melgp, I really appreciate your help! This information is very valuable to me. I thought it might be a little more helpful if I posted my most recent lab results. The first set of numbers was taken on Day 3 of my menstrual cycle in August, pre-bcp. The second set of numbers was taken just 2 weeks ago--four months after starting bcp and six weeks after decreasing my Fortamet dosage to 1000 mg. Both times, I was fasting.
Taking:
2000 mg Fortamet
100 mcg Synthroid
vitamins (multi, B-complex, calcium/magnesium, fish oil)
Glucose 97 mg/dl (range: 65–100)
Insulin 3 UIU/ml (range: 6-27)
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Taking:
Ovcon 35
1000 mg Fortamet
112 mcg Synthroid
vitamins (same as before)
Glucose 79 mg/dl (range: 65-100)
Insulin <2 UIU/ml (range: 6-27)
Without much change in diet or exercise--both of which leave a lot to be desired, to be perfectly honest-- it appears that starting bcp alone has decreased my fasting glucose level rather significantly. (And, that's even with me taking half the amount of Fortamet I was previously taking.) But, it has also decreased my fasting insulin level, which is now even farther below the "normal" range. I still do not know if this is a real issue, or not; but, my RE who performed these tests now wants to decrease my Fortamet to 500mg, then retest in 6 weeks. I suspect that I may be able to go off the Fortamet completely.
If I have somehow "reversed" the IR, I do believe it is because of bcp. When I started taking Fortamet years ago, it initially seemed to work wonders. But, over time, my testosterone level kept creeping up and the Fortamet seemed less effective at controlling my PCOS/hyperandrogen symptoms. I have not had my testosterone level rechecked since starting bcp, but a lot of my nagging symptoms (hirsutism, acne, scalp hair loss, anxiety) have significantly improved. Maybe there is more of a connection between elevated androgens and IR than I thought...
Any other feedback you have is much appreciated! Sounds like I need to get my hands on a copy of this book you have, too. What is the name of it, melgp? |