PCOS/Insulin Resistance SupportSupport for us with any of the following: Insulin Resistance, Syndrome X, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or other endocrine disorders.
I haven't formally introduced myself yet. I just turned 34 & was recently diagnosed with PCOS by my GP. I have all the usual symptoms & when my doc did some labs and looked at my hormones and insulin levels, she said there was no doubt about it.
A month ago she put me on 1000 mg of Metformin and also some Spiro to see if that helped at all, and we scheduled a one month follow up. I had about 3 days of GI issues with the new meds, but my body adapted alright & I've been feeling fine ever since.
A week after starting on the Met I had a normal period, which was an improvement. I've been irregular since having my Mirena IUD removed a year ago. I didn't really change anything diet/exercise wise last month.
Went back to see the doc for my one month follow up yesterday. I kinda assumed we'd do some more labs and increase the Metformin dosage. Instead, she noted my 6# weight gain (started my period again last night, ha). She said she was sorry the Met "didn't seem to help" me, and said she wanted me to pursue bariatric surgery to help with my weight issues.
!!!
I asked if it would be beneficial to do the labs again, maybe think about upping the Metformin dosage. She told me "that's not the way it worked". My obesity is taking years off my life, and she would recommend a lap band, but I should really talk to a bariatric surgeon for help with choosing which surgery I have.
Now, I'm 6' tall, and packing around an extra 140 lbs. I know my weight is a huge issue that I need to take care of ASAP. I'm capable of exercise and willing to do it. I have the support of my husband and I'm ready to modify my diet and just lay off carbs entirely. Not sure I'm ready for a bariatric surgery, though. We are blessed to have a happy, healthy 2 year old, and we'd really like to have one more child in the not too distant future. If I start pursuing bariatric surgery now, that puts baby plans out at least 3 years, which is probably too far at my age.
Anyway, should I go to a different doctor? She's kind of got me PO'd and I'm not sure the 1000mg of met is sufficient. She pretty much indicated she was done trying with me until I talk to a surgeon.
After discussing with DH last night, I'm going to go ahead and go to a bariatric surgery seminar next week and start down the path. From what I understand, the whole process usually takes 6 months plus between seminar and surgery.
My real plan is to just kick butt on my own over the next six months and disqualify myself as a bariatric surgery patient (would have to lose around 50 pounds to do that). Tough, but doable I think. I lost 75 lbs 4 years ago, and it took a pregnancy and a few years of apathy and carbo loading to reach my previous monumental size.
I think you may be right about seeking out a different doctor. One that is so willing to sign you up for a severe bodily modification when you are so willing to try is taking the easy road out. Perhaps seeing an endocrinologist would help? I don't have PCOS but know someone who does, and it seems as though your doctor is somewhat lacking in medical management, and is looking for a quick cure. Bariatric surgery might not be the most helpful thing if your hormones are so wacked that you are less able to lose weight. Also, it doesn't help a bit for people who are not going to change their lifestyle. You can outeat your surgery. I know because my dad's ex wife has had gastric bypass and she still manages to be overweight by just eating little bits of garbage all throughout the day. She cooks like Paula Deen, but more like Paula Deen if she were trying to kill herself a lot quicker with food. I like the idea of exercise and diet change, along with consulting another doctor. Always get a second opinion, because I had two doctors tell me two different things, when in reality I had quite a serious issue that required surgery and only one doc was able to recognize it right away. My husband also had one doc who wanted to cut on him, and the second one said "Well I could just as easily paralyze you as fix you-your case is not necessarily surgical, and at your age, I would not do this procedure." Guess what?Hubby healed to the point where he hardly even takes ibuprofen. You are your own advocate in your healthcare, and you don't have to listen to one doctor just because they have an opinion. Take care, and definitely start exercising, cuz it will help you.
Last edited by Brandis; 04-25-2012 at 02:37 PM.
Reason: misspell
one month on Met doesnt seem like enough for me. Its not an overnight miracle cure. It takes time for your hormones to adjust. I think your Dr. is jumping the gun just a bit.
I take 2000 mg of glucophage xr and labs every 3 or 4 mos to see how things are. I have just returned to this and last time it took a year to get my irregular cycles to every 60 days!
To me at a mere month? to put invasive surgery on the table without running labs to see if you need higher dose seems rushing into it. Exhaust all other options first ykwim? at the very least get another opinion.
I completely get where you are coming from as far as fertility and wls. I've looked into weight loss surgery myself but I also have a two year old and dearly want another baby and between the amount of time my insurance requires of pre surgery medically documented dieting and the recovery time from wls before it is considered ok to get pregnant the time frame depresses me. I'm 31 and want another baby sooner than later. I'm hoping my doctor will run the tests so I can be put back on metformin before we go to the surgery option. I'm quite torn about it.
Always go for a second or even third opinion. Even look for a specialist who knows more about PCOS. My lady doctor increased my metformin to 3000mg. She wanted to get me up to 4000mg but my insurance ran out. She was going to exhaust all other options before even recommending any kind of invasive surgery on me.
