I feel blessed that I found this website. I felt so alone when I was recently diagnosed with pcos. I like many of the women I have read about was active in highschool, large build but not really overwieght. After highschool the pounds packed on and almost all of them in my abdomien! I look like I'm 8 mths pregnant...I hate it. Anyways, I was recently diagnosed. I went to the doctor because I was always tired, hungery, and my periods would never come like 6 months apart and when they finally came they wouldn't ever stop they had to be stoped by provera. He prescribed metformin 1x a day 500mg, and bcp. I'm a hypocondriac when it comes to taking pills and I have had my perscription for over 2 months to scared to take them together. I was told to take them with a meal. After reading the side affects I believe my terror increased. Does metformin make your blood sugar drop real low, and make you become hypoglycemic easily? Or, is that just with diabetics? Will it help me loose this wieght? Can I take it with a fast food burger, or can i only take it with healthy food? I'm scared if I took it with some frys then my blood sugar would drop or that it would make me sick. I know I have to change me eating habits and I plan too, but right now I only have enough money for $1 menu items at fast food joints. Basically my question is, should I expect something dramatic to happen after taking metformin, such as severe stomach pain, low blood sugar, dizzyness, anxiety, etc.? What is everyone elses experience with metformin and has anyone taken it with birth control?
I just took my first pill last night. I am nervous too after hearing all the side effects, but I think the positive out-weighs them!!
As far as the warnings, just remember, drug companies have to be doom & gloom with those things to cover their butts legally. I would give it a try at 500 and see how you do!!
Good luck!
__________________ Lauren : 28 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DH: 28 (9/16/2006) DD (5/20/2009) ~ 8lbs14oz ~ 20in
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I was just diagnosed with PCOS yesterday (11-13-07) and I just took my first Metformin pill (500mg 2x's a day) with lunch (turkey & cheese sandwich and chips). My dr said to take the pill about 10 minutes before eating and that was all the instructions he gave. He also said that the most common side affect might be more trips to the bathroom. I told him that is not what I wanted to hear since I already make several trips to the bathroom from IBS that resulted from having my gallbladder removed. He said that Metformin should jump start some weight loss so I hope he is right about that. I guess only time will tell. From my understanding this med shouldn't cause your blood sugar to "bottom out" in fact it should help to level it out. I hope this little bit of info helps.
Thanks for your replies guys, I feel braver now. I plan on taking my first pill tommorow, but maybe I will take it tonight with dinner. I've heard most of the side effects are stomach trouble which sucks because i too have ibs. From what i've read in the metformin forum ... there are a lot of good benefits too, and that in most people it is worth the few side effects.
I was diagnosed with PCOS 5 years ago, I started to take the meds but then apparently had a 5 year breakdown. Not from the meds but with the why should I even try? I am a man attitude. I went to my doctor a month and a half ago, He put me on Januvia 100 mg, Meteformin 1000mg, Spironolact 100mg, and Propranolol 20 mg. Now I feel older than old because I am taking so many pills I needed to go get one of those daily pills holders. ugh! But on the plus side I have already lost 17 pounds in that month and a half. Woo Hoo! I haven't changed my diet too much, I now eat a yogurt for breakfast but I still eat fast food, not every day, but I haven't cut it out of my diet. I should, but that is another battle! Good Luck to you!!
I feel blessed that I found this website. I felt so alone when I was recently diagnosed with pcos. I like many of the women I have read about was active in highschool, large build but not really overwieght. After highschool the pounds packed on and almost all of them in my abdomien! I look like I'm 8 mths pregnant...I hate it. Anyways, I was recently diagnosed. I went to the doctor because I was always tired, hungery, and my periods would never come like 6 months apart and when they finally came they wouldn't ever stop they had to be stoped by provera. He prescribed metformin 1x a day 500mg, and bcp. I'm a hypocondriac when it comes to taking pills and I have had my perscription for over 2 months to scared to take them together. I was told to take them with a meal. After reading the side affects I believe my terror increased. Does metformin make your blood sugar drop real low, and make you become hypoglycemic easily? Or, is that just with diabetics? Will it help me loose this wieght? Can I take it with a fast food burger, or can i only take it with healthy food? I'm scared if I took it with some frys then my blood sugar would drop or that it would make me sick. I know I have to change me eating habits and I plan too, but right now I only have enough money for $1 menu items at fast food joints. Basically my question is, should I expect something dramatic to happen after taking metformin, such as severe stomach pain, low blood sugar, dizzyness, anxiety, etc.? What is everyone elses experience with metformin and has anyone taken it with birth control?
We sound like we might have the exact same story! I look pregnant but I am not-I wouldnt mind if I was.....
