I've Baffled The Dr's - Anyone else gain weight on Met?

MelissaE · 05-03-2006, 11:31 PM

Hi All!

Just found this site - lot of great info here. It's nice to know I'm not alone. The one thing I do feel a little bit alone on and have baffled the Dr's with is the fact that after starting Met in Oct. 05, I've gained a total of 18 pounds and am pretty much hungry all the time. Weird, huh?

My Endo has been a specialist for Diabetes and PCOS for 18 years and has NEVER heard of anyone gaining weight or feeling hungry while taking Met. He was actually angry with me on my last checkup b/c of the weight gain. I have been watching what I eat since I started taking it - anywhere from 1200-1500 cals a day - more protein than carbs (the good ones) and still gained that much weight, still hungry most of the time.

My pharmacist says he's never heard of anyone going through this either. I know it's not normal for those on the drug, but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced weight gain while taking Met? If so, were you able to do anything about it? Anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Have a good one,

Melissa

deblynnc · 05-04-2006, 12:26 AM

I've never heard of this before, either. What dose are you on? It could be you need to increase it.

Good luck!

Debbie

Boiler · 05-04-2006, 01:13 AM

I'm right there with you!

This is the very reason I decided to see Dr. Glueck in Cincy 2 weeks ago who is a true PCOS specialist. I wrote him w/these concerns, and he quickly responded with some positive information. I immediately booked an appointment with him. I've been on met (Fortamet ER--2000 mg/day) since October 2003, and I, too, have gained weight while continuing to be strict with my diet. I had lost 75 lbs pre-diagnosis with a low-carb lifestyle which I have maintained with the exception of these added pounds.

I can't even stress how frustrating it has been to gain back 15-20 lbs for no apparent reason! I'm still awaiting my lab results, but he immediately increased my dosage to 2500 mg/day, and it is now staggered throughout the day. If this doesn't work, he has a couple of more ideas to try, but he assured me "we can fix this."

My RE seems to only be concerned with the "fertility" benefits of the met, and since AF has been completely regulated, it must be "working" to her satisfaction. I was so disappointed at my annual exam in January (where NO bloodwork was ordered by her) because she really wasn't "hearing" me regarding my weight gain concerns. My fingers are still crossed with the new course of treatment. Time will tell!

Pattyannruss · 05-04-2006, 03:43 AM

I also gained weight.
One example is the "always hungry" feeling. That is a sign of anxiety that is a "rare" side effect of the met/gluc. I think I would eat more due to the "hunger like nausia" (did that make sense to you?)

All I can think is since it is a "sensitizer" it "may" not be working on me like it does other people. If it is suposed to make your body be more sensitive to the insulin to help it work more efficiant, wouldn't it make the fat develope just as fast if the body is still producing too much insulin?

So in other words...
Pancris is over pumping insulin, but we are not diabetic yet because the pancris is still producing.

Then Insulin resistance forms. The body can not process the amount of insulin being made.

The body then makes fat with all the left over insulin.

So even though we control our diet and calories. There is stil an odd "glitch" that turns every calorie into insulin to the point the body just can not keep up.

So how is this treated?

Then add on muscle pain that restricts movement to the point of having trouble walking. Imagine reaching out to pick something up, only to have your back lock up in a knot to where you can't move! It is terifying!

I don't know if that helped or not...but you are not alone!

teachergal · 05-04-2006, 10:37 PM

I have gained weight on met too! I am a thin cyster and my doc almost wouldn't prescribe met, since I am TTC and he didn't want me to lose any weight. But I wanted to try met before clomid, and the first few weeks I wasn't hungry at all but now I CRAVE carbs and have been eating more than usual. I've gained 5 pounds, which for me is a lot. I'm happy though, I'm hoping the weight gain and the met may make me ovulate!!! I hope! I hope!!

I just hope me EATING the carbs isn't going to mess me up- what do all of you experts think?

MelissaE · 05-05-2006, 03:11 AM

Thanks for the response. I'm so glad I'm not alone. It's nice to have a place to turn where the people understand what you are going through regarding this disease and all that goes along with it.

Debbie,
I have been on 1500mg ER since last October. My Dr. tried to increase me to 2000mg in December, but my blood sugar went so low that I almost went into shock. I hear that normally doesn't happen either, but I am one of those patients that I guess is really not the norm.

Boiler,
I know how frustrating this is. My Dr. put me on Met instead of trying any other treatment because we're ttc, too. He wants me to stay on it since it seems that I'm becoming more regular and everything else is balancing out, but I certainly didn't need the extra pounds. Good luck with your new dr and if anything new you try works, please let me know.

Pattyannruss,
I agree with you. I can't really call it a "hunger like nausea", mine is simply the stomach growling/burning feeling that you get when you've waited too long to eat. It's just that in my case, it comes on not long after I've eaten something. I don't have the back pain you mentioned, but I do have leg pain. If I ride in a car for more than an hour or simply walk through Wal-Mart, my calves are killing me by the time I'm done. On the upside, I spend less time in the shopping malls, etc. so it's easier on the pocketbook.

teachergal,
I'm right there with you. I crave carbs too, but I have to restrain myself because I don't need even one extra pound. I envy you being thin, but be careful what you wish for. I'm no expert, but I'd be careful of your blood sugar level if you're eating a lot of carbs. You may put on the weight you're looking for, but it could go too far and be extremely hard to get it off. Others may have a better answer to this.

I wish much luck to those of you trying to conceive. I was only diagnosed last fall, but suspected PCOS for over 4 years. Finally found a Dr. who took one look at me and my history and knew immediately what I had and what to do about it. We've been trying for a baby for 10 years now.

My Endo recommended me to an infertility specialist and my first appt with her was today. This is the first time I've seen one since I was diagnosed. (I've been to many others, but none knew I had PCOS) Since today was day 5 of my cycle, she started me on Chlomid. I go back next week for another ultrasound and possibly a shot, so I'm hoping for the best.

Have a good one

,

Melissa

101197 · 05-19-2006, 08:40 PM

I as well gained. I am hungry more often. Some days I cant eat very much, others I can eat a house. I;ve been on since Nov 05' and have gained about 7 lbs.

innkeepermommy · 05-21-2006, 06:30 PM

I've gained 9 lbs since last fall. I am starving ALL THE TIME. I just eat and eat and eat and any carbs in the house call my name until I devour them

guineapig · 05-22-2006, 11:33 PM

Yep. I gained back about half the weight I had lost the previous 6 mo, 10 lb or so. I also got worse acne, bad fatigue, worse hairloss, constipation, low libido, and NO ovulation or improvement in any of my symptoms. Also I felt like I had "space brain" the whole time. The doc threw up her hands at that point and suggested IVF. Shya, I don't think so $$$

A few months ago I doscovered DCI, another insulin-helper type treatment, and got bfp on 3rd cycle. Acne also got better, weight stopped gaining, was going back to normal FINALLY!! See sig or pm for details.

Met may just not be the IR med for you...there's herbals like DCI or NAC or chromium/cinnamon/IR-diet, etc, drugs like Avandia or Actos, and the new one Byetta.

I was on 850 of metformin and could never increase it b/c I would constantly throw up when I tried. I just hated it, personally. I was thin before metformin and average (at best) afterwards. I have been on IR diet for gosh, like 3.5 years now, including the time on met.

guineapig · 05-22-2006, 11:35 PM

I forgot to add, when I was on met my DHEA shot through the roof, double what they were before so it's no wonder I had the symptoms I did. Testosterone went up, too. But I wasn't on bcp (had copper IUD) so I don't know how met works for bcp.