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 😊

@Goingincirclesstill that’s utterly wonderful, so many congratulations!

First time poster but just wanted to give a bit of information about foot drop.

After losing 3.5 stone in 6 months I developed foot drop, seemingly overnight, which caused me to fall over 3 times in 3 days. My GP hasn't heard of foot drop caused my sudden weight loss. She sent me for a brain scan. The scan was negative and I've just cancelled an appointment with the consultant as 3 months later, my foot drop has disappeared as quickly as if arrived. Hopefully no more slapping my foot and sounding like a clown when I walk down the corridor. My confidence has returned when walking and I no longer think about it. I've also lost another stone.

Looking back I was most concerned that this could be an issue if have to live with permanently. I thought sharing my good news could be helpful to someone else.

Right, that's it from me, back to lurking. Thank you to those of you that do post, it feels like I'm sharing your journey with you and being inspired by you.

Morning! I'd like some advice please, if anyone can help me? I've just ordered my third pen, this time moving up to 0.5 (Wegovy). But I'm really worried I'm going to feel nauseous again like when I started the 0.25 - I know this sounds silly but I think I have some 'lowercase t' trauma around a previous hyperemetic pregnancy (which still ended in a MMC), and I'd really like to avoid it if at all possible.

I'm currently taking 0.25 every 5 days and feeling fine, and I'm wondering if I could continue like this and split my 0.5 dose to take 0.25 every 4 days. Do you think this would work? And if so, do I just buy generic diabetic needles from an online chemist which will screw onto the pen?

Sorry - this is probably really basic, it's just that things are going well and I don't want to derail it by feeling sick! Hopefully the fact I've been slowly building up the amount of Wegovy in my system means that if I need to take the 0.5 as one dose I'll be ok...

I don't know enough about Wegovy to advise properly on the dosing but does your provider not give you extra needles each month in case of a faulty needle? I've built up quite a collection of needles now. I know the pharmacy I get my MJ from has big boxes of them so I could definitely buy extra if I needed to.

I think the move from 0.25 to 0.5 on Wegovy must be similar to 2.5/5 on MJ as it's the only time you're effectively doubling the dose so I can understand why you're worried about the nausea returning. If you know you can split the dose (presumably by counting clicks but again, I don't know the WG pen) what about initially moving up from 0.25 to something in between that and 0.5. That's a very common approach by people on MJ who found the jump from 2.5 to 5 a bit much.

That said, it sounds like you've already change your dosing schedule for something that suits you so maybe jabbing every 4 days would be the way to go.

I've inched down to 11st 8.25 today, which would normally be jab day but I've been moving it around so I'll jab tomorrow. But that puts me 0.25lb short of an 80lb loss!! That's in 46 weeks. So, pretty happy. I've now decided my goal before titrating down is 11st 4 which will make for 6st total gone.

@YellowStockings sorry no advice but hopefully you will get some soon.

Just popping in to share a couple of photos. Now I'm at/around goial I still have my mind to deal with. I didn't sleep well last night (all weekend really) and I woke up feeling like I was back at my starting weight - really strange feeling.

So I had a little play on grok -- here are a couple of before/after(ish) (the 2nd photo was early december).

Happily when I weighed myself this morning I had lost another kilo.

For those like @YellowStockings who are starting out, settle in a keep going. these GLP1's are amazing and the best thing (IMO) especially for those of us with lots to lose, if we can simply just keep going long enough to lose what we want/need to lose. it is possible, it will happen, just keep going. Remain in calorie deficit, eat for nutrition, exercise regularly.

Also don't be an idiot like me - take proper BEFORE photos.

Fab photos @RobinEllacotStrike . What a difference. And, even with the pixellation your pride/happiness/confidence shines through in the "now" pic.

Gosh - @RobinEllacotStrike you look like a totally different person now! You must feel fantastic!

Well done @Goingincirclesstill - that is an amazing achievement. Congratulations!

@YellowStockings - I would be slightly concerned with such rapid changes. You’ve already shortened your timespan between the doses to 4 days and as far as I remember you only started in Jan26?

