Metformin help please....

[applecheeks21]

Hiya,

TTC for just three months (not worried about this, cam off teh pill just after Christmas and had three fairly regular periods in Jan, Feba and this last few days).

I've been feeling really rubbish, and fed up of the fact that I CANNOT lose weight (thought it would be an idea if TTC) - no matter what I do. I am fit, I cycle, run, have a Personal Trainer and limit calories. I stopped booze for a while to see if that helped and I just seem to be putting weight on. Nothing seems to work. I got married last year and looked fab but I just seem to have put it all back on.

I went to see the doc this am and after a bit of a chat, he looked back through notes and saw that a long time ago, we had queried PCOS. I'd had blood tests done which indictaed I may have PCOS so I was referred for a sonograph. The sonographer did an internal examination and said all was ok.

The doc this am has prescribed me Metformin which I duely went and collected. He did say, 'read about it and then its up to you'. He said it would help me lose weight and would defo combat an PCOS if there.

My periods have been regular since coming off the pill but I really want to have a baby and so will try anything.

Am I silly to try this out even though the Sonographer said there wasn't evidence of PCOS? I have read some horror stories abuot Metformin... sickness etc.

Any advice - please?
:)

bump......
Please help.

Hi Applecheeks

I am in no way an expert but I have PCO and I know that the symptoms really vary. I've had various scans and some showed lots of cysts, some showed a few and some showed none. In my case, it can depend on when in my cycle I am scanned and how my general health is.

Can you get another scan done before you start metformin to double check whether you have it or not? I have not tried metformin but I know it's pretty powerful and if you are having doubts, it might make sense to check whether you do have PCOS or not first.

Sorry not to have a clearer answer for you ...

You can have PCOS without actually having the cysts, bizarre though it may sound (also, you can have the cysts without having the syndrome). So even though the monographer saw nothing, that doesn't mean that the doctor woulnt be able to diagnose PCOS on the basis of other symptoms.

Hi

I have been in a similar situation, however have been trying for a long time and have been through gynae and now fertility clinic. I am awaiting another appt with an endocrinologist to see if going onto metformin after having spent couple of months on cabergoline.

Is your prescription from the GP? I would suggest going onto low GI diet as would be a little wary of taking a drug if there is not a need for it. That said metformin is apparently safe right through pregnancy.

Have you had any blood tests done?

Hi all,

Thanks for all this help and advice - its good to know people are out there listening! My DH tries his best to help but doesn't fully understand how I feel! Bless him.

SlightlyBabyCrazed - I have had blood tests done and the levels suggested I may have PCOS - this was a wee while ago. The prescription is from my GP - he did say it was safe and would help.

Pixie - I see what you're saying but these scans and such like take so long (argh, sorry to sound so impatient). Scans were last year and blood tests year before.

With a low GI diet - what should I avoid/get plenty of? I am quite a health concious person eating lots of protein and veg with some carbs.

Thanks people :)

Hi Apple I totally understand. I got my scans done privately because I couldn't stand the wait for the NHS ones [impatient emoticon]

I have found the GI diet really helpful in stabilising my ridiculous hormones and helping me ovulate regularly. There are loads of great books on it so have a look on amazon.

Essentially it means avoiding quick release carbs like white starch (white bread, white rice, mashed potatoes) and anything sugary.

For carbs, I tend to go for brown pasta, baked potatoes, quinoa and pitta bread.

The book I have said you should try to eat four or five times a day and have small servings including protein and slow release carbs in each mini-meal.

Fruit and veg are great but you have to watch out for the odd rogue one which is stealthily high GI - like beetroot, sweetcorn and certain melons.

In general, alcohol is bad with beer being particularly high GI. A glass of red wine or champagne is meant to be OK.

I've also found taking a good vit B complex helps too as it helps your body access energy so your blood sugar is stable.

Good luck!

Hi Pixie
Thanks for all that very sage advice.

I will really struggle to eat so frequently due to job but will defo stick with brown rice, quinoa and pitta (which I rarely eat). Alcohol ok as have gone off it recently (after getting wayyyyyy to drunk just over a moth ago and making a bit of a plonker on oneself!)

I will go and get some Vit B too.

I think I will give this a go.... watch this space ladies!