Early PG symptoms or Metformin side effects from weight loss?

KcJen80WI · 09-15-2009, 04:40 PM

I posted this on the infertility msg board but thought it my help to post my question here as well...

I'm new to SoulCysters and am looking for some advice. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 13 years ago. Joined Weight Watchers for the fourth time on 8/5/09. As of last Thursday I've lost 18.6 lbs. This is the first time that I've been on WW that I've been paying close attention to eating a "PCOS friendly" diet.

Around the time that I was at 15lbs weight loss (about two weeks ago) I started noticing that I was feeling nauseated in the mornings (along with occassionally having other side effects of an upset tummy). Lots of headaches, crazy mood swings, dizziness and lots of fatigue. This past weekend and into this week I've noticed some very mild cramping. I'm scared of taking a home PG test b/c I'm so tired of the let down you get when you see the negative results. My last period ended on 8/15/09 which was induced by progesterone. I haven't had a cycle on my own since high school (I'm approaching 30).

Am I crazy to think that these could be early pregnancy symptoms? Could this just be signs that my Metformin dosage needs to be potentially lowered due to my weight loss? I don't have overly sore breasts (a very common PG symptom in my family). However about a week or two before these symptoms started I had very very slippery mucus for a day or two. Having taken NFP classes I remembered that it could be a sign of ovulation. My DH and I have been trying naturally. I'm finishing "PCOS and Your Fertility" by Colette Harris and I understand that your cycle and ovulation can spontaneously start up from weight loss (especially after 5% weight loss which I hit three weeks ago).

I'm really interested to hear thoughts and advice from those who have been here before. I appreciate your insight!

Zanetta · 09-15-2009, 05:21 PM

I had a similar experience earlier in the year when I did the low carb diet for a few months. I was dizzy, weak, and nauseated every morning. I thought that I might be pregnant, but it turned out to be the diet. Perhaps you are losing to fast?

KcJen80WI · 09-15-2009, 05:30 PM

Good point - I just left a msg at my doctor's office. According to Weight Watchers the healthy rate of loss is no more than an average of 2lbs per week (which I have obviously exceeded). This is my fourth go at WW and I always seem to lose this fast during the first few months. We're monitoring it to determine next steps. Thanks for the insight!

andieromano · 09-16-2009, 10:40 PM

Haven't been on Met with WW, but I can say that with either, I've been dizzy with too quick weightloss. Esp w/lower carb diet. Good luck!

duramater · 09-17-2009, 11:38 AM

On the other hand.... I just started taking metformin during the 2WW (I'm a thin cyster) and found I felt queasy whenever I didn't eat for a few hours, plus felt constipated and constantly thirsty. I blamed it all on metformin and it turned out I was pregnant.

If your symptoms have changed, I think you could be too! My breasts are barely sore at all, and usually they are horrible during most of the 2WW.

Still don't know what was caused by what - I'm still on met and still feeling queasy, constipated, thirsty.

duramater · 09-17-2009, 11:39 AM

(Also, very rapid weight loss is often okay at the start of a diet, because it tends to be water weight. I would suspect that, especially if you're switching to a low carb/low glycemic index diet.)