Pcos and metformin

[PearlHeart]

Hi everyone ,

I am looking for some advice or tips if possible. I am also sorry if this is the wrong section to post in.

I have been in the fertility/endocrinologist clinic for 12 years now (18-30) I have had no help for my pcos other than a huge pressure/ being forced to consider bariatric surgery.

The Bariatric surgery team have said they would rather my hormone levels were a bit more stable before doing irreversible surgery, they agreed I would lose weight. Yet their worry is if things are not under control that I will stall in losing weight or regain weight back so a pointless surgery.

Recently my consultant has agreed to a trial of metformin
Week 1 : 1 tablet per day
Week 2 : 2 tablets per day
Week 3 - onwards : 3 tablets per day

I haven't been given much in the way of what to possibly expect or anything that could help.

I'm apprehensive as I have heard horror stories of diarrhoea, sickness and tummy upsets etc

💜💗

If you ask whoever you see for a second opinion they should help you arrange it not a stupid question at all! Your GP can also prescribe metformin.

@TuftyMarmoset
I will ask in the fertility clinic if I ever get a face to face appointment my last was 2.5 years ago he only calls me as he said there's nothing he can do for me so no point coming into the clinic. Your lucky if he will monitor my bloods once every 9-12 months.

My gp approved my metformin last week as my fertility consultant said he wants nothing to do with it, I would only get it if my gp prescribed it and took the lead in regular liver function tests? For it.

I started the 1 500mg tablet 3 days ago, then I go to 2 in the second week and 3 in the 3rd week.

I’m glad you’re trying it, OP. It is definitely worth a shot. Good luck xx

Hi, just sharing my experience with Metformin. I started it September last year due to PCOS and practically non-existent periods. My consultant warned me to start off very slowly so
I did a month on 500, then a month on 1000 and then finally on to 1500. It worked really well for me. I definitely had some side effects, mostly cramps/diarrhoea but it actually was manageable enough. I also combined it with a myo-inositol supplement. My period returned almost straight away and by November I was ovulating again. I conceived in February and am currently counting down the days to the arrival of my son. I stayed on Metformin in early pregnancy until 12 weeks and I’m still about 12kg down now at 40 weeks pregnant compared to where I started last September. It was so worth the side effects, even though they can be difficult to tolerate at times I really feel that easing into it very slowly was the key. The side effects were definitely more noticeable when I ate very rich foods or a big meal out etc.

Best of luck 🤞 I hope all goes well for you.

*edit sorry I meant I’m 2kg less now at 40 weeks pregnant than I was when I started it in September.

@Chenga

Thank you 💼

@RandomlySelectedUsername

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and a huge congratulations on your pregnancy, hopefully not too long a wait to have him in your arms. Well done on the weight loss too!

I wish I was offered a slower introduction offer or even some advice or had it explained what it could or should do.

My consultant wanted nothing to do with it and tried to persuade me not to try it by giving me horror stories and telling me it does nothing at all. Because he doesn't want me to have the option to get pregnant, as years previously I got pregnant and later went on to miscarry and he refused all help even when it was showing initially a threatened miscarriage he wouldn't even allow me to have aspirin. He is hell bent on doing assisted conception that he doesn't care How it effects me or my mental health.

However because I said I wanted to at least try something after 12 years of nothing and getting nowhere he said he wants nothing to do with it so my gp had to prescribe it and they have to look after that side while I am on it. Yet they failed to explain anything also and just told me all the side effects. So I'm wandering around in the dark so to speak hence this post as Google had mixed reviews but mainly all about negatives.

Thank you so much, today is day 3 of 1 tablet per day I have had some gas, tummy cramps , a bit of diarrhoea (sorry tmi) and nausea but it's not been too horrific so fingers crossed it passes soon!

💜

Just a week update today is day 7 of 1 500mg tablet, tomorrow I increase up to 2!

Feeling ok, still a bit of a delicate tummy. I'm feeling quite gassy. I'm not going to the bathroom as much but it's still happening. I'm also having bad nausea throughout the day randomly. All in all I can't complain. It's deffo manageable for now.

Will see what week 2 of 2 tablets have then week 3 of 3 tables goes.

I cannot thank you all for your contribution and helpful knowledge/ advice and experiences shared. It was a less worrying time starting them as I at least had some info behind me! It means so much as I don't much of a support network around me so it can be daunting.

💗💜💗💜