[laurenbeast]

I called my mom and told her that I was going in to the doctors today. It's for an utlrasound to look at my uterus, probably to see if there's actually cysts in my ovaries and everything, but still...
I told her I wanted to completely quit the birth control I was taking and start on the metformn, and then it just went downhill... It's so frustrating being only 16! She told me "well you better sit down and talk to your doctor because you're only a kid and you don't realize what you're doing." I know. I understand this. But I'm trying to do what's best for my body. I have a boyfriend, and I've talked the whole thing over with him.That boy amazes me. I know that boys will be boys, but his mom basically said, "no sex!" and the fact that he respects his mom that much, and will follow that rule, simply baffles me. I've tried to break him down, trust me, and he won't budge. He said he doesn't like that I'm getting off of the birth control because he felt safer and his mom would feel safer with it, but that he'd rather have me fix the issue that I have and be healthy. So I've agreed not to do anything with him as it is. I really don't see the point of the birth control anymore. I just don't feel good on it.
My mom doesn't like the idea. We have a really screwy family situation, and she doesn't have custody of me and I don't live with her, but I still value her opinion, even though I knew she wouldn't have much good to say about my idea...I've read about insulin resistance for two years, and I've lurked these forums for a while, and I'm not a doctor and everything, but I tried to explain all of it to her and she just doesn't want to listen... I hate that! I'm trying to explain what's going on with my body and it seems like it just blows over her head. She gets irritated by it, too. I don't really get that too much... Even when I'm not suggesting that I take the birth control away, she gets sorta frustrated by talking about the issue that's going on in my body right now... Maybe it confuses her? I'm like, "Mom, I want to fix this issue once and for all. I want to switch to the metformin and start this diet and help myself lose weight rather than cover it up," but I guess maybe she just doesn't get it..? I realize she wants me to be safe, and teenagers will be teenagers, but I can't tell you how long it took for me to lose that first 10 pounds because of this condition... It took MONTHS. I want to be thin and healthy and pretty and be able to have a period that's like clockwork instead of every 8 months whenever it feels like it. I don't know. I think it's a pretty silly situation, but I'm not happy with the way she took things... I'm just trying to do what's best, seeing as I've come to an agreement with my boyfriend.

[ThicknPretty]

Aww Sorry you and your mom can't see eye to eye on this.

You're always probably going to get some resistance when making decisions like this. There will always be people who disagree and think they know best, but ultimately, if you feel that strongly about it, keep in mind that it's YOUR body and you're the one who has to feel comfortable with your decision at the end of the day. You're young, so your parents (regardless of the living situation) are going to feel they know best and might try to impose their beliefs on you.

I agree with Brown. There are a lot of different BC methods out there, maybe you could try some other things? It might be worth a try. Women are so different...what works for some can be disasterous for others and it might take a little experimenting to find something that works just right for you, but it's worth it. If you see yourself being or wanting to be sexually active at all in the near future, you don't want to rule out BC completely.

Good luck!

[beerab]

I'm not sure how getting off the birth control will help you- you can take metformin and birth control together you know. From all my research and understanding of PCOS birth control helps you to regulate your hormones. I would speak to your doctor but honestly I would not get off the birth control. If it's giving you issues I agree to change your pill- I've been on three different types of bc before I found one good for me.

[astrophe]

What type are you on? I don't do well on triphasic pills -- they make me crazy with the shifting hormones. I needed a steady dose like from monophasic pills.

I took/take it along with Metformin.

Here's the teen PCOS site in case it helps:

http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/pcosinfo.html

Talk it out with your doc to see what strategies will work best in your case.

GL!
A.

[Justwant2Bhealthy]

I agree that you can take both -- you can continue to take your BCP and the metformin ... and I would definitely go back to your doctor and get his/her opinion first. You could change to a different one for now. Why you want your menses back is beyond me ... I've heard that there is actually one kind of BCP out there that can help someone lose weight (sorry, can't recall the name right now; but I know it is prescribed a lot here in Canada).


Your boyfriend sounds like he is mature beyond his years, but even he thinks that you should take it (probably just in case down the road you ever do something) ... 18 is only 2 years away and you need to take it about 3-6 months in advance for it to be as effective as it should be; and some are only 75% or 89% effective, depending on the type you use.

PLUS, I always recommend that teens & young adults (if they are taking BC and/or sexually active) use two different kinds of birth control (ie pills & a condom) as your teen years are your most fertile years (meaning the easiest time to get preggo).

Please remember, that your mom is just concerned for your personal welfare (and that of a possible child); and that is why she says what she does. When you get older and have a child, you will know exactly why she says what she does. Try to realize that she isn't against your WL goals, just not sure about your methods and the reasoning behind them ...

PS ~ why do you want to go on Metformin? Have you been diagnosed as diabetic or pre-diabetic?

[laurenbeast]

Thanks guys!
I'm definitely able to see it from my mom's view, she just exhausts me with how resistant she can be towards medical things sometimes...It isn't only this problem, I actually have a very large interest in the medical field. I'm planning on either becoming a registered nurse or a pharmacist... Nursing is my more immediate goal, I'll have to continue getting into biochemistry
Anyway, explaining medicines to her is a little weird... I think she has a fear of them because she likes to be healthy without pills and such. I'm not big on prescriptions either. I'd totally pass them out, because hey, the pay is good, but I'm willing to take the metformin and birth control now because I realize it'll do me good in the future.
So anywho, I did visit my doctor today... I don't have an endocrinologist, I've just been going to the OB/GYN. She's a nice lady. She's an insulin resister too, and she's been down the PCOS road. I had an ultrasound for the cysts, which I found out that I do indeed have (I have no idea why I even thought I didn't have them) and talked to her about the medicine...She said that if I wanted to get off of the pill then I could do it whenever I wanted, but to give it the rest of the month instead of stopping it right in the middle and having a period. She prescribed the metformin and said to gradually build up to taking it 3 times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner.) She seems to think it'll help trigger the weight loss, since I've been struggling with it. I figure if I do okay with my birth control for the rest of the month I'll just keep up with it. It isn't too bad. My first birth control last year was horrendous. The first week drove me nuts. I've only experienced bloating and some irritability for now...
I also bought two books! (: I was planning on trying the Carb Addict's Diet, but I noticed the thread about the Insulin-resistance Diet, so I picked up both...I'm not sure which I'll decide on because I don't know too much about either of them yet, but that's what reading is for.

[laurenbeast]

Oh, forgot to mention, about the metformin side effects...I had problems the first time I took it. Gas, diarrhea one day, constipated the next, upset stomach, didn't go away within a month...Hated it. So I asked for the extended release version, which I've heard can help much better.