Oh, please, help

Notmentalmuch · 04-25-2007, 04:03 PM

I have been lurking for awhile and I'm glad because now I need help!!

I was diagnosed March 22 of this year (2 wks after my sister). The endo put my on 2000 mgm. of Met. I start on 500 and gradually increased. I have been feeling BAD the last week or so. I don't want to go back to my family dr. ( they said that all of my symtoms were because I am bipolar and want me to start on lithium #1 I was not aware that lithium was a fill in the blank prescription #2 I don't think bipolar cause excess hair growth... but then again I don't have a Med degree) My endo says that he will see me May 15th. Here's is my list: I am exhausted... I doze at my desk at work... I get home and I am asleep before I hit the sofa, My stomach is bloated, along with hands and feet by night, I am having to do these powerbreath every once and a while because It's like I can feel my lungs getting tight. I am very confused at times and I don't feel it coming on. My joints and muscles hurt..... Mt face feels flushed ... I can go on...
Please if anyone has or have had any of this...... Offer up words of wisdom...... Should I be as scared as I am or is this a hump that I need to crossover......

Also, In being able to lurk... You all, without even knowing it have been the greatest inspration! Thank you!

Jashobeam · 04-25-2007, 04:09 PM

Welcome to SC! Please check this link: The Newbie Road Map

I have had hot flashes since puberty I guess. They aren't as bad as menopause ones, but they are annoying. They seem to be much better since watching my diet, avoiding caffiene and taking Met. Have you been tested for anemia?

Notmentalmuch · 04-25-2007, 04:15 PM

I know that the endo had a lot of blood work done and when I call him at the onset of these feeling.. He said there was nothing in my blood work that alarmed him....

LAcyster · 04-26-2007, 05:04 AM

You know, I had some similar symptoms before and they never knew what it was. I was just reading the other day about Lactic Acidosis . . . it's a condition that can be caused my metformin--especially if you drink alcohol or take other medications. Definitely rule out this condition! I'm going to the Dr. tomorrow and plan to ask about this condition as well.

Eva37 · 04-26-2007, 06:44 AM

welcome to sc

eva

Watermisbehaves · 05-04-2007, 06:37 AM

I'm glad you're avoiding the lithium ...it's a pretty heavy drug... my ex was on it and it was so hard for him to get off of it later. Anyhow, I quit taking met a couple of years ago (insurance reasons) and now I am working my way back up. I'm currently at 1000mg and I feel much like you:sluggish, achy, bloated, and tight chested. I'm glad I'm not alone in this...the tight chest has really been freaking me out. I keep taking my blood pressure, but It's still very low 107/70-80. I also freaked out over lactic acidosis, but it seems rare in younger folk (I don't have any other conditions commonly found in those w/ lactic acidosis). I really think it's all just the met. It definitely roughs-up your body when you're first getting going on it. I'm quite sure (from my past experience on met) that this all gets better w/ time. Right now it's like I have the flu (running to the bathroom and all), and I'm terribly pale, but again this all got better before after a month or so after my final increase.

I'd just recommend that you make sure you're keeping up w/ your fluids (if you're at all as sick to your stomach as I am). Drink tons of water ... try and get electrolytes. You might also want to take some B-12...met can lower the amount your body is absorbing, which can make you feel really run down.

So, yes it's a hump...and I believe it will pass (I'm crossing my fingers), but that doesn't mean we can't try to help ourselves over the hump

Good luck!

Mommy_at_Heart · 05-04-2007, 08:22 AM

When I first started met, just less than a month ago, I experienced similar symptoms. About 20 minutes after taking my first pill, I had a tight chest and headache. Then 12 hours later, muscle aches, and I couldn't stay out of the bathroom. For 3 days I felt like I had the flu. It's been 18 days now, and I'm doing well. Sometimes I can't keep food in me, but that's ok...I barely ever have food in me, no desire to eat. No headaches, not as tired any more. I've also lost 12 pounds. Of course, I'm only on 500mg once a day. It will probably take a bit longer for higher doses. But it does pass! Just hold on, it's worth it!

deblynnc · 05-04-2007, 11:50 AM

I've not had the other symptoms on Met, but since starting to take a B-complex vitamin supplement, in addition to my daily multi-vitamin, my energy levels have greatly improved. Met can deplete your body's supply of B-12. The B-complex helps some women, though I've read one cyster say she needs B-12 shots to get her energy back.

