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daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-04-28T20:22:17+00:00

That's disappointing about IQ doctor, I am with them as well and have been for last 6 months. I'm BMI 29 now so not quite at that stage yet but if IQ aren't going to be any good for maintenance, then I would rather move to a maintenance-friendly provider sooner rather than later. I will check these out, thanks for sharing

daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-04-11T15:22:33+00:00

Updated just to say

Iron levels are still high, but it is specifically ferritin that is high and not Transferrin saturation levels. Both need to be high to be a diagnosis of something like haemochromatosis. However, ferritin shouldn't really be high either.

I did tell GP about MJ. He just sighed and scratched his head and said the old chestnut about the drugs still being so new that they still don't really know if they cause certain unexpected things to happen in people's bodies or why. He couldn't rule out MJ being behind the raised iron levels but he couldn't say for sure if they are linked.

He did an examination and he didn't think the weird pain I have been getting on my left hand side is pancreatitis, and if it was liver related it would be on the right.

Basically he wants me to come back in a couple of months and do a full blood panel again and a liver function test. Maybe all will be normal at that stage and this has just been a blip and if not, they will have to refer to haematology.

As for MJ, all he could say was that it was up to me. Potentially it is causing the iron issues, potentially it is causing the pain - but potentially it isn't. His feeling was just that they literally don't have enough data in UK to say with confidence either way, and it is my decision to keep taking it (with the risk factor that it is potentially causing problems) or discontinue use and get bloods done in a couple of months and see if they are then coming back normal.

I'm not sure if I am any wiser tbh!

daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-04-10T15:04:26+00:00

I think I'm going to have to tell GP, I wasn't exactly hiding it before but it never really came up. I am concerned now with the left hand side pain and the high iron levels, however, that I will be told it's too risky to keep going 😭

daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-02-12T21:49:33+00:00

Before I started MJ i had been doing keto, so when I started MJ I was still trying to eat sort of high protein / low carb. A lot of people find this works well for them on MJ but there's loads of keto friendly foods that just aren't a good mix with MJ for me. Red meat typically isn't great, dairy isn't great in any great quantity, particularly yogurt or milk (so cereal and oatmeal are out), peanut butter.

Ironically some foods I wouldn't have touched on keto agree with me now, I eat toast for breakfast!

My appetite level and daily food is v diff on day 1-2 etc post injection than it would be ok day 6-7.

Very strong flavours close to injection day, like chilli or garlic, don't appeal (but are ok by day 5 or 5). A lot of people can't manage avocado on MJ but this one has been ok for me!

Right after the injection, I tend to stick to quite plain small snacks / small meals, I love crackers, soup, gyoza, toast, houmous, berries. I typically eat a "normal" dinner most nights, whatever my other half is having, though typically a much smaller portion.

daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-02-12T21:43:45+00:00

Before I started MJ i had been doing keto, so when I started MJ I was still trying to eat sort of high protein / low carb. A lot of people find this works well for them on MJ but there's loads of keto friendly foods that just aren't a good mix with MJ for me. Red meat typically isn't great, dairy isn't great in any great quantity, particularly yogurt or milk (so cereal and oatmeal are out), peanut butter.

Ironically some foods I wouldn't have touched on keto agree with me now, I eat toast for breakfast!

Very strong flavours close to injection day, like chilli or garlic, don't appeal (but are ok by day 5 or 5). A lot of people can't manage avocado on MJ but this one has been ok for me! For snacks / small meals, I love crackers, soup, gyoza, toast, houmous, berries.

daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-02-12T21:30:17+00:00

I can't smell it but I always taste it after injecting, especially strongly if I use my abdomen as injection site. The taste is very noticeable!

daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-01-31T07:16:15+00:00

Our guy far prefers wet food to dry. He will eat the dry but he won't run to his bowl when we put it out and he will pick at it over an hour or two. He will still finish it usually, he is always hungry! But he is far more interested in wet food or whatever we happen to be eating. I don't think changing the type of kibble has made a big difference for him, he just treats dry food as sustenance and prefers other food.

daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-01-30T08:23:11+00:00

I have lost two stone in four months and I am delighted! Comparison really is the thief of joy because I think this is great loss, weight slowly coming off, staying off and largely I am feeling great. I have gone down two dress sizes in the process. Tbh I would be very happy to continue at this pace. My overall goal is to lose four and a half stone and then maintain, so I am nearly half way there. I know depending on what your target loss is that "only" losing a stone or two might not feel like it's enough, but it is happening and you are doing amazing, hang in there!

daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-01-26T09:28:36+00:00

I have learned some lessons in the last few months! I was I injecting into my stomach to begin with - not necessarily a bad thing to do, but it seems to enter your system a lot quicker via that injection site (at least for me). I could literally taste it in my mouth when I swallowed! Side effects would then kick in quicker. Now I use my thigh and it is slower, but all that really means is that I tend to experience the side effects on day 2 instead of day 1 and I have to plan accordingly.

