Pleasant, but unexpected side effects e.g. reduced inflammation

[Togatuga]

I’ve gained a lot of weight since getting long covid. This can be whether I eat a very low calorie diet for weeks or think “what’s the point” and eat what I like. About a third of the time I also lose weight, even if I eat the same. My body is not behaving rationally! I’m tempted to take the weight loss jabs to see if they can somehow help with some of my other symptoms. What are pleasant but unexpected side effects people have had and has anyone taken them with long covid and did it have any impact on symptoms? I am bedbound now a lot of the time, having previously been very active and can only tolerate very limited exertion (eg a five minute walk), which obviously doesn’t help with weight. It’s been several years now and I’m desperate!

I started on Mounjaro in early April and so far I've lost almost exactly two stones.
Pleasant side effects have been reduced swelling and pain in my arthritic fingers and knees. Also my sleep apnoea and acid reflux has disappeared.
No horrible side effects, other than a bit of constipation and feeling bloated sometimes.
I don't have long covid so can't comment on that.

My pleasant side effect is lighter periods - I’m in early peri menopause and periods have been torrential - since I started taking MJ they are the lightest I’ve ever had!

Thank you. Glad it’s working out for you both.

@Incognitoburrito88
I could do with lighter periods! Were they lighter from first use?

I have long covid, which triggered early menopause. I've had some nhs treatment which has helped with the fatigue and breathing to a point but I still have to manage symptoms. I had been gaining weight steadily regardless of my diet, which was very healthy overall, and i gained 3 stone in 18 months and nothing would shift it. I'm losing 1lb a week on Mounjaro, it's reduced inflammation and although I'm currently having a fatigue flare, they're much rarer. I've been on the jab for 4 months and I definitely think it's helped.

Thanks @Catmum100. That’s helpful. Hope your flare starts to ease soon.

My sore knee has disappeared! Not sure if it’s the weight loss or reduced inflammation

My DH says I stopped snoring immediately after my first dose

Yes. My period started about a week after my first dose and was noticeably lighter.

My SIL with a kind of arthritic inflammation says her joints are hugely improved since taking it.

There was a thread about people reporting their gum disease was better - I'm seeing the dentist in ten days so will be intrigued to see how mine is - I have pretty bad gums.

I'm not very interested in alcohol now but that's taken a few months.

I sleep so well. I’ve had insomnia for years, so this is life changing.

I don't have long covid but a couple of other auto-immune diseases which seem to have faded very much into the background since taking MJ. The most dramatic benefit to me though has been that my rosacea has suddenly and entirely cleared up after 10 years.

I’ve had what I had taken to calling ‘shit feet’ - Achilles tendonitis in one which might have been related to heel burstitis. Overcompensated for the pain on walking by leaning on the leg and so that one hurt too, up to my hip. I’m sure they’re all related to me being very overweight. But I’ve just done my first week on MJ and it was miraculous. I didn’t used to be able to touch my heel without pain, so shoes were a nightmare. Couldn’t put my feet up so that my heel was on a surface. It’s almost completely back to normal.

My blood pressure is back to low/normal- that was the main reason for starting at BMI 29.2, it was so weird and concerning to have high BP when it was normally on the low side, even though I'd been overweight for years.

At 13 stone odd I was starting to get joint pain when exercising and feared arthitis was starting. After a couple of weeks that eased and I have no pain at all now (1.5 stone lighter).

In 2021 after a period when I'd lost weight before on Fast 800, I was having trouble swallowing some food. Apparently I have a hiatus hernia and oesophagitis, and had been having silent reflux. I'd been having increased acid reflux earlier this year and the dysphagia was kicking off again. That all went away fairly quickly. I've had no indigestion, sulphurus burps etc on Mounjaro- my gut seems a lot happier in general.

I’ve had to come back to this because I’ve basically been admiring my ankles all morning. I knew they were swollen before but had no idea how bad they were until I’m looking at them now and they’re not! I’m only on my first jab too, so it’s not like I’ve lost loads of weight and have slim ankles, it’s just the swelling has gone. I’m genuinely amazed.

I’ve literally just posted this on my March starters gang thread - happy to find someone else @Togatuga

I’ve read a bit about inflammation recently and mounjaro has definitely improved everything for me (long covid with mini clots, horrible foot pain etc etc).
do you think I’ll need to keep a maintenance dose to keep it from returning, or do you think it’s weight based?

I have suffered from incredibly itchy vulva for YEARS where the skin was so thin it would tear with just wiping. I was going to ask the gp about lichen sclerosis as I fit all the symptoms.
It is all gone!!! After about 2 weeks on mounjaro the itching stopped, and now 2 months in everything looks normal down there!! No more inflammation, no more red itchy skin. Miracle drug.

My two patches of psoriasis have pretty much disappeared and my swollen knees and ankles are mostly not swollen anymore. Barring busy days on my feet at work.

My sleep is slowly improving as well.

Menopausal hot flushes and night sweats which I have had for 10 years, disappeared literally overnight.

Better sleep
Clearer skin
Less puffiness under eyes
Increased energy and concentration
Reduced anxiety
General sense of mental wellness (long-term AD user, after a month on MJ this is the first time in years I’ve actually felt ok)

Of course all of the above are likely down to reduced sugar intake and better hydration, but I’ll take them as pleasant side effects. And I was amazed at how quickly they all came about.

F

It has helped me stop smoking, started 1st November, stopped smoking 8th November but was vaping , rushed to hospital 5th March with bilateral pulmonary embolisms told to stop vaping which I did no cravings or anything. Not sure if it was the mounjaro or just a coincidence. I also have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, POTS and other issues and it hasn’t made any difference with pain etc.
Good luck with your weight loss whatever you decide to do

My knee pain has gone. Weirdest (and best) unexpected side effect for me was that after biting my nails my entire life, I’ve just stopped! Tried everything in the past and now I have long and strong nails.

Knee pain has nearly gone. Hip pain reduced. Ankles don't get swollen. I can tie my shoelaces. Much more even mood, calm, less bothered by stuff. Upper abdominal pain (liver) nearly gone. Sleeping better (magnesium helps with that weird, disturbed sleep pattern the night after each jab). Skin clearer, eyes brighter. No episodes of vestibular migraine since I started the jabs. Hard to know what is better diet and what is MJ, but they are clearly tied up with each other anyway.

I’ve been taking MJ for 4 weeks now. My non weight related side effects are stiff hips when I get up after sitting down for a while have completely gone. A developing bunion which had started to become painful seems to have calmed down and I have increased energy. My favourite side effect though is I feel so much more grounded and focussed with scattered energy and thoughts no longer a feature of my life :)

IBS gone after 30 years. Within the first week, so not down merely to improved diet. A miracle.