Mounjaro/Wegovy with >5 stone/30kg to lose - thread 12!

[MooBaggage]

A supportive, idea-sharing thread for those with more than 5 stone/30kg to lose. We're a mixture of newbies, nearly theres, there and maintaining and we know what it's like to have what can seem like a mountain to climb - but we also know we can do it!

Nothing is off topic except referral codes 😊

@MoneyJo when you use the pen normally, it's 60 clicks to turn the pen to the 1 position which gives you the full dose of the pen. So with your 5mg pen, 60 clicks gives you 5mg. If you want 3.75mg, that's 75% of 5mg, so you do 75% of the clicks. 75% of 60 is 45 clicks.

The leftover liquid in your 2.5mg pen is what some people call the "bonus" dose, "golden" dose, fifth dose etc. It's not accessible using the pen as normal, because the pen mechanism locks after doing 4 normal doses (240 clicks or so). There are two ways to access and use it. One, you can try to forcible turn the pen past the internal locking mechanism. You just have to hard twist until it starts to turn again. I had to use pliers to do this. Once it turns, you can turn the pen to the 1 position and use as before. However, sometimes the whole internal mechanism breaks apart and although the pen turns, the plunger inside doesn't move and you can't inject anything.

So, the second approach is to buy separate syringes with fixed needles, you would need 1ml insulin syringes with a needle that is 4 to 8mm long and 30 or 32g in gauge. You can insert the needle into the red seal on the pen and extract the medication. There is normally 0.6 to 0.9ml of medication remaining depending on how much was used for priming. 0.6ml is a full dose from any pen strength, so you would have a dose to a dose and a half remaining. If you wanted to do a 3.75mg dose, you would need 0.9ml.

These are the kinds of syringes you can use:

https://ukmedi.co.uk/products/fms-micro-syringe-32g-8mm-1ml-fms-fms-32g-10ml-ukmedi-co-uk

Hello @Onegramatatime and welcome! This is a great thread and at over a stone down, in old money, after 6 jabs it sounds like you're off to an excellent start. Well done.

@MoneyJo the extra liquid left is the so-called bonus/golden dose which will soon be gone. I think once upon a time a hard twist of the pen could make it work again but now people buy needles from eg here: https://ukmedi.co.uk/collections/needle-and-syringe-kits

to extract another dose. I've never done it but I'm sure someone will be along soon who knows which ones to get.

For click counting, there are charts but it's also fairly straightforward maths. A single full dose is 60 clicks (which represents 0.60mls, relevant for if you do the bonus dose).

For any pen, start by working out how many clicks would be 1mg. So for a 5mg pen it's 60 divided by 5, which is 12.

So 12 clicks is 1 mg. Multiply that by 3.75 and you get 45 clicks. That's your clicks for a 3.75 dose from a 5mg pen.

If it was a 7.5 mg pen you would start by dividing 60 by 7.5 to work out how many clicks for 1mg and go from there. And so on. 🙂

Like I say, I know there are charts but I think it's good to understand the maths/quantities behind it. Especially if you're thinking of doing the bonus dose while you can.

@GiveMeWordGames , thank-you for the welcome. I do want to lose weight slowly but even after a 6kg loss, i still look the same. No noticeable difference at all and i feel disheartened. So sounds great to hear i am off to an excellent start. Appreciate it.

@MoneyJo , you get the 31g 6mm needles and 1 ml syringe.
Other than that, the hard twist still works but as @GiveMeWordGames said, it is important to know the maths behind so even if using the syringe to extract, you know what dosage you are extracting (especially if titrating).

Hi @Onegramatatime and welcome! It took blooming ages for my weight loss to become noticeable - always annoying when the hardest bit always feels like the first 1 - 2 stone and no-one says anything 😀 You're doing brilliantly though - looser clothes are a joy..!

