post your tips on dealing with gluc/met side effects - Page 50

katherineh · 10-08-2009, 07:48 PM

I have been on met 4 weeks and two weeks at 2000mg. For me I have noticed that if I took met on a full stomach, it would get pretty upset. So the last few nights I haven't been that hungry and I have taken it on an almost empty stomach and I didn't have any side effects at all. But I was pretty hungry the next morning.

I do have a question though. Is breast tenderness (sorry- in the nipple area) a side effect? Because my breasts (nipples) have been very tender for almost two weeks now, especially the tips hurt when they get brushed by skin or material.

lovesharmony · 11-08-2009, 12:16 AM

thanks

ann4art · 11-11-2009, 11:11 PM

Hello,
I scanned thru just about all the pages looking for my answer but didnt find anything. I was just wondering if anyone has experienced really bad acne on met? I get these massive pimples on my face and chest that dont come to a head, and if I try to bust them they leave really dark marks. Help!!!!

TheNewMrs. · 11-13-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ms_Peaches_01

Today is my second day on met and last night I was as sick as a dog. I tossed, turned, and sweated all night but am glad I have some tips now for dealing with it.

Thanks Cysters

I'm with ya. Took my first pill (only 500mg ER) at 6:30 PM with dinner and last night was AWFUL! I'm eating 1/2 cup yogurt, 4 oz apple, and have added cinnamon and ginger to the yogurt for breakfast. Basically all carbs, yet "lighter" ones, if you will. Someone mentioned yogurt being good, so hopefully this helps.

It's a common breakfast for me anyway.

Anyone know if you feel better keeping something in your stomach at all times (jsut smaller meals, low fat/low carb)?? Seems to me it'd help, but I do not feel like eating at all.

SharaKate · 11-16-2009, 04:22 AM

So, I just began taking Metformin last week (currently at one 750mg tablet per day until my system regulates and then up to two) every day with lunch and every night without fail I'm bloated and horribly crampy/gassy. I try to watch the carbs and if I do have any, it's whole grain and very little sugar and little to no greasy foods so I'm not sure what's causing it. I only had diarrhea one day. I've read a lot of the posts and some talk about teas, and others fiber chewables, etc but I'm at a loss as to which I should start with.

I don't want immodium as rather than having diarrhea, I almost have the opposite problem...I'm not as 'regular' as I was before I began taking the medication. The gas and pain, however, are driving me crazy and with Thanksgiving coming up, I don't want to be in constant pain. Any suggestions? Do I need to contact my Endo yet? Or does it take more time to become normal again?

Can I just say I hate this medication?

TheNewMrs. · 11-16-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SharaKate

Any suggestions? Do I need to contact my Endo yet? Or does it take more time to become normal again?Can I just say I hate this medication?

I don't have any answers for you as I just started taking it too. I had the bad diarrhea the first day with nausea, pain, cramping, etc, but from the second day on, I've been great. I do agree that I think I may be a bit more constipated than before too. I haven't had too much, if any gas and bloating (that wouldn't be normal) either and I've actually ate way more carbs and fat than I'm used to!!

As for contacting your endo, I know that Met can take up to 3 months to get used to...SO, from the sounds of it, you have a while. I think most people get used to it sooner than that in my experiences in working with diabetics who take it. I know my ob/gyn made me promise to call her if the side effects "got too bad." I asked specifically what she meant by that and we agreed on "too much to handle."

I didnt want to be giving up on it too soon, yet I didnt want to be throwing up 24/7. I'm tolerating it VERY well, though, so that's been good.

Sorry I'm not more help. I guess my suggestion would be to eat yogurt (to make you poop) and wait it out a while (unless things get much worse).

cre13 · 11-19-2009, 09:43 PM

I am on Met 500mg 3x/day, I'm now on Day 5 and the diahrrea gets worse by the day. It happens about 45 minutes after I eat WITHOUT FAIL and at least once in the middle of the night. And when it hits me, there's no warning. The scary thing is, it is so watery and appears to have chunks of what I ate in it. As of this morning, I had lost 4lbs. I'm constantly nauseated and I am hungry but when I try to eat, the food turns my stomach. I pick at my food and that just isn't normal for me. I have been on Metformin before but I think it was the XR. I'm on Met for the Insulin Resistance, not necessarily because I'm ttc. I've been told it's possible I'll be on it for the rest of my life. Oh! And I have heartburn and frequent burping, too. It's miserable ... but I know I must continue taking it so that I can get over the initial stages of my body getting used to the med. I just hope it doesn't last for 3 months!!!!!!

TheNewMrs. · 11-20-2009, 08:59 AM

Good luck with it! Could you try the Met ER? I know that is supposed to be easier on your tummy. I'm on the ER and aside from the first night and one other random night, I've been perfectly fine - no changes whatsoever.

