I have a couple of questions, so read on!!
I started last year on Metformin to treat my PCOS, as well as birth control
again to keep my periods regulated. The BC has worked great, no problems.
As soon as I started Metformin I realized a change in my overall physical
feeling, not enjoying food, feeling like my taste was muted, and generally
feeling kind of "blah". Without consulting my doctor, after about 7 months
I ceased taking Metformin and haven't had another blood work-up to test
my levels of insulin, glucose, FSH, cholesterol, etc. I feel better, in terms of
my overall physical feeling as well as being able to really TASTE and ENJOY
food for the first time in several months. I keep promising myself to start
an exercise regime, which I know can help with insulin resistance; I have
been cutting down on bad carbs (processed foods, white flour, white pasta,
etc.) I am vegan, which helps, and am researching
the benefits of a raw or mostly raw food vegan diet. I eat a great deal of
greens and tomatoes, along with soy products and high protein foods such
as vegetable protein (in the form of faux chicken/beef, etc.) I'm buying a
treadmill to keep an exercise regime consistent (I live in the city and don't
have a place I feel good enough about to walk by myself; walking on
sidewalks isn't possible either due to fumes and weather.) I'm planning
to find a doctor here in my new town and get myself checked out again
(blood work, blood pressure, etc.) My BC is still working wonderfully and I
have dropped a few pounds these past 3 months or so. I'm wondering,
however, how detrimental the ceasing of Metformin can be, given that I
am making dietary and physical activity changes at the same time???? Obvisously, if I eat horribly and never exercise, it can be detrimental, PCOS patient or not. If I balance my diet correctly, exercise regularly, I'm assuming my insulin resistance will balance itself as well. I loathe taking medication, especially with side-effects which affect my daily life, and if I can help myself on my own and get around having to take medication, I do and will. Does anyone have a similar experience of stopping medication to treat insulin resistance??? Does anyone have any suggestions? What about side effects from Metformin?
I am planning to make a doctor's appt. by the first of April to have bloodwork done again. I checked my blood pressure right before Xmas and it was much lower than it has been in quite awhile, 123/80. I was proud of that. If anyone can lend some advice it'd be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
__________________ "Everywhere I lie there's a dirty great
root stickin' into my back."
--Samwise Gamgee
I'm wondering, however, how detrimental the ceasing of Metformin can be, given that I am making dietary and physical activity changes at the same time????
If Iam reading this correctly, I think what you're asking is, can you treat your IR without met, and the answer is, in some cases yes. Some ladies can definetly manage IR with lifestyle changes alone.
Quote:
If I balance my diet correctly, exercise regularly, I'm assuming my insulin resistance will balance itself as well.
In some cases, yes. But unfortunately, you can't assume anything. The only way to know if your PCOS (besides symptoms worsening) is via bloodwork. If your labs show that your levels (the insulin, glucose, FSH, cholesterol, etc that you mentioned) are under control, then diet and exercise can do it alone for you, and that's great news! I envy people that can do it without meds.
One thing that I will mention though, is that going the BC route is synthetically surging your hormones . I encourage you if trying to have a baby is in your future at all, to try and treat the IR directly now (whether through meds or lifestyle) and not just the symptoms. Otherwise when you go off the pill to TTC, you may be back at square one with ovulation. Take it from someone who went through years of anovulation asa result.
I am admittedly not an advocate of BCP, because they worsen some aspects of PCOS, even though they alleviate others. A study on IR that I posted today on this forum indicated that "...oral contraceptives may worsen insulin sensitivity, may cause glucose intolerance, may increase triglyceride levels, and may increase CVD (cardiovascular disease) risk, according to various studies. Insulin sensitizers may decrease CVD risk, so these appear to be the preferred agents for long-term treatment." (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/467200_7)
PCOS/IR women are already at significantly increased rates of heart attack, high triglycerides and the others, so it seemed counter-productive, but that's just me.
It was my choice to treat my IR by regulating my insulin and avoiding the pill, but that may not be your choice. Met isn't for everyone, but you may also want to inquire about ACTOS and AVANDIA..other drugs that help insulin, without the same s/e as the met.
All the best at your appt, and KUDOS to you for such a IR-friendly lifestyle. That is the hardest thing to do! Good luck with whatever your course of treatment!
__________________ 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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Metformin questions 
