Mr Dr won't prescribe glucophage!!

MyReign1 · 05-20-2004, 08:41 PM

When my doctor first diagnosed me with PCOS, she mentioned glucophage as a possible treatment. At the time, I knew absolutely nothing about PCOS and she made it seem so harmless that I didn't want to take medicine if it weren't necessary. That was last friday. After reading this site, I called her on Monday and asked about the glucophage. She told me to take the bcp she prescribed for 3-4mths and if that doesn't regulate my period we can then look at glucophage.

I feel like the bcp may regulate my cycle but they aren't doing anything for my glucose levels, am I right? I will still have the same underlying problems but know I'll have a regular period. I don't feel that really helps. If the bcp do regulate my period and I go back in 3 mths, should I lie to get on glucophage??? I don't know what to do. I don't want to have to change doctors, since she was the first to actually go the extra mile to try to figure out why I've had irregular cycles my whole life. Every other dr would just say, "Is that normal for you?" I would answer yes and that would be the end of that. What do you all think I should do?

Thanks in advance!!

kwannabee · 05-20-2004, 11:02 PM

I know how frustrating it is to think your doctor isnt listening to you and discounts your initiatives in how to treat you...cuz they're the 'experts'

Have you had your fasting and two hr glucose and insulin testing done yet? Does she think you have insulin resisitance? Maybe she's not concerned with that at all, i've heard of cysters here who dont have IR...

I find doctors want to cover all their bases but dont understand our 'panic'...that if we dont get started NOW we're running out of time. They also, (though some may be more subtle then others) tend to 'roll their eyes' when they hear you 'read something on the internet'

then again...maybe they think putting you on bcp's will clean out your system so your treatments whatever they will be...will start with a clean slate...

in the meantime if your worried about your glucose levels start doing (if you havent already) the lifestyle changes that go along with it...going more low carb, cutting out refined sugars, eat more protein, lower GI indexed foods...all that stuff...on the other hand it might be a good idea to know what your levels are now so you have a comparison...

hmmm, on second thought why not ask for the blood work... what could it hurt? Then if she doesnt give you the gluc right away all that other stuff is just good healthy practice anyway!

I think the moral of my longwinded post is...there are alot of things you can do before the gluc...but it doesnt hurt to mention your concerns to your doctor and get some bloodwork done in the meantime (or at least an explaiation as to her decisions right now)

Good luck...hope this made sense!

christyz · 05-21-2004, 12:35 AM

Depending on the BCP, they can make Insulin levels worse. There is a section in the FAQ thread about the best kinds of bcp for IR women, so check it out.

Like you, I am not a real advocate of the pill because if kids are in your future, you're not treating the root of the problem on bcp (IR), you're just resolving the symptoms and when you go off them to concieve, you could be back where you started. But that's a matter of opinion around here.

I agree that lifestyle changes are key (with met or without) for treating PCOS, and that labwork is really a must right now. If your Dr refuses to get serious about seeing where your hormones are at, I'd take my business somewhere else. I would look for a Dr that can be pro-active.

In the mean time, there are a few non-medication ways to treat IR if you feel you are....cinnamon or chromium for example (there are lots of discussions on the alternate remedies forum). Talk to your pharmacist and see if they can reccommend a chromium supplement. For folks with IR, it can help.

All the best!

Jeannie915 · 05-21-2004, 11:10 AM

I got almost the same reaction. Last December I was complaining about the pain and they did an ultrasound and found all the little cysts. I they started me on Estrostep and I had a f/u a month later after I had done a little research. I asked about Glucophage and he said that would help if I wanted to get pregnant. He said lets try the BCP's and if I don't see significant improvement he will give me the Met. Well my appt is next Friday and I am going to hold him to it. Also I found that the BCP's I am on are no good for PCOS (triphasic) so I am going to push for Yasmin also. Is your Dr a Gyno - mine is and that's why I think he decided on this course. Maybe an RE would be better for both of us??????? Have any other ladies experienced this????

MyReign1 · 05-21-2004, 01:10 PM

Thanks for replying guys!! My dr specializes in infertility and endocrinology. I have had some testing done. Everything was normal. It was my ultrasound that showed the cysts on both ovaries. My dr said one thing was contradictory to something that was said on this site. I don't know if she misspoke or what. She said that glucophage is for women who have irregular periods and who are not trying to concieve. I was like yeah that's me. Is that right?

