Seeking Advice on Metformin - Greenville,OH

Hi K.,

With Metformin I dropped 50lbs with an excercise program daily with cardio.
After I lost the 50lbs I maintained at a good weight for 6 yrs. It also helped me get regulr with my mentrual cycles and get pregnant, but I lost the pregnancy 6 times before there was a heartbeat.
I was able to conceive and deliver perfectly healthy babies after a few years though, of maintianing a good weight and taking metformin daily.
I have 2 children and expecting my third.
My Dr recommended to continue the med but I chose not to because I always had a metal taste in my mouth, probably had diarreah the whole time I took it, had a lot of food aversions, it helped loose the weight but I couldn't really enjoy any foods.
I may get back on it after this baby to help me loose the weight but I won't stay long-term, just thinking of the side-effects makes me not want to get back on it!!
But I know it's not as bad for everyone, I still can't complain when I look at my little babies! ;)

Yes, I currently use Metformin. When I started I was sick to my stomach the first week and had loose stools. The key is to eat every four hours. Once i got through the first week it was great. With the eat every four hours and exercising 1/2 hour every other day at the gym I lost 20 pounds in six months. For infertility...i got pregnant right after I started... lets see my first pregnancy which was a miscariage was in January...I was pregnant again by May that was successful. Even though I am not trying to get pregnant, I still take it to balance my system...my hormones are out of wack. It keeps my blood sugars in order causing me to have an even mood. Now that my youngest is old enough I've commit to a health program and plan to continue taking the Metformin as I excerise. Give it a try.

Deb

My only problems were nausea (sp?). I suppose taking it with food would help, which I tried, but I still was nausious. I didn't lose any weight, but I don't have much to lose anyhow, and I had just had a baby and was eating a lot and not working out because it was hard to do with an infant.

I am on Metformin right now for insulin resistance. It makes me nauseous most of the time but the dr says my body will eventually get used to it. Weight loss is the key to insulin resistance, however, I do know some people who are thin and also have it. They are supposed to restrict their carbohydrate intake not lose weight. I lost 50 pounds by just not eating carbs and the dr says 10 more pounds will 'fix' my resistance. The metformin makes me so sick I don't feel like eating so I guess that is a good thing?!?

A couple of things while taking Metformin - make sure you "work your way up to" the prescribed dosage. If the doctor wants you on 1500 mg/day, start with 500/day the first week, then 1000 for the second week, etc.

Make sure you drink lots of water while taking it.
Take it with food (as in a meal), and at least 3/4 of the way through the meal.

It can help you lose weight. When I first started taking it, I lost about 40 pounds in a few months without doing anything different from my diet. After that, I had to start actually exercising.

Yes, taking Metformin/glucophage has made my periods more regular. I went from having about 2-3-4 a year to every 32 days.

I did end up going through 2 ART cycles to have my girls, and can let you know who helped us with those if you're interested, and who delivered them.

I don't know that INsulin Resistance is reversable - I wish it was!! The Metformin can help control the carb cravings a lot. With me, the higher the dosage, the better it did. I was on 2550 mg/day while trying to conceive.

Hope this helps!

The only thing that has helped my husband and myself... Him with the Insulin/ Diabetes and me with the Thyroid (the thryoid is a problem my sister, dad and his mom had all overweight...)is to watch carbohydrates, replace white flour with whole grains, corn starch, sugar, corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup. You would be surprised at how much syrup is in foods including sugar free! But this has helped us lose some weight, and keep weight off. The best part though is we are both medicine free and we have been able ot keep those health problems as well as others at bay. It is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix. The times we don't eat what we are allowed or that our body can handle we, more so my huasband than I, pay for it physically by getting ill than emoitionally

I took metmorfin for 3 months a couple years ago. It did not help me to lose any weight at all. Everytime I would eat something I would have terrible diahrrea shortly after and it made my stomach pretty upset. It did, however, start my periods up again. I had gone about a year without having one at all. They tried all kinds of hormones and although it made me bleed, I still wouldn't ovulate. Now, I don't know if the metmorfin helped with ovulating but about 2 years after I stopped taking it I did get pregnant on my own. So, who knows... it seemed to kind of "jump-start" my body.

I, like yourself, was diagnosed as being insulin resistant. I know how frustrating it can all be and the struggles you're facing. I wish you the best.

Hi K.,
I took Met for PCOS and Insulin Resistance. You have to start gradually because it can cause GI upset (diarrhea). You have to watch your carb intake while taking it. If you eat a lot of simple sugars, it will upset your stomach. I did lose weight while on it, but I was also exercising and watching what I ate and I think that did more than the met. I can't say it helped my fertility. I was on it for 3 years before I got pg, but I was taking it at the time. I got pg again last October (endeed in m/c) and I wasn't taking met at all. I had however, lost another 20 lb through diet change and exercise.

I read an article just yesterday that said that pre-diabetes can be reversed (and diabetes prevented) by daily exercise (30 min) and modest weight loss (7% of body weight). Good luck with your treatment! I hope it goes well for you!

All my best!
A.

My sister and I are both on Metformin for PCOS/insulin resistance. Neither of us have lost any weight in fact we have gained. We said we think you have worse food cravings? My sister does have very loose stools from it. It has not helped me get pregnant and my sister has not tried so I am not sure if it would help her or not? I have heard stories both ways so give it a try you never know how your body will react. Everyone is so different. I also have heard losing 10% of your body weight can help reverse Pcos/insulin resistance. Easier said than done I know!!