I lost 8st in a YEAR on Mounjaro – I had to have an organ removed but I still went back on the jabs as soon as I could

The Sun

17-07-2025

A WOMAN has revealed how shedding a whopping 8st completely transformed her life but also landed her in a major surgery.
The weight loss warrior, Em, has been documenting her transformation on her TikTok, @EmsJourney.
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Despite the drama that followed, Em is still a massive fan of Mounjaro and says it's completely changed her life.
Within months of starting, the weight was dropping off, her periods came back, and her PCOS, something she'd battled for years, finally started to settle down.
But just as things were looking up, her journey took a painful turn.
Only two months in, she was hit with a searing pain under her ribs that had her doubled over and rushing to A&E.
Doctors ran tests and found a gallstone blocking her bile duct and it was causing mayhem inside her body.
Her kidneys were struggling, inflammation was through the roof, and surgery quickly became the only option.
By October, doctors told her she'd need her gallbladder removed.
And while that sounds scary enough on its own, she was also midway through a course of GLP-1 medication.
But her consultant gave her the green light to stay on the jab right up until a week before the op, saying it'd be safer for her to lose more weight before going under the knife.
She said: 'Because I was still such a high weight, it made more sense to stay on it and make myself safer for surgery.'
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Post-op, she was back on the meds just two weeks later and didn't look back.
She's since reached a peak dose of 15mg, and now she's tapering down, currently on 10mg.
The results are impressive. Em has lost a jaw-dropping 8st in just 12 months.
Her PCOS is under control, her cycle's back on track, and she's feeling better than ever.
While the gallstone drama was a shock, she says the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Experts say there's a very real link between GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro and gallbladder problems, especially gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder.
In fact, so many patients report it that the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency lists gallbladder issues as a known side effect of drugs like Mounjaro.
Rapid weight loss, especially more than 1.5kg (3.3lbs) a week, increases your risk of developing gallstones.
That's because your liver pumps out more cholesterol when you lose weight quickly, and that cholesterol can crystallise in your gallbladder.
Combine that with the fact that GLP-1s slow down digestion, including how often the gallbladder empties, and you've got a recipe for trouble.
So while these meds can deliver dramatic results, they're not without risks.
Doctors often recommend regular scans or blood tests, and say anyone experiencing sharp pain in the upper right side of their tummy, nausea, or fever should get checked out urgently.
Still, Em has no regrets. She says the gallbladder scare was a small price to pay for getting her life back.
Fat jabs hitting shelves soon
The so-called 'fat jab' revolution is officially under way and it could change the way Brits tackle weight loss for good.
For the first time ever, family doctors across England are now dishing out the powerful new weight-loss injection Mounjaro, as part of a major NHS shake-up to fight obesity.
The drug, which contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, is being dubbed the strongest slimming jab yet and more than three million people could be eligible to get it on prescription.
It's a landmark move in the war on waistlines, with obesity levels in England more than doubling since the 90s.
Until now, similar injections like Ozempic and Wegovy were mainly reserved for type 2 diabetics or available through pricey private clinics.
But from now on, GPs will be encouraged to prescribe them to those at greatest risk — a move health bosses hope will slash sick days, boost the economy, and help cut rates of cancer, heart disease and dementia.
Not everyone qualifies, though. Only those with the highest health risks are likely to get the green light.
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.'
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Top priority will go to patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more or 37.5 for people from certain ethnic backgrounds and who have at least four obesity-linked health conditions.
That includes things like high blood pressure, cholesterol, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea and heart disease.
Doctors are also expected to check whether patients have first tried to lose weight through diet and exercise before offering the jab.
Despite the huge hype, not all GPs will be able to hand them out and even if you qualify, you might be told to wait or referred to a specialist clinic instead.
Experts are warning that while the jabs can be a game-changer, they're not a magic fix.
Side effects can range from mild nausea to more serious complications, and not everyone will tolerate them well.
And with demand through the roof, many Brits are turning to the private route.
Of course, always remember that too-good-to-be-true prices, quick-check applications and zero aftercare are all major warning signs.
Experts say if you are thinking about going private, do your homework and don't gamble with your health for a quick fix.