Scared about taking Gluc!!

sharone · 01-11-2005, 08:00 PM

So I went to my endo yesterday and even though I'm not IR, she recommended that I go on 500mg of Gluc for this week and give her a call if anything crazy should happen.

Well, I gotta tell you, I'm soooo scared to start it. I have a "nervous" stomach to begin with and this is without Gluc. Standing on line in the airport gets me so nervous that I usually have a poop attack! (sorry tmi). Anytime I go anywhere that I don't know where a bathroom is located, I freak and have to go! Plus, I'm a school teacher. If I start Gluc, I'm scared that in the middle of teaching I'd have to run to bathroom and be locked in there for a half an hour.

I've been trying to read up on all the suggestions and I was hoping someone would give me a glimmer of hope.

Here are some questions that I have:

1. Has met helped you with hair loss? Has it slowed down or has it sped up? (my main problem is hair loss and I'm scared to lose more)

2. Being non-IR has Gluc helped you regulate your periods?

3. Can you never eat sweets again? Like if I had some ice cream after dinner, would I get really bad side effects? Does anyone still eat chocolate and not have severe side effects?

4. Should I start Gluc on the weekend since it seems the worst symptoms occur on the first few days of gluc?

5. Is being on Gluc a forever thing? Meaning, can a person get off and function normally (weight, hair, periods, etc....)

Sorry for all the questions that you've all probably answered before but I could really use some advice.

Thanks a bunch!

Swingin' Cyster · 01-12-2005, 12:27 PM

I just want to bump this up and hear the answers to your questions. I have the same. I was put on Gluc back when I was diagnosed in 2001 but it didn't help at all and gave me such terrible acid reflux that I developed a blood sac on my vocal chords (pretty dangerous for me, a singer) that had to be removed by laser. So I stopped taking it and I'm now heavier then ever and no diet or exercise has shed a single pound. So new doctor starting it again at low dosage and working my way up. I don't want to start it either....
Kara

Tiara51 · 01-13-2005, 03:41 PM

Well I have been on met since last Monday. My doctor started me at 500mg and to go up a pill each week until I reach 1500 mg. I am not up to 1000 mg because in the beginning around day 3 I had a bathroom attack. What I can say is this has been the only one I had. I am not sure about the hair loss for I am not suffering from that. As for the regulating of AF, I have heard so many positive stories about that. I started the met the same day my cycle started so I have to wait til next month to find out if it is working for me. I do however eat sweets and carbs all the time. I think starting on the weekend may be best just in case you do suffer from any s/e. You may be one of the luck ones and have none.

sharone · 01-13-2005, 09:30 PM

Tiara,

Are you IR? I was wondering if there was a connection between someone who is IR and one who isn't who may have less side effects.

Thanks for your reply.

Bee · 01-13-2005, 09:58 PM

A lot of Dr's believe that even if your tests don't show you are IR, you can still benefit from Gluc/Met.

I've been on Met for almost 3 years now. I had the initial bad side effects, but for me they only lasted 3 days. After that it would happen if I ate fast food.

I will admit that I haven't changed my eating habits. I hardly ever eat sweets to begin with but I don't avoid them completely.

As for Gluc/Met helping. I had very messed up hormones. After only 3 months on Met, my hormones levels came down to high, but within the normal ranges. Where before they were astronomical. Lets just say I was probably more male than my DH was!

Not anymore though! All you can do is try the med and see how your body reacts.

Good luck!

Bee