PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Steph Phillips — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:41:06 GMT

aww steph, I'm so sorry to hear what you've been through.. you sound like a really strong person, remember what doesn't kill us makes us stronger . .. wishing you all the best

Answer to your question though.. I have had ultrasounds.. 3 infact, the most recent one was a few weeks back, and compared to my 1st & 2nd ultrasound, doc says alot more cysts have formed & my ovaries are signficantly different in size ... my bloods, again 3 tests.. all were normal!!! I have been to a specialist, he says that I DO have an imbalance of insulin (or something like that) - I got so confused!!! anyway.. he said that could have most certainly contributed to my 4 miscarrages. . I too, get really bad anxiety, have done for about 3yrs, I think thats why I get the palpitations?!! Ohh I dunno, It kinda upsets me.. I get really upset with the fact that I can get pregnant, but keep loosing, I know in a strange way I'm lucky cause most women with pcos cant conceive.. still.. It's hard!!!

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Faye Sewell — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:23:29 GMT

You can get PCOS and PCO(no syndrome), basically the cysts without the symptoms so to speak such as weight gain, extra body hair, iregular periods etc.

But like Steph says have had the test done etc? let us know how you get on x

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:03:18 GMT

[quote user="Steph Phillips"]

yeah I've read lots about it.. but it was all online saying how pcos can cause weight gain, hair growth, etc etc. . but I have (luckily) none of the symptoms they listed and my periods are like clockwork, on the day I expect it to be.. so my gp was 'umming & aarring' wether or not I had it, turns out I do, but diet change was never mentioned and metformin is alien to me.. my GP is sending info out in the post for me so I should get it either tomorrow or monday. Thanks again for your advice.. your a star!

[/quote]

How have they diagnosed you? did you have an ultrasound? blood tests? It might be worth asking for a referral to a gynaecologist so they can go over more specifics with you. I have the weight gain and major hormonal emotional issues. i'm a bit of a basket case, really bad anxiety and depression. it's affected my work so bad that they have let me go. :( i got asked to leave and sort myself out yesterday. I'm totally gutted but I may have the chance to go back if my health and emotions are under control next year. I don't know what I'm going to do for xmas. This was my dream job as an ANA and to be SVN in the next year or so. But all my health issues came on at once and it was just really bad timing. I've been so upset and defensive i've not been able to get on. I'm a bit of a mess. I've not been able to afford the private dr's appointment again so i tried to see if I could book my follow up appointment with the NHS, but it took too long and now i've lost my job. I've pulled some money out of my savings so i can book another private appointment for next week but it's too late. I just hope when i get on this medication things will settle down. I've had 4 yrs of hell being a miserable argumentative and defensive person and i just hate it this isn't who i am and i have absolutely no self control. i'm miserable and lonely. it really sucks. A lot of this is all down to my GP making guesses at my health and feeding me pills and hormones that my body couldn't handle. It wasn't until i forked out £600 4 yrs on that i got some answers. I'm now seeing a councilor weekly and on meds for my ADHD as well and will now need to be on Metformin for the rest of my life too. I'm so gutted and so scared of what might happen next or if I will ever be able to get a job with all this.

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Steph Phillips — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:36:51 GMT

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:30:25 GMT

Have you read up on PCOS yet? are you aware it's to do with how your body uses and is affected by insulin? It's not diabetes though it can be hand in hand in some people. Therefore even if you are not diabetic you stil need to reduce the amount of insulin your body takes in/creates. So you would need to follow a low sugar low carb diet. Low GI is one of the better ones out there. It makes such a difference in your moods, weight loss and over all wellbeing.

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Steph Phillips — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:25:46 GMT

[quote user="StephB"]

I think the no alcohol is to do with the diet you should also be taking on with the drug. Ideally with the drug to get the best results you need to make a lifestyle change including your diet which should be a LOW GI DIET. this would include reducing if not ceasing all alcohol intake because alcohol can become sugars in the body which in turn would effect your insulin and make it more difficult for the metfomin to do it's job.

[/quote]

Cheers for that Steph, A diet change will do me good actually lol

does the diet change and alcohol apply even if I'm not insulin dependant?? just taking it for POCS??

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:20:32 GMT

[quote user="Steph Phillips"]

ok.. spoke to my GP yesterday, she basically said that it's fine for me to take with my asthma/palpitations.. and I also have to be on met for life, and when I get pregnant, stop taking it at 12wks, then start again after birth!

Forgot to ask her though, it says on the leaflet not to drink alcohol when on met, seeing as i got to be on it for life.. does that mean no booze full stop?? I'm no alci, and I rarely drink, but it's my birthday soon and was kinda hoping to let my hair down with a drink or two .. do you guys have any info on drinking while on met?? sooo sorry to be a pain! but you lot seem more knowladgeable than web sites I've looked at!! lol

[/quote]

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Steph Phillips — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:37:29 GMT

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Steph Phillips — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:09:10 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite"]

Wish l had her my folks and us have the same idiots. Quite frank;y if l could shoot the pair of them l would.

