? about Metformin and normal insulin. Any advice would be great!

jacksmom · 07-09-2004, 03:45 PM

I have PCOS, but since having my son, two years ago, some of the symptoms have disappeared (no longer have the 'string of pearls' on my ovary, get AF on my own, ovulate each month (But it's considered a 'weak' ovulation, etc). What I do have a problem with is losing weight. I can gain weight easily and tend to have a hard time losing it. But, I am currently following a low fat/low calorie diet and steadily losing weight.

Last summer my RE wanted to put me on Metformin, as I told him in the future we were thinking about TTC and my weight loss is SO slow. . He gave me a prescription for it, before my all of my blood work came back.

I took the metformin and I was SO out of it. I fell asleep during the day, got really shakey, felt like I was in a daze, etc. I called the nurse and she said it sounds like low blood sugar. Had me drink orange juice and eat some candy. . I felt fine after that.
Got my blood work back and it turns out my fasting insulin levels were fine/normal. So, I stopped the MEt.

Now, a year later, my Dh and I are trying baby #2. I just got off the pill in March. I am ovulating, but it's 'weak' - my prog. #"s were a 6.1, 4.9. 7.5, etc. . I guess a 10 is normal for ovulation.

I decided to take clomid this month. GOing in on Monday for a prog. test.

THe nurse mentioned to me though that next month I can try clomid and met. together.
I told her I didn't handle it well. .

So, long story short: Is it normal to take Met. if your insulin levels are normal?? why is my re and the nurse pushing it, if my test came back normal
Can it hurt if I take it with the clomid?
Is there really any need for me to be on it, as I don't seem to be insulin resistant?
Also, I think the only pcos symptom I have is that my Lh and Fsh ratio (something like that) is 2:1. . can't exactly remember.

can pcos get better if you have a child? b/c since having my son, my body seems 'normal' - before him I had lots of cysts, irregular periods, etc etc. . .

Or, is everyone with PCOS insulin resistant?
I tend to lose weight with low fat/low cal instead of low carb - which makes me sick and kind of shakey.
Any type of info/advice would be much appreciated!.
Thanks in advance,

JEnnifer

christyz · 07-09-2004, 05:11 PM

Is it normal to take Met. if your insulin levels are normal?? why is my re and the nurse pushing it, if my test came back normal

The reason so many Dr's persue Met therapy despite 'normal' or 'borderline' insulin tests, is because studies are showing that most women with PCOS have IR, but their lab test are not sensitive enough to pick it up. My labs were always borderline, but my Dr knew that I had ~16/18 markers of IR, so he perscribed it anyway. It was a slow process, but it was obvious from my response to the met combined with IR diet and exercise that I had insulin issues, even though my labs didn't show it. There is some studies on this in the FAQ thread at the top of the Metformin page if you want to read more.

Can it hurt if I take it with the clomid?

Lots of ladies have success with both of the drugs together, but sometimes they do a 3 or 6 month trial of met alone before progressing to other drugs too, because they can avoid giving you multiple drugs to affect hormones at once, and met can often do the job by itself. As someone who was on clomid before I was diagnosed, let me tell you, clomid is really harsh. It's like PMS 100-fold and had I known then what I know now about how met would work for me given time, I would have just done met...but that's just my experience. Ultimately, you need to decide for yourself what route you want to take, but having been on clomid, i always tell other PCOS ladies to try and see if the met will do it alone first and avoid the wild hormones of clomid.

Check out the FAQ thread on this topic too, because there are some really promising studies on conception and metformin with clomid.

can pcos get better if you have a child? b/c since having my son, my body seems 'normal' - before him I had lots of cysts, irregular periods, etc etc.

The thing is, you've been on the pill which synthetically regulates all your hormones, so it's how your body does on it's own with your hormones that's the true test of how well your symptoms are managed. Time will tell and maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones and if those O's get stronger.

I tend to lose weight with low fat/low cal instead of low carb - which makes me sick and kind of shakey.

I can't do strict low carb either. I have you ever checked out "the Insulin-Resistance" diet? It is a diet about manging insulin levels and it has worked very well for me. It involves eating protein (which won't spike insulin) with carbs to keep your insulin as steady as possible, and it made a huge difference in my periods and O, as well as my weight loss and bloodwork. There is lots of info on the diet/exercise forum if you'd like to read more. I also ate small meals often and it made a huge difference in how I felt...I rarely have blood sugar issues on met now.

Hope it helps...all the best TTC #2.

jacksmom · 07-10-2004, 01:42 PM

THank You both so much for such great responses! A lot of my questions were answered! I wish I could talk to you both in person, as you both seem to know a lot more about this than I do!!
Pcos is just complicated!

I might look into the met and try it once again, as it seems as if it would help with my 'weak ovulation'.

I have read some about the IR diet. Is it basically just pairing protein and carbs together?
If anyone does the IR diet, could you give me an idea of a typical day, what you eat. . . I might try and follow it along with WW -which I have been doing.

Again, thank you!
Jennifer

burbuhas · 07-10-2004, 02:12 PM

I just wanted to let you know that when I started on the met, I had the same problem as you. I got dizzy and light headed, I felt like I was going to pass out and sometimes I felt like I just couldn't think, like there was a fog over my brain, lol. I am not IR btw, at least, acording to the tests. It took my about 6 months for my body to adjust, since then, I haven't had a problem with it. I just started eating small meals throughout the day and I kept glucose tabs with me for those times when it would hit me fast. I have been on met for two years now and if possible, I will never give it up. After those first six month, I have been able to go back to eating "normally" with my family. Just wanted to let you know, hope that helps.

christyz · 07-10-2004, 04:07 PM

Quote:

I have read some about the IR diet. Is it basically just pairing protein and carbs together?

If you head to the diet and exercise forum,. there is a thread called DIET INFO that describes all the IR-friendly diets and gives sample menus. There is also a section on how to do the higher protien WW plan that combines the two, so definetly check it out.

Let me know if you have any questions.