Question regarding Met

Jody15 · 09-08-2002, 03:59 PM

I'm not a newbie to PCOS (10 years), but I am a newbie to actually trying to find out about it and what it's actually doing to my body. For those of you on Met, are there any of you who aren't trying to get pregnant and your doctor still put you on it? My old doctor had me on Clomid, gave me some sort of injections, operated on me (I was only 18 at the time and had no clue what he was doing to me), and none of that worked. When I moved about 6 years ago, my new doctor's solution to my PCOS was "let's just put you on the pill until you're ready to get pregnant, and we'll deal with it then." I'm starting to not like that diagnosis. I'm 28 years old, 5-foot 5, and weigh 200 pounds, I'm single and not in a long-term relationship (the whole weight issue isn't helping in that area), so I'm not looking to get pregnant at this time. I work out at the gym at least 4 days a week for 2 hours at a shot, and I'm getting NOWHERE. I've worked with personal trainers, and I'm a fairly healthy eater, and I just can't drop the weight no matter what I do. I'd like to investigate treatments other than the pill since that just compounds the weight problem (with a doctor who is less aloof about my situation of course), but I don't want to go in there and have them all tell me that they only do that for women trying to get pregnant.

willsmom7 · 09-08-2002, 11:31 PM

Jody15-
I have been dealing with PCOS for 15 years and it wasn't until the last few months I finally decided I needed to find a dr that would help me instead of just putting me on the pill and telling me to lose weight.

I am not trying to get pregnant-already have 2 children that I fortunately did not have too much trouble conceiving. However, I was tested for insulin resistance and a zillion dollars of other tests and was told that I definetly needed to be on the met. I have been on it it about 1 month now and have lost about 8 pounds. My dr also changed my bcp to a different one with less testosterone.

I think that even if you are not trying to get pg, you should get control of your PCOS now. There are too many other health risks like diabetes, heart disease, etc to mess around with it.

Good Luck!
Susan

Jody15 · 09-09-2002, 07:27 PM

Thanks for the info, Susan. I'm really frustrated by the weight issue. I guess that I should be greatful that I'm not GAINING. I can't even imaging how much I would weigh if I wasn't already working out 8 hours a week. That's a really scary thought.

I had an appointment with my primary care doctor today (not my gynocologist who doesn't seem to give a hoot about my problem) -- I'm having a problem with my ear, so I figured that while I was there, I might as well approach the subject with her. She, like most doctors, isn't familiar with the whole thing, so she is referring me to an endocrinologist, which is what I fully expected her to do. So it's a start! After they run the initial tests, they may determine that I'm not a candidate, but at least I feel like I'm making some progress!

nunu · 09-10-2002, 04:03 PM

Jody, I have a friend who takes met and is not trying to conceive. Met can help treat PCOS, not just the ovulation part but menstruation regularity, hormone balance, etc. not to mention the insulin resistance of course. An endo is your best bet for treatment. Good luck!

cassandria · 09-10-2002, 06:26 PM

Hi, it's nice to meet everyone. I was only diagnosed yesterday - I've suspected it for about a year, but it took forever to find an endocrinologist to diagnose it...I kept getting shuffled around it seemed.

He prescribed metformin, but didn't give me any info about it - other than to say that if I wanted to conceive a child in the future (which my fiance and I do plan to, but it will be through IVF) that this would actually help, and he did say that I could expect to lose some weight also.

I'm about 50 lbs over what I'd like to be, and I've always struggled with it, even with decent eating habits and a decent excersize regiment.

I've tried looking up glucophage online...can anyone tell me what I can expect from this?

Also, the hair...facial hair, specifically...my neck/chin are the main areas that are BOTHERING me...I'm unsure of whether to try electrolysis or laser...hrm...ideas? I'm dark haired, btw, if that makes any difference.

I'm really hoping to find some answers...this plays havoc with one's self esteem, and I feel that i'm too young for a lot of this...I'm turning 30 in 2 weeks, and that's not OLD yet..is it? lol

Thanks again,
~cassie

NYbird · 09-10-2002, 07:44 PM

Hi Jody,

Your situation sounds exactly like mine... 5'5'', 200 pounds, stuggled with PCOS for years. I'm 32, though, and all I can say is find a doctor who can help you now. I heard the exact same things that you have: 'oh, just take the BCP and we'll deal with it when you want to get pregnant.' Well, my dh and I are ttc now, and the PCOS is not under control. Only recently have I learned about the greater issues of insulin resistance and the potential for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. I have to say without any doubt in my mind, had I known then what I know now, I would have been much more proactive in finding a doctor who A) truly understood PCOS and B) knew how to treat it most effectively.

