Non IR thin cysters on metformin

zee · 04-28-2004, 03:46 PM

After reading a lot about metformin, I am planning to ask my doctor for it......

I just needed to know if there are thin cysters out there without Insulin Resistance who have benifitted by taking metformin.

What kind of dosage have you been prescribed?

What kind of benifits have you seen?

Thankyou.
zee

lissadell · 04-28-2004, 04:30 PM

Hi zee,

I'm not IR, at least according to my fasting insulin which was 2 (I never had a GTT). I am on 2,000 mgs of met. I started at that dosage in January of this year. I was on 500 mgs from Oct 03 - Jan 04.

Since going up to 2,000 of met, my AFs have been regular (25-27 days) so far and I appear to be ovulating, based on my BBT charts (though I did have an annovulatory cycle). I just had bloodwork to review my free testosterone last week (which was slightly high in January) - and am waiting to find out if that's improved. BTW, before January and the increased met my cycles were very erratic and ranged from 37-76 days.

I also have been taking some supplements (see sig line for current regimen) and moderating my carb intake, which could account for some of my improvements thus far.

FYI, my endo says that she sees women reap the most benefits at 2,000 mgs. She said that a lot of women have a hard time tolerating that high a dosage, but tend to have less benefit at lower amounts. I've been fortunate to not have side effects - in part (I think) because I've always been on the extended release drugs (Metformin ER or Glucophage XR).

So, personally, I'm a fan of met. From my endo, it seems like a high dosage is key, so keep that in mind when approaching your doc.

Good luck!

Lissa

zee · 04-28-2004, 06:31 PM

thank you Lissa for giving me such detailed information, i too am cutting down on carbs and have started having 2-3 cups of green tea a day, am exercising a lot yet cant seem to see my scale budge!

i am hoping that met works for me as it worked for you!

cheers.

rascal · 04-28-2004, 10:54 PM

zee,

I am thin, TTC, and non IR. I went through 2 failed rounds of clomid, and then we DX w/ PCOS! I finally figured it out!
Well, my RE put me on Gluc XR and Femara. I ovulated the first month on the combo of drugs! I take about 1100 mg. of Gluc (1 1/2 500 mg. pills- that's what I got up to, and I've never increase b/c it worked! Well, I ovulated but didn't get preg. last month. I went in for an u/s today CD 16 and have a follicle that's 2.5! So, I had an IUI, and i'm hoping this is our month.
I hope this helps!
I'm a HUGE fan of Glucaphage XR and Femara!
Jacki

TTC since 4/03
2 failed clomid rounds
PCOS- 1/04
Gluc XR and Femara- 2nd round

AussieDog · 04-29-2004, 06:23 PM

Zee,

I went through one failed round of Clomid, and then asked my Dr. for Metformin ER. I had done a lot of research and didn't want to waste time without it. I was on Metformin for about a month (1,000 for one week, then increased to 1,500) when I started a second cycle. I ovulated this time! I was taking Clomid, too, but I have no idea if I may have been able to ovulate with just the Metformin only. So, I am in the 2ww now.

I am normal weight and tested non-IR, by the way.

hth and good luck!
Georgia

zee · 04-29-2004, 06:49 PM

thanx all of you, you have really boosted my belief... my ob/gyn infact told me that i did not need to low carb (i was on low carb when i was diagnosed) so i left it and put on a few lbs.. and she says i do not need metformin.. and i do not want to ask her for it coz i do not want to take any medication unmonitored gien to me by an ignorant doctor!!

i have an appointment with the endo in a few weeks so i am looking forward to that..even if the endo doesnt suggest met..i will ask for it....!

thanx again all of you!

and Georgia..Good Luck! Hope to hear good news from you soon!

cheers!
zee

s_andrews617 · 06-03-2004, 11:09 PM

Hi,
I was just recently diagnosed with PCOS and I'm thin and non IR too. My RE then put me back on bcp for 1 month to help raise my estrogen levels and then all day 3 I had all the lab tests done.After that he put me on Met 1500 and after 6 weeks I had AF. Now I'm on CD 10 and just waiting to see if I ovulate. (crossing my fingers). I had 3 failed cycles of clomid because my obgyn just put me on it without running any tests at all, she said that I was irregular because I ran a lot. ONe ultrasound at the RE showed that that was not the case, and then my lab tests confirmed PCOS. I hope that you all have good luck with the met, and no big stomach problems! I have been having some horrible bathroom emergencies lately. I know, I know, too much information! BUT hopefully we will all be pregnant soon!

zee · 06-04-2004, 10:39 AM

hi stacey,

i hope met works for you. as for me, i finally saw my endo last week and she prescribed me with 1500 mg glucophage Xr , but she has asked me not to start yet before confirming pregnancy and has asked me not to take it if i am pregnant as there is not enough research to support that theory yet.

dont get discouraged yet... after a couple of weeks on met you can add clomid again. the met - comid combination has worked for a lot of cysters who were clomid resistant.

i had read an article once on that...let me see if i can find it and i will post the link sometime later during the day.

cheers
zee

Riverside · 06-05-2004, 03:19 PM

I have been on Met ER for just a couple of weeks and although I am "normal" weight, I have lost a few pounds (back to where I prefer to be). I assume it is just my body evening out. I am increasing to 1500 today so hopefully no bad GI problems. I have been really lucky so far.

I start clomid this Monday too so it will be an interesting week (hopefully few s/e)! Are any of you getting ready to start clomid?

Zee, there is a great endo at Duke if you are near that area.

zee · 06-08-2004, 11:00 AM

Hi Riverside,

Yes, I am very much around Duke and I saw Dr. Ann Brown at Duke University Medical Center, Durham. She was great. It is a PCOS clinic and she sees patients with PCOS only. The only drawback is that you get appointments like 2-3 months later...but it was worth the wait.

Infact even her NP is as knowledgable as her.

Dr. Ann Brown
Department of Medicine
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Nutrition
Duke University Medical Center
Durham , NC 27710.
tel: 919- 684-5002

if you are looking for an RE then a name I have heard is Dr. Grace Couchman. (I havent seen her myself)

Dr. Grace Couchman
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
DUMC
Durham 27710
Tel: (919) 684-HOPE (4673) Fax (919) 681-7904

and if you want to call the general appointment line the number is 1-800-266-3835.

do let me know if i can be of any other help!

cheers
zee

Riverside · 06-08-2004, 08:03 PM

Hi Zee-
Yes I am in the triangle and go to Dr. Brown too. She is very knowledgable (as is her nurse). I think we are so lucky to have them both here.

As for the RE, thanks for the contact info. I am currently TTC and also taking clomid and I like my doctor but if clomid doesn't work, I may need to go to a RE. I am hoping the clomid works! This is my first cycle so we will see.

Are you just trying to get your body sorted out or are you TTC?

Have you started taking the Met. yet? I quickly worked up to 1500 mg with no problems and hope that continues.

Riverside · 06-08-2004, 08:05 PM

Zee - I just looked at your chart and it looks great! Have you tested yet?

zee · 06-09-2004, 03:48 PM

I tested positive yesterday. I am still in a state of shock! I ovulated on 100mg clomid. These last few months were a torture but now it feels as if i had it much easier than so many of the other cysters. I really thank God for that and hope that things are simple for you too. Now the big thing is maintaining this pregnancy. Dr. Brown doesnt seem to think that having PCOS puts us at a higher risk of m/c . I hope she is right.

About the Met, although i did get the prescription, i was asked not to take it if i was pregnant, contrary to what i have read . But i decided to do as my doc said.

well, GL to you.

***BABYDUST***

cheers
zee