[/quote]

LMAO!!

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:14:10 GMT

Wish l had her my folks and us have the same idiots. Quite frank;y if l could shoot the pair of them l would.

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Steph Phillips — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:46:15 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite"]

I never bother with dr for advice on meds. Certainly the ones l know have knows sod all and what they do know is dangerous. I speak to pharmacists.

[/quote]

my gp is amazing, I trust her 100% .. she reffered me to the specialist for 2nd opinion, and my problem is what she suspected in the 1st place. . so I'll ring her on monday for advice.

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:06:09 GMT

I never bother with dr for advice on meds. Certainly the ones l know have knows sod all and what they do know is dangerous. I speak to pharmacists.

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Steph Phillips — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:06:36 GMT

thanks everyone for your replies.. it was the specialist at the hospital who put me on metformin, but I will speak to my GP tomorrow about my concerns and let you know what they say.. to be honest, the specialist was foreign and I could hardly understand him .. he did say he was going to write a letter to my gp, so hopefully she can translate for me what I didnt understand lol .. thanks again everyone xx

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

xXx Cat xXx — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:21:47 GMT

That is very normal with the hormone in balance. The medical human profession are only now just realising it is not just a Gyne problem and that it effects almost all of the body's hormones. Mine is no where near as bad now but before metformin I was a complete wreck.

I still get tears before my period each month some are worse than others but in hole I have such an improvment I can function in the real world again instead of hiding away incase I lose it.

There is light at the end of the tunnel

xXx

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:13:42 GMT

They were less worried about my insulin issues than the were with the behavioral problems and anxiety problems I'm having with the hormonal imbalance. It's like i'm allergic to hormones! I just swing up and down all the time and cry at the drop of a hat and i'm super defensive about everything. not to mention being 90lbs over weight my self esteem is really bad. i'm having trouble at work being confident in the right things and not being so over dramatic or worried about if i'm doing ok or freaking out when i make a mistake. i've never been this way before in my life and it's all very new to me. :(

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

xXx Cat xXx — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:08:30 GMT

no not at all The PCOS helped with that. I was diagnosed at 16 with PCOS and the treatments then were to get pregnant or go on the pill neither of which I did. I'm 32 now and been insulin dependant for 4 years now. My consultant said I would more than likely become diabetic as I was already having problems with blood sugar levels where my PCOS had been untreated for so long.

Metformin may have stopped me becoming insulin dependant if I had been treated earlier with the metformin.

Coenzyme q10 is said to help stabilise blood sugar before it gets to the insulin dependency bit. may be worth a try?

xXx

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:47:47 GMT

[quote user="xXx Cat xXx"]

There are good and bad things about it as always.

I have been on metformin for 5 years for PCOS 1g bid though I am also an insulin dependant diabetic now but I wasn't when the consultant perscibed it.

It can have some good side effects such as weight loss slows down hair loss stablises blood sugar level to name a few but it works in the intestines so you may get side effects such as cramping and wind when you first start taking them but keep going and these do settle.

It also helps with fertility issues caused by PCOS by raising a certain hormone but I cant remember which one.

I also have asthma and had not had any reaction when using inhalers

Talk to your GP/consultant about your concerns hope they can help.

Take care

Tracy

xXx

[/quote]

Are you saying that the metformin has made you diabetic? :/

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

xXx Cat xXx — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:26:28 GMT

There are good and bad things about it as always.

I have been on metformin for 5 years for PCOS 1g bid though I am also an insulin dependant diabetic now but I wasn't when the consultant perscibed it.

It also helps with fertility issues caused by PCOS by raising a certain hormone but I cant remember which one.

I also have asthma and had not had any reaction when using inhalers

Talk to your GP/consultant about your concerns hope they can help.

Take care

Tracy

xXx

Re: PCOS & Metformin.. advice pls :/

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:58:49 GMT

Sounds like it might be best to discuss your concerns with them! If you aren't confident with your GP then speak to a specialist (gynecologist). I was also recently diagnosed and I have been told I will need to go on metformin, after blood tests were taken. I am still due to see my Gynecologist again before I'm prescribed them though to discuss matters. I've not been able to afford the private appointment so I've just now got it booked for next month. I tried to go through the NHS but the waiting list was too long. I've been having really horrible mood problems and anxiety issues because of my hormonal imbalance and weight gain. I'm freaking out to be honest at the thought of being on a medication for the rest of my life. :( I already have to take one for my learning disability.