Has anyone not seen success on Met but got AF regulated some other way?

Statlady · 03-23-2004, 01:53 PM

I've been on Gluc for a year now and it has done nothing for me except helped me drop about 5 lbs. (Wellbutrin helped there, too), made my blood sugar *feel* more stable (although I'm not technically IR), and made my fingernails strong (weird, huh). I haven't had a single spontaneous AF since going off BCP nearly 2 years ago.

So, I'm wondering if there is anyone who had no success regulating AF on Gluc who restored AF/got pregnant some other way (Vitex, Clomid, diet, etc.). If so, please share what you did. I just don't know what to do now.

Statlady · 03-23-2004, 01:55 PM

I forgot to mention that I follow the IR Diet (more or less). I try to limit myself to 30g carbs per meal. I eat whole wheat bread and brown rice, but I'm not willing to give up pasta or potatoes (unless I get desparate!).

sonshine_rae · 03-23-2004, 10:33 PM

I don't know if this relates to you or not..

but I had problems since menarche... and that was at 11.. now I'm 20 and finally under-going treatment. My body didn't respond to the original Avandamet (combo med Avandia & Metformin) the way he'd hoped... my Testerone has dropped nicely but my estrogen didn't respond by rising.. and my progesterone is very low.

His response is that he's dealt with this before and that it could be years before my body got around to ovulating properly on it's own. I have anovulatory cycles.. that are still irregular and go from one extreme to another (barely there, or really hard back an forth).

His recommendation is Hormone Replacement Therapy.....

I've agreed to try it for 30 days.... and have more labs done to see how I respond.

You might check into having something additional like that added to your Metformin.. I'm still on Avandamet.. it's doing wonders for my blood sugar.. an some hormonal changes but not the ones that are really needed yet.

~Rae~

Statlady · 03-24-2004, 12:05 PM

Thanks sonshine_rae. My RE talked about the possibilty of other insulin sentsetizing drugs, but since I am TTC (sort of) he didn't want to use them. At least I think that's what he said . . . . . I'm going to try Vitex for the next several weeks and then probably go on to Clomid.

For some reason, Clomid scares me. If anyone else has any ideas for me, I'd love to hear them.

nicola · 03-24-2004, 05:29 PM

hi

If the thought of clomid scares you why not try soy or licourice to try induce `o` Have a look at the "thinking about clomid give soy a try on the alt rem board.

HTH

nikki

sonshine_rae · 03-24-2004, 06:00 PM

Just wanted to add..

the Hormone Replacement Therapy.. my Doc is putting me on is natural.. and completely safe for pregnancy... so being TTC (as I am as well) isn't dangerous at all while doing this.

just fyi,
~Rae~

Statlady · 03-25-2004, 01:46 PM

The only context in which I've heard the term "hormone replacement therapy" is treatment for menopause. I also recall hearing recently that it increases one's risk for all kinds of nasty things. Are you talking about the same thing? It doesn't sound like it from your message.

Also (this is somewhat unrelated), I talked to DH last night and he seems to recall that the RE didn't say that the insulin-sensitizing drugs are bad if one is TTC, but rather that they wouldn't work for me since Glucophage didn't work and I didn't test IR when I had my original blood work done.

nicola · 03-25-2004, 08:26 PM

Hi
I was wondering the same
Is it HRT for the menopause that your Doc is putting you on.
I have just finished a 6 month course of them they are brilliant for making AF show up.What they actually are supposed to do is raise the levels of your normal hormones.I have low estrogen level which is why i was put on them.
They didn't work for me the first month but did after that (the last month on them went to pot though i had 2 Af in 2 weeks then 2 lots of spotting than another AF)
I was also told they were safe in pg.

nikki

mimicybele · 03-26-2004, 01:43 PM

I used Met for 6 months and had no response. I have no weight problems and am not IR. I was just as polycyctic as ever on met...

My new doctor doesn't think there is a reason to be on met if you're not IR. For me, I agree. In any case, I have done two cycles of Clomid with Gonal-F and ovulated both times. I haven't gotten pregnant, but have ovulated. I never ever ovulate on my own. If this method doesn't work I will probably start IVF. I guess everyone is just very different and responds differently to the drugs. I believe in alternative drugs, but I think my ovulation problems are too sensitive for the vagueness of herbs and such.

sarahr · 04-02-2004, 06:03 AM

Hi! There seem ot be so many different opinions from drs and others... i'ts good to hear them all! I have a dr who doesn't believe in met if, like me, you're thin and don't have a family history of diabetes... I'm happy to try clomid instead to o but what worries me is the high risk of m/c. i've heard met can help with this, not just with helping you to o... so I'm not sure if I want to do clomid without it. any advice?
Thanks!
Sarah

Statlady · 04-05-2004, 06:42 PM

My doctor wants me to stay on the Gluc if I do Clomid. He says that the combination has been shown to be more effective for women with PCOS than Clomid alone. He didn't mention anything about m/c, though. I've heard that if you take Gluc for the 1st trimester your m/c risk goes down, but I don't really know anything about that.

Chrissy · 04-25-2004, 12:24 PM

Why are you afraid of Clomid? It was my miracle drug to get pregnant with my two children. Everything has side effects. I am sure today if I tried to get pregnant again they would use met and clomid together. Best of luck to you!

Statlady · 05-12-2004, 04:18 PM

It's been awhile since I've been on the boards, so I just noticed this new reply. I have no idea why I'm afraid of Clomid . . . . I just am! I have to call my doctor soon to get the prescription b/c Vitex didn't do anything (although, I didn't use it for very long). Right now I'm taking Prometrium to induce AF. I wish I felt better about this whole thing . . . . .

Chrissy · 05-13-2004, 11:58 PM

I used provera to induce period and then took clomid days 3-7. I got pregnant month one the first time but the next pregnancy took a few months. I did up my dose to 2 pills a day the second time. I loved Clomid because if I wasn't pregnant I got my period by day 30 and could begin again. This usually happens and you don't sit around for months wondering what is going on. I also used ovulation pred. kits.

I did have side affect on the clomid but then when have I not had side affects from a medication. At least this one brought me my children. Best of luck to you. I know it can be very scary and I felt very nervous too. Best of luck to you and hopefully soon you'll have some positive news!!!

Statlady · 05-25-2004, 12:17 PM

I just wanted to post an update. I took my first dose of Clomid last night. So far I feel completely normal. I am a little tired, but that's more likely because I got less than 7 hours of sleep last night.

There's no going back now! (okay, yes there is, but I'm not going to spend $30 on Clomid and not take advantage of it) Wish me luck!