My First Mounjaro Shot

The next day I found a small bruise at the injection site.

Yes, I decided to take the plunge and try Mounjaro. It was not an easy decision for me, but I think it is necessary at this point to try it. Keep reading to find out what Mounjaro is and why I am taking the leap.

What is Mounjaro? Mounjaro is similar to Ozempic, and most of you have likely heard of that by now. Mounjaro is slightly different because it is a dual agonist. Mounjaro activates 2 different hormone receptors: GLP-1 (which Ozempic does), as well as GIP.

AI says: GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) are both incretin hormones released from the gut in response to eating. Their main job is to stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic cells to regulate blood sugar levels after a meal. They also influence other processes like fat metabolism, gastric emptying, and appetite. While similar in their initial function, they have different effects on appetite, fat deposition, and the gut-brain axis, leading to the development of dual-action medications that target both receptors.

Mounjaro is a once a week injection that I give to myself. It goes just under the skin into fatty tissue. There are 3 spots I can choose from: stomach, thigh or upper back of the arm. The stomach is supposed to be the top spot for how quickly it starts to work, but apparently can also cause the most side effects. I thought I would start with it and see if it works okay for me. You are supposed to rotate injection sites. Because I am supposed to inject 5 cm or more away from my belly button, I figure I can just go around it like a clock.

Mounjaro, like the other GLP-1's can have many side effects, but I chose this one as it seems to be more balanced from the searching I have done. I was worried I might feel nauseous or have diarrhea this week, but I have been totally fine. I would say my bowel movements are a little harder and less frequent, so I took some Metamucil at the end of the week and that did the trick. I am however on the lowest dosage right now. You start off slow and work your way up.

I have started at the lowest dose, which is 2.5 mg. The lowest dose only helps your body adjust to the meds slowly to help prevent the side effects, so you don't actually have a fully working dose, meaning no positive changes yet. I have my usual feelings toward food and hunger levels. The one difference is my mindset. Because I know Mounjaro can cause an upset stomach, they encourage you not to eat super rich, greasy or overly sweet foods. This has helped me make overall healthier choices this week, but no weight loss to show for it at this point.

So for now it is a waiting game. I will continue to take this dose for the next 4 weeks and then up my dosage to 5mg. I am guessing I will see more negative side effects at that level, but if I eat smaller meals, ensure I am having protein and drink water I hope they will be manageable.

It is hard for me to imagine that this medication will work for me. I mean, I really, REALLY hope it does. I am at the point where I need to lose this weight to stay mobile. Things are getting more and more difficult to do - getting into a kayak for example. That was my adventure yesterday and it was tough to bend my knees to get in and out. I don't want to get to a point where I stop these activities, but I have been using the body pain as the reason to avoid them. If I can lose the weight, then maybe, just maybe I can do all of these fun things in retirement and have a second shot at living my best life. My fingers are crossed. My breath is held. I have said my prayers. Now, I wait to see if it happens!

Here is the video I made for Youtube. I show the whole process of me learning how to inject myself.