Personally, I would be worried to have my body used to higher doses too quickly. Slow and steady is the best approach as many here, especially with big impressive losses, can attest.

I started MJ nearly 5 months ago (it’s my 19th week) and only now increased the dose to 3.75mg which is 1.5 of starting initial dose. I’ve never had any side effects, just preferred to be patient and cautious (there are some reports of pancreatic problems/gall stones, however rare).

I have lost so far 22 of 100kg and my BMI is finally under 30; 28.6.
It has definitely slowed down and for a while it did look like my body stubbornly wanted to remain at 80kg and no less, but things have finally moved on.

Still have another 3st to lose and I now accept it’s going to take much longer to achieve. (I think it was @RobinEllacotStrike who said the second 3-4 stones took twice as long as the first 3-4).

But slow and steady and it will happen.

Keep on losing ladies!

I love having my face back - jaw & cheeks!!

Yes the 2nd half of my weight loss took twice as long as the first 25 kilos.

But also I moved into a "new normal" zone - I guess this is what happens when you do something for a long time. It seems unimaginable at the beginning, but when your GLP1 is shiny and new its fascinating. And then you learn a lot, you find what works for you, and it becomes the new normal. This was so wonderful for me - as previously any attempt to lose weight invovled maximum stress, food noise, so much energy & all my focus. Which is unsubstainable long term. But the GLP1 new normal is sustainable long term. Which is why I always say "settle in for the ride".

I didn't mind it slowing down really - I has a lot to lose and I am also 58 (plus 45 or so things really slow down re weight loss). I feel like it was a healthy pace for me.

@Goingincirclesstill Wow - that is just amazing!! 😍 It really is such a life changer - well done for getting there!

@RobinEllacotStrike you look soooo different in the 2nd photo - just incredible - and you don't look blooming 58...! I love your posts - for me, because you (and others here!) were posting when I joined the threads,, I look to see the progress you've made and it keeps me focused on the fact that it is possible.

BTW, I can completely relate to the weird feeling of waking up thinking you're back at starting weight - it's happened to me a couple of times and it's sooooo odd... I lost 4lbs last week and then have had a bit of a 'heavy' weekend, so woke up this morning thinking all was doomed and I feel at least a stone heavier. I weighed and I'm 1lb heavier - so still 3lbs lighter over a week and a day. I need somehow to convince my mind that it's not all going to unravel (or at least not unravel overnight!) and that this is now my life, not the one where my BMI was 43....

wow congratulations @Goingincirclesstill - that is truly an incredible loss!

Have you figured out a plan for maintenance? I'm a bit weary of other GLP1 threads on here - I wonder if there is a Big Losers maintenance thread. I'm not quite ready for it, but will be soon.

💐💐💐
You must be feeling amazing x

Well done to everyone for their milestones - early and well established! I do really love reading everyone’s stories. A nice counterbalance for the doom and gloom (and misinformation!) which is so often prevalent.

I’m enjoying my settling into my “slowing down” phase (not ready for maintenance yet, but feel I might be soon) focussing on my fibre intake which has often come a poor second to my protein goals. I managed to get a whopping 15g in yesterday (after a fibre light day out) with a raspberry and chia seed sauce type thing with yogurt 😋😋. I’m feeling a lot better for it, but surprisingly not a magic cure for the constipation!

@Questions1234 you know what I'm going to suggest for that constipation ....

🥝🥝

😁

@SecondCircuit so it’s a bit confusing - I started 0.25 in Jan and did a month of using it weekly. But then rather than moving up to 0.5 (which is the recommended pathway with my pharmacy if you tolerate it well as I think it’s technically the first clinically significant dose) I chose to stick with 0.25 and jab every five days, which I’m currently doing.

I’m now wondering if, rather than taking 0.5 every week like I “should” be, I should take a half dose every 4 days instead - so still a bit less, and maybe gentler on my stomach!

Part of the reason I’m being cautious is I don’t want to lose too much too fast. But now I’m wondering if I am going too quickly! Did you all stay on the starter dose for a while?

