Poll: Thin cysters, please share your Metformin experience!
Hey all, I am transferring and reposting this question from the old board here as I think it's important we keep these answers together. I had to split it in three due to size.
Please send more replies!
Oana
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Hey ladies, I've been reading a lot of research studies about met in PCOS, and the data for thin cysters is not too extensive.
So it would be great if anyone who is not overweight and had tried metformin could share their experience with us.
Main questions I can think of (of course only answer the ones you feel like ):
1) Were you diagnosed as insulin-resistant, before starting met?
2) Did met help regulate your period? (how often did you have it before/after?)
3) Did met bring ovulation? (do you know, were you ovulating before/after)
4) How much met did you take and for how long before noticing improvements?
5) How old are you?
6) What other medication are you on?
7) Any bad side effects? Did they go away in time?
Please share, even if you had good/bad experiences or no changes at all.
cliner71
New SoulCyster!
Posts: 4
Fromhiladelphia, PA USA
Registered: Apr 2002
posted 05-18-2002 12:46 PM
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Hi, thanks for doing this poll, it is interesting to read the results.
1) I was diagnosed as IR six weeks ago (fasting insulin level was 12)
2&3) This is my first cycle on met, and I ovulated on cd18 (currently 12 dpo). I do ovulate on my own naturally, but usually around cd34. So, it looks like it's helped this cycle at least..
4) I'm on 1000mg Met, and I'm seeing results on the first cycle.
5) I'm 30.
6) No other medication right now. I was on Clomid for three cycles before getting tested for IR, and I'm going with just the met for now to see if that works.
7) Worst side effect for me is NO appetite. I'm thin (5'4", 106 lbs) so I don't want to lose any more weight and I often have to force myself to eat.
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Candace
Honorary SoulCyster
Posts: 453
From:Burleson, Texas
Registered: Nov 2000
posted 05-18-2002 07:32 PM
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I love Glucophage! It is a miracle for my body and I have responded well to it!
1. My insulin tested normal at 5. Although, I know I have a severe problem processing carbs due to the reactions I have. Sleepy, grumpy, and bloating are just a few.
2. Metformin helped regulate my cycles and even brought on ovulation within 2 months. I had 3 "normal" cycles (still 39 days apart) before starting BCP's.
3. Met brought on ovulation. Conceiving wasn't my goal, and I felt really rotten during ovulation. (Headaches, mood swings, etc.)
4. It took my body a full 6 months to respond totally to Metformin. I am on 2000 mgs of the Glucophage XR. I noticed I wasn't so tired, and felt healthier finally!
5. I am 35. I was rediagnosed with PCOS at 34 when my symptoms really went haywire. I was initially diagnosed with PCOS @ age 21. I had 5 years of infertility treatments before becoming pregnant. Glucophage would have helped, If I would have known about it.
6. I am taking Yasmin BCP's and Chromium GTF 400 mgs a day. The Chromium has also helped my energy levels tremendously. I have been taking Glucophage since November 2001 and Yasmin for 1 year. I started Chromium in March of this year.
7. Initially with the Glucophage I felt really full for about 2 weeks. I also had periods of diarrea for about a week. Overall, the side effects have been worth the results for me.
When I was rediagnosed I was gaining weight, without eating and running on the treadmill. I had a tremendous amount of water retention and my testosterone was 101. So, I had alot of excess hair. My hair is in manly places, maybe most cysters are. On the tops of my thighs etc. Obviously, I have trouble processing carbohydrates. I lost the weight I gained too which has been a tremendous blessing. I couldn't understand why I was gaining weight and kept complaining to the doctor about it. He just said we all need to cut back! I don't think he believed me about not eating and exercising.
I hope my experience helps! I am totally amazed at the results.
Candace
Age 35
2 children 7 and 6 with treatment
Married 15 years
Glucophage XR 2000 mgs (18 months)
Yasmin BCP (12 cycles)
Chromium GTF 400 mgs
Feeling normal again!
I am exercising at Curves for Women, 3 x a week.
5'0 127 lbs
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kimbryan
Honorary SoulCyster
Posts: 33
From:
Registered: Mar 2002
posted 05-19-2002 02:34 AM
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Glad you're doing this poll to.
