Metformin counter-productive for thin cysters?

KT1979 · 01-17-2003, 04:51 PM

I saw my doctor yesterday to discuss taking Metformin, and he seems to think that since I show absolutely no signs or being insulin resistent and had a perfectly normal blood glucose test done, that Metformin probably wouldn't benefit me. I had actually been wondering about this very thing for quite awhile already. If I'm not mistaken, Metformin is targeted at insulin resistence, right? I do agree with his assessment; I think it is very unlikely that I have insulin resistence. He also thought that given my current weight, which is 87 lbs., and the fact that the Metformin would probably make me sick as a dog and possibly cause me to lose even more weight, that it might actually be counter-productive for me. We definitely want to prevent more weight loss. Any thoughts?

youlittletart · 01-17-2003, 05:13 PM

Hi,
I am also a thin cyster...though compared to you I am a hefty amazon giant

at 5'11'' and 135 lb. My RE thinks I may be a touch IR, but hasn't tested my levels. He said he would put me on met regardless of whether I am IR or not. I think his reasoning is that it can be hard to detect IR if it is only slight and it could potentially shorten my cycles and increase my chances of conceiving.
That said I really don't want to go on it if I don't absolutely have to...so I am doing a moderate carb diet (not super low like atkins or anything) to see if I can shorten my cycle naturally by eliminating refined sugars as well as bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta. I haven't given up pasta and rice completely just switched to brown rice and quinoa pasta and only eat those carbs at dinner a couple of times a week. The rest of my carbs come from fruits at lunch and breakfast.
Maybe this would be an option for you- trying some version of a low carb diet to see if that would work. You would have to increase your proteins still to avoid losing weight. It would do the same that met would- but instead of making your insulin receptors more receptive and good at removing sugar from your blood...you would just be limiting foods that dump a lot of sugar into the blood at once.
Your weight seems really low for your height- are there other health issues that may be complicating things? Is it possible that your low weight is behind some of your mentstrual issues?
Jen

KT1979 · 01-17-2003, 07:53 PM

Thank you for your thoughts. According to a number of different doctors, my weight is not to blame for my menstrual irregularities. Given my weight history, I tend to agree with them. I never weighed more than 95lbs. all the way through high school, yet always had regular 30 day cycles. I never missed a period. When my daughter was conceived, I weighed about 90lbs, so my weight wasn't an issue then either. When my daughter was a year old, I dipped down to 87lbs., but still had regular 30 day cycles. A year later, when she turned 2, I was back up to 90lbs., but my cycles were starting to go a little haywire, getting progressively longer and longer. Things have continued to get worse from then on, with my cycles reaching 43 days before I started the Prometrium last Aug. It would seem that my flucuations in weight do not have any bearing on my cycles; it has to be something else. I have had a few doctors concerned about my weight, and have had numerous rounds of bloodwork to see if there was some sinister reason why I am so thin, but nothing has ever turned up. Again, thank you for your thoughts; I appreciate it.

youlittletart · 01-17-2003, 08:02 PM

Well, it is good that you can rule that out. I guess you probably aren't too much thinner than I am considering our height difference. Your at like 1 and 1/2 lbs. and inch and I am closer to 2 lbs. per inch. I have had menstrual irregularities in the past, but they have never been associated with weight either...all normal blood work. In high school I ate way more than I do now and I was 125. Guess I was still filling out! Never did get boobs, unfortunately

I would talk to your dr. about the benefits of modifying diet before really pressing him on the met.- particularly if your not terribly IR. If I do end up on it, I will be sure to let you know my experiences.
Jen

Kittycat · 01-17-2003, 08:52 PM

I have always been very small like you, although since Ive been marfried and got older Im now 5'2 at 115 lbs. I never weighed more than 98 lbs until I got married at 25.

I did not test for insulin resistamce either. Ive always had irregular periods, (in fact, I have about one period per year). After doing all the infertility drugs that I did, I actually started to get hypoglycemic, but defonately never had anything even resembling high sugars and my insulin levels tested low on my GTT. An investigating doctor DID end up finally finding that even though my insulin levels were low, in relation to my low sugar levels during the GTT, there was a measure of insluin resistance that would never have been detected by fasting insulin levels. I think that with most of us thin cysters, we do not have the high insulin levels.

