post your tips on dealing with gluc/met side effects - Page 5

Drkaito · 05-29-2003, 03:11 AM

Hi, I've been on Met. 3x daily since October, and the second afternoon dose has been making me really sick to my stomach, so I stopped taking it. I was extremely nauseous and vomiting. I have had several other symptoms while on Met. which just recently showed up: headaches, numbness of hands, pulling sensation on left side near heart, major gas, cravings for sweets, low blood glucose, always tired (sleep till 11 am), nervousness and depression. I could probably go on and on, but those are just some of my symptoms which bother me the most. After being on Met. I thought my facial hair would get better, but it is just worse and worse. I am finally going to go see a specialist at The University of Chicago PCOS clinic. I called my reg. Endo and he said to stop taking the Met. for one week to see if any symptoms like my headaches and cravings for sweets go away. I sure hope they do because I cannot live like this. There has to be something else I can take/do. Exercise and diet hasn't helped me at all, which my doc. is surprised about. I just began doing Pilates 3 weeks ago and am hoping that it will help. As far as eating low carbs, can someone give me an example of a daily menu that you eat that works? Please, I need help!!!

Lisa

christyz · 06-10-2003, 09:58 PM

Drk: If you head to the "Diet & Exercise" forum, you will find a TON of low carb/IR diet menu examples.

Kerry: The Met does shorten your cycle length. Mine were non-existent when I began Met, then were between 40-69 days. Then they shortened again to about 34 days. Now they are at a steady 31 days.

Serlena: It's normal to be nervous, especially about something that will affect your fertility! But once the side effects end, you'll be solglad you bit the bullet. Met has been a slow but steady miracle for me and I wish I could give every PCOS women 1 day of the hope and excitement I have now. I have a new lease on life and I wish you good luck starting.

Hope it helps!

*Ladies: if you ever have off-topic questions or concerns, feel free to post them on the regular Met forum. The reason your posts got over-looked originally was probably because this is a thread on tips for dealing with Met side effects, and people didn't get to the end of all the posts. If you post on the regular Met forum, you'll get the knowledge and insight of all our wise and compassionate cysters.

kok1922 · 06-11-2003, 11:44 AM

Hi

It has been great reading these tips since I just started Glucophage XR this past week. 500 mg. per day for a week and then I am working myself up to 1000 and then 1500. I am doing it in hopes of it helping my fertility.

At any rate, two nights ago I had that same "Volcanic" feeling in my stomach. I had to do some exercises for some physical therapy that I am in and I thought that it was going to be terrible because it involves my stomach and legs. And, halfway through the exercises, I noticed that my stomach had calmed down.

Then, yesterday afternoon, the same feeling came back and I decided continue with my plans to go for my hour-long power walk. I felt great when I was done.

So, I assume that if you are really really sick like others have mentioned aboved, that exercise is not the best idea. But, if you have that "bubbly" feeling or tightness in your stomach, exercise might work.

Over two years ago I began this whole low-carb escapade and was on this website all the time. Then, work sorta took over my life and I couldn't be on the website at all. I came back to get information on Glucophage and it is great to see everyone still here supporting each other.

I do have a question - for those of you on Gluc/Met and who drink, does the type of alcohol make a difference? Wine vs. beer vs. Gin/vodka? I must admit, that I do like martinis and giving them up is bothering me a little but the absolute fear of what it will do to me is keeping me from drinking.

Kelly

christyz · 06-11-2003, 12:27 PM

Quote:

I do have a question - for those of you on Gluc/Met and who drink, does the type of alcohol make a difference? Wine vs. beer vs. Gin/vodka? I must admit, that I do like martinis and giving them up is bothering me a little but the absolute fear of what it will do to me is keeping me from drinking.

Your body processes alcohol FIRST, so while you drink, anything you eat will likely be stored as fat because your pancreas and liver are busy dealing with the alcohol and no sugars can be processed. So the lower the sugar in your drink and food during that time the better. So if you try to select drinks that are lower in alcohol and sugar, it can help. If you use mixers in your drinks, choose ones that are sugar free, such as diet soft drinks, diet tonic, club soda, seltzer, or water. This will help keep your blood sugar levels in your target range too. Light beer and dry wines are good...They have less alcohol and carbohydrates and fewer calories. Some folks try to make drinks last longer, by making "spritzer." Mix wine with sparkling water, club soda, or diet soda.