1. Not diagnosed as insulin resistant but begged my ob/gyn for it. (Spent 2 years begging which I think is a long time. Only got it after my 3rd mc too)
2. Have been on met since mid January. (about 5 months) Before met, my periods ranged from 30 days to 3 months. After met it was 30 days, 42 days and 43 days.
3. I'm not sure if met brought ovulation but my ob/gyn says if I had my period, I must have ovulated although a 42 day cycle is not good enough. I ovulated before met too since manage to get pregnant 4 times but miscarried 3 of them. My ob/gyn doesn't seem to think its necessary to monitor for ovulation unless I'm on clomid.
4. Initially 850mg once a day before going to 850mg X2. In'm now trying to take 850mg X3 to improve my cycle and do without clomid. I guess improvement was more or less immediate as 42 days is better than 2 or three months, but its still not the normal 30 days which I am trying to get.
5.34 years old
6. Vitamin B Complex and TCM
7. The bad effects lasted about 2 months, very bad nausea and GI. Loose stools and bloating. Now that I am trying to increase my met, I am really having bad nausea all over again.
The message posted by one of our thin cysters 'Have you heard this" has some info on IR for skinnies which I thought was very interesting. The best part about taking met for me is my skin is now totally clear, as good as when I was on Diane-35.
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hattie
Honorary SoulCyster
Posts: 51
From:UK
Registered: Mar 2002
posted 05-20-2002 10:36 AM
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Thank you - have found this poll really interesting.
1) Was tested for insulin resistance but put on met without knwoing results (and still don't know cos not had second app with gyn)
2) No af since coming off bcp last may. I started met 1000mg/day on Feb 15 this year and got first af on April 4. Not sure exactly how next cycle went as I've just found out Im pg!
3) yes met brought ovulation
4) see above
5) 27
6)pre-natal vitamins
7)slight nausea when starting met but then fine
sea_breeze
Honorary SoulCyster
Posts: 99
From:eugene, OR
Registered: Jul 2001
posted 05-17-2002 12:47 PM
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Hi Oana... here are my answers, hope they can be of some help.
1. I wasn't diagnosed as being IR before starting the met, but all the signs were there.
2. Met seems to have helped regulate my period to every 35 days. Before taking the met i could go for years without anything.
3. I was ovulating before met (i managed to get PG naturally though had a MC at 12 weeks)... It wasn't every month though. Now I am on the met I ovulate most months.
4. I started taking 500mg of met for about 6 months, this made my periods regular but I wasn't always ovulating. I am now on 1500mg and this seems to be doing the trick.
5. I am 28.
6. Just taking pre-natal vits.
7. Very few side effects, if any... I can count on one hand the bouts of diarrhoea that I have had.
I agree there is very little info on met for thin cysters and the only reason I was given it was because i screamed loud enough on my way down the the operating theatre after my M/C. I had been asking for it for about 2 years at least prior to this but because I was living in the UK they seemed reluctant to prescribe it. Oh, not sure if you wanted to know this but I am 5'7'' and 105 pounds, so definitely a thin cyster.
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wuns
Honorary SoulCyster
Posts: 71
From: ontario
Registered: Feb 2002
posted 05-17-2002 01:24 PM
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Here are my answers:
1. I am not IR but we gave it a try anyhow
2. No, it didn't regulate my period. I still require Provera. I did notice that my temp charts have peaks/valleys with Met whereas before it was relatively flat. Have also noticed changes in my CM for the better. I have always been relatively dry but now I feel more normal like when I was on The Pill.
3. I didn't ovulate in the past with it but I recently started Met again and did ovulate though very late in the cycle. The dr still gave me Provera to move things along
4. I previously took 1000 as that's all I could tolerate. Am now taking 1500 with no problems. My skin remains clear but still need help with af
5. 31
6. Just Met to date. Seeing dr in June and will add Clomid to it. Previously took Puregon injects with it and now have a dtr due to that combo. I didn't take Met during my preg like some have suggested.
7. On first run a few yrs back, I only took 1000 as any higher made me nauseous & lowered my appetite. I couldn't afford to lose more wt, so stayed at 1000. Now with 1500 I just had a bit of nausea but it cleared in a wk or so. No problems now.