I hope you get some answers and feel better soon.

breezygirl7 · 05-06-2007, 03:10 AM

I'm wondering when u were diagnosed with bi-polar. I've heard from other cysters that it has been misdiagnosed in a lot of cysters....it's already a very hard thing to diagnose bi-polar disorder. I think it has something to do with mood swings and temp and stuff. We have those issues since our hormones are all out of wack. So unless ur sure about this bi-polar thing I would see another dr to be so sure about it.

I also have felt the weakness and tired mess. I am anemic and like someone else said met can deplete your B-12...so that for sure will make you feel tired and exhausted all the time. I'm thinking about getting the shots cause I'm so tired of pills...so tired of those things...yuck!!! I take at B-12, 1000 from GNC...it's even sugar-free...just incase ur watchin ur sugar! For this pill I just put it under my tongue and it melts..supposadly going straight to ur blood stream i guess and it seems to help. I've also started taking liquid vitamins...it takes a strong person to take this mess, cause it isn't good. It is definitely helping ...I got that at GNC too. I was so tired of being tired I decided to go with that but like i said it is NOT GOOD!!!...lol.

Cutting out carbs has helped too. I don't eat anything processed...basically. I stick to chicken, fish, and turkey burgers(without the bun) and pork. I eat a lot of salads too. I also have apples and berries and nuts for snacks...something quick to grab when the hunger pangs start. It's hard to start if u've never done it but you will feel so much better when you do.

Well I hope i've been of some help. I hope that you figure out what is going on in ur body. It stinks when u feel so bad. Keep us posted on how ur doing!!! Best of luck!!!

Watermisbehaves · 05-06-2007, 06:10 AM

Deblynnc -- I second that. I was feeling like hell before B12. I was considering asking for the shots, but I did some reading and found that if you can get it in chewable for it can be pretty effective. So, I grabbed a tub of those chewable multi vitamins and I have so much energy....it's insane. Tomorrow I'm switching to vitamins in the AM, because I get so wired at night from them. I don't think I've had this much energy in...years...maybe ever. I have taken vitamins before and never noticed this...maybe it's the met vitamin combo? Weird, but good.

Notmentalmuch · 05-07-2007, 02:36 PM

I don't think I explained the bipolar issue well enough . This was something that was "diagnosed" from a worksheet with questions like "do you ever have problems sleeping?" YES... "do you ever do or say things that your family wouldnt expect you to do/say?'" YES.. I have always had a horrible case of the lipschitz... My dr took literally 2 seconds and asked me if anyone had ever said I was bi-polar... I was shocked.... so she got a deer in the headlight "no" and then said that she would like to put me on lithium BUT that cause weight gain and that wasn't where she wanted to go with me!!!!

What caused the FUSTRATION that led me to tears that day was I had went for cholestrol testing... The nurse in the lab told me my TSH was 3.95 and that depending on how my cholestrol came back I should start to feel better with treatment... My cholestrol came back high.... So not that I wanted anything to be wrong, at this point I had something to put my finger on, you know? 6 day later I went back to the dr who said all was normal except high cholestrol... I questioned why would the nurse say something different? That is when she went into the whole Bi-polar thing..... I left her office that day with come back and see me in 2 weeks with a diet diary.... I went to an endo who took one look at me and said PCOS... 2000/met I'll see you in 2 months. When I have called him with question all he says is go see your dr... So I just feel BAD and alone (and like ka-ka)

I will start a B multi and see what happens....

LAcyster · 05-08-2007, 02:45 AM

Hi, I'm graduating with my Masters in Social Work degree at the end of the month and I happen to know alot about bi-polar. I'm really concerned about your Dr's diagnosis. This was your primary physician? I definitely would not start lithium. First off, my ex-boyfriend was bipolar and it's normally an obvious diagnosis--in that you cycle with severe depression and then mania. A history of depression, manic behavior, suicidal thoughts, rage, delusions--these would all be some red flag indicators of bipolar disorder. There are also different types of bipolar, but you need to have a cluster of symptoms that are categorized in the DSM-IV to be diagnosed by a professional.