And I'm not so sure what it was about the two random nights that I had lots of nausea, gas, cramps, stomach pains, and diarrhea...I can't find anything specific that I ate which would have caused it.

cre13 · 11-20-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNewMrs.

Good luck with it! Could you try the Met ER? I know that is supposed to be easier on your tummy. I'm on the ER and aside from the first night and one other random night, I've been perfectly fine - no changes whatsoever.

And I'm not so sure what it was about the two random nights that I had lots of nausea, gas, cramps, stomach pains, and diarrhea...I can't find anything specific that I ate which would have caused it.

The first month I was on Met, I was on the ER, when I got it refilled they didn't give me ER at the Pharmacy so I called them on it because the pills were different and they had to call the doc b/c they were just filling what the prescription said and the doctor said he made a mistake by writing it for ER in the first place and doesn't want me on it ... who knows! I don't know what the difference is, why one is better than the other for specific cases. I definitely didn't have the side effects that month that I'm having now. I just thought it was because it wasn't working for me!! lol...

TheNewMrs. · 11-21-2009, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cre13

The first month I was on Met, I was on the ER, when I got it refilled they didn't give me ER at the Pharmacy so I called them on it because the pills were different and they had to call the doc b/c they were just filling what the prescription said and the doctor said he made a mistake by writing it for ER in the first place and doesn't want me on it ... who knows! I don't know what the difference is, why one is better than the other for specific cases. I definitely didn't have the side effects that month that I'm having now. I just thought it was because it wasn't working for me!! lol...

Well, the ER means "extended release" so basically it's breakdown lasts quite a while compared to the regular dose of met which is more dissolved, broken down, and absorbed quicker...making ER easier on your system. Thinking about it, it's easier to tolerate little bits of 500 mg over 24 hours than one whole lot of it.

And just because you don't feel side effects of met, definitely does not mean that it's not working. That may actually mean it's working better since your system *could be* better used to it.

But either way, I wish you luck. My ob/gyn gave me the ER and I'm assuming we're all getting met for the same reasons. Not sure why he'd give you the regular, but not the ER. Now I'm curious! I'd think it'd do the same thing in the end.

cre13 · 11-21-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNewMrs.

Well, the ER means "extended release" so basically it's breakdown lasts quite a while compared to the regular dose of met which is more dissolved, broken down, and absorbed quicker...making ER easier on your system. Thinking about it, it's easier to tolerate little bits of 500 mg over 24 hours than one whole lot of it.

And just because you don't feel side effects of met, definitely does not mean that it's not working. That may actually mean it's working better since your system *could be* better used to it.

But either way, I wish you luck. My ob/gyn gave me the ER and I'm assuming we're all getting met for the same reasons. Not sure why he'd give you the regular, but not the ER. Now I'm curious! I'd think it'd do the same thing in the end.

Thanks for the info, I understand what "ER" means, I just don't understand why one person would be prescribed the ER and the next woman not. And we aren't all on MET for the same reason. Some women are on it because they have PCOS and are trying to conceive. I am on it because I have Insulin Resistance. I just also happen to have PCOS and am trying to conceive. I'll be on Metformin for the rest of my life. And my doc was adament about not giving me the ER -- who knows why! lol... I just do what I'm told.

I wish you luck too girl!

TheNewMrs. · 11-21-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cre13

I just don't understand why one person would be prescribed the ER and the next woman not. And we aren't all on MET for the same reason. And my doc was adament about not giving me the ER -- who knows why! lol... I just do what I'm told.

Yes, that's what I'm confused about - I wonder what they know that we don't.

Yes, I know that there can be different reasons you're put on met. The main reason met was created is actually diabetes - it's most widely known as a diabetes drug. I just simply meant that met helps in hormone regulation, whether it be for TTC, IR, diabetes, weight loss, etc.

cre13 · 11-22-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNewMrs.

Yes, that's what I'm confused about - I wonder what they know that we don't.

Yes, I know that there can be different reasons you're put on met. The main reason met was created is actually diabetes - it's most widely known as a diabetes drug. I just simply meant that met helps in hormone regulation, whether it be for TTC, IR, diabetes, weight loss, etc.

I guess we're on the same page then

My grandfather is actually on Met for his diabetes; I hate when I go to give blood or whatever and I'm asked if I'm taking any meds and I say "metformin" and I always get asked if I have diabetes. People just assume that's what I'm using it for and I know I'm not the only one who has that problem. I need a big sign around my neck that says "no, I do not have diabetes people!" ... lol... oh the joys of having PCOS/IR!!