Hope that helps. It's very different from the prior post. BTW: Dtr is now 11 mths and despite having a baby, I'm still thin at 5'4" and 105 lbs. I gained 40lbs with pg.
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LauraB
Honorary SoulCyster
Posts: 78
From:Cincinnati, Ohio
Registered: Jul 2001
posted 05-18-2002 09:45 AM
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Hi Oana,
I am probably not a good example as I only spent about 5 weeks on Met so far and am recently pg. I did IVF in April and it failed due to poor embryo quality. My doc suggested it as a last resort so I started taking it in preparation for my next IVF cycle. In the meantime, we transferred the last 3 frozen embryos (poor quality also) and it worked! I am thinking perhaps the Met was able to lower androgen production enough that the embryos were able to implant.
I am not IR, in fact my insulin is below 2.
I have been on 1000mgs for 5 weeks.
I am 32
I also take Levoxyl, prenatals, and now Estrace and PIO.
First side effect was extreme hunger. Then nausea, diarrhea, and tiredness for about 3 weeks. I had a week recently where I felt fine. I am sure I adjusted to the Met. Now I am nauseated all the time again but I think it is for other reasons!
Thought I would reply-I haven't been around in a while. I had my son 5 months ago and have been busy!
1. I was not diagnosed IR the doc just decided to try it for me.
2. Met regulated my period within 2 weeks of taking it. My cycles were 32-35 days.
3. Met brought on Ovulation the first cycle but it was day 18 or so. I had 4 cycles before I conceived.
4. I took 1500mg a day and noticed improvements right away! Low blood sugar gone, facial hair growth slowed and lost 6 pounds.
5. I am now 26 started taking Met at 25
6. No other meds.
7. No side affects just tired the first 2 weeks of taking it.
I stayed on Met during my pregnancy and I am breastfeeding now and still on it. My baby boy is healthy and very happy!
__________________ Meg
tried for 22 months
m/c 3/14/00, 10 weeks
Finally pregnant
Lachlan Patrick Born December 29, 2001
Met 1500mg-took through pregnancy
1) Were you diagnosed as insulin-resistant, before starting met?
Yes, insulin was over double what it should be.
2) Did met help regulate your period? (how often did you have it before/after?) I always had a normal period, just no ovulation.
3) Did met bring ovulation? (do you know, were you ovulating before/after) I am not ovulating on met. Previous to being on met I was ovulating very sporadically. I have been on Met since January, and I have ovulated every month since then.
4) How much met did you take and for how long before noticing improvements? I am on 1500 MG of Glucophage XR. I am a thin cyster, however, I lost about 10 pounds just by starting the met. It really helped with my extreme tiredness. I now have a ton of energy.
5) How old are you?
31
6) What other medication are you on?
Prenatals, aspirin, progesterone (after ovulation) and calcium.
7) Any bad side effects? Did they go away in time?
I had really bad stomach problems for first 2 weeks but no problems at all since then.
Metformin is amazing!!! Thank you thin cysters for the information.
1) Have not been tested for insulin resistance.
2) I started my first period in almost a year after taking one 500mg pill.
3) I will be tracking ovulation. I don't think I was ovulating after I got off BCP's.
4) See #2
5) 27
6) none
7) I have no appetite and I seem to get really sleepy right after I eat. Some cramping with period that I used to never have. I have only been taking it for 2 days.
I am 5'2" and weigh between 95-100 lbs? (don't have a scale!)
Update 11/7/02... stopped having periods after 2 months, never ovulated
Ladies, here is a new article about met in thin cysters:
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ENDO: Insulin-sensitizing Medications Aid Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Even Without Insulin Resistance, Obesity
By Paula Moyer
Special to DG News
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- June 20, 2002 -- Treatment with insulin-sensitizing medications such as metformin (Glucophage®) promotes ovulation and reduces testosterone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), even if they are relatively lean and insulin-responsive.
These findings, reported at ENDO 2002, the 84th Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society, indicate that physicians may want to use insulin-sensitizing therapy in all women with PCOS, rather than relying on clinical assessments of insulin sensitivity, according to the investigators.
