metformin

[vanfurgston]

has any1 been prescribed metformin? is it presribed for pcos in uk?

[eurochick]

I spend a bit of time on verity (the PCOS website) and quite a few of the women over there seem to have been given met to help with PCOS.

[Fairygodmother1]

I have it for PCOS but it was hard to get it prescribed! It has helped with making me have a more regular cycle & helped to get some weight off!

[Fluffycloudland77]

I have pcos too, my dr checks my blood glucose levels on a fasting test just as he would for a diabetic whenever I have a blood test.

I dont go very often but my last test was normal and I was diagonosed 18 years ago so I must be doing something right.

[vanfurgston]

thanks for your replies fairygodmother1how did u get it prescribed? my dr prescribed it a few years ago and it helped my cycles a lot. i cant get my current dr to do it.he is saying its no longer recommended

[sleepevader]

My friends consultant prescribed it after 3 miscarriages.

Hope you can get it soon. Maybe see a different doc?

[Fairygodmother1]

The consultant up the hospital prescribed it & the dr renews the prescription between each appointment. Yeah I found the dr wouldn't prescribe & it took nearly 2 years to get the consultant to, I had to change consultants. My original consultant gave me 6 months clomid, 2 lots of blood tests then pushed for IVF when it was clear that they wouldn't accept me because of my weight! It's such a hard thing this TTC with PCOS!!!

[vanfurgston]

hmm well i m gng to c the hosp consultant soon mayb he will b less hesitant. the gp refuses to believe pcos warrants metfomin. thanks for the help

[shellmc]

Hello there,

so pleased i found this thread i have just been to see my consultant yesterday after being referred by my GP.
The consultant is almost certain i have PCOS after my last blood results Lh- Fsh levels, my LH was high ?? I also have irregukar cycles last 3 have been 43 Days, 45 Days and am currently on Day 47 now :(
I have facial hair also she mentioned me starting on Metformin after she has checkd my Liver tests and some others will get these results end next week.
How are you ladies finding being on Metformin, has it helped regulate your periods?? Any weight loss??

Thankyou

[Fairygodmother1]

Hi ya,

Well after a year of taking it my periods are more regular, weight is slowly coming off (it is slowly so be warned & you still have to do a ton of exercise) but I got good news last week that all the cycts have gone from my ovaries so thats the best news. facial hair still there

Good Luck

[razzdazz]

Hi there, I was put on metformin for pcos and it worked wonders for me. As fairy said you still have to watch your diet/exercise but my periods became regular and at my last tracking scan they could not find any cysts. Am now almost 12 weeks pregnant.
Good luck

[Fairygodmother1]

Wow! Congrats razzdazz!!! How long were you on Metformin for? How long after clear scan did you fall pg? Sorry for all questions, it's just I've just been told my cysts are clear & I'm excited i may actually fall pg!!

[razzdazz]

Hi fairy you ask away, it is great to have people on here going through the same rough ride. Mine is a bit complex........I was on metformin for 7 months and then fell pregnant last december. Sadly I lost my baby (totally unrelated to pcos) at 22 weeks, that was in April. I started back on the metformin towards the end of June. My consultant was cycle tracking me as a favour (i used to work with him) as hubby is working away and only back for select times. They tracked me in July and saw no cysts at all, however, they also saw no evidence of ovulation (should add left ovary was hiding) but I got my BFP in the august and scans are showing baby was concieved during tracking.
So, I cant really say if the metformin helped this conception or if the evil that is the pcos just hadnt returned from the previous pregnancy yet. I totally believe that it helped me concieve my lost baby as I had been trying for 4 years prior to metformin including 3 cycles of clomid. Really wish you lots of luck that you get your BFP very soon.

[Fairygodmother1]

Thank you so much for sharing. As soon as AF arrives, I'll be taking clomid again just to give me a bit of a boost! We have a feeling I fell pg in Aug but didn't stick so Clomid might help it stay this time! We live in hope. Looking for that BFP by xmas for a fantastic present.

[shellmc]

Whats the difference between clomid and metformin then, can both be used for pcos??

[Fairygodmother1]

Methformin helps your body to deal with sugars that you can't deal with as symptom of PCOS, Clomid gets your body to ovulate - in simple terms

[shellmc]

Thanks fairygodmother1 I dont mean to sound like an idiot but when you say to deal with sugars does that mean even if your glucose levels are okay and are a non-diabetic that your sugers in your body still need the help??
Im really gonna have to get clued up on this pcos and understand it more!!!!

[Fairygodmother1]

I'm a non-diabetic but PCOS means that you're body mimics being diabetic - hence why you have to eat regular balanced meals & why they do gloucose tests.
Don't worry - after 4 1/2 years you get pretty clued up. My bible is Pcos for Dummies! Fantastic recipes!!

[shellmc]

Ha haa Thankyou!!
I had more blood tests done on friday, glucose 5.6.
I do have Diabetes in the family and endo did say it makes you higher risk of becoming Diabetic with PCOS. I just dont understand it very well. I have thyroid problem also and am on thyroxine. Im worried about starting metformin to be honest but know its gonna help me so going to have to take it.
I got prescribed some cream for facial hair have you had it??

[Fairygodmother1]

Nope - trusted tweezers lol.
I found the first few months of metformin really turned me off dairy products & bagels lol. After that I slowly started eating the dairy products but still won't eat bagels or yoghurts lol.
have not heard that said about more likely to be diabetic with PCOS as it runs in the famiy - I do know there's a higher chance of diabetes in pregnancy.

[shellmc]

Ohh the good old tweezers eh? Im always there with them, just got the cream today, so will start using it from tomorrow says it can take up to 2 mo nths to notice a differnce so will still be using the tweezers still.
Strange how when starting metformin knocked you off dairy and baels! I hope it knocks me off crisps and chocolate then ill be fine ;) ha ha.
Maybe thats what she did say thinking about it- Higher risk of Diabetes in pregnancy.
Still waiting for sum more test results to come back before i get metformin started. So far had Lh- Fsh results- which Lh was higher than Fsh-thats why i was referred alongside irreg periods and facial hair!!! Do you have very long/irregualr periods my last 3 cycles have been 43 days, 45 days and now on day 50- im soo bloated and in pain :(
Am i likley to get started on Metformin regardless of the rest of results?? Or with having the high Lh-Fsh, and rest of symptoms be enough to get it anyhow?? Sorry for all the questions.

[Fairygodmother1]

Let us know how it goes with the cream.

Have no idea about LH FSH leves as it's been a long time since mine were checked!
Yes I do have long cycles - although they were getting really regular but last one & this on are on for 42 days!!!!
Likelihood of getting Metformin depends on your dr's belief in it!

[vanfurgston]

hi guys rediscovered my thread. nnone of my doctors are recommending metformin apparently the guidelines have changed. it did work very well for me before but they wont budge. am feeling dissapointed now

[shellmc]

Hi there, wonder what has changed re:metfromin?? I just saw my endo last fri and she has suggested me trying it, wonder if itl still go ahead once my results are back. ??

[Fairygodmother1]

My consultant was happy to keep me on it as it's produced good results for me!

[vanfurgston]

i dnt knw shellmc but all i hear from all my doctors is that the guidelines have changed. what they have changed into i have no idea. it did help my symptons a lot before