post your tips on dealing with gluc/met side effects - Page 21

Emma4 · 04-13-2007, 12:35 AM

I too am very tired and on my first week. Just upped dosage tonight. Does any one have any input on probiotics with regards to the wonderful GI side effects?

PJC · 04-18-2007, 01:42 AM

I'm wondering, too, about acidophilus. Does it really help with the diarrhea? I started met a few weeks ago. I was prescribed 500mg 2x per day. I started off with 1 tablet for a week. Side effects were there a bit, but not too bad. I upped it to both tablets after a week. Now I'm suffering. How is it possible that more is coming out than is going in?? LOL And I'll tell you, I eat so healthy (and low carb) it's not funny, so it's not from too many simple carbs. I did notice salad with an olive oil dressing was not a good idea, even though it has never bothered me before. I'm trying to lose weight, so I don't want to eat more than I have to either. I will add...it has reduced my appetite considerably. To me that is most assuredly a good thing!!

I was on met 5 years ago with not one side effect so this has thrown me for a loop! I started at 1 tablet and was put on 2 tabs after one month. I may bump it back down to 1 tablet to see what happens.

I've also been having really bad trapped gas pains. I can also hear my stomach an awful lot...and like one of the pp's said, it's like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Oh yeah, I'm already on prenatals w/iron, so that theory isn't working for me.

brener · 04-18-2007, 07:53 AM

I also have a lot of trapped wind?
Anyone any tips? I often "fart" without any notice.. tmi I know but no smells just trapped air!! but they are loud.

tshaffpa33 · 04-19-2007, 10:12 AM

Regarding acidophilus:

I've been taking acidophilus for over three years now. (to control yeast). I never made a connection really, but I used to wake up constantly in the middle of the night and have to rush to the bathroom before I took the acidophilus. After coming here and reading that it's supposed to help with that, it makes a tonnnnnnnnnnnn of sense to me. I haven't had late night runs to the bathroom for a LONG TIME.

That is until I started the met. The first 2 weeks of 500 mg, I was fine. The second two weeks of 1000 mg, I had frequent bathroom trips constantly. Coming here, I found out what I should and shouldn't be eating, and they subsided.

Now I've upped it to 2000mg and the first day I was in the bathroom 8 times. (TMI I know).

Since that first day though, besides feeling like I'm going to barf constantly, I haven't had the bathroom trips.

I can't really say for sure though whether the acidophilus helps (with the met side effects)... I'm also taking ginger. But I know it worked BEFORE met.

I would say try it. You take two pills with supper, they have no side effects whatsoever, and they only cost 4 bux a bottle at Walmart.

Might be worth it.

KarlaC · 04-24-2007, 09:54 AM

Ok fellow cysters, what about the nausea!? I am fine one minute, but then out of not where I am just as nauseous as I can be! If I eat just a few bites of something I am much better, but it leaves my stomach kinda achy feeling. Is this the Glucophage? If so, got any suggestions?

Anyk · 04-28-2007, 02:48 PM

Its no miracle solution, but water and mint gum kept me going and with time the side effects fade away... until you get pregnant (if that's your goal)

good luck

KarlaC · 04-30-2007, 01:45 PM

Oh no, getting pregnant is not my goal! I have a 2 year old live wire, I could not handle another one yet! LOL

My endo had told me to take 2 500 mg tabs a day. He said he did not care if I took them both at one time or split them up and take one in the morning and one at night, just as long as I got 1000 mg daily. At first I was taking both at a time, but now I split them up and it seems to help some! Thanks for the water and mint gum it does help!

Watermisbehaves · 05-03-2007, 05:36 AM

I understand the above mentioned sudden nausea...not to mention sudden everything else...ugh. I feel like hell right now...people can hear my stomach if they are standing close...not cool. I haven't heard anyone mention this yet, but I do better if I take the met withOUT food. I know this is contrary to what everyone else is saying -- and I have no idea why it's so, but it seems to help. I'd love to hear if anyone at all is in the same boat ... I feel like a met freak. lol.

Also, for the nausea, I second what a lot of other posts have said ... mint tea seems to help quite a bit.

Watermisbehaves · 05-03-2007, 05:39 AM

I had to post back to you (sorry it's several wks late)...but I was scrolling up at the posts and yawned right when I hit yours ha. I have been yawning constantly. I'm usually quite the night owl, so this is strange. Sorry I don't know anything about the probiotics, but I feel your pain in regards to the GI stuff.

