Yet another Newbie to Metformin

Lisa D · 04-21-2007, 09:10 AM

Hi

Firstly I've been lurking here for the past couple of years - but never to the Metformin threads as I wanted to try to conquer PCOS by diet. I have to say it has worked by low carbing - until I gave birth to my mircle DS. From that point on I slowly upped my carbs as I was virtually carb free during the last 8 weeks of pg due to gest diabetes. I fell off the wagon a bit. Recently I suffered my 3rd early miscarriage and did some research and Metformin may possibly reduce rate of misscarriage. I have IR & cysts on both ovaries & ovaluate (after losing 44 pounds/20kgs back in 2002). My IVF dr is the leading PCOS specialist in Australia and thought I should give it a go.

I've started on a 850 dose a week ago - I'm currently on 1/4 of a tablet as my IVF Dr said to start slowly. Tomorrow I start 1/2 the tablet I'm currently taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. I wondered whether or not Metformin inhibits absorption of anything as far as folic acid etc.
The first bowel motion since starting was pretty hard so I'm wondering whether that's normal too...

I suffer pretty bad water retention too but I've noticed this week hasn't been too bad. I wondered whether this was due to the metformin or me drinking more water...

So far I think I'm more conscience about how much fat I eat as I felt sick after having some cream.

I'm blown away by my weight loss so far. I've lost 4.4 pounds (2 kgs) from when I started. Only another 44 pounds to go (20 kgs). I have started back at the gym this week after a 9 month absence due to a serious illness and gained 22 pounds (10kgs).

I have learnt so much in the last week from reading peoples posts. I'm so thankful there is so much knowledge on this board.

Lisa

Eva37 · 04-21-2007, 06:14 PM

how lovely to meet you - you will so love it here

eva

navy_wife_martin · 04-21-2007, 07:55 PM

first of all, welcome welcome welcome.

Metformin has been my utter miracle drug. I comend you on losing weight before without it b/c i was never able to lose and OUNCE without met and that was working my hiney off. And now i've lost almost 24 pounds in less than two months. You asked about the absorbtion. I'm not positive about prenatals (not on them anymore) but i do know for a fact that it zaps pretty much all of your b12 and most of your b6. And eventually that gives you that worn down pooped feeling allll the time. So i take extra b-complex on top of my multi vitamin and i can already tell a difference in my energy. I'm glad you're already having some success with met. some women don't and I didn't either the first 2 times i tried it, but then again i didn't change my diet or excercise those 2 times either. So, anywho, take it slow. I was able to take pretty much full dose from the begging b/c i don't have too many S/E thank goodness! lol good luck with it all. Are you hoping it gives you AF or do are you already regular? I'm hoping it gives me AF back along with the diet and excercise and this is my last month of BCP so we shall see!

Lisa D · 04-23-2007, 08:27 AM

Thanx

I will see if I can find a B complex vitamin. I don't feel wiped out at all - infact I was quite the opposite today very hyper - really not like me at all

I have had times when AF has turned up after 4 - 5 months. When I lose the weight initially AF became a 30 day cycle. After my last IVF cycle & resulting early m/c I am still waiting for AF to show up (lost pg about the 5th of March). That's a bit longer than usual - usually it turns up after 45 days. I suffer extreme ovulation pain as my right ovary is quite deep set but my favourite as it produces a good crop.

My IVF Dr thinks I'm a typical cyster - apart from acne & hairness which I don't suffer from. When he dx me I had just virtually walked in the door. I had just about all the tests under the sun to prove he was right. Interestingly I suspect my Mother suffers from PCOS & I think it also runs in my late Father's family too - he suffered from severe Type 2 diabetes so I think my endocrine system never stood a chance.

Also interestly I don't take a low dose of FSH unlike other cysters, and I don't produce that many eggs per cycle. I don't think I ever come across someone like me on IVF boards with PCOS threads.

Exercise does seem to be a catalyst for me to lose weight but when I went low carb I did not one bit of exercise at all. About 10 years ago I made the mistake of doing a low fat & exercise and dropped to my correct BMI however low fat is soo high in sugar (I was young & didn't read labels

) that I'm sure that made my PCOS worse.

Lisa