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Bethwyn · 02-01-2007, 04:19 AM

Before Met I had very irregular cycles. Sometimes I wouldn't get AF for 6 months at a time. Not very helpful when trying to TTC. I had put on a lot of weight (about 80lbs), had thinning hair, skin problems, life long depression that I needed medication to control, and life just sucked. I'd also had three chemical pregnancies/early miscarriages, and I was pretty sure that it was from not being medicated for the PCOS.

I was finally diagnosed, after about 8 months of harrassing several different Dr's, in Dec 2005. I stated on 500mg and moved up to 1700mg (850mg twice a day). I was lucky and didn't really get that many side effects, the main one I had was extreme fatigue that lasted a few days after every doseage increase. I did have to watch what I ate though, otherwise I would end up with diahrrea or constipation, bloating and nausea, but it was stuff that I shouldn't be eating anyway.

I started the Metformin at the very end of a 6 month cycle. I literally got AF the day after I started it (not from the Met, just excellent timing), and the change in my cycles was immediately evident. I went from anovulatory and long, to showing ovulation and having the "perfect" 28 day cycle. It was amazing to see the changes in my cycle. I had never been so regular off BCP and I loved the way my charts started looking and that I was no longer sitting around waiting and wondering if/when AF would show. I got renewed hope for TTC after that. I also noticed a change with my body and weight too. In three months, with the help of Weight Watchers and doing moderate exercise, I lost 33lbs without really feeling like I was doing that much. It was the first time I had lost weight in many years. I got discouraged after a while though and got slack with the WW and exercise, but I didn't put on weight again, which totally amazed me.

The biggest thing about Metformin for me was that after 22 months of TTC and three early losses I got pregnant, and to my surprise, stayed pregnant. I used Soy to help and OTC progesterone cream as well. I stayed on the Met until I was around 13 weeks, by which time I was dying to get off it as it was really making me sick. Something about being pregnant really increased the side-effects, and I was forever sick with stomach upsets. Once I stopped the Met I felt a lot better. I'm due to have a c-section in about 11 days and I really cannot wait to meet my little guy. I don't have plans yet for starting it again after being pregnant, I plan on breastfeeding, so I guess it will depend on my Dr, but I will definatly go back on it again before we start TTC#2.

So that's my story, I hope it gives someone a little bit of hope.