How long is long enough? (long one)

StephUk · 11-26-2002, 05:30 AM

Hello...I hope I can get some advice here.
I am on 1500mg Metformin (Gluc if I fill prescription at some pharmacies) and I was supposed to go back to my gynae after 3 months to see where to go from there, I couldnt make that appointment so now I have been on them for 5 months.
The first few months I felt sick and crampy alot so I went through around 2-3 weeks where I either didnt take them or just one a day and I felt okay....I decided to put everything into it though and have slowly gone back up to full dose, the thing is now that even after just one pill I am totally floored....I cant go far from home because of the very regular visits to the bathroom and O have taken to having to walk bent slightly to compensate for the cramping...and Im eating well also, Ive stopped eating junk food, no chocolate, nothing fried and even this isnt helping, I feel just as bad whatever I eat (I have to force ANYTHING down)....Im constantly tired also...Ive always been a sleepy kind of person due to the pcos and hypothyroidism...Im used to feeling kinda dopey, but now I could sleep 24/7 and still want more sleep....its getting terrible because I am no use to anyone and I look awful.
Anyone any idea if its a new reaction to Met? DH wants me to stop taking it cause of how I am with it but Im trying to keep going until Dec 10th when I see my gynae again. Im scared because I know she intends to up my dose and if Im this bad on 1500mg what I am going to be like on more, even double AND any other meds she wants to put me on!!!
Should I stop taking it and let her know it was too much for me or keep going and let her see how awful I am on it?
I just dont know when to say enough is enough...help!!!
Thanks in advance xx
Stephanie xx

claire75 · 11-26-2002, 05:51 AM

Steph........sorry you are feeling so ill.

How long have you been taking it again? If you had stopped it completely for a few week you could be going through the initial side effects of taking met again........I had the same problem as your describing for about the first month on met as have many of the other cysters. Then it all settles down.

claire xx

StephUk · 11-26-2002, 06:00 AM

Thanks for the reply, although my name is Stephanie, not Jane x
I never had these symptoms in the beginning, I felt sorta off but generally okay....I have worked slowly up this time as well but that doesnt seem to matter this time.
All in all I have been on it best part of 5 months...the time I was off it must have only been a week or two and I was still mainly taking one or two instead of the total three...I expected some side effects again but not to feel quite this bad...I feel just awful but thats other than just my tummy.
I would do a hpt but for the fact I just know Im not that lucky..I hate the way our bodies do this to us....if you think of my syptoms it so sounds like pregnancy....tiredness...increased nausea....swollen crampy stomach.....so Im taking it that its not a growing baby causing it all.
I dunno...I was craving liver and onions the other night (2.30am!!) so maybe Im a little low on iron.
I dunno....just wierd feeling and trying to wait til I see gynae to do anything about it....thanks for your reply xx
Stephanie

StephUk · 11-26-2002, 06:03 AM

Maaan I must be going nuts....I read your message and even when I was replying I would swear you called me Jane!!!!
I just posted my reply correcting you and noticed you never called me Jane at all.....jeez...now Im worried cause Im seeing things that arent even there!!!!

claire75 · 11-26-2002, 06:23 AM

lol........steph ur not going nuts....

I notice i`d typed the wrong name when I set my post so I went back in & changed it........in the mean time .....you posted yours

Its me thats going nuts!!

marmel24 · 11-26-2002, 11:51 AM

It took me about 3 months on my full dose of met (1700mg/day) before I felt ok again. I had pretty bad GI probs with it, and still do on occasion but it has gotten A LOT better! If you can suffer through the first few months, then the benefit will be worth it in the end. In any case, I think you should wait to see the doc since it is not so far away and see what they say. Good Luck! Melissa

Lublu · 11-26-2002, 12:57 PM

Oh the joys of met or gluchophage...I had serious gas cramps, pain and many trips to the bathroom when I was on met. Switching to glucophage helped a bit, but I still get sick in the mornings. I think i've gotten used to it, but talk to your doc Steph, those symptoms are harsh and maybe using gluch XR, which is time-released, may be a better option and help you tolerate it better?

~Sandra · 11-26-2002, 02:34 PM

I really feel for you.
I’ve been on Met for over 6 months and am still feeling AWFUL. I too hate to leave the house, drive for any distance and even ride the bus to work. It’s a horrible way to live. The only reason that I’m riding it out is because of how well it controls my sugars.
It really bothers me when people say that the side effects will go away after a bit. For some people they just don’t. You have to weigh the benefits with the side effects. For me, it’s delaying the possible onset of diabetes so it’s worth it for now. I would love to try the XR but it’s not available in Canada. See if it’s available where you are, it might make a difference.
Let us know what your doc says, maybe this med just isn’t for you. Ask about Avandia or Actos.

Sandra

StephUk · 11-26-2002, 04:05 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone.
For some reason here the pharmacies use whatever they have to fill the prescription so its chance what I get.
The symptoms wore off mostly and even the initial period of starting to take the full dose again wasnt too bad...its just suddenly it seems to be upsetting me.
Im very lucky in the fact that Im a housewife so I dont have the worry of work, so my only way around this is to give in to what my body is telling me to do and sleeping alot....which is getting annoying now, Ill rest and sleep as much as I need when Im pregnant but until then Id rathe that wears off.
Strange thing...they did the 3 hour GGT test and they said it was negative so Im not IR, I thought I would be because when I drink energy drinks or coffee or eat sugary foods I get soooo tired and thought that might have been a side effect of IR...but nope!
I am supposed to be being put on Clomid in December, my doc wants to go slowly slowly because of the nature of how my pcos is she thinks injection therapy will be very tough on me, but will try it after Clomid....but when I see her Im going to ask to miss Clomid, last try with that it never had any effect but to make me really ill...so gonna ask to skip that...I dunno...I was concerned why I felt so strange suddenly but someone has suggested that if my body is starting to work and the chemicals in my body are shifting balance then that may account for the new feelings....I guess I just have to wait until December 10th to know for sure.
Once again thanks for the replies xx
Stephanie xx