Also, I see that many of you are using glucophage to start your periods. I took BCP to stop mine. All my life I have had 3-4/year. Last August, I started bleeding constantly. That's what prompted my primary dr to send me to a specialist. My last period lasted a little over 8 weeks.

One other thing, my regular physician, was the one who suggested I take the ultrasound. She said they were normal, that was back in Oct 2003. Last week the specialist said my ovaries were covered with cysts. How is it possible the my regular physician did not see the cysts?

These were my results:
Glucose 75
FSH 3.9
Insulin 9
Prolactin 6
TSH 1.00

Should I not be in a hurry since I'm not technically IR?

burbuhas · 05-24-2004, 01:44 PM

Ok, here goes, and this is just my opinion.
First of all, I do not believe that glucophage (aka metformin) is only for woman that are ttc. Takeing metformin has been the best thing I have ever done for my PCOS. I am not IR and it has helped me so much. My acne has gone away, except for the few I get with AF. AF is now regular, my cycle was 29 days give or take a day but never more then 30 days(after 14 months on metformin and avandia I am now expecting). My mood swings have leveled out. The hair in places its not supose to be as slowed down, doesn't grow so fast and is actually thining out. I have stopped gaining weight and have actually started loosing.
I am a huge believer in the benifits of metformin in the treatment of PCOS. (please keep in mind that each woman has diffrent results with metformin)
I personally do not believe that BCP's are the answer, I feel that they only deal with one symptom. That they don't treat it, just mask the problem. BCP's suspend "O" which for most woman with PCOS we dont "O" anyway. The only benifit I see from BCP's is that it makes AF come. (In the first few years I took many different kinds of BCP's and had nothing but problems)
If I were you, I would talk to my Dr. explain your feelings about the BCP and that you want to treat PCOS as a whole not just one of the symptoms. If you Dr won't listen, find one that will.
When I was DX'ed at 17 in 1990 the only symptom I had was no AF, an u/s was done and I had the typical string of pearls. I was given BCP and sent on my way(not much if anything was know about PCOS then). Since that time, the symptoms of PCOS have only gotten worse, it seems the older I get the more symptoms I get and the worse they get.
There is still so much that isn't known about PCOS and having a Dr. that will listen to you and research with you is very important. I have a lot of friends that were told for years that their labs were "normal" to find out they had PCOS the whole time.
Now, I do want to address the AF you had that lasted for 8 weeks. In the many years I have been dealing with PCOS I have only had one that lasted that long, it was acompanied by sever cramps, now I don't want to scare you but I feel that you might want to get this checked out. For me, mine was from polyps caused by fetility medications, but I know many woman with PCOS that have had polyps that weren't on fetility meds.
Like I said, there is so much that isn't know about PCOS and I feel it is very important to have a Dr. that will listen to you and explore the many diffrent options there are to treat this. In my expierience for a long time BCP's were the only way to treat PCOS, and a lot of Dr.'s that don't know any better still use that aproach.
I am really sorry, Dr.'s that wont listen and think they know all there is to know just drive me crazy, but I will shut up now. Just please, research and find out what course of treatment you feel will be best for you and stick to your guns, find a Dr. that will listen to your feelings. There I am done. Sorry for the long post but I tried to keep it short, if I was to say everything I want to say, it would be atleast 3 times longer

But I do wish you the best in your search for the right treatment for you.

MyReign1 · 05-24-2004, 08:17 PM

Burbuhas,

Thank you ever so much for responding. I think my dr has pretty much made up her mind. I'm going to look around for a new specialist. She just says everything so nonchalantly. She didn't try to go into why my period lasted for 8 weeks. The last week I couldn't even leave my home because it was so heavy. I missed my sister's graduation and Mother's day. I called her office trying to get in sooner and she was like just come at your scheduled time. I asked her to prescribe me bcp over the phone so I could atleast stop the bleeding. She said she had to examine me first. At my appointment, she touched my uterus and gave me a prescription for bcp. She nonchalantly threw in the fact that I had PCOS. Then left. It was the quickest appointment I ever had.

During my period I didn't have any major cramps. I started cramping after my period though. Do I need another ultrasound to determine if I have polyps?

Your post wasn't too long at all. IF you have anythign else to add please do. This is all still very new to me. I was just diagnosed May 14. Everything I've learned has been from this site. I feel like I owe you guys my co-pay.

Thanks!!