgent appointment. Hope you feel better soon ❤

I’m on the all in one HRT patches so I don’t think this applies to those?!
In the last 3 months I’ve gone from taking nothing to HRT, MJ, collagen powder and gummies containing 10 mushrooms - have to say I feel better than I have in about 3 years!!!! Physically and mentally!!! Why didn’t I do this years ago and not try to ‘go it alone?!’

Hi all,
a non scale victory for me today…

I met with a friend after work for a gentle walk… as trying to keep the slipped disk/back seizing up situation under control.

I managed to walk loads further than I thought I would, and realised my fitness levels have improved massively! I wasn’t out of breath at all and my feet weren’t killing me. I think this is because I’m carrying around over a stone less in weight.

I am knackered now though will likely be in bed by 8:30 🤣

Patches here too, and I think we’re fine.

Nice to catch up with everyone, hope those who were feeling unwell are starting to feel better now!
for the poster with the back issue you have my sympathy absolute worst pain!
I had a sneak weigh in the morning and sad to say I’m 2 lbs up and combined with zero lost last week means this second pen Iv lots 1 lb in total in 3 weeks 😵‍💫😵‍💫 diet is absolutely fine though weirdly, definitely below the tdee but not as large a deficit as last pen, maybe will have a miracle whoosh in these next 9 days before I start the next pen. Going to try to do 3:75mg this Friday using the extra dose for the first time if possible! Feeling tiny bit disappointed but overall I need to remember Ive still lost a stone which averages at 2lbs a week ( albeit all in the first pen!) hopefully 5mg will be better for me once I get started!

Well done to all the Wednesday weighers ! I
lost 2lb which I’m happy with, especially as I still feel a bit “bunged up”!

@PoisonIvy89thank you! I had just assumed syringes from Amazon would be fine as they say sterile and I’d read reviews but you are right.

@Ricolettihope the worst is over for you!

@StartingApril2025sorry that you ordered the duff syringes I linked - hope you can return them. Hopefully you will have a big loss soon, sounds like you are doing everything right.

I’m after some recommendations (as clearly not making good choices on my own!) I’m looking for a cheaper supplier - currently with Superdrug and over £200 for 2nd 5mg pen. Does anyone have one they recommend who have decent pricing?

Also I’m trying to eat more fibre to help the 💩 but what is the best laxative to
help things along? Ideally not lactulose because I hate it!

Good luck with the 3.75 StartingApril2025! Losing a stone is brilliant. I did boost my loss when I went up to 5, but got quite bad nausea and vomiting day 2, as I had when I first started, so you are wise to increase slowly!

I've had an NSV as I went to Alton Towers this week and walked around all day, over 14k steps. I was fine the whole day, and no pain or stiffness the next day even after a 4.5 hour car ride. I would have been sore for 3 days pre MJ, if I'd managed it at all.

I even saw a ride pic of myself I didn't recognise because I looked the same size as everyone else!

I've also lost 3lbs W7D1, taking me to 16lbs lost and down to 13 13, so very pleased. I clearly need to look at getting my steps up without using a theme park (wonder if there is a market for a virtual theme park walk app!?)

Hey everyone, well done on all the losses 💪👏
I need to stop at the chemist this morning, I’ve had 2 injections at 3.75 mg and each one left me with a rash. Last week it lasted a week, about the size of a 2p piece and quite angry and red looking. This week it’s really itchy. I emailed Medexpress and they recommended a local antihistamine cream (something like antishan I assume?) Has anyone else had this?

@wlinewbie0425 they also replied to the price matching, didn’t say anything about claiming it monthly, just that it has to be claimed within 7 days of ordering.

Morning all.

@Undecided2025 sorry to hear about your reaction - I have no wisdom to impart as I’ve not had any reaction, I know @Ricolettihas so hopefully she can help?

Jab #4 of 5mg for me this morning but I decided to do 3.75mg after I felt too much suppression over the last couple of weeks. I feel happy with my decision, particularly after seeing Shotsy’s estimation of levels - the peak should still be higher than the week 1 5mg peak and the low higher too. I’ll see how this goes for a couple of weeks and will move up to 5 again when I feel the need.

Looking forward to hearing about all the losses - well done to everyone! I usually weigh in on Fridays but am away with work so will skip this week. Definitely fitting into my clothes much better!