I started taking metformin about 8 montns ago. It never regulated my cycles and Im taking 2000 mg a day. It did, however, make me feel like a new person. I feel much better after I eat on the metformin. Also, the hair growth REALLY slowed down. I always had alot of hair growth on my legs and a teeny bit of facial hair which I pluck. I always just accepted the hairy leg thing and shaved every single day to keep up with it. Well, as soon as I started taking he met that stopped.

There are many thin cysters who benefit from metformin. I don't think for one second that there is any such thing as non insulin resustant PCOS. There is an insulin connection with PCOS, although us thin cysters, who often have more "severe" and resistant cases of PCOS may have more factors.

I didn't get sick on glucophage and I didn't lose any weight. I think it's worth a try, because you never know if it might help or not. It could regulate your cycles, you never know. Good luck!

packerfan · 01-19-2003, 03:47 AM

I, too, never got sick on met or lost any weight. My doctor never tested me for IR. His feeling is the root of PCOS is some sort of insulin problem and the tests really don't prove too much. He has 2 sisters who have PCOS, so I tend to trust he knows what he is taking about.

I started met and actually conceived within 6 weeks although m/ced in Dec. I am waiting for my first AF after my m/c but really do believe in met.

Because we have PCOS, we are also more likely as we get older to develop high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol etc.. My doctor's thoughts are to get my insulin and hormones in check now, so maybe later on I won't develop these problems.

These are just some reasons I take met. Obviously it is a personal decision and if you are not comfortable taking the meds without believing in them it is probably something you shouldn't do. There is plenty of info out there supporting taking met and not taking met.

Good Luck!

sea_breeze · 01-19-2003, 03:57 AM

I am 5'7'' and only 105 pounds... I started out on 500mg of met a day and am now taking 1500mg a day. I now have regular cycles and ovulate. I have been PG 3 times (I lost all 3 to a genetic problem which was discovered this week).

Metformin has done nothing but good for me. I have to eat regularly to take it but I haven't lost weight being on it and I haven't had any of the bad side effects from it.

soya · 01-19-2003, 01:41 PM

Hi,
I don't really consider myself "thin" but average.I am 5'9'' and 140 lbs.My endo said she prescribes met for all her pcos patients,whether they are IR or not ,thin or average or overweight.It has does wonders at regulating my cycle,never really had a weight issue.

courtrn · 01-29-2003, 12:21 AM

I have enjoyed reading your posts and am learning more everyday about this disease. I too am thin-average 5'3 118pds and very fit. I was diagnosed in May and have been on gluc 1500mg a day. I am non-IR, mild hirstuism and no periods (i was on the pill prettymuch my whole life due to wacky cycles). Anyways, i wish i could say gluc is doing something for me. In actuality, i think it is making my symptoms worse. Since going on it in May, I have not had any periods without provera, no weightoss, no positive changes...but I have had 2 ovarian cysts, one had to be removed surgically, and have lots of pain in ovaries. I have no signs of endometriosis and my hair is falling out!!!! My testosterone has risen to 79 from41 as well!!!! The only reason I am continuing with it is because of the evidence that it helps clomid which i am starting next week!!!! ANy thoughts or ideas on my weird case? Thanks for listening and offering any advice!!!

KT1979 · 01-29-2003, 08:57 PM

Thank you all for your thoughts. I appreciate being able to read about other people's experiences

Cyster Sam · 02-03-2003, 09:15 AM

I definitely think metformin is worth a try even for thin, non IR cysters as it is believed that thin cysters can be sensitive to insulin. So insulin still causes a problem for them. But I also think that metformin for a thin cyster is not such a "wonder drug" as it can be for an obese, IR cyster.

My own personal experience with Met is that first time round I became pregnant after 6 weeks on it. This time, I've been on it for 4 months now and still haven't seen any sign of AF but my cystic acne has totally cleared up so I know it is doing me some good.

Sam