Metformin Stopped Working? Menopause at 30???

SassyAtty · 10-30-2009, 11:16 PM

I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has had or is having a similar experience to my current state. I was diagnosed with PCOS almost 8 years ago when I was 23. I was prescribed Metformin, lost 60 lbs., had normal periods etc. etc. etc. Earlier this year, I started having trouble with my cycle again. I started having a period every other week and they were more painful than anything I've ever experienced. I was bleeding excessively and it was very....clotty. (Sorry for the visual!). I've gained almost 25 lbs, even while working out almost daily and being on the South Beach Diet (which is what I was on when I originally lost the 60 lbs without exercise). I'm exhausted; I could sleep 24/7. I was told by my PCP to increase my dosage of Metformin to 850 mg X 3 daily. I did, and it helped for a month, sort of. Instead of a period every other week, I had a "normal" cycle of 27 days. All other symptoms stayed the same. Since that one "normal" cycle, I'm back to every other week.

I saw my PCP again yesterday to discuss the results of recent blood tests. He says that my hormones levels are severely out of whack. He has referred me to a specialist in Endocrinology and a specialist in high risk Gynocology. He said that my PCOS is not being controlled by the metformin and that currently my hormone levels are those of someone headed into menopause. At age 30.

Beyond being shocked, this just doesn't make sense to me. I thought the major "sign" of heading into menopause was a lack of periods. That is definitely not my problem. I've tried doing research to determine a possible cause, but of course everything I read about PCOS and irregular periods discusses women who have long cycles, not enough periods. I have too many.

Has anyone else had this experience? Has anyone else had perfectly controlled PCOS go crazy after years of metformin use? Does this sound like symptoms of something completely different?

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

blessedblogger · 10-30-2009, 11:27 PM

I had a similar experience except that I wasn't on Metformin because I had a severe allergic reaction to it. I don't mean to scare you, but I want to suggest that you ask to have an endometrial biopsy to make sure your lining isn't so thick that it's becoming cancerous. I was bleeding very heavily for long periods of time, yes with large clots, and it turned out it was because my lining had build up so much it had become cancerous and my body was trying desperately to get rid of it. It could be a million things. Endometriosis, a bleeding blood vessel that needs to be cauterized, a burst cyst etc. But believe me when I say that if it is cancer you want to find it early. I'll be praying it's something simple. Good luck hun.

SassyAtty · 10-30-2009, 11:37 PM

Thanks. Trust me, you haven't said anything that hasn't crossed my mind. Like I said, it just doesn't add up. Thank you for the reply. The doctors to whom I was referred are booked until February. I'll start looking for someone else.

PcosVet · 11-05-2009, 12:16 PM

Hi! I just joined this site yesterday so I'm posting a little late. I do agree you should see someone soon. I am a PCOS patient, but also worked as a nurse in ob/gyn for many years. Any gyn can check for causes for your long/irregular periods. U/S, Endometrial Biopsy, Laparoscopy, etc. You don't necessarily need to see a Gyn/Oncologist yet unless you biopsy results are abnormal. This way you don't have to wait so long for the others to get you in. The first time I took Met it worked well, but now it doesn't work as well and side effects are much worse (constant headaches, joint pain, lack of energy and GI problems). The best course of action would be to see the Endo and Gyn soon and they can run all the tests needed to find out what is going on.
I hope this helps. Good luck.