"Even if a woman with PCOS doesn't have obesity or other symptoms that would lead the physician to suspect insulin resistance, insulin-sensitizing drugs are effective," lead investigator Jean-Patrice Baillargeon, MD, said. "It was a surprising outcome to see that relatively lean women will have lower insulin levels, begin to ovulate, and have lower testosterone levels."
Dr. Baillargeon is a clinical research fellow in endocrinology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, United States and collaborated in his research with John Nestler, professor of medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Baillargeon is currently on leave from his position as a professor of medicine at the University of Sherbrooke in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
In this study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Baillargeon and colleagues randomly assigned 100 women with PCOS who were neither overweight nor hypertensive to receive metformin, rosiglitazone (Avandia®), combination therapy, or placebo. The doses for the insulin sensitizers were 850 mg twice daily for metformin and 4 mg twice daily for rosiglitazone.
Every six months, the investigations assessed the women with respect to number of ovulations during the observation period, any changes in systolic blood pressure, and changes in free testosterone. The average body mass index (BMI) for the women was 24.5, which is considered to be within normal weight.
The metformin monotherapy group had a mean of 3.3 ovulations during this period, compared to 2.4 for the rosiglitazone monotherapy group and 3.4 for the combination group. The placebo arm had a mean of 0.4 ovulations during the study period (p<0.0001). The metformin group had a mean reduction of 4.3 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure, compared to 2.6 mm Hg for the rosiglitazone group, 4.5 mm Hg for the combination group, and 1.0 mm Hg for the placebo group (p=0.012). Free testosterone levels dropped 12.8 pmol/L in the metformin group, 12.3 pmol/L in the rosiglitazone group, 21.9 pmol/L in the combination group, and 1.2 pmol/L in the placebo group (p=0.0001).
"If using an insulin sensitizer, rosiglitazone alone will not produce sufficient change in PCOS symptoms," Dr. Baillergeon said. "Either metformin monotherapy or combination therapy should be used." http://www.docguide.com/news/content...ype=DGDispatch
Hi -- my first post! I'm so glad I stumbled on this site....I've been feeling so alone lately what with all my friends being part of the 9/11 birth cohort...
1) Were you diagnosed as insulin-resistant, before starting met?
No -- no one ever noted anything unusual about my bloodwork other than the high LH/FSH ratio.
2) Did met help regulate your period? (how often did you have it before/after?) Got off BCPs in February 2001 and had progressively longer cycles until AF stopped coming altogether by November 2001 and I had to take Prometrium. Have been with REI since January 2002 and have had a period most months, but mostly through taking prometrium. First cycle on Met just ended a couple weeks ago on CD 45 -- without prometrium or clomid! Decided to call that a victory.
3) Did met bring ovulation? (do you know, were you ovulating before/after) I did not ovulate on my first Met cycle -- but I did not start Met until CD 12 because I had an HSG scheduled this cycle, and was not on full dosage (1500 mg) until 2.5 weeks before AF came along. Had my LH surge about 2 weeks before AF came, but the egg never popped and I never got the BBT shift. Developed huge follie that turned into the mother of all cysts (30 mm -- I am generally not cystic). Now on rest cycle of BCPs to wait for cyst to go away.
4) How much met did you take and for how long before noticing improvements? 1500 mgs. I started on 500 mg for a week, 1000 mg for a week and a half (because the s/e's were so bad), and then 1500 mg since. I was on 1500 mg for 2.5 weeks before being surprised by AF (no temp shift, but major LH surge about 4-5 days after ramping up to 1500 mg).
5) How old are you?
31
6) What other medication are you on?
Prenatals when I remember them, otherwise just BCPs for this rest cycle. May be going back to Clomid for the next cycle to help regulate things. Also trying acupuncture.
7) Any bad side effects? Did they go away in time?
Bad stomach problems, nausea, and zero appetite on 500 mg. Worse on 1000 mg. S/e's abated a bit after adjusting to 1500 mg, but only if I force feed myself each time I take Met. Weight has dropped about 5 lbs to 121 or so (I'm 5'5"). Occasional stomach problems now depending on what I eat and when.
1) Were you diagnosed as insulin-resistant, before starting met?
No, my blood work came back "normal."
