Thread: Sorry to bring this up again...have a question about met & alcohol!!

Hello~

I read through some of the other met/alcohol posts and didn't really see an answer to my question. I currently take 2000mg of met per day. Here is my question...I'm going to a bachelorette party this weekend and I haven't gone out with the girls or had even one drink since starting this ttc journey nearly 2 years ago. I just want to have fun this ONE night! If I stop taking the met 2 or 3 days before......will I be okay? I'm taking the met for fertility reasons not for diabetic reasons.

I feel too stupid asking my doctor this question....anyone have any insight?!?!?!?

Thanks!
Sarah

Thank Nikki

I don't know what I'm gonna do....I know it probably sounds really stupid....and I know I'm gonna pay for it when and IF I go off the met for a few days. The whole ttc thing has been really hard the last few weeks and I just want to let loose and have some fun...just for one night. That's a good idea to alternate drinks with soda. I might try that. My problem is that I rarely if ever drink...but when I do....WATCH OUT!

Thanks for the insight....

~Sarah~

Please read this carefully. ANY TIME you have more than a drink or two at once, you run a high risk (EVEN OFF the drug) of acidosis, and blood sugar troubles that can be fatal with large amounts of alcohol. You have a PCOS that causes whacky sugars and insulin levels, and going off the drug will NOT help those sugar fluctuations get better, it will make them worse by taking away the substance that regulates the sugars when your body is unable to. Putting your sugars in that serious a place is irresponsible. We are all proud of you for 2 years of working hard, but please don't spoil it by abusing your body for a night. The sugar and insulin dips will take longer to recover than one night.

Your body processes alcohol like a poison...The liver wants to clear it from the blood quickly. In fact, the liver won't put out glucose again until it has taken care of the alcohol. If your blood glucose level is falling, you can quickly wind up with very low blood sugar. This is why drinking as little as 2 ounces of alcohol (about 2 drinks) on an empty stomach can lead to very low blood sugar.

You should go and have fun, but for your own sake drink in MODERATION. The more alcohol your body has to metabolize, the further out of whack your sugars will get. You have PCOS, and you can't shelve your responsibility to your own condition, even for one night, even if it's what other girls do. You have to keep in mind your all over health. Go and have fun, but do it responsibily.

If you decide to throw caution to the wind, then I hope you will at least let someone who is not drinking that night know that they need to watch you for signs of low blood sugar. They look a lot like drunkeness...dizziness, dis-orientation, slurred speech. And ALWAYS eat with alcohol to lower the risk of sugar drops. And if you can choose drinks with lower sugar and alcohol content, it would be easier for your body to process.

Good Luck!

I have been on Met. for over a year now. My RE told me that I could not have more than 2 drinks a day. I do not drink on the week nights and may not even drink on the weekends. But on many occasions during the past year I have had a lot to drink and was fine. I never had any problems (except for hangovers!) I do skip my dose that evening if I know that I am going to drink, but there have been times that I have taken Met and then drank later. I agree that you have to drink in moderation, but you should be able to go out and have a good time this weekend!

kcal: HEALTH is not figuring out what you can get away with without a trip to the ER...it's honoring the regulations regarding the drug that keep it working effectively. Anytime you drink to excess (the hangover you mentioned) you are increasing your risk of acidosis and your blood sugar will be all over the map...decreasing the drug's effectiveness. That takes time to get back into balance after a binge. A "good time" doesn't involve getting tanked when you have blood sugar issues.

If you can't follow the directions of the drug then perhaps you should look at discontinuing it.

If you read my earlier post, I spoke about how the liver processes alcohol. It processes alcohol first,and thus cannot process your body sugars while you are processing it. Met is an insulin reducer whether it is being given to treat IR or not, and *anyone* an oral insulin drug such as met, will have lower insulin levels. Even if they are not IR just being on the drug puts you at a MUCH higher chance of low blood sugar. This does not just apply to diabetics.

I did NOT say she couldn't have her free choice, for heaven's sake! I was only laying out the risks so she could make an *informed* decision. Letting your hair down is fine, but going beyond the maximum reccomendations of alcohol, is risky and a very real risk. And just because a few people have drank to excess while taking metformin and said they were fine, doesn't mean it's advisable. People have driven while drunk without mishap. But given the right circumstances, their luck runs out. It may have been done, but that doesn't mean it is a wise decision.
I am a firm believer that if we commit ourselves to metformin, we commit ourselves to the restrictions, as well as the results.

Thanks for asking, Nikki. Hope the answer clarifies the dictinction for you.

Nikki, Chirsty, Kcal......

Thank you all for your advice on this subject. I didn't mean to start a big debate about it. I guess I should re-phrase my original question by saying...how long does met stay in your body? I mean...it has to leave eventually....otherwise we wouldn't have to take it everyday. I was thinking of stopping the met 2-4 days before the party. To be real honest...I still haven't decided what I'm going to do.

I know it's not a very responsible thing to do....but I'm tired of being a stickler....always on the straight and narrow. Life is one big risk.....I COULD get killed walking across my street to get the mail....doubtful....but it could happen. There are so many "what if's"....sometimes I think I miss out on life because I'm always so cautious.....but on the other hand...if your not cautious enough...you may not have a life to live at all.

Anyways....I really truly appreciate all the info and insight.

~Christy~ Thank you for your concern....I will be very careful if I do decide to drink that night...and I will stop my met a day or two ahead of time. I'll just have to pay the price when I start back up again.

Thanks again you guys!

~Sarah~

I just want to chime in here and say sarah, I know EXACTLY what you are going through. I was VERY VERY young when I started met, freshman in COLLEGE!! I know how it is to want to just go out once in a while for a drink!! I will say that I have done what you are talking about doing, and was fine! What I would do, if I were going to go out drinking on Sat night, I would take my morning dose, and then skip my night dose and my morning dose. I did have 2 strong drinks on met before and boy did I pay for it. So stopping it was better. I am not saying its RIGHT or the HEALTHY thing to do, but if you are going to do it, I would say also skip the morning dose and drink TONS of water. Good luck in your decision!

I *totally* understand the desire to have a good time, but when moderate drinking will allow you to have a good time *and* not have to pay a significant price in your endocrine balances, the answer seems obvious to me. We have a possible difference in our definitions of fun I guess. .

Your signature shows you believe in prayer...so pray about the right thing to do and I believe God will give you an answer.

Wish you well!

Helloooooo!!

You guys are so great!! Once again....I appreciate all the help, comments, concerns...everything! I'm really looking forward to this weekend as it may be that last time for a LONG time that I get to do something fun like this. I'm hoping I get pg this cycle!

If anyone else has anything to add...I'd be glad to hear it

Take Care!

~Sarah~

I had a few drinks here in there on met, I'd just not take my dose that night.

BUT as far a TTC-missing even just a few doses during the cycle seriously screwed my cycles up. I did not ovulate on the months I skipped a dose or two to drink.

I see nothing wrong with letting your hair down and having a few drinks now and then. But just know that it MAY affect your TTC this month. It's a delicate process and skipping a dose or two can throw it off. If you're really really hoping this month is the one, I personally wouldn't do it.