Okay sorry about the crazy subject line for this post, but I am very excited.
Okay I had my specialist appointment today. Went very very well although to be honest he seemed to think we were there to more or less deal with fertility issues which I think is his sort of thing. Hubby and I have only just started ttc though so really the visit wasn't for that. BUT, I more or less wanted to go along and talk about my pcos and getting put on metformin.
I originally went to my GP *UK NHS* and she said that met wasn't licensed to use for pcos over here just yet and she wouldn't feel comfy prescribing it. But she leaned in close to me and said in a very nice way how she thought that it would eventually come to the forefront as the txmnt for pcos. However, she said I am reccomending you to a specialist and perhaps you can talk to him about it, so I think that was her clever way of helping me get put on this med.
Basically, I have to lose loads of weight, went in there armed with a daily diary of symptoms, a good knowledge about what is wrong with me and my body and me and doc agreed first thing to try was serious weight loss and a combo of met (if met was how I wanted to go). I told him I really wanted to try it and so he prescribed me 2 tabs daily at 850mg each (a total of 1700mg a day) is that high??? My dh is diabetic and takes met 3 x daily (1500 mg in total).
Anyways I just wanted to express my excitement at this and to also sort of get my name in the forum because I am sure throughout this journey there will be many more ?'s to come. Also, those of you who are taking met, have u coordinated with a diet and found some success? If so what sort of diet and what regime worked best for weight loss with the med?
Thanks cysters, look forward to hearing from ya!!!!
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so he prescribed me 2 tabs daily at 850mg each (a total of 1700mg a day) is that high???
Generally, the minumum effective dose is considered 1500 mg and the max that can be taken is 2550. So yours is reasonable. Did you Dr mention dosing slowly? Starting out with the full dose all at once, can make for nasty side effects, so I would discuss the option of dosing slowly..taking one pill a day and as your body can tolerate it, increasing.
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those of you who are taking met, have u coordinated with a diet and found some success? If so what sort of diet and what regime worked best for weight loss with the med?
Definetly. I have been low carbing on IR diet for 9 mos and exercising (walking, running & rollerblading) & taking met for 2 years. I've lost ~46 pounds (186 down to about 140). More importantly, my testosterone, insulin, free androgen cholestoral, have all normalized. My cycles are regular and I feel clear-headed and energetic again. I can't believe how different my life is, and I'm so glad i was patient enough to give Met the time it needed to work. It was slow but worth the wait.
You also mentioned Dr's treating your "fertility" issues. This is really common, Tangie. Most Dr's don't give a rip about your lack or periods etc until you are TTC. Apparently getting pg is all hormones are needed for. It's unfortunate that they don't see it as what it is...an ENDOCRINE disorder, not just a fertility disorder. I had to fight like crazy to get Met when I wasn't ttc, but thankfully I found a Dr that thinks I deserve healthy hormones when I'm not ttc. Hormones affect so much more than fertility...emotions, metabolism etc. {steps off soapbox}
Good luck, and WELCOME!
__________________ Christy
33 yrs, 1 precious hubby, 2 miracle kids, At Goal Wt for 4 yrs, Trygly's down 445 pts, Free Androgen down from 20 to 2, 3 half 'thons ran, 2 mtns hiked, 1 crazy run in the Rockies, 4 forest trail races, profiled in 2 magazines...1 woman determined to kick PCOS butt!
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Welcome Tangie! What a great appt! I'm so glad you had a dr that was willing to work the system and get you into a specialist. I agree with everything Christy said (she is so smart!). Dose slowly at first and definitely use some form of modified carbohydrate diet in conjunction with exercise... helps the MET work better/faster. I am doing the IR Diet and Weight Watchers and I am starting to see some weight loss for the first time in several years. It's pretty exciting. Good luck and post here often!
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Thanks so much for the advice ladies. I will look for a IR diet book today and see about beginning that. I just joined an amazing fitness facility on Tues this week. They have an indoor pool (essential for english weather), a steam room and sauna, a pretty state of the art gym with free weights area, cardio area (with built in entertainment in the form of 6 tv's with walkman type devices to listen to them with while working out - relief that I won't be the soul entertainment ha ha), classes that are free with membership (extending beyond aerobics which I couldn't do right now to things like body balance, pilates, stretching classes, body combat on up to high impact aerobics) and on the top level they have a hair salon/beauty txtmnts section called the sensory. I have my induction Friday.
SOOOOO hopefully with the new gym membrshp and met with an IR diet I can start to see results. Good advice about taking them slowly because (I am not joking here) after taking my first one last night, I was (sorry if TMI) SO gassy. Luckily hubby is on it himself so I am used to knowing what the normal side effects are - ie I have endured his horrific smells LOL.
Chris, you should continue to add pics to your postings, your original piccy reminds me sooo much of me right now and to see your after pic is absolutely encouraging. You look fantastic, you have a real healthy look about you (if that makes sense, ie, your skin and such). Keep up the great work.
In the meantime today, I am off to have a facial and get my nails done and visit the bookshop (it's me time he he). Take care and thanks for the great advice.
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Thanks, Tangie...I will. My Dh is supposed to pick up some new pictures today from the developer, and then I hope to take some in to get scanned (no scanner here ). I'm about 10 pounds or so down from that last one, and I can see a difference. I'm anxious to get an updated photo.
__________________ Christy
33 yrs, 1 precious hubby, 2 miracle kids, At Goal Wt for 4 yrs, Trygly's down 445 pts, Free Androgen down from 20 to 2, 3 half 'thons ran, 2 mtns hiked, 1 crazy run in the Rockies, 4 forest trail races, profiled in 2 magazines...1 woman determined to kick PCOS butt!
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I am excited for you...and I hope you have as much success with it as I have had. The first thing I will tell you is, most definitely, diet in combo with met makes a difference!!!! From my own experience, I have found that if you are willing to make the lifestyle change to eat a lower carb diet, exercise, and the met, you will see the best results you can. You gotta make the commitment and meet the drug halfway. Eating a lower carb diet helps the drug do all it can for you. I wish you all the best, and keep us posted on your progress!
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Metformin Baby YEAH! 
It's unfortunate that they don't see it as what it is...an ENDOCRINE disorder, not just a fertility disorder. I had to fight like crazy to get Met when I wasn't ttc, but thankfully I found a Dr that thinks I deserve healthy hormones when I'm not ttc. 
). I'm about 10 pounds or so down from that last one, and I can see a difference. I'm anxious to get an updated photo. 
From my own experience, I have found that if you are willing to make the lifestyle change to eat a lower carb diet, exercise, and the met, you will see the best results you can. You gotta make the commitment and meet the drug halfway. Eating a lower carb diet helps the drug do all it can for you. I wish you all the best, and keep us posted on your progress!
