My Mounjaro Journey

 I am not sure where to start this story. I could go way back and explain how I got here... but I feel that's better left for a separate blog post. So I will summarize. 

I am not a small person. I am about double the size I should be. I have been this size for a while. I have PCOS. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It's not fun. I have a list of symptoms that include... excessive weight gain, excessive facial hair (Not peach fuzz. This is dark coarse hair that often leaves me with deep ingrown hairs that leave sores), Cystic Acne, Depression, Anxiety, Severe Fatigue, Irregular period and more super "fun" stuff. 

I have tried so many diets and programs over the years. So So so many. I will do good and be pumped for a week or two and then I give up because I am not seeing results. Well... yes, you do not have to tell me it takes longer than a week or two to see results. I just wasn't ready. I have a horrible addiction to sugar.. so I guess it's kind of like how and addict will not get clean until they are ready to do something about it. 

Up until a few months ago. Every time I got my bloodwork done. It came back clear. You're just overweight. I felt fine the Dr. would tell me. We would come up with a plan for me to follow and it just seemed like my mind would not let me stick to it. So.....The last blood test I had came back and showed that I have a non alcoholic fatty liver. My blood sugar is almost to a pre diabetic level and my cholesterol is a tad high. Like … all this time I was good and then I turn 40 and bam... Happy birthday to me. 

I made a Drs appointment to see about a bite on my leg over the summer. My regular LNP wasn't available and that's when I got an apt with Dr. Lesley. I tell you it was an immediate feeling of thankfulness that God placed this woman in my life. She took the time to speak to me and listen. We talked briefly then about my PCOS and weight and then dealt with my leg. 

I went back in for my follow up and I was feeling great. We talked more in depth about my weight and started making a plan. A plan that no Dr. ever took the time to talk to me about. She told me about some new diabetic meds that are showing great weight loss in obese patients. She also then asked me if before our next visit if I would go talk to a bariatric doctor about weight loss surgery. As i have mentioned above, I have really bad anxiety when it comes to Drs and surgery. She felt like if I talked to someone about it that it would put my mind at ease. 

I did it. I went to the bariatric Dr. and talked with him. He did in fact put my mind more at ease about the whole thing. I still am not ready for that, but I now am considering it as an option. It does help that I have a cousin who just had it done... if you are reading this.. Shout out to you cuz! I also have a friend that reached out to me to tell me about her story. Shout out to you girl! 

Back to Dr. Lesley I went. Proud of myself for doing what she asked and I was ready to ask for a different kind of help. In the previous visit she was telling me about Mounjaro. It is a medication FDA approved for diabetics. BUT.... Drs are using it off label for weight loss. It is a once a week injection and it works by suppressing your appetite, lessening cravings, balancing blood sugar and slowing digestion to keep you fuller longer. You start off with a 2.5 dose for 4 weeks. This is a loading dose. Then you get bumped up all the way to 15 I think. She said absolutely! I can not wait for you to try this. We also talked about me talking with a nutritionist and getting a better handle on my food choices and just to get more education. 

I picked up the pens Monday and did my first injection Tuesday August 23, 2022.

Tuesday August 23, 2022: Week 1/ Day 1/ 

Injection day. Oh boy! While I was super excited to try this stuff, I have really bad anxiety over taking meds. I was so nervous. Watched a few tik tok videos of how to do it. Then I braced for pain!!!! And .... what??? That's it? I felt nothing! LOL I'm so silly sometimes! I proceeded with my day as normal. Took Emma to school and then... when I got home... I started feeling kind of nauseated. I was very burpy which means I had some heartburn. I laid down for a while and then.. I got up and started cleaning the house. Nothing debilitating. Whew!

Wednesday August 24, 2022: Week 1/ Day 2/ 

Tired when I woke up and for the first half of the day. Then ... Back to normal after relaxing for a bit. Success! 

Thursday August 25, 2022: Week 1/ Day 3/ 

This is today. Or when I am typing this. LOL I have felt more energetic and in a better mood. I do get hungry at times.. but I do not know how to explain it.. but I want veggies and meat. The thought of a cookie or cupcake just doesn't sound appealing. So that's a big step  in the right direction! Looking forward to what the future holds. I am trying to drink at least 100oz of water a day. It's proving to hard but I'm getting there! I don't drink anything else. Just water :) 

Monday August 29, 2022: Week 1/ Day 7

Ok. So I haven't posted since last Thursday. We are going to have to summarize the days I missed. So ... Friday I woke up and was pretty nauseated most of the morning. I pushed through and tried to keep myself busy. By the afternoon- all was well. Saturday I felt great. They only thing I remember was that I was more hungry than I had been the previous days. I had two parties that day so I did partake in some food and sweets, but I did not over do it. I only was able to eat a few bites of the birthday cake I was given. Sorry Heather... it was so good.. just could not eat anymore.. which is what we want to happen. Sunday.. that was yesterday and honestly it was a great day.. spent the morning relaxing with Billy and Emma and then I took Emma to see Colleen Ballinger in Houston. That was WAY fun! So glad we did that. I did experience some anxiety while we were there because the seats were so small and we were sitting very close to other people. I was able to focus on having fun with Em though. 

Today. Today... I have been hungrier than I have been the previous 6 days. But... It's been a lot easier to make better choices. My cravings now mostly are for actual food.. meat and veggies. Portions are smaller because I simply can not eat a ton of food. I feel full faster that before. Not that I ate a ton before... but I definitely binge ate frequently. 

I will say the most notable thing thus far is the obsessive thinking. So you know how your brain says.. " Hey! I have an idea!!! LET'S EAT SOMETHING SWEET!" And then you try to say " No. I don't need that. " Then you can't stop thinking about it ... until you give in. Then you feel good for like 5 seconds and then feel shitty? Yeah.. .that is lessening for sure! I can say no... and the obsessing isn't as loud anymore. I still have sugar. Just not in the amount that I was eating before. So I am really happy about that. 

OK. I know what everyone is thinking. HAVE YOU LOST WEIGHT YET? Well. I will officially weight tomorrow. I have got on the scale a few times and I will tell you I've gained a few lbs. BUT... this is the "loading" dose. In trials real weight loss began at the 5mg does. Which is 3 shots away for me. I am also struggling to drink water. Not sure why. I know I need to.. just having a hard time. Going to be focusing on that this week! I am not discouraged at all... It is really easy for me to gain weight. Really hard for me to loose. This is going to take some time. 

I am feeling really good about this and am looking forward to progressing in this journey.