My First Mounjaro Injection
When I took my first 2.5 mg injection of Mounjaro, I really didn’t know what to expect. Surprisingly, I felt okay. Nothing seemed different at first.
I wasn’t hungry or thirsty, but I continued drinking water, about three bottles a day. I wasn’t eating much either.
For me, forgetting to eat wasn’t anything new. I’ve always been the type of person who can get busy and completely forget about food. The problem was that later in the day, I would become so hungry that I would binge.
But with Mounjaro, something changed. Not only was I less hungry, but I also lost the urge to binge.
At first, everything seemed to be going well.
Five Days Later, Everything Changed
About five days after my first injection, my stomach started feeling bloated, and I began experiencing cramps. That’s when I realized I hadn’t had a bowel movement.
I tried going to the bathroom, but nothing happened.
I thought about taking a laxative, but I had to be careful. Some laxatives cause me severe stomach pain, so I decided to try MiraLAX because it had been gentler for me in the past.
The downside was that it didn’t work quickly.
After about two days of taking MiraLAX, I had gone seven days without a bowel movement. Then, around 3 a.m., I finally felt like something was going to happen.
I had no idea how bad that night was about to get.
The Night I Almost Went to the Emergency Room
I went into the bathroom around 3 a.m. and didn’t come out until after 6 a.m.
I was extremely nauseated and knew I was going to throw up. My stomach cramps were so severe that I became dizzy and started sweating.
Around 4:30 a.m., I called my daughter and asked her to come take me to the emergency room.
By the time she got ready and arrived at my house, my bowels had finally started moving.
The first stool I passed was extremely large and hard. After that, I had diarrhea. The bowel movement was so large that the stool piled up above the water in the toilet.
Once I was finally able to use the bathroom, I gradually started feeling better. I decided not to go to the emergency room.
However, I was exhausted, still dizzy and nauseated, so I called out of work.
That was the first time I had ever gotten so sick from taking a medication.
I seriously considered calling my doctor and asking for another treatment plan.
But I decided I wanted to continue.
Learning to Pay Attention to My Body
That first experience taught me that I needed to pay much closer attention to my body.
I started monitoring how much water I drank, paying attention to how much I ate and adding more fiber to my diet.
Most importantly, I started keeping track of my bowel movements.
My second injection went much better. However, after my third injection, the stomach discomfort and constipation returned.
This time, I felt more prepared. I had learned that once I was able to have a bowel movement, I usually felt better and could go about my day.
I also discovered something else: greasy, fried foods and my stomach were no longer getting along.
Eating those foods could trigger diarrhea with almost no warning.
My Bathroom Emergency Kit
After a few experiences with unexpected diarrhea, I decided to make myself a little bathroom emergency kit.
I keep it with me at all times. Mine contains a small bottle of disinfectant, air freshener and personal wipes.
It may sound funny, but when your stomach gives you little or no warning, being prepared makes a difference.
It’s one of those things I never thought I would need before starting this journey.
Finding a Routine That Worked for Me
As I continued taking my injections, I learned more about how my body responded and found other ways to deal with constipation.
When I went several days without a bowel movement, I sometimes found that drinking a large Diet Coke or coffee seemed to help get things moving. At other times, I used MiraLAX as needed.
This became part of my personal routine. Over time, my side effects became less frequent.
I stayed on Mounjaro 2.5 mg for approximately 10 months. After talking with my doctor, we decided to increase my dose to 5 mg.
When my dose increased, some of those familiar side effects returned. But this time, I wasn’t caught completely off guard. I had learned more about how my body responded and felt better prepared to deal with the symptoms.
Was Continuing Mounjaro Worth It?
Even though my first experience with Mounjaro involved a level of pain and discomfort I had never dealt with before, I’m glad I stuck with it.
When I think about living with diabetes, I get scared. I know what can happen when diabetes isn’t managed well. For some people, complications can mean years of restrictions, pain and suffering, and can even become life-threatening.
When I look at the difference Mounjaro has made in my A1C and my weight loss, I am grateful.
I’m grateful that God gave people the knowledge to create medications that can help us manage diseases like diabetes. And I’m grateful that I got my chance.
My journey hasn’t been without its challenges, and I know this medication isn’t right for everyone.
But when I look at where I started and where I am today, I’m glad I decided to continue.
A Note to My Readers
This article shares my personal experience with Mounjaro and is not medical advice. Everyone responds to medication differently. Severe constipation, intense abdominal pain, vomiting or dizziness should not be ignored. Contact your healthcare professional about concerning side effects, and seek urgent medical care for severe symptoms. Always discuss medication changes and constipation treatments with your healthcare professional.
My journey is about more than medication and weight loss. It’s also about making positive changes in my life. Read more in my article, Starting Over Doesn’t Mean Starting From Scratch: Making Changes at 59.