If your doctor is that quick to put those kind of surgeries on the table, it could be he/she has certain backers who are pushing him/her into it.
Thanks for the replies. I'm going to see a fertility doctor that reportedly has expertise with PCOS this Wednesday. Very interested in hearing what she has to say.
I do believe it really comes down to me getting my rotund behind into the gym though, and fixing my diet.
one month on Met doesnt seem like enough for me. Its not an overnight miracle cure. It takes time for your hormones to adjust. I think your Dr. is jumping the gun just a bit.
Agreed. I was put on 500mg once a day of Metformin HCL and I have follow-up appointments every three months. It took about 6 months for my blood sugar levels to go to normal.
I'm not usually on this thread. I was pre diabetic - I hate to use the plain "D" word. I was on Synthroid for hypo thyroid and internist wanted me to start Metformin. Well, I finally went to an excellent endocrinologist. I am middle aged and wanted to go on bio identical hormone replacement. To make a long story short - I would highly recommend you go to an endocrinologist. I needed more thyroid meds T4 and T3. And the modern thinking by endocrinologists is that your TSH level should be below 2. My internist was not aware of that. Low thyroid can affect fertility. My friends daughter was having problems trying to conceive her second child. I told her about the importance of the thyroid. She told her daughter. They have baby number two. Perhaps a coincidence. And I did star taking Metformin 500 mg, twice a day. So you need to have all your hormones checked by people who keep up on the latest developments. Getting my hormones right has helped enormously. Still have to work at it. It does not cure the emotional eating. I found Ideal Protein really worked for me. It's very good for people dealing with blood sugar problem. I have gained back about 10-12 lbs because I have an addiction to certain carbs - all of them - except the green leafy vegetables! I never thought I would get into a size 8 again. I think every body type is different but IP worked for me. There are a number of women (and some men) that have lost significant amounts of weight on it. Check out the site - post a question - before you have the surgery. After I lost the 30 + pounds my internist wanted me to go off the Metformin. I said, "Everything is normal, A1c, blood sugar, while I'm on it. I don't want to rock the boat." He said, "But your diet is good." He used to be my diabetic mother's doctor. I said, I am just like my mom. I have those same nasty carb addictions. It could all go very ugly, very quickly. And it did!I am having some major stresses right now. I have to learn how to comfort myself with something other than chocolate. But I don't think there is anything legal out there that will. LOL. The key for me is in dealing with the stress by solving some of the problems. Sorry, I digressed. Good luck.
For me I went to my endo and i finally thought yay! A doctor who will listen. Boy was i wrong. My dosage from Metformin was 1500 mg 3 times a day. It made me so ill that i was missing work. Id had been on it for a month when i saw her the on the 26 and she told me i can take two dosages at once. So i did that night...... I was up all night with cramping and sever tummy pains.. then when i woke up at five I had Chest pains and I barely made it to the bathroom and was quite sick. I was short of breath and i finally went into the er. Low and behold, im not on Metformin any more. But the kicker is, I called my endo after i got out of the er to let her know what happened and she said... keep taking the meds and i will see you in June. That day I made an apt with a naturopath . Let me tell you the naturopath is incredible!! She gave me the right meds and vitamins i needed to be taking. She hugged me when i cired.. How many doctors hug you when your crying in front of them!... so sorry i ranted. But i would totally seek a second opinion.
I would definitely look for another doctor. It takes a long time to get meds adjusted correctly for your body, not just a single month. The other thing is, and it sounds like you're on the right path, exercise and proper diet with lots of fresh veggies and lower carb fruits will definitely help. You'll feel better AND diet and exercise will certainly work at leveling out your blood sugar and insulin levels. But again, it takes time and you have to be consistent with it.
I have been on and off metformin for years. I go through times in my life when I am like, "I am going to do something about my life" and other times I wonder what is so bad about PCOS (other than plucking my facial hair everyday if I want to leave the house).
The first time I was put on it, I was SOOO sick. When I went to my doctor with it, he had me start at a lower dose, and increase it very slowly. Then I had no gastric issues at all. But then when I got to the dose he wanted me on, my blood sugar dropped crazy low all the time. I don't have any issue with my blood sugar normally. I told my doctor that I was passing out and being shakey and stuff, and he got me a blood sugar meter... He didn't believe me. So, I would wake up in the morning and my BS would be 50... Needless to stay, I wasn't on it for very much longer. I already struggle to eat regularly. I had to eat like every two hours. I couldn't wake up in the middle of the night to eat.
I still wonder what I am doing to my body NOT doing anything for my PCOS....
At least you all were even prescribed metformin! Since I am not diabetic my doctor said it is not an FDA approved treatment for PCOS, therefore she would not prescribe it. I'm taking inositol instead to try to help my suspected insulin resistance.
I would seek a different dr. I can't believe she told you that wasn't the way it worked. Hello, I was on Met and changing doses for months before I got my period. And you did in one month, what's she smoking? lol
Really, my dr conferred with a specialist and he said that the "normal" dosages are not normal for PCOSers with weight to lose.
Metformin Dosage - Time for new doctor?