TheNewMrs. · 11-22-2009, 12:19 PM

Lol. I just started the met, so I've never been asked that before. I definitely do not look the part of someone with DM nor PCOS. I'm a thin cyster, so when I did go to get my prescription filled the pharmacist kind of looked at the script a couple times, then looked at me, then was like "okay, about 10 minutes." I knew he was questioning it. lol I had worked with him in the past and I swear that's the only reason he didn't double check my ID or something like that. Haha.

Well, maybe I'll have to do some research into this whole met vs. met ER thing. I want to know that I'm taking the best. I don't want ER if it's not as effective.

Watermisbehaves · 11-23-2009, 02:38 AM

Dear Cysters,

I've been around the block for a bit...and I haven't been that regular on the forums here, but I still receive the email updates and I just had to comment. I've been on and off of Met for eight years. I will update you as rapidly as I can on that process. I've done the ER or Extended Release and the regular. I get sick on both (very very puke-nonstop sick). I am a big cyster now at 303lbs (nearly my highest). I've been on and off of met about half dozen times. When I am on it, I do lose weight, but it makes me terribly terribly ill...so it's unclear (as others have mentioned) if it's the Met or the vomiting. The last time I was this big and started met I lost about 60lbs in three months. I was at 240 and I maintained that weight for several years. Because of my difficulty starting met, I have to begin sometimes at 250 regular or 500 extended. I prefer to take the extended at lunch so that I can have the stomach cramps or what not at home at night.

I have seen some of the top reproductive endocrinologists in the country...and am seeing a particularly wonderful one right now in California. To give you more brief history: my weight shot up about a year ago when some idiot tried to put me on actos instead of Met (which made me gain about 40 pounds in two months...rapid weight gain is a side effect)...

So, this new doctor has me on quite the regime. He put my PCOS in terms unlike any other doctor and I'd like to share those.

First, you have a very different metabolism. You process food more efficiently than most...Basically, if you were on a desert island, you would last longer b/c you process all the sugar in a food and store so much up...and this is why many of you are heavy.

I had years of Weight Watchers and nutritionists keeping me at 1800 calories and telling me if I went under that by much I would go into starvation mode and stop losing weight. Well, my new doctor says that I shouldn't be over 1200 and can go easily down to 1000. I have started to do this and have lost about 20lbs since March. I also bought an exercise bike and do 30-50 minutes on that five days a week. I have a broken foot right now, so if I can do it, you can surely do it.

He told me to eat walnuts daily b/c they have certain qualities of increasing our ability to handle sugar. They take up a couple hundred of my daily calories, but it's worth it.

And finally, MET ER and regular MET are not different...except for the amount of time it takes for them to enter your body. Consequently, one is not more effective than the other (unless you are improperly measuring its effectiveness by how much you puke and lose weight on the regular one because the extended is generally easier on the body). Now, I can't handle, with my schedule, working on my doctorate, to sit home feeling like crap all day on Met. So, this new doctor has me only going up to 1000mg of met (versus 2500) and combining it with a drug called Acarbos. This is entirely new to me. It's new research-wise (though the drug is another diabetic drug that has been around for some time). I'll let you know how it goes.

But if my years of this matter to anyone, then please believe me when I say that it is the same old story you always here. Get up, go exercise. You need 30 minutes of cardio FIVE days a week. It's not roll over minutes, so you can't go on a two hour workout bender and think you made up for four day's worth. You need to cut your calories and that generally means writing down every bit you eat. And you need to cut the carbs...because white carbs...even potatoes...they break down so quickly that they make your metformin irrelevant and they make people on met sick. It sucks, but Metformin is not a miracle drug. And if you have PCOS you are going to have a harder time losing weight. But, it'll be okay. And you can't forget that you can get healthier. I've had a hell of a time struggling with this and that rapid weight gain a year ago didn't help me much at all, but I'm back on it. There are some great tools you can use to help yourself...Weightwatchers wasn't my thing, so made my own blog to trak my progress (or lack of it) and it's been super beneficial. It's www.weightstream.com. And I tweet my food on tweetwhatyoueat. com. I also found a twitter community for support (awesome thing...try it if you haven't). Of course, there is also soulcysters, which has been absolutely fantastic.

Let me know if you have any questions. I've covered my visits w/ my doc at my blog if you want to check it out.

Good luck! Just stick it out!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNewMrs.

Lol. I just started the met, so I've never been asked that before. I definitely do not look the part of someone with DM nor PCOS. I'm a thin cyster, so when I did go to get my prescription filled the pharmacist kind of looked at the script a couple times, then looked at me, then was like "okay, about 10 minutes." I knew he was questioning it. lol I had worked with him in the past and I swear that's the only reason he didn't double check my ID or something like that. Haha.

Well, maybe I'll have to do some research into this whole met vs. met ER thing. I want to know that I'm taking the best. I don't want ER if it's not as effective.