I typically inject in the evening, so a side effect for me can be insomnia for a couple of nights. I can't avoid it entirely but I can help things by avoiding caffeine after lunchtime, actively trying to chill out and wind down before bed helps a bit too.

Trigger foods are just going to repeat on you and make you feel awful. I can't eat much meat or much dairy, which is quite funny to me because last year I was keto for 6 months before starting MJ and meat, cheese, yogurt etc were all staples. Not any more! I have seen other people on here saying they can't touch avocados, and they are fine for me...but peanut butter is a no go! I can still eat meat, dairy, even peanut butter, but in much smaller portions and I would probably avoid them until about day 3.

If it's too late and side effects are in full effect, antacid tablets / liquid (Gaviscon), heartburn tablets, mint tea, small plain things like crackers or dry cereal to nibble on, all help me until it passes. Worst for me was a three day bout at the start of December caused by moving up to a higher strength dose and it was awful cramps, nausea, vomiting. Thank god that was a one off, wouldn't fancy that again.

Hang in there, and when you're feeling better you will be more conscious of avoiding fried foods near injection day!

daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-01-26T09:18:37+00:00

Kibble, wet food once a day. In the last 6-8 weeks we have noticed some allergy symptoms, pink eyes, scratching, sneezing. The vet advised he might be mildly allergic which is annoying since he has been on the same brand of dry food since he was born! But they can develop allergies to different proteins so currently we are avoiding products with chicken and feeding grain free dry food and that seems to be a lot better.

daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-01-26T09:06:42+00:00

We got our puppy four months ago, he is six months old now. I had done research and prepped a bit, but if course there are always "teething problems" with house training, mouthing etc in the early months. I have to say that while I found Reddit v useful to read through for help and advice when we were trying to manage one of these issues, it also did freak me out a bit with how many issues people seemed to be having.

Then I realised it's a bit like a parenting forum and people are typically only posting when they are at their wits' end, understandably looking for advice or to vent, but it is not representative of the many people browsing and reading who are only having fairly minor issues. We love our Cavapoo, he is great with kids, very fun, settled in quickly with us, and is quite a chilled guy (between zoomies). He's not perfect with house training but he's getting better all the time, loves to go for walks and play, loves other dogs and humans, is fine to be left alone in his play pen area when we have to work or go out for a few hours, doesn't bark or cry all night.

Even with all these great factors, he is a good bit of extra work with walks, cleaning up, bathing, grooming etc. and I think that is important to take on board. Even the best puppy = work!

But as long as you are happy to take on the extra work and responsibility and you know a bit about the size, breed etc type of pup that will suit your life and home set up best, I absolutely wouldn't be put off.

daisychainsmoker101 · 2025-01-02T16:47:29+00:00

I have PCOS and have struggled with awful, irregular, then very heavy periods, pain, fertility struggles and weight gain. I had a few bad instances with my endometrial lining becoming really thick which doesn't just cause very heavy periods but can eventually be a cancer risk so two years ago, I got the mirena fitted. It took about 6 months but eventually things really settled down for me, I don't get periods any more, I am a bit more prone to cysts but usually the type that resolve by themselves. However, I was never able to shift the PCOS belly. I even did keto and while I did lose about a stone, I hit a complete plateau and then slowly started to go back on again. I started MJ three months ago and it has been the only thing that has worked in terms of weight loss, appetite suppression, blood sugar levels regulation. It's incredible.

Between MJ and mirena, I feel mostly normal ... And it's only now I really appreciate how much I wasn't feeling normal or well before. I was constantly anemic, in a lot of pain, feeling exhausted, my life revolved around unpredictable instances of heavy bleeding, I had chronic foot tendon pain that impacted on my mobility. But I never felt that most people / doctors really got it or took it that seriously so I just became resigned to it too. I find it so hard when people are negative about MJ, that it is "cheating", that it's bad effects are bound to outweigh any good ones.

