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Weekly Progress and Insights

With 2.5mg not being classed as a medicated dose, I decided not to stay on it after the first 4 weeks. I know some people reported 2.5mg working well for them longer term. Whilst it had been working for me from that first injection, I decided to move up. If I am honest, I worried that part way through a second 2.5mg pen it would stop being as effective.

I had concerns that the change of dose might change the impact, or bring side effects. From reading around, I found some people finding the first few days after increasing the dose they had effects. I have been feeling exhausted. I am not sure if this is Mounjaro, or is related to work.

Impact of work

After my experience of domestic abuse, and being failed my the justice system, I wanted to find a way to make a change. You can’t change a system if you don’t know what the barriers are. So I got a job working as part of the justice system. I thought if I could make one victims experience of justice a little less stressful, it would be worth it. It has been a few years, and I have done some different roles to see things from different angles. Sadly, I am even further from knowing how it can be changed.

The truth is, every part of the system lacks the funding needed to provide the bare bones. When they say the system is broken, it refers to every part of it, the police, courts, prisons, probation, barristers. Everything is reliant on the people working in it to try to fill the gaps. There are some wonderful people that work extra hours (unpaid) to try to make it work. I wish people could see this part of it. I think this would offer some hope.

It has also meant at times that I have been triggered by work. It is not usually hearing about cases, it is often just a specific word or phrase. I sometimes think maybe it was wrong for me to work here. Food was a way of suppressing these feelings.

Making Progress

The injections are getting easier. I have a routine with them now. I still don’t see the needle going in, but the thought doesn’t bother me as much any more. This is progress. I wonder how I will be when I have to have injections at the doctors in future.

I have introduced some light exercise. More about weights and being more active, moving about. I am trying not to rush this though. It has been a long time since I was active, and after having been so unwell, I am also fearful of triggering my asthma.

Dose and injection site

Week 5 – 5mg Mounjaro – Injected into upper right stomach.

Week 6 – 5mg Mounjaro – Injected into upper left stomach.

You need to change the location of your injection site each week. I am following a 4 week rotation plan. (Week 1 right side upper. Week 2 left side upper. Week 3 right side lower. Week 4 left side lower.). That way I will always know which location I am using, and reduce the risk of swelling or irritation. You can change between stomach, thigh and back of the arm as well. I am only planning to inject into my stomach.

Side effects experienced

Possible fatigue, but it may be more to do with work, or even not eating enough.

I noticed that for the first three nights after an injection I feel like I am having to fight to sleep. My sleep is bad anyway, but this is worse than usual. It also is having an impact on how tired I feel.

What have I been eating and drinking

I have been tracking my food each day. I used to use My Fitness Pal in the past. However, when I downloaded it, most of the functionality on the free version was limited. I didn’t want to pay out even more, so I searched for alternate apps. I found an app called Cronometer. It seemed to offer a good level of functions on the free version. I have downloaded it and so far, it is helping me track calories and protein.

The free version also shows some key elements like fibre and vitamins. This part seems a little unreliable, but you can edit the entries if you know stats are missing or incorrect. So far it is working well to track my food. It also helps me to increase my intake if it is too low on a particular day, or adjust my protein, fats and carbs if they are not even.

Weight check

Week 5 – After the disappointment of last week, there was a big change. This week it was 18 stone 4 pounds. That was a 7 pound drop. Though I have changed my routine.

I was weighing myself in the evening, before bed. I have been told it is better to take your weight in the morning, after going to the toilet, but before eating or drinking anything. Being consistent in how you weigh yourself is the most important part though. But this change may also explain the big drop.

Week 6 – This week I noticed issues with my scales. I was trying to take my weight, but had different readings every time. My scales were old, and hadn’t been used in a long time. So I bought a new set as I had already put a new battery in them.

I chose a set of scales that would also link to my phone. The Renpho Smart scales. I paid £25 at Argos for the new set, and though I was scared to see data on body composition, in the long run it will be good to see the progress.

This week my weight came in at 18 stone 2.8 pounds, another loss. Since starting that gave a total loss of 1 stone and 2 pounds. And that was without exercising.