Hope you're feeling better!

brener · 05-03-2007, 07:57 AM

Hi all.
I increaed to 2 and 1.4 tabs yesterday from 2 tabs.. and I am SOOO TIRED and nausea already.eating low carbs etc.. help

Hopeful_Jen · 05-04-2007, 01:45 AM

Diagnosed with PCOS originally in 2002 (I think) and confirmed a few weeks ago. Anyway, was getting very desparate for a solution of some kind, mostly to being overweight and lack of ovulation. Married for a year and a half, want to be prepared for when we start trying for a baby. Went to a new doc (internal med at the suggestion of my nurse sister) and he prescribed Metforim (first the suggest, of course, was birth control- yeah, not interested). I have only been taking the Met for five days and I am VERY impatient! I'm still a couple weeks away from when my period would begin (in a perfect, normal world- which NEVER happens), so I'm very anxious to see if this Met will work. But I have been experience some of the very lovely and friend-losing side effects. Really bad stomach pain, passing gas, head aches. Funny, I also noticed that I had a really bad stomach day after having salad for lunch- coincidence? I think NOT!

I have two questions, if someone wouldn't mind helping a gal out :-)...

1) My doc said this is the only "diabeties" type med with a side effect of weight LOSS...anyone found that to be true?

2) Is glucophage more effective than Met in terms of ovulation?

Okay, I'm going to add a third question that might be more appropriate for a different thread... I have read that just because you have a period does not mean that you've ovulated, asked the doc about this, he'd never heard that before, but docs don't know everything... has anyone else heard this?

Thanks so much for the help! Looking forward to reporting successful results soon!

GigiDG · 05-05-2007, 11:02 AM

First thing first....you shouldn't see an internist for this problem. What you should do is get a referral from that md to a specialist such as a gynecologist or a fertility specialist (who both would be better qualified to guide you and answer such questions).
Metformin is the only form of that med that helps (although sometimes you might need to take something else w/it such as clomid) and it does have those types of effects on some people. I am also on it and thankfully I have not had any bad effects from the med. AND yes it is possible to menstruate w/o ovulating and vice versa.
I'm including some sites for you to review. I wish you all the best!
http://www.ivf.com/pcostreat.html

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...69/ai_n6048589

http://www.ndri.com/news/treatment_o...phage-205.html

Anyk · 05-05-2007, 12:36 PM

Hi,

Like GigiDG said finding a doctor that knows more about PCOS is the ideal solution. If you are like me and not prepared to wait about a year for an appt to come, you can also do your homework and bring your doctor some good reference like articles from MedPubs.

For your questions, I'm not a doctor just a patient like most of us here, but here is what I learned with reading about everything on the subject.

1- Yes at first met will make you loss a few pounds.... probably because of the side effects. You have to remember its not a miracle pill, it just put you in a fair game... so when you eat well and exercise... you'll see some results

2- Some girls could correct me on that one.... but my understanding is that Glucophage is a brand of metformin

3- As for your period... they should come back with met. But for me, at about 200llbs, it took a few months and about 1750mg to have an ovulation... and I got pregnant on the first cycle at 2000mg. So depending of your weight that might change when you start ovulating again. As for the question of period without ovulation, I read that yes it is possible. It like your system need to empty/clean itself after a while... I can't remember were I read that but I did confirmed with my doctor.

good luck and be patient... and its never too early to ask for a referal to a fertiliy specialist...

Glenys · 05-06-2007, 07:07 PM

When I went to a fertility clinic I was told that with my irregular periods and PCOS I could only be ovulating 2 or 3 times a year - so yes you can have periods without ovulating worst luck!!

I found I lost half a stone of weight in the first 6 months of taking Met, I also did quite a bit of exercise in this time and ate differently due to being overseas visiting family but looking back I'm sure the Met had a big part in the weight loss. Unfortunately it hasn't done what I need it to do though - Regulate my periods!!!

kelly51887 · 05-08-2007, 03:04 AM

my name is kelly and i am 19 recently diagnosed with PCOS.. started metformin 500 mg twice daily have not worked up to twice daily because of the side effects.. nausea x4 vomiting x2 diarrhea x2... and what is strange to me is when it occurs (randomly that is) sometimes it is a few hours after taking the med or 16 hours after taking it. and the vomiting comes up quickly... bad for driving : ( i know if i keep taking it i will work thorough the gi side effects ... i guess it helps to vent to people who know what im talking about... family is very supportive but dosent know what to do.