Metformin and IBS

reubenthetadpole · 05-11-2008, 03:10 PM

I was on Metformin about three years ago. It was what I needed to begin a loss of 40 lbs that I had stuck on for 3 years. I was exercising, dieting, all sorts of stuff but didn't lose a pound until the met.

ANYWAY, I did have GI issues with it. Some days, no problem, some days--good lord.

My plan is to go back on the Met (in fact, the Rx is at Walmart as we speak), but I am concerned about the GI issues mainly because in the interim, I was diagnosed with IBS, a condition discovered after I spent most of Oct and Nov of last year incapacitated and unable to eat anything but crackers. My concern is that since my GI problems have gotten worse since the last time I was on met, they will be especially bad on this round. So, does anyone else have IBS (or comparable condition) and PCOS and is using met? What do you do to help with the side effects?

I'm especially concerned because the IBS forces me to limit the protein (mainly meat) that I eat as well as raw veg and fruit because they can wreak major havoc on my innards...and I know that met requires you to watch the carbs you eat--an unfortunate fact cos that composes most of my diet.

Thanks, yo!

Eva37 · 05-12-2008, 09:49 AM

i have ibs and take met. I find that as long as i avoid greasy/fatty/sugar foods as much as poss and always eat with the met i am ok. But i cant eat lettice, or the skin on cucumber any more
eva

novachick · 05-12-2008, 03:08 PM

Doc just diagnosed me with IBS (at least that's the going theory). I've had IBS-D symptoms for about 5 years. I've found that Met's actually made them better, go figure. Still constant potty troubles, but the cramping and urgency along with it decreased.

Doc told me on Thursday to try Activia (the yogurt) 'cause there's some suspicion that some IBS is caused by intestinal flora gone nuts. I also had some acid reflux and started Prilosec OTC. Eaten one cup of yogurt each day and taken my Prilosec, and my symptoms have not resumed since. I hope they stay that way---the IBS likes to take little breaks here and there, but I can't imagine they'd coincide perfectly with starting the Activia. I don't care if it's a placebo, if it works I'm happy.

obuphio · 05-13-2008, 09:38 PM

I was recently diagnosed with IBS and was having severe symptoms, but then I was off of Met for about a week due to having a CT scan to make sure it wasn't my gallbladder (it wasn't). After resuming my Met it hasn't gotten any worse (or really much better). My doctor told me to also take fiber ever day (FYI - I do NOT have the constipation problem that sometimes goes with IBS lol) and that seems to actually help. Anyway...I don't think for me Met makes any difference in the IBS, but everyone is different.

eeyore1978 · 05-13-2008, 09:58 PM

I have IBS and take Met as well. Unfortunately, I have to run to the bathroom several times a day and I've been on Met since mid-January. I just spoke to my doctor the other day and he told me that part of the reason the Met s/e aren't getting any better could be because I have IBS with a tendancy for diahrrea. There is something called Colestid that I took when I had to travel for an entire day and it stopped my diahrrea for about 24 hours. I got it from my doctor back when I had just been diagnosed with IBS. It is a cholesterol medicine that also works to stop diahrrea as it absorbs the extra liquid/bile in your stomach. This was a lifesaver for me after I had my gallbladder taken out. I do not find that OTC drugs, such as Immodium AD have been much help for me. Any yogurt, fatty foods, and veggies seem to make it worse. I understand what you mean when you said your diet mostly consists of carbs. I have the same problem!! I don't really like meat and everything else runs right through me!!