If you are concerned at all that you do have bipolar, then you should see a psychologist, MFT, or an LCSW to get properly diagnosed. Bipolar does have a genetic component to it--it's affects your seretonin levels in your brain and some other chemical imbalances, but I'm not sure if doctors even test for bipolar through a blood test . . . ?

I was reading about the B-12 and that seems like a great idea. I was diagnosed before with Anemia and once way before my PCOS dx, my dr. said that I was deficient in B-12. I did take the B-complex chewable for a while and really liked that.

I think I'm going to try the Viactiv vitamin though--I want all that energy too!

Good luck to you Notmentalmuch. Let us know how you are doing.

Notmentalmuch · 05-08-2007, 11:03 PM

Sorry to put my history out so messed up..... But I never did and still don't think that I am bi-polar.... My history (from where these problems started)
Sept 27 2005 I quit smoking weight 147
By Christmas I had gained 10 pounds, that I wasn't worried about because I am tall (5'9) after New Years I noticed that my energy was going down.. and my skin and hair was changing. I had always heard that smoking causes dark hair on your face so I was hoping it would decrease. It got worse. By May 2006 I was already watching what I ate, but I was up another 20 lbs. I started walking more and lowering my carbs. November my weight went up to 190. I am not comfortable with this weight. November I started serious calorie watching . January I joined a gym. no help. For the first time in mt life I have oily hair/skin dandruff, deep rigids in my nails this annoying feeling in my neck/throat, I have this flushed feeling in my face. My insides are so messed up and by this point I am COMPLETELY laxative dependant cold ALL the time And on and on..

This would continue to the above post..... You see .... I was/am trying everything... So I am not bi-polar and at the first visit I was not even depressed.. I was/am fustrated... My mistake was to show any kind of emotion in a dr's office (yes my GP!)... I cried... I am not above taking medicine and in the past have taken it But the thing is.. Even on the meds I still had all the emotions but somehow the medication robbed me of the ability to be able to react to my emotions. If I wanted to cry.. I couldn't, If I wanted laugh, scream I couldn't. Although not all emotions are not pleasant I enjoy be able to have them. I choose other methods .... When I am bummed I go to visit a preschool classroom. When I am happy I spread it around (and love the days it spreads like wildfire) When I am at a low or a point that I question how am I going to stand up.... I remind my self that the pain was in falling, I need not be afraid to have the Strength to stand up. I take my problems step by step.
Sorry for the run off but I am tried of being told (in a nutshell) that this is all in my head!

LAcyster · 05-09-2007, 02:34 AM

Dear Notmentalmuch,

I agree that you are not bipolar--that's why I was concerned about your Dr. trying to diagnose you and start you on litium.

I have experienced many of the same symptoms that you have. I cried in my Dr. office a few weeks ago myself. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Your hair falling out and having oily skin and rigid nails are all symtoms of PCOS and my hair started falling out in 2003 and I wasn't diagnosed with PCOS until Sept. 2005. It all made sense once I knew what I had.

It's not all in your head. Several doctors know absolutely jack about PCOS and they have inflated egos so they try and put you down because how could you know more about something then they do?

If I were you, I would get a new primary doctor.

Also, I think the metformin is messing your stomach up and causing bloating and the tight throat, etc. I had and still have those symptoms and they couldn't figure out what it was, but another woman on this thread posted that she had the same thing and it was the metformin. I learned at the last PCOS conference in Denver (last year) that some women cannot tolerate metformin, but Glucaphage (the brand) often has less side effects. Maybe you could get a prescription for the brand authorized by your physician?

A good friend of mine cannot take metformin b/c it makes her so sick. I was diagnosed with IBS last year and acid reflux, but I think it's just the metformin.

I know what your going through and how painful it is. . . I think every woman on this site feels your pain. I hope you feel better soon.

Notmentalmuch · 05-10-2007, 06:38 PM

Thanks you all so much for all of your help. I appreciate each of you very much!!!! I realize that this is a long road but it is so comforting to know I don't have to walk alone!!!!

LAcyster, thanks! MUUUUAH!!!!!