post your tips on dealing with gluc/met side effects - Page 17

leabfisher · 07-24-2006, 02:16 PM

I too was just diagnosed with PCOS, after 5 years of TTC. Finally found a doctor willing to listen and do something about it.

So I started on Met at 500 mgs 2x a day and the first day was not very nice with the GI problems and I sorta expected that. The day 2 and 3 weren't that bad but I watched what I ate very closely. Yesterday, we were out and about and stopped by Wendy's and I had a salad and small burger, well you can guess what happens next. I am just glad I was able to read your posts because my first thought was of the Lactic Acidosis which is a side effect of the Met. I went around all day feeling my skin to see if it felt cold, feeling my heart beat, and not wanting to get sleepy at like 11 o'clock pm! I do have some muscle aches in my legs-similar to cramping. But I can have a slight (really a major) anxiety disorder over what is going on with my body!
I am also taking Provera (to stimulate my period), Prenatals, Clomid (soon) and Synthroid-I feel like a walking pharmacy!
Thanks for all your posts to make anxiety driven me feel a little better!

Lea

Phoenixfury82 · 08-01-2006, 02:59 PM

Immodium works miracles!

emmytons · 08-13-2006, 08:53 PM

I've been on Met for about 4 months now. The first 2 months I was taking 500 mg once a day and it seemed to help somewhat w/ my hormone levels but not enough so we've upped it to 750 mg a day. That was when I started noticing the side effects. I'm lethargic, gas (in the form of lots of burping), weeping/depressed, and not as hungry or picky when I do want to eat. It seems like I had these side effects when I first started taking it and they seemed to lessen along the way. So I really hope that happens again! B/c it's embarassing to be sitting there and all of a sudden burp when you had no idea it was coming!

tamiam3 · 08-14-2006, 04:26 AM

I had problems with my liver functions and high platelets. Mine were not high enough to worry about, but I am not allowed to take metformin when I am sick or when I'm having a severe IBS bout. Ironic, eh, b/c when you go back on it if you've been off too long, you get IBS symptoms again

For me, I only get the initial metformin side effects if I'm off metformin for more than two months.

Also, I'm athelete and if I'm doing intense training, my doc gives me b-complex shots or presrcition b-12 to keep the training frm incraesing my liver functions any higher. (All athletes have increased liver functionc drinh intense tarining and is only a problem if your liver functionas are already a concern).

p.s. I agree with the ginger recommendation. If you can't resist that second doughnut, make sure you have ginger handy. The capsules don't work quite as well as the fresh stuff does. I can't chew or taste raw ginger--it's too gross, so I chop up the ginger into little peices and swallow them like pills.

a couple burps later and I no longer feel my pulse in my stomach.

Does anyone know if freezing ginger reduces its GI benefits?

Bugsy79 · 08-14-2006, 09:06 PM

where do you buy fresh ginger?

alexandra · 08-14-2006, 10:49 PM

that explains why my stomach hurt so much for a week!
I thought I was sick. Stupid me.

I'm on 2000 mg of Met daily!

I developed PCOS after my daughters were all born.

In a CAGE of my own creation! Christine 5, Alexandra 6, Genevieve 9 and Emma 11 !

tamiam3 · 08-15-2006, 01:14 PM

Bugsy--you can buy fresh ginger at the grocery store. It's usually sold next to the garlic and mushrooms in the produce section. I cut a slice (like you'd cut a carrot), chop it up into little pieces and swallow it with a glass of water. It cuts belly gas, and settles your stomach. It's better to take it with food, or after the food you ate has kicked your butt!

I highly recommend it! I'm Chinese and it's an Old World remedy.

k8harding · 08-18-2006, 12:02 AM

Hey all,
This is my first time posting and I felt compelled because having recently been diagnosed with PCOS, my doctor started me right away on Metformin. I was so excited to find this website, but then came away terrified of taking my new meds.

I have a history of getting VERY sick with EVERY drug I've ever taken with a side effect of nausea or vomitting.

However, I've found some things that really REALLY work for me with Metformin, and I'd like to share for all you other sickies out there!

- do NOT start on a dose any higher than 500mg. Work your way up.
- take at 8pm after eating a full meal
- as suggested here, eat 2 full spoons of yogurt before hand
- take with a ginger pill for nausea
- do NOT let yourself get too hungry. That is when I find the worst of the sickness. If I eat something small fairly regularly, I stay pretty much okay.

This week I upped my dosage, now taking a pill in the morning as well, following all the same tips, and seem to be doing okay so far!

best of luck to newbies.

Nueva York · 08-23-2006, 04:34 AM

I've been taking Met for almost a week now. I've also been watching what I eat (lots of thanks to all the tips from you ladies), so I've been on a low-carb diet for almost a week now. So far it's going well. I get dizzy every once in a while, so for that, I chew some gum or I will eat something small - like cottage cheese. For breakfast I've been having cottage cheese and some grapes (Not that good I know, but I need to have some type of fruit). For lunch it's been a small piece of chicken or beef. My appetite has gone down tremendously which helps me save during lunch. However, tonight, I decided to boil some eggs and have them for dinner (only two). Well, needless to say, after that, I definately felt the most common PCOS side effect. That was just horrible. So no more eggs for me! I think others have mentioned it on here. I've noticed when I stick to no sugar and the low-carb, that I barely get any side effects. I'm still on 500mg, going to 1000mg by Friday. Not really sure how to approach that as in when to take it, but we shall see.

smithtaka · 08-25-2006, 02:18 PM

I have found that a lot of water and high protein foods help reduce side effects of met.

I take it in the morning so that the side effects don't hit until I get home from work in the evening.

S Dyer · 08-25-2006, 09:14 PM

Lots of water has still been working for me

maRie21 · 08-29-2006, 09:50 PM

when i was first diagnosed...the doctor gave me metformin right away. it made my stomach so upset i was leaving work early and i stopped taking it. i went back and dr. put me on birth control. i've been thinking about going back to metformin and trying different things to help w/the symptoms because i feel like the birth control isn't really solving anything and it will go back to the same old problems when i decide to go off it.

Glenys · 09-25-2006, 09:22 AM

I'm getting massive headaches and bloating after taking Met. Does anyone else have these side-effects or any ideas how to help? I take the Met sandwich-style (eat half my meal then take tab and finish meal) so surely it can't be low blood sugar causing the headaches?! What helps ease the bloating??

heatherflower · 10-02-2006, 07:56 PM

Hello

I have just been diagnosed and did the Glucose test last week. As soon as the results from that are back I will start on 500mg of Met a day working my way up to more. Reading all of these side effects I am a little nervous to start taking this. I have always been a natural remedy girl and have not taken too many prescribed drugs. At this point I am going to do whatever it takes to get pregnant...so here I go

Thanks for all of the side effects advice, I am sure I will try them all. Any more that you can give a newbie Met taker will be great.

I also have a hard time swallowing pills, are they big pills? Will I be able to use a pill splitter to split them in smaller pieces?
Thanks

mandirae23 · 10-09-2006, 03:44 AM

My advice:
1. No fatty foods
2. No lettuce or any leafy green veggie
3. No watermelon
4. Not a lot of dairy
5. Very little or no caffeine
6. Yes Whole grains
7. Rarely fried foods/Fast Foods
8. Yes Fruits and Vegs
9. WATER
10. I swear by Immodium Advanced
11. A good amount of real protein == no processed meats
12. If you can afford it, go organic only!