Post-Mounjaro: I've realised I eat to stave off the headaches and faintness

[WitchesofPainswick]

I've been off MJ for a couple of weeks. I was only microdosing at 1.25mg but lost 1.5 stone / 30-25 BMI. Had uncomfortable bowels throughout which made me want to come off really - but apart from that, I felt great. No headaches/faintness or brain fog.

However, the daily headaches / faintness / generally shittyness has returned. I don't really eat because I'm hungry - that doesn't bother me - I just eat because I feel so awful. I guess this is a blood sugar issue. But I already eat very healthily - three meals a day, only wholegrains if I have carbs, and mainly protein / vegetables. No shit food at all.

MJ has been really useful in showing me that this is why I eat - but I'm no closer to resolving it. My TDEE is now 1300 (I'm short) and sticking to this is going to be a challenge, with continual headaches and general shit-ness.

Any advice or ideas?

I would start by going to the GP for bloods.

Definitely do blood test first. Do you think that you might not have enough carbs during the day? It sounds like you are mostly carb free.

I feel like that if I eat wheat, try gf for a couple of weeks and see if you feel any better

I've had a blood test lately - only anemia which GP isn't worried about (had it for years and take daily iron). I don't really eat carbs but it's quite hard to include carbs AND still keep calories down enough.

I've had tests for coeliac disease in the past although TBH I eat very little gluten (probably only in soy sauce or Saturday bacon buttie!)

1300 kcal TDEE is very very low, even for someone short, so could you perhaps start by re-evaluating this? If you are currently sedentary, would you be able to increase your activity levels to give yourself more to play with? I find the calorie count on my Fitbit very accurate if you would rather not use online calculators.

The bottom line, however, is that it's not normal to experience daily headaches, faintness, or brain fog. If you felt better on MJ then there is something wrong somewhere which the MJ addressed, perhaps through its anti-inflammatory action. You will probably have to go private to get the kind of thorough investigations that might lead to a diagnosis but you might feel that it would be worth it.

I have long covid which is why I can't up my activity. It's been 3.5 years now. I used to be extremely fit / have a personal trainer but I'm now very immobile most days and I can't do anything that raises my heart rate.

Thanks for the advice though, it's helpful. I really don't mind being hungry. I must be very sensitive to blood sugar levels or something.

Unfortunately my primary care service is in meltdown and I've not had any treatment for menopause / long covid or anything else, so as you say, it's private or nothing really!

Oh, I’m really sorry to hear that. It must make things difficult.

Could you consider going back onto an even smaller micro dose of MJ (under medical supervision) and try managing the bowel discomfort with probiotics?

I have this and also snack to make it go away. When I take omeprazole it goes away completely. You can buy that over the counter so you could give it a go.

I don’t know how anyone can feel normal if you don’t eat carbs. You need them as part of a balanced diet.

It's hard to get medical supervision for anything under the 2.5mg dose - I don't think you CAN in the UK.

@SupposesRoses that's so interesting. I've been prescribed it in the past but I'm anxious because it can stop the absorption of iron.

@Screamingabdabz You might be right - I've got some brown rice to add to my lunch today! I'm just not a fan of carbs generally TBH. It sounds odd but they don't generally appeal to me (although marmite on toast has its place!).

You can get most things if you go private. My sister has a medication prescribed off-licence by a private doctor. There's a process which has to be followed and the doctor had to get some kind of peer-based ethical permission but it was possible and it's legitimate.

It was just a suggestion. If you have a chronic condition and you've found a drug that makes you feel better then I imagine you might want to explore ways to be able to keep taking it safely. All the best to you.

I notice a clear difference in a day or two so you could try it for a limited time and then go to the GP so they could put you on something else. I don't want to take it long-term either.

I used to get headaches and like you say eating would help.

For me it was insulin resistance. Mounjaro massively helps. In the past I was prescribed Metformin for PCOS and that helped too. Personally mounjaro is better for me but Metformin might be better for you if you are diagnosed as insulin resistant/PCOS.