I need some help....

[PAWCO]

Maybe TMI so be cautious...

OK it seams pretty common for those of us on Met to have bathroom issues. But has anyone found any help for the diarrhea. I started to keep a food and bathroom journal because I want to see if there is a pattern of what I eat and when I go. I can use like imodium.....but is that safe to use daily? I go the the bathroom with this problem about 5-7 times a day and by the end of the day my bottom hurts. I just bought sensitive baby wipes to help. I guess I'm asking two more questions. Is there a something that will help stop the diarrhea? What helps ur bum?

Thanks for any help with the problem.....

[mteaches]

Hi...I feel your pain! Luckily, those issues seem to level off for me once I am used to the dose of met. But, I have found that using the wet-wipes from Always instead of dry paper makes things feel better while the problem is happening. Good luck!

[dolahana]

I am on 1000mg now and (thankfully) no bad bathroom problems. I am upped to 1500 next week. What dose did the bathroom problems start? How long has this been going on for?

[PAWCO]

Bathroom probs started with 500mgs a day and contuined up to 1500mgs. It's been going on for about a year and a half. I know long time.

[mla06]

I've noticed if I eat anything Whole Grain then I don't get as sick. So I'll eat a handful of whoel grain wheat things & take my met, slong with whatever meal I'm eating. Also, anything that is a low GI food should help. I hope you get a better routine down. GL!

[PAWCO]

Me too, thanks!

[drama queen]

you've been having those side effects for a year and a half? oh my goodness!!! are you not dehydrated?? i'm probably starting met after wednesday and that makes me nervous - esp since i get sick after any type of medicine!!

[PAWCO]

I am dehydrated. Bu tI drink lots of water. My doctor just said to drink water and then Met does cause GI problems. Some days are better then others no doubt butevery time I go to the bathroom to hav e a BM it's diarrhea. I'v e had days of 1 to 12 'episodes' of it. Probably averging around 4 or 5 times a day. I'm finding the food/bathroom journal helps cause then I can find my trigger foods.

[drama queen]

i just cant imagine going 12 times a day!! brings on the fear of the metformin!!! i have been trying to research the alternative options to see if they are as successful. have you tried those or are you sticking with the met?

[PAWCO]

No I'm sticking with the met....everybody says that ur body should get used to the met. I figure one of these day I will too...lol.

[sassy82]

Have you ever asked your doctor if you could try Metformin XR?? That is what I am on and the s/e are minimal! I take all 4 of my pills at once too...2000mg. I take them at night.

[x_siobhan_x]

Wow all I can say is baby wipes baby wipes baby wipes. I know all about it, I have been there. Certain things I eat turn my intestines into a diarrhea machine lol. Keeping that journal is a good idea. I'm not sure about the immiodium, but Pepto was my best frioend for awhile. Maybe you should talk to your Dr cuz I don't think it is good to have those symptoms for that long.

[brokenbabymachine]

i took met for about 2 years...had major tummy problems in the beginning...then they tappered off--unless the doc changed my dose. i got a new job and couldn't spend all my time in the bathroom--plus, my job didn't offer any insurance and i couldn't afford it. well, last friday my doc lowered my dose back down to 500 twice a day ( it is on the $4 list--i was taking 750 and it isn't)...took my first one with dinner tonight and i've been to the bathroom 4 times in about 3 hours. FUN FUN! this time i decided to slowly re-introduce it into my day...we shall see how it works!

[LaBigGirl]

I had near-daily diarrhea on extended-release Met that seemed to start many months after I started it. This went on for over a year, from once a day to 3 or 4 on a really bad day. I was taking 1500-2000 mg/day during this time.

A few wks ago after complaining to my Dr., she gave me permission to go off Met entirely for a weekend. My digestion snapped back to normal, it was such a smooooooth 3 days. I didn't want to go back on, but it was necessary to treat my insulin resistance. So I started back with 500 mg. a day and had no problems. I worked up to 1000 mg, still no problems. Tonight I took 1500 mg. and we'll see what happens.

I guess I am trying to say, talk to your doctor. Maybe you can get permission for a short break to give things a rest. It really worked for me, and I had some bad...stuff...going on down there previously.

[Kathy2579]

The bumb you can use baby diaper cream or hemroid cream. For the diarhea problem. I would avoid oily, faty foods also lettace can do this too. Good luck