05-11-2008, 03:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
reubenthetadpole Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 12 My Mood: Points: 410.13 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 410.13 Donate	Metformin and IBS I was on Metformin about three years ago. It was what I needed to begin a loss of 40 lbs that I had stuck on for 3 years. I was exercising, dieting, all sorts of stuff but didn't lose a pound until the met. ANYWAY, I did have GI issues with it. Some days, no problem, some days--good lord. My plan is to go back on the Met (in fact, the Rx is at Walmart as we speak), but I am concerned about the GI issues mainly because in the interim, I was diagnosed with IBS, a condition discovered after I spent most of Oct and Nov of last year incapacitated and unable to eat anything but crackers. My concern is that since my GI problems have gotten worse since the last time I was on met, they will be especially bad on this round. So, does anyone else have IBS (or comparable condition) and PCOS and is using met? What do you do to help with the side effects? I'm especially concerned because the IBS forces me to limit the protein (mainly meat) that I eat as well as raw veg and fruit because they can wreak major havoc on my innards...and I know that met requires you to watch the carbs you eat--an unfortunate fact cos that composes most of my diet. Thanks, yo! __________________ Stef Diagnosed with PCOS in 1999 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Biscuit, the Wonder Pom To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-12-2008, 09:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
Eva37 UK Mod Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: South Wales Posts: 12,572 My Mood: Points: 21,598.97 Bank: 1,041,115.92 Total Points: 1,062,714.89 Donate	i have ibs and take met. I find that as long as i avoid greasy/fatty/sugar foods as much as poss and always eat with the met i am ok. But i cant eat lettice, or the skin on cucumber any more eva __________________ PCOS, LOCAH, Lichen Planus, IBS, HS,alopecia - raised bp/ cholesteral. Wheat and dairy intollerance Meds: Spiro, Bendrofluazide, Amlodopine, Simvastatin, Met, Prednisolone, Mirena iud, Colpermin multi vits, Me - 41, hubby 36 son 11. Married 14 years She is buffeted by the wind, but she does not sink. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-12-2008, 03:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
novachick Sleepy Cyster Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 136 My Mood: Points: 5,247.88 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 5,247.88 Donate	Doc just diagnosed me with IBS (at least that's the going theory). I've had IBS-D symptoms for about 5 years. I've found that Met's actually made them better, go figure. Still constant potty troubles, but the cramping and urgency along with it decreased. Doc told me on Thursday to try Activia (the yogurt) 'cause there's some suspicion that some IBS is caused by intestinal flora gone nuts. I also had some acid reflux and started Prilosec OTC. Eaten one cup of yogurt each day and taken my Prilosec, and my symptoms have not resumed since. I hope they stay that way---the IBS likes to take little breaks here and there, but I can't imagine they'd coincide perfectly with starting the Activia. I don't care if it's a placebo, if it works I'm happy. __________________ Kt (26) dx: PCOS - July 2007, IR/Pre-diabetic - September 2007 Currently on: Yaz, Met 2x1000mg/day Not TTC, no DH, just me! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Of course the game is rigged. Don't let that stop you--if you don't play, you can't win. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-13-2008, 09:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
obuphio it's an odd, odd world. Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 351 My Mood: Points: 6,109.08 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 6,109.08 Donate	I was recently diagnosed with IBS and was having severe symptoms, but then I was off of Met for about a week due to having a CT scan to make sure it wasn't my gallbladder (it wasn't). After resuming my Met it hasn't gotten any worse (or really much better). My doctor told me to also take fiber ever day (FYI - I do NOT have the constipation problem that sometimes goes with IBS lol) and that seems to actually help. Anyway...I don't think for me Met makes any difference in the IBS, but everyone is different. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. No diet will remove all the fat from your body because the brain is entirely fat. Without a brain, you might look good, but all you could do is run for public office. ~ George Bernard Shaw --------------------------------------------------- Humor is merely tragedy standing on its head with its pants torn.~ Irvin S. Cobb To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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05-13-2008, 09:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
eeyore1978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 58 My Mood: Points: 1,410.37 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 1,410.37 Donate	I have IBS and take Met as well. Unfortunately, I have to run to the bathroom several times a day and I've been on Met since mid-January. I just spoke to my doctor the other day and he told me that part of the reason the Met s/e aren't getting any better could be because I have IBS with a tendancy for diahrrea. There is something called Colestid that I took when I had to travel for an entire day and it stopped my diahrrea for about 24 hours. I got it from my doctor back when I had just been diagnosed with IBS. It is a cholesterol medicine that also works to stop diahrrea as it absorbs the extra liquid/bile in your stomach. This was a lifesaver for me after I had my gallbladder taken out. I do not find that OTC drugs, such as Immodium AD have been much help for me. Any yogurt, fatty foods, and veggies seem to make it worse. I understand what you mean when you said your diet mostly consists of carbs. I have the same problem!! I don't really like meat and everything else runs right through me!!