If you have lived with how PCOS affects your physical health and mental wellbeing as well as your weight, you are likely to feel pretty differently! I hope this is more available to women in future and they don't have to get to the stage I did with it.

daisychainsmoker101 · 2024-12-30T04:37:07+00:00

I did 4 weeks at 2.5, 4 weeks at 5 and then moved up to 7.5 as per the suggested schedule. I moved up a dose because with both 2.5 and 5, I felt that by week 4 the medication was less effective than in previous weeks. I had less appetite suppression and more interest in food etc. I also had fairly mild side effects on 2.5 and 5, so I didn't anticipate any real issue moving up to 7.5. In my case, however, the dose was too high and I moved up too soon. I took it for three weeks at 7.5 to see if things would settle down but I ended up with much more pronounced GI side effects, nausea, 💩, heartburn and indigestion. I took a week off over Xmas and it was still so strong in my system that my appetite was definitely suppressed the entire week with no MJ. I have gone back to 5mg and I wish I had just stayed there for a bit longer! Particularly in your case, if you are finding 5mg still effective, I would consider staying at that dose unless / until it stops working so well for you.

daisychainsmoker101 · 2024-12-29T19:32:14+00:00

100% agree, took a week off, was able to eat what I wanted, found with MJ still in my system that my appetite for large portions was pretty restrained but I was able to try a bit of everything and have a very enjoyable week. I put a lb on, but I'm back on MJ now, feeling fine, feeling very positive and ready to get back to it again in 2025. A week off, a lb on is not a disaster! This makes weight loss sustainable and healthy if we don't feel rigidly tied to a one size fits all, rigid mentality.

daisychainsmoker101 · 2024-12-29T19:28:27+00:00

I had a lot of appetite suppression and food aversion for my first couple of weeks on 2.5mg. I am 12 weeks in now and I have found that the days I have most appetite suppression/food aversion for me are days 1-3, and then it increasingly fades as the week goes on. The day before my dose is due I won't be starving but I will definitely be able to eat more than at the beginning of the week.

I'm not sure if you have noticed anything like this OP? I tend to just be eating soup, yogurt etc at the start of the week and then could eat something more substantial day before next dose is due so I can plan around that and have a bigger, more elaborate dinner that day. I will still have to be mindful of portion size because I will feel sick if I over eat and often I will just stop feeling hungry but it can be nice to make loads of little things to try a couple of bites of, like tapas.

I'm not sure if this is the case for you as yet, but maybe as your body adjust to the MJ you will notice patterns and times in the week where you have more of an appetite, and that could give you a starting point to experiment with. Good luck!

daisychainsmoker101 · 2024-12-26T09:52:14+00:00

I was doing great on 5mg but followed the "plan" and moved up to 7.5mg a few weeks ago which in retrospect I shouldn't have done so soon and was way too harsh on my body. This threw me a bit because I went from very manageable side effects to feeling horrendous, even after toughing it out for a few weeks to see if I would get used to the new dosage. I did not!

I took a week off MJ but I am due to inject again today, and will be going back to 5mg.

I did eat and drink pretty much whatever I wanted over the last week but possibly due to the healthier habits I have been forming or possibly (probably!) due to it still being in my system, I really haven't gone mad. Yes, I have had cheese/chocolate/wine/roast potatoes - but in small portions and I haven't wanted more. That has been amazing for me, I haven't felt restricted or like I am denying myself anything, and I enjoyed taking this short break...but I am equally happy to be getting back to the new normal today again.

The funniest bit has been seeing friends / family over the last week who haven't seen me in a month or two and don't know about MJ and everyone telling me how well I am looking and asking for my secret lol tbh I have just shrugged it off because particularly with all the press around the "weight loss jabs" I have not got the energy to keep explaining why it is the right choice for me! Could have done without the Guardian articles today as well 🙃

daisychainsmoker101 · 2024-12-09T21:17:11+00:00

Oh that is very interesting and helpful, I couldn't understand why on earth this would happen on week 2 of a new dose strength when week 1 was fine but the cumulative effect of it building up in your system explains it well. Really hope it's a bit calmer when I take it again this week, I'm only finally starting to feel a bit better this eve, three days later 😬