Hope it helps!

Kanmustang · 06-16-2003, 01:44 AM

I just wanted to share this with everyone. I was on Met about 2 years ago and was so sick that I quit taking it. I was always in the bathroom with it running out "both ends". I just started taking it again about 7 weeks ago, but NO side effects. I couldn't figure out why. When I talked to my Dr. he said that was why he put me on pre-natal vitamins, and also suggested that I take a women's multi-vitamin with iron in it. Normally Iron with make you constipated, and it counteracts the Met. If has REALLY worked for me. Maybe it will work for you as well.

curvaceous_angel · 06-16-2003, 03:11 AM

If you look at the stickys the very first one is a post of what others have done or found to help with the side effects. It is such a big help.

christyz · 06-16-2003, 03:27 PM

Kan: Hope you don't mind me moving your post to this thread about tips for metformin side effects that Ramona mentioned. it helps to keep all of this great info in one handy thread. Thanks so much for sharing!

ladyhawk · 06-17-2003, 12:18 AM

I have been on Metformin once before this time, the last time I was on it, I had very bad problems with it, but I never ate breakfast, and tried not to eat a huge lunch either. So, this time around, I started getting up earlier, eating a bannanna or toast, take the metformin, and then work out for 10-15 min, drink water and then eat my breakfast. Same went for my dinner.. I would eat a little, take it and eat the rest of my dinner. I found this makes a "cushon" for the metformin to sit on, and I have only had mild bloating and gas. Also, making sure I ate throughout the day, not a lot of carbs though, made the metformin agreeable to me. I am about to move up now to 500mg t.i.d (500mg three times a day.) I think its working well for me.

Also, as a side note, I have also found that at least in my case the excersize is best in the early morning or late evening.. getting at least 8 1/2 hours of rest every night makes me feel so much better.

Vic · 06-21-2003, 10:28 PM

Hi - I ahve read all the posts with interest and when I get to start my meds I will revisit with pen and paper!

Question tho - with these side effects are you able to work as usual - I work full time- but am concerend that these side effects may mean too much sick time?

I'd appreciate any insight

Thanks

Luv

V

christyz · 06-21-2003, 10:53 PM

Vic: When I started Met, I was lucky since I work at home. But if i were in your shoes, I would tell your boss that you are starting a drug that may lead you to dash to the bathroom for a few weeks, and then wait and see how it goes before you book off sick time. Some girls have very few problems, and if you up your dose gradually over a matter of weeks and take it with food, you'll see way less s/e.

Vic · 06-22-2003, 12:28 PM

Hi Christy - thanks for the advice.

Its crazy - I know that so much is in store for me but also do not know what I can expect or how much of an impact it will make on my day to day life - so your email is able to give me some idea and helps me work it all out. So thanks

luv

v

christyz · 06-22-2003, 01:28 PM

I don't think I helped much! lol That's the thing about met....like every woman has different PCOS symptoms, everybody reacts differently to the drug. I had some of the worse side effects reported around here, and I can still EASILY say that the positives outweight the negatives! Good Luck on Met, and keep us posted on how you're doing.

AngieNC35 · 07-07-2003, 02:40 PM

I am lost what are the specific side effects ? is sweating like a pig one of them ? lol just started my 500mg a day dose last Friday and whew I do have the diarreha and all but I am also sweating alot and I was very very irritable yesterday .. is this normal ? under alot of stress at home but never have been as short tempered as I was yesterday.
please let me know I am not losing my mind .....

Angie

AngieNC35 · 07-07-2003, 02:40 PM

I am lost what are the specific side effects ? is sweating like a pig one of them ? lol just started my 500mg a day dose last Friday and whew I do have the diarreha and all but I am also sweating alot and I was very very irritable yesterday .. is this normal ? under alot of stress at home but never have been as short tempered as I was yesterday.
please let me know I am not losing my mind .....

Angie

christyz · 07-07-2003, 04:51 PM

Most common side effects:

metallic taste in mouth (thank heaven that one disappears!

), diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, flatulence,

I wasn't aware of moodiness or irritability, but being that this drug does affect hormones, anything's possible! LOL