Ive been sucking in my stomach for years now-its like a size 14 pant fits great on my butt, legs but I couldnt ever get it to button! I think I will try the met-it would be nice to button pats in my size and not have to get them 2 sizes bigger b/c I look preggo!
I'm with you there. My husband constantly comments on that also. I have to wear a size 12 due to the size of my stomach but it hangs everywhere else. It's so frustrating. I didn't realize that was part of it. Glad to know I'm not alone.
Thats crazy that we all suffer from the same alliment and with big tummys and all. I never would have thought that was what was wrong with me I thought I was just fat, but my arms and legs never really got to much bigger, just mostly the tummy. I bet my stomach alone wieghs 50lbs. Anyways, I understand how your pants are always baggy in the legs and but and tight in the stomach. I find that actually buying maternity clothes works great. Thats all I wear, and no one can tell, unless you show them the little pregnant stip in the pants.
I have the same issue with buying pants. My butt/legs are about a size 8, but my waist is probably a 12. I usually just buy a 10 and deal with the fact that it is too tight in the waist and too losse in the butt. How amazing it would be if the Metformin could help that at all!!
__________________ Lauren : 28 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DH: 28 (9/16/2006) DD (5/20/2009) ~ 8lbs14oz ~ 20in
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Hi,
I am new here too! I was dx at the end of October 07'. I take 1000mg of met a day, soon to be 2000. When I first started taking it about 3 weeks ago, I had some not so nice side affects. I took my son to the bee movie and I didn't think I was going to make it out of the bathroom. GOOD NEWS! I found something to counter act the sfx.....I take 1 womans vitmn. It has really seemed to help. My doc said it's the xtra iron in the vit. I hope this might help someone. Good luck!
Luvmeel,
If you have PCOS you really really NEED to start eating healthy Low GI foods.
Metformin isn't going to work on its own.
It needs to be combined with Low GI eating and exercising.
Also Metformin leeches the body of a B vitamin and Calcium so you need to be taking a B complex supplement and Calcium tablets.
You mentoned fast food burgers and going to fast food placess - that is the worse thing for PCOS. I know you mentioned money being tight but can you not try Low GI bread and shop at Grocery for fruit and vegies?
Metformin XR has few side affects and you take all the tablets once a day after dinner (which is the biggest meal usually).
I have n't taken normal Metformin but yes have heard of side affects being worse wtih greasy fattty foods and need to be taken during or straight after a substantial meal (with protein) with a lot of water is best.
I am not using the Pill (BCP) as my Endocrinologist says that the Pill can make insulin resistance worse and I do not want that.
I am taking 1000mgs of Metformin XR a day going back up to 1500mgs soon.
Thats crazy that we all suffer from the same alliment and with big tummys and all. I never would have thought that was what was wrong with me I thought I was just fat, but my arms and legs never really got to much bigger, just mostly the tummy. I bet my stomach alone wieghs 50lbs. Anyways, I understand how your pants are always baggy in the legs and but and tight in the stomach. I find that actually buying maternity clothes works great. Thats all I wear, and no one can tell, unless you show them the little pregnant stip in the pants.
OH MY GOD_ I bought maternity cropped jeans at target last summer ( on clearance) and I was hoping to get pregnant and be able to use them-anyways I wear them sometimes with a long top! I was so embaressed to ever let anyone see it though! The part that sucks is the Liz lange jeans with the wide waistband ( maternity)-well the waist band folds over b/c so does my tummy-well not really but you know when your stomach is fat-the fold part? Maybe it is just me!
I started metformin Friday-250mg a day (only, I know-but taking it slow for first 2 weeks) and the ONLY side effect I had was headache saturday morning. I took it around 9 pm b/c I was hoping I could sleep away any side effects! I took it with some peppermint ice cream last night ( I know, horrible ice cream!)
You know what else I found to fit really good. Old navy pants. For some reason they are kinda tight in the legs and either the belly stretches out real fast or the belly is made bigger. My mom said try mens pants, because they have a bigger tummy and smaller legs to. I've yet to try anything but dickies. Oh and I have the same problem with my jeans rolling over and my stomach hanging over...it sucks, hopefully I will lose wieght soon.
An update, I chickened out to take metformin so far, I decided to wait till after thanksgiving incase I get the famous stomach side effects.
I have done a week of 500mg and today I am moving up to 1000mg. So far, my only side effect has been some heart burn. And usually a Tums helps that. Hopefully I do ok on 1000mg.
__________________ Lauren : 28 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DH: 28 (9/16/2006) DD (5/20/2009) ~ 8lbs14oz ~ 20in
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Metformin? To take or Not to take. 
He said that Metformin should jump start some weight loss so I hope he is right about that. I guess only time will tell. From my understanding this med shouldn't cause your blood sugar to "bottom out" in fact it should help to level it out. I hope this little bit of info helps. 