Just my two cents... I hope I don't sound too bitter!

Best of luck,
Jen

Sehne · 09-10-2002, 08:05 PM

Me too! I'm 200 lbs, but a little shorter at 5'4" and not TTC either. It's good that you're going to see an RE, that's where I got my Gluc, almost no questions asked. He knew just from my weight and my lack of periods that it would help. Personally, I refuse to use BCPs until I'm back to a normal weight and my periods are coming naturally and on their own. It could be a long time, and it's certainly a pain with DH not wanting to TTC yet, but how else are you suppose to know if you're improving?

Good Luck

nunu · 09-11-2002, 01:25 AM

Check out the links in my signature for info on insulin resistance and metformin studies. You may not need IVF to conceive unless there are other problems you have not mentioned. Generally IVF is used as a last resort and many PCOS women get pg without it. Anyhow, welcome to SC, it's nice to see another Canadian on board!

jenhen · 08-25-2005, 02:03 AM

I was diagnosed 14 years ago and the first thing my endocrinologist did was put me on bcps to get me to have a period. Four or five years ago, he suggested I switch to metformin. I am most definitely NOT ttc! But, he did take me off of bcp and say I didn't need to be on both and if I want to use bcp, I should get off the met. I notice some people take both, and since the doctor said some people on met get pregnant really easily, I'd kind of like the extra security of the bcp to back up any other birth control. Does anyone who uses both at the same time have any comments about how that seems to be working? (Did I use too many abbreviations in my explanation there??)
Thanks.

Br@ndy · 08-25-2005, 03:42 AM

I was ttc and was on clomid for that reason. I am now taking a break and my doc put me on met to try and help regulate my periods so I wouldn't be so evil. Its working

Fifibelle · 08-25-2005, 07:08 AM

Hello, I'm not TTC and my gynaecologist prescribed met for me and explained that it could lead to me to ovulate. As such, she also put me on dianette 'just in case' Hadn't at that time been diagnosed with IR, just the pcos.

Mananga · 08-25-2005, 07:21 AM

Hi,

I was ttc but the doctor wouldn't give me clomid because of the "weight issue " but she did put me on met and said it should help regulate periods and lose weight and it certainly has. I stopped taking met a few months ago (lots of other things going on) but then I started putting weight on again. But I'm back on the met now and losing again. The doctor did warn me I could ovulate any time with met and advised me to take other precautions (yeah right!!).

Sarah

JeannieNB · 08-25-2005, 12:15 PM

I'm on Met and not TTC. My blood work didn't show IR either, but my RE feels that most PCOS patients can benefit from Met, IR or not.

momo3 · 08-25-2005, 03:38 PM

I wasn't dx with PCOS until after my children were born & our family is complete. So, I am definitely not on Met to TTC. Met has helped me cut my testosterone levels in half & loose some weight. It also regulated my cycles. I was put on met b/c of its androgen lowering possibilities; my follow-up blood tests showed that my levels had fallen, so I was on the right meds. Kind of backwards thinking to some maybe, but it worked for me. Hope you find the right plan for you.

Boink · 08-25-2005, 06:36 PM

Hi Jody,

I'm not trying to concieve and I was given metformin. The actual reason I was given metformin was to regulate my insulin sensitivity and blood glucose. The doctor ran blood tests to come to this conclusion. Did your doctor run any?

Also, the weight issue... I hear YOU! It sucked SO much to work out hard and try to eat well (what I thought was well) and have no success. As soon as the doctor told me what was wrong with me, I went to get a book called The Insulin Resistant Diet and followed the way of eating recommended right away. I felt amazing from the start. I had more energy and focus. After two weeks, I went back to the doctor after more tests had been run and she gave me metformin. I dropped 10 or so pounds right away. By following the IR Diet, I dropped a few more... I got a tad lazy and started to add in way too many calories snack wise (namely peanut butter) and gain some weight back, so I cut that out and did what I never, ever wanted to do -- the atkins induction. I'm almost done. Something about low carbing sits very well with people in our situations. I've dropped 10lbs since I started last week. It's really TOUGH and I dislike making protein my main dish... but my body likes it. I am going to slowly add carbohydrates (low glycemic index ones) and see how my body responds. Many of the members here have found that they can relax a bit when it comes to their diet after they drop off the weight and their hormones are leveled out. That's my motivator.

I'm sorry to hear about your woes, Jody. I feel your pain. I was a chunky teenager, never understood why - I was in track, soccer and softball. Good luck to you. You will find a plethora of information here!