Today and tomorrow are my shivery days - I jab on Monday evenings and have got used to shivering my way through Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but still don't like it.... I'm wondering whether it'll be the same over the summer (if we ever get one...)? I also get huge skin sensitivity during this bit of the week - I think linked to the shivering - the skin on my arms in particular feels almost painful, which has only happened since moving up to 10mg and now is slightly worse on 12.5mg. Not unmanageable, just noticeable and I'm hoping will disappear as and when I start to reduce dosage at some point.

@Questions1234 sorry, I meant to say, I think there are maintenance threads both for people staying on and coming off completely but I haven't checked them out yet as I'm still trying to lose a bit beyond my goal. And so far, even having dropped a dose, I feel like the MJ is still full-on working on me. Like you I'm wary of how it will be when it doesn't, and also what proper maintenance will look like. The psychology is so different to the buzz of actively and successfully losing, which I've loved.

Thanks so much @SilenceInside @GiveMeWordGames and @Onegramatatime

@MooBaggage , thank-you. Can't wait for looser clothes.

@MoneyJo , you will need a needle and syringe to pull out any extra liquid in your old pen...if you are unable to give the dial a hard twist and turn it all the way to 1 as normal.
For simplicity sake, get a needle and syringe and extract the liquid left in the old pen.

For Mounjaro these are the clicks you do according to the pen you have/dose you want: -
https://monj.co.uk/monj-mounjaro-click-chart/

3.75mg from a 5mg Mounjaro pen is 45 clicks.

For extracting the liquid left in old pen.
This syringe works:
https://ukmedi.co.uk/products/1ml-reduced-dead-space-syringes-reduced-dead-space-lw1-ukmedi-co-uk

This needle works:
https://ukmedi.co.uk/products/32g-pink-6mm-meso-relle-mesotherapy-needle-meso-relle-am326-ukmedi-co-uk

Hope this helps.

Oh, sorry @MoneyJo . I was reading the last message which was yours, on what i thought was the last page..! Hence my reply above.

Thank you anyway 😊

NSV to report here!

As many of you know, I have had an "interesting" time over recent months with lots of stress and chaos so my eating has not been good and I have been stuck between 1kg and 3kg above my goal which is the top end of the healthy weight range for my height, not lost any weight since October (well I have but it's been the same kilogram or two over and over!)
I've been staying positive and reassuring myself that at least I haven't gained but today I measured myself for the first time in months and was stunned to find that I have lost 2-3cm off each measurement of bust, waist, hips and thigh despite my extended plateau. I'm not sure how it has happened but I'm counting it as a win!

Jab 7 (5mg MJ) for me today and my official weekly weigh in. I'm 6.8kg down in 6 weeks, really happy with my progress so far. Bit nervous that I'm only one jab away from another increase to 7.5mg but hopefully it will go ok.

That is an excellent NSV! And a good reminder for anyone starting out to definitely take measurements as well as weighing - I wish I'd done this, as I didn't measure myself until I'd been on MJ for 3 months and wish I had done!

I had a similar experience this week - have lost 1 inch from everywhere since mid-February, having thought my body has been stuck at the same size for ages - so it's such a boost when the stats ssy something different!

I have a weird NSV that I'm hoping others will understand... I now no longer make all the bottles clink together on the shelves when I go into the garage to pay for petrol 😄 Had to take a moment at the lack of clinkage earlier this week..!!

@MooBaggage , loving that NSV 😄! Why did you used to make them clink together?

Congratulations! On your 1 inch loss from all over. That's great.

@QueenOfHiraeth , Congratulations on your NSV too. 2-3 cm..that will show in your clothes.

I didn't take any measurements but may do so now. I had planned to use the fit of my clothes to tell but would be good to have actual numbers.

@StatisticalStitches good results so far. You don't have to go up to 7.5 if 5 is working for you. Lots of people do more than a month on each dose with success.

@Onegramatatime As I walk up and down the aisle bit to get to the till, you go past shelves with bottles on and my weight would make the floor bounce a little bit and all the bottles would clink...! Now there is less of me, there is less floor disruption and so less clinkage 😀 That's my theory anyway...!

Oh @MooBaggage , that had me burst out laughing. Love that.
I thought you used to re-arrange the bottles close together and they clinked as you did this!