@Undecided2025 I haven't had a reaction to my MJ injection, but I used to receive an infusion treatment in hospital, and some other patients developed reactions at the needle site.
The nurses gave them an oral antihistamine about 15 minutes before rather than a topical cream and it helped in the majority of cases. But definitely get advice from your chemist as it doesn't sound pleasant lasting nearly a week!

@Undecided2025i have this very same rash!!!!

yes I use anthisan and take 2 antihistamines. Best advice I can give you is don’t scratch it. I scratched the life out of the first few rashes I got, but have ignored the last one and it’s gone away much quicker.

mine only started happening when I went up to 5ml, no rash at all from 2.5.

After my last injection the rash was really tiny and has gone quicker, so I’m hoping I’ll the reaction is reducing over time with my body getting used to it .

I thought I was the only one!!!

@Undecided2025 and @Ricoletti so strange as I actually got a rash this time. It was my second dose of 3.5mg from a 5mg pen. Small patch of red itchy rash about the size of a 2p that I tried to ignore. Haven't got this with any of the other injections despite already having one previous dose from the same pen. Used the same alcohol wipes as well so I really don't know!

I’m using Ashcroft Pharmacy - highly recommend them, fantastic service!
2.5mg £120
5mg £134
Postage £6.99 - Royal Mail special delivery
simple online form, a photo and it’s approved in a couple of hours. Dispatched the same or next day - really quick delivery!!!
I’ve had 2 pens off them so far and I’ve got friends who’ve used them and they’ve had the same excellent service!!!!

@Seahawk80

I'm with Simple Online Pharmacy. They have offers for first time customers but they offer a price match. I just got my 7.5mg pen for £129!!

They sent the price match code within 3 hours of me sending the info in on Tuesday at about 4pm and pen arrived this morning at 10am. I'm also on another medication so I think I need my script approved by a senior pharmacist but they've always been fast. It's my 3rd pen and I'm more than happy with them as a prescriber.

Evening all! I know I'm now going back a while, but can someone point me in the direction of the equipment I need to do the golden dose? Just done my 4th jab at 5mg and in the interests of my bank account might try getting the golden dose out this time. Which needles do I need and how much do I need to extract for a full dose?! Think I'm going to stick at 5mg for another pen, just looking for a price match accepted by Medexpress before I order.

I got these from UK medi. You need 1ml capacity and the 30g 8mm is longer and a tiny bit thicker than the pen ones but works fine and didn’t hurt.

https://ukmedi.co.uk/products/1ml-8mm-30g-bd-microfine-syringe-and-needle-u100-bd-320935-ukmedi-co-uk?_pos=1&_fid=2acc7361c&_ss=c

I’m glad they’ve been good for you but another mumsnetter I was chatting to had a really poor experience with them - in terms of them not ensuring the cold chain, delivering a warm pen and then being very unhelpful about replacing it. I am sure there are good and bad stories about all suppliers but this is concerning as they tried to tell her that it’s fine as it’s allowed to get warm and she has to use it in 30 days from arrival. Also she had no way of knowing how long or how hot it had been before it got to her with fully melted ice packs. The manufacturer’s guidance is quite clear that the 30 days cannot be part of their delivery, it should only start when you are ready to take the first dose. The clock can’t start because they didn’t ensure they packed it properly.

@ellieinfrancei forgot to answer your question. You need 0.6ml for a full dose - which on those syringes might show as 60 units. There is usually a bit more - between 0.7-0.8 or so depending on how much you used with priming. If you do want to take more than 0.6 you can accurately calculate how much you actually take in mg by doing:

volume you use/0.6 x 2.5 =

eg 0.7/0.6 x 2.5 =2.917mg

if it’s a 5mg pen same calc just times by 5 not 2.5.

Telling you it could take 10 days, isn't great though! That would stress me out! Mine is sent when it is supposed to be and arrives the next day. Saying it could take 10 days doesn't sound like they're very organised!

Thank you! Have ordered and will give it a go next Thursday x

Has anyone noticed an impact on their SSRI medication? I know MJ slows the speed on medicine moving through the gut ( as per recent news on HRT), but I’ve Googled and can’t see anything on the interaction between MJ and antidepressants.
Has anyone else noticed lower mood?

The 10 days was in response to me asking them to honour a price match. The automated email said "up to 10 days" for a response but they responded within 3 hours with a £45 off code.

It was only as I left it so "late" to do the price comparison 😔

I could have placed the order for the prescription immediately but saw the price match offer so went back, did some investigation and got my pen for £125.