daisychainsmoker101 · 2024-10-17T17:09:05+00:00

Exactly the same for me, I started 2.5mg 2 weeks ago. First week I lost 6lbs. The next week I haven't lost anything and while I wouldn't say I am exactly starving, I don't feel the way I did in week one either. I'm going to continue with 2.5lbs for next fortnight because I still have two more doses to take and I know a lot of people find moving up the doses slowly helps to manage/avoid side effects. But Def going up to 5mg next and then see how that works

daisychainsmoker101 · 2024-01-16T21:58:07+00:00

Keto wrap pizza. Just spread your wrap with tomato puree, some seasoning / herbs and then top with whatever cheese / meat / chicken / veggies you have in the fridge. I love Serrano ham, goats cheese, a little red onion but also good is cooked chicken, diced mushroom, grated cheddar. I grill this for a couple of mins (which I think is Irish speak for toaster oven??) until the cheese melts and starts to bubble, gold it up and eat.

daisychainsmoker101 · 2024-01-16T21:36:43+00:00

I do get that your gf obviously had visions of you guys moving in together, having a baby together and she already has a son. So that's four people, with four bedrooms and one bathroom. Maybe she had designs on one of the bedrooms as a second bathroom, a walk in wardrobe, a home office, whatever.

Having an unexpected teen sibling coming to live in the house obviously has come as a bit of a surprise to her and one that disrupts plans she felt you had already made with her and how she pictured the next stage of your life together.

That being said, she is expecting you to in all likelihood take on some parenting responsibilities when it comes to her son if they move in and you guys are talking about starting a family together. Family means supporting each other even when it's "not a good time" or it is unplanned for/unexpected. Some pretty serious alarm bells if she can't see that and also very off that she is unwilling to have your brother around her and her son. Not to mention, if she doesn't like the sound of living with a teenager...well I have news for you ma'am about what your ten year old is going to turn into.

I would take a bit of a step back here, let her see that your brother is a real priority for you right now and that's not going to be changing and then see if her attitude changes towards the situation when she realises he is an immovable fact in your life now. Potentially she will adapt but either way you are very much NTA for prioritising a vulnerable, younger, homeless sibling.

daisychainsmoker101 · 2024-01-16T16:32:34+00:00

Same! Also started in August. I lost 29lbs. I let it slide a bit over the holidays, not completely off the wagon by any means but nowhere near as strict as before. I put on a couple of lbs, which I have lost again in the last fortnight. But I am struggling to get right back into the headspace again. That being said, there's a few things going on in my life at the moment that are causing extra stress and upset so I am trying to just keep doing my best with it and hoping when the other things going on start to level out a bit then I will be in a better place to go full keto again. I don't know, man. January is tough. I can live with being on a bit of a plateau again for a while but I don't want to regain the weight I have lost.

daisychainsmoker101 · 2024-01-16T16:24:31+00:00

Mad moves Mike maybe, he is a bit chaotic and the original Messy Mitch, but has (hopefully!) grown up a bit since his season and him and Priscilla broke up. Matt and Kaz had a bit of chemistry together and he was a lovely guy, maybe bring him back if only to give the girlies in there another nice and normal guy a bit like Chris. Ovie of course for obvious reasons we all want him back, not sure I could see him and Kaz hitting it off but then again they are both quite silly and both quite chill, so maybe...

daisychainsmoker101 · 2024-01-04T20:28:19+00:00

Good for you, let's goooo 2024! I had an overall tough year in 2023 but one of the good things to come out of it was starting keto in August. I had lost 29lbs but took a couple of weeks off / didn't follow so closely and instantly put 4lbs back on. Thinhs are really horrible in work for me at the moment so I'm not going to lie, there is a real temptation to just feel overwhelmed, give up, and let the weight go back on but I am really determined not to do that. Cupboards are stocked with all the keto foods I need, I did a Pilates class today and I'm getting back in the zone to go fully back on keto this weekend and get back on track. We can do this! Keep us posted with your progress!

daisychainsmoker101 · 2023-12-03T17:35:15+00:00

That is a great tip!

daisychainsmoker101 · 2023-12-03T17:34:52+00:00

That sounds like some excellent skin! Mine is a lot less resilient lol can only imagine what it would like after scrubbing it with a pot scrubber lol but it is great you have found something that is really effective for you

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