18 months on Met

GoingCrazyInTX · 04-30-2003, 06:01 PM

I've been using Metformin for 18 months at 1500 mg but it never regulated me. I didn't become "regular" until I started using NPC. I did lose some weight at the beginning but as many of you know that could have been from the unpleasant side effects of getting used to the medicine.

My OB/GYN is the one who put me on the Met telling me I was insulin resistant. He also put me on Clomid but no O. He was not monitoring me very closely. I ended up going to see a RE and he increased my Clomid and monitored me closely. I still did not O and he said we were going to have to move on to injectables. We could not afford to continue so I stopped seeing the RE and I haven't seen my RE in 6 months or OB/GYN in over a year. My OB/GYN also did a couple of surgeries so we still owe him a lot of money.

OK, to my point. I had been still using the metformin and the pharmacy would call my OB/GYN doctor and get it refilled. This last week when the pharmacy called them they said that they wouldn't refill it until I called them. I called them and of course they wanted more money (understandable) but they also wanted to see me. OK, fine. I made an apt for the 15th of May. I needed to get my annual done anyways but I owed them so much I didn't want to go in. Well, here's what got to me. They won't refill the Metformin until I see the doctor. I've been on it for 18 months and I'm suppossed to just stop taking it. Shouldn't I wean myself. Is it OK to just stop taking it? The nurse was a little bitty and laughed at me when she asked, "Are you diabetic?" and I said no I'm insulin resistant. And she said, "So, ARE you diabetic?" She frustrated me so much I wanted to reach through the phone and strangle her!!!

She said if you are diabetic you need to see a specialist but since you aren't and you're just using the metformin to get pregnant them you don't "need" it. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a mind to slap her when I get there on the 15th. What's the big deal with giving me a half a month prescription? Hopefully stopping the Met so abruptly will be ok. What if I happened to actually O this cycle and I'm actually pregnant? Would stopping so suddenly cause my body to lose the baby if I am pregnant. Man this sucks!

Thanks for listening to me ramble. I'm good at rambling. Especially when ranting about something. Thanks!

sweeterthenmost · 04-30-2003, 07:08 PM

Praying
There is no evidence that stopping met suddenly is going to adversly affect u. If u are pregnant it won't cause u to miscarry. The only adverse effect would be if the met was helping to stabilize ur insulin levels, then they might start creeping back up.

When a person (man or woman) is on met it is important to be under a docs care and have routine bloodwork done to monitor liver function, kidney function etc. That is possibly why ur doc needs to see u and won't "'script u blindly".

Hang in there, go to the docs appt and u should be fine with no met until then. (of course u may have to suffer through the side effects again if he puts u back on it)

As for the nurse, I think I would have a long chat with ur doctor about her attitiude and that perhaps if she is going to dispense medical advice on the phone, she needs to bone up on her facts, especially regarding insulin resistance and the use of met.

christyz · 04-30-2003, 08:16 PM

I agree...i think you need to see your Dr. You can update him on your situation, he can request your labs and perhaps you can talk him into a 6 month prescription for Met to do you for a longer period of time (And tell him his nurse needs to be taught the difference between diabetic and insulin resistant....if she can't discern the difference between these two opposites, she never should have graduated! SHEESH!).

Good luck, and let us know what you decide, ok?

GoingCrazyInTX · 04-30-2003, 09:26 PM

I definately think I should go to the doctor and be seen. It just makes me mad the way the nurse treated me and that they wouldn't give me half a months prescription to get me by until I saw the doc. I've been wanting to go see the doc but I owe him so much money that I can't pay that I had been putting it off. Don't get me wrong, I do think I need to see him. I actually had been thinking of trying to go off the met but I wanted to see the doctor first. Well, thanks ladies for responding. I'll let you know how I'm doing and how the apt goes. BYE!

Pattyannruss · 05-01-2003, 02:10 AM

Why not go see a new Dr?

Then you wouldn't have that stress on you.
Just a thought.

Good Luck,
Patty

GoingCrazyInTX · 05-01-2003, 02:19 AM

I've thought about it. I need to call and see if this doc takes my new insurance. They really aren't on top of everything that's for sure. I told them when I made my apt that my insurance had changed and then we got to talking about the met and they never asked me what the new insurance is. I can just see me going to the apt and then finding out that they aren't in the PPO network and having a big bill that I have to pay myself. As if I don't already owe them enough.