I may have a similar NSV, that would be my creaking staircase. I shall start to listen out and duly report my lack of clinkage 'creaking' in due course. Fingers crossed.

You have me smiling widely.

Thanks @MoneyJo My consultant wants me to go up to 7.5 before my review. I'm an NHS patient hence the different plan, although I'm grateful for the physio and dietitian input.

Hey all, happy Easter 🐣
I am resisting eggs until Sunday to limit exposure and plan a cut off by Monday my egg eating will expire.

Just catching up. Welcome those new to this journey, you’re doing great! I kinda miss those early days with big losses.
Now 14months in, I have lost over 6stone but another 12lbs to match @MooBaggage‘s wonderful 100!!!!💯!

I think with the start of HRT this month & generally slower losses, it’s taken a month to loose 1Kg!
This is despite upping the exercise!
I think stricter eating required (types of food rather than amount) as calories is still below 16-1700. It’s a mind game though, as soon as I feel I am restricting a lot, food noise returns just for bad stuff.
Other option is consider a dose increase but was on 9mgs and recently upped to 10mg so need to be patient a little longer.

Also costs 😩
what are you lot paying for 10mg right now?

Hi all. I’ve not posted in a while. Been reading tho. Currently in Denmark where portion size is insane, I think it was largely balanced by lots of walking. But today we had a 6 hour Easter feast of Denmarks finest food, and not much exercise, and I’ll definitely be sitting more snugly on the aeroplane tomorrow. Never mind.. I’ll get there.
I also went to the Lancombe counter in a fine department store. My skin has aged so much this Mounjaro year. It’s very dry and confessing that my regime involved soap, water and whatever moisturiser was on offer, was a bit embarrassing. I shelled out an absolute fortune, but I’m wondering if it might be better to see a private dermatologist. Has anyone found a way to help their skin?

I do know there is no b in Lancôme.

I think consistency is the key for skin care. My face not too bad, under chin but more dodgy!

I use clinique (always have) but it is so pricey I pad it out with Cerave which is also great. Tend to use really good night cream and eye cream but day creams with SPF is cheaper.

Very happy to report that I took the advice of PPs up thread and got the extra dose out of my first pen! It was pretty easy with a pair of pliers and my biochemist DH cheering me on and it also helped me resolve the question of whether I really wanted to go up a dose already! So next week I'll start my second pen and go up to 3.75.

I'm getting close enough to "not overweight" that I've placed an order from Pharmulous so that I can use them for maintenance once I reach my goal.

That’s exciting! Maintenance land. Good deals?
im a mile off normal weight but do feel more ‘normal sized’ though BMI still 32 😬
brain can not comprehend actual normal BMI

My love and thoughts to you @NewbieMJ and I know she would be so proud of you. @MoneyJo I use electrolytes, not sure if they're helping, but they don't seem to be hindering...

SW: 15st 5.5lb
CW: 10st 4lb
Loss: 71.5lb
Current BMI: 25.5
Target Weight 1: 12st 1lb (overweight BMI) - Achieved!
Target Weight 2: 10st 1lb (healthy BMI)
Target Weight 3: 9st 5.5lb (6st loss)
Final Target: 8st 8lb - 9st 1lb (I think...)

I weighed myself at the end of the March and hit my mini target of 5st weight loss, despite the meal out!

Target weight 2 is firmly in my sights now and I hope to achieve that by the end of this month. Next, I am looking at single figures, which I haven't been in 20 years - I got pregnant with DD in 2006 and that is the last time I was 9 stone something!

Joining a gym tomorrow, too - eeek! I've mentioned before that DH is on WLI with me, but he's been hitting the gym and his physical progress has been inspiring, so I think now is the time to branch out from my long walks to doing something more strength based.

My NSV was DH bought me some new gym wear from Gymshark to go along with me joining the gym, all in size medium which is a 10-12, apparently. Quite frankly, they looked like they would probably fit a child, but certainly not a (still) slightly overweight adult... Anyhoo, after lots of a bit of cajoling from DH, I tried them on and they fit perfectly!