I only stayed on 2.5 of MJ for the first month, as per guidelines etc, but then remained at 5 for quite a while, same with 7.5 etc. I wasn't a super-responder though (although I certainly lost on 2.5) and there are loads of people who stick at 2.5 for ages.

(I haven’t got the 0.5 pen yet so I can always stash it and order another 0.25 if needed)

Interesting - it seems like with Wegovy people tend to move up from the starting dose very quickly. Maybe it’s because it’s less effective / only works on one pathway? Or maybe the advice needs to be adjusted!

I am going to see the doctor soon, to see if it's safe for me to take Mounjaro. I have advanced kidney disease, so I need to make sure I can use it.

Does anyone here take Gabapentin and use Mounjaro, and if so, how are you getting on?

I do.

However I would check out the MJ/kidney disease issue very carefully first. Especially if losing weight will then affect your renal issues. How much of your weight is excess weight and how much of it is fluid retention? Are you on dialysis? If so then speak to the renal team first. I have a very different combination of health issues to you (I have autoimmune disease) but quite a few pharmacies said no because I had pre-existing health issues.

One thing to be aware of with MJ is that one of the main side effects of it is that it slows down digestion. If any of your meds are extended release then they need reviewing and/or changing to different forms e.g. transdermal, liquid or immediate release. Dont make any meds changes though without checking it out first with your pharmacist/treating team.

@YellowStockings
Same advice with Mounjaro with 2.5mg and after one month progress to 5mg.

I had a very good instant response so decided to stay on 2.5mg dose as long as possible. On this dose only (which is apparently considered non therapeutic) I managed to lose 20% of my starting weight.

My main concern, far bigger than financial one, was the future titraiting and maintaining. I was worried that I’d get my body used to high doses quickly and so much that it will be very difficult to then live without WLI (I’d love to hear fr givememounjaro as she must be in maintaining now, as is probably @Infosecinthecity how they are finding it.

I guess I want to keep options open: to be able to go up later in case small doses stop being effective. Which they may never do who knows.
But I appreciate everybody will have different approach and many will follow the general guidelines to go up after initial month.

@YellowStockings I saw a post from a US doctor recently, advising against injecting more frequently than 5 days. He said the body needs the dose to go up and down in order to respond to it well and injecting at any interval below the half life keeps the levels too steady which may lead to less response in the long term.
It was only a social media post so I can't verify that but it might be worth thinking about

@QueenOfHiraeth interesting! Thank you.

And thanks so much to everyone who offered words of wisdom - I think I’ll finish my current 0.25 pen and then just try the 0.5 dose (I do think I’d benefit from a stronger dose as def starting to feel more snacky / more tempted by DD’s toast). If I hate it I can always move back down to 0.25. And then I’ll aim to stay on 0.5 for as long as physically possible!

So grateful for this group.

Do you eat them with the skin on? I’ve been having 1-2 kiwis a day (just the insides) but everything still feels quite sluggish… Maybe I need to fully commit and eat them whole!

@YellowStockings I'd be very happy to post you my nearly full packet of chia seeds - they're just a step too far in terms of making things move for me...! Flax seeds seem kinder on my stomach, but I was influenced by blooming social media so bought a packet and made a really nice chocolate mousse with chia seeds, greek yog and cocoa powder, but blimey.... 😮

I wish I liked kiwis - would be much easier!

Flax seeds in a smoothie are good though - can recommend in terms of getting things moving!

That seems doubtful. My understanding was that a key and hard to achieve goal with the drugs’ development was to produce weekly delivery setups that would keep the levels as stable as possible.

Weekly is thought to be good for patient compliance. People don’t like doing daily injections and bi-weekly is more confusing and less memorable. So the instability in levels across the week is a compromise, not a feature.

Could be wrong. But the pills soon to be released in the US will be daily, right? Daily compliance with pills is much easier than with injections, so once you’ve got an oral delivery method, you can avoid the fluctuations.

Sometimes people see a rule like ‘inject weekly’ and reverse-engineer a reason to explain it.