2) Did met help regulate your period? (how often did you have it before/after?)
Was on BCP for the past 5 years or so, after going off them in Nov '01, never regained a normal period. Still using provera to have periods (clomid, tamoxifen, and glucophage all failing so far to induce ovulation -- except one rare month where I hyperstimulated and ended up with 4x-size ovaries).
3) Did met bring ovulation? (do you know, were you ovulating before/after)
No. Still have no dominant follicles (my doctor does ultrasounds each month around day 14 to check). Yet I regulary test positive on my OPK for LH on day 12 (but negative on days 10 and 11).
4) How much met did you take and for how long before noticing improvements?
Started with 1000mg per day for two weeks, tried to increase to 1500mg, but side effects were too much. Back to 1000mg now (7 weeks total now). Considering trying to increase again though since have not seen much success yet.
5) How old are you? 26
6) What other medication are you on?
I take clomid/tamoxifen on days 3-7 and medroxyprogesterone for 7 days shortly after I fail to ovulate each month
7) Any bad side effects? Did they go away in time?
The only lasting side effect that I still experience (though it comes and goes) are strange to no appetites (ie: can't eat anything warm... must be room temperature or colder, can't eat meat, etc.) very peculiar -- and frustrating when out to dinner! Other than that, the initial nausea and occassional diarrhea has subsided.
I am 5'5", 105 lbs. I have no other symptoms of PCOS except for the many cysts in my ovaries and no ovulation.
Thanks for starting this! Its very helpful to read others' responses!
Hi Oana! Yes, if I go back to Clomid, I will stay with Met (and cap it all off with an HCG shot, since my body can't seem to do anything on its own, LOL) -- Clomid alone had too much of an antiestrogenic effect on me. My lining was thin thin thin (like 5-6 mm), making all of my Clomid cycles pointless (don't even ask about the CM!) I guzzled tussin for awhile, but the clomid was just too strong, I guess. I'm going to try baby aspirin now (wow there are a lot of brands now), but this rest cycle on BCPs is really just for re-grouping (not temping is so wonderful! I can sleep in!!).
__________________ teehsu 31
DH 30
TTC #1 since 2/2001
PCOS Dx 1/2002 based on high LH/FSH ratio
HSG all clear
Three failed clomid cycles (100 and 150 mg) -- had two unsuccessful IUIs
No luck on first Met cycle (1500 mg)
Made it thru rest cycle of BCPs to wait out monster (32 mm) cyst -- all gone!
Have been seeing acupuncturist since 5/2001
Took Clomid with Met for two more cycles -- grew two nice fat follies during last cycle! 4 mg/day of Estradiol from CD 11 to fatten the lining. Ovidrel to induce ovulation, and IUI on 9/17/02. Took progesterone supplements for two months after IUI. No longer on met.
Success! Positive HPT on 9/29/02! EDD 6/11/03!
Did you know that female pandas ovulate only once a year? To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Glad you liked the bit of panda trivia. Aren't they adorable? My favorite animals....DH thinks that, to improve our TTC chances, I should devlop an affinity for rabbits, rather than the increasingly-rare and endangered panda...
If I exhibited any of the outward symptoms of a so-called classic PCOS woman, like excess weight or hair, the "honorary panda" title would be even more appropriate...
__________________ teehsu 31
DH 30
TTC #1 since 2/2001
PCOS Dx 1/2002 based on high LH/FSH ratio
HSG all clear
Three failed clomid cycles (100 and 150 mg) -- had two unsuccessful IUIs
No luck on first Met cycle (1500 mg)
Made it thru rest cycle of BCPs to wait out monster (32 mm) cyst -- all gone!
Have been seeing acupuncturist since 5/2001
Took Clomid with Met for two more cycles -- grew two nice fat follies during last cycle! 4 mg/day of Estradiol from CD 11 to fatten the lining. Ovidrel to induce ovulation, and IUI on 9/17/02. Took progesterone supplements for two months after IUI. No longer on met.
Success! Positive HPT on 9/29/02! EDD 6/11/03!
Did you know that female pandas ovulate only once a year? To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Poll: Thin cysters, please share your Metformin experience! 
Oana
hiladelphia, PA USA
