Thanks for sharing Sub! I was wondering if you've experienced any of the side effects I've heard / read of with the Metformin?

Also, you'd mentioned the hair growth. I was wondering if you've also been testing high in testosterone? Seems to go hand in hand with IR. I'm trying to lower mine also but am only experiencing the acne end of the symptoms. Hoping once I get the IR under control, the high trig's, high testosterone will follow.

This has been alot to deal with for sure, on top of my thyroid disease. I totally agree with carbs being poison to us. I've seen drastic changes in my body since decreasing my carb intake, just in the bloating alone. It's as if I'm allergic to them.

I can't tell you how encouraging it is to read that you've been successful with a 55 pound weight loss!Congratulations! I will be successful if I can lose the 50 I needed to. So far, I'm excited to say, I've reached my 2# goal per week...unheard of 2 years ago! I'm exhilirated but skeptical that my body will quit responding again. I guess I don't trust it anymore. I spent a long time working very hard to see no progress, so I keep expecting this to end.
( Isn't that aweful? lol ) Each time I see progress for all of my blood, sweat and tears...I'm amazed!

Here's to us reaching our goals and to a happy, healthy life!

Susan

Thanks Susan! I think you’re off to a great start, never give up even if you hit a plateau! IR is stubborn and it will be a long fight. You’re not far from the truth when you mentioned it’s like we’re allergic to carbs. I realize that even when I get down to a healthy weight I am still going to have to be on a low GI diet to prevent the IR from making a comeback.

I have been fortunate not to react badly to the metformin- however, when I first started taking it I did have mild nausea, some weakness and a bit O’ “Montezuma’s revenge” once in a while. It wasn’t that bad though. My doc had me start out at 1000 dose for 2 weeks and then step up to 2000 a day. The side effects faded away after 3 weeks. I also had to start using a sugar free sports drink during my workouts otherwise I’d feel like I had the life sucked out of me.

I would certainly talk to your doc about trying the metformin. Those nasty plateaus I was hitting made me cry and almost quit the diet on two occasions. With the metformin the weight doesn’t stall very long- since the met the longest I stalled was two weeks- MUCH better than 2 months! Your mileage may vary, but in my case it was a godsend.

Yep, I have had my testosterone checked, it’s actually very low, so in my case it’s just the IR alone that’s causing all the yucky hair to sprout- I’m also on spironolactone to help with the hair. It’s working but very slowly.

The diet isn’t easy though, there are days I would give my right arm just to have a few more croutons on my salad! I am always so envious of people who have normal metabolisms and can eat pasta for dinner every night and not gain a pound I keep reminding myself what while the weight gain wasn’t my fault (because of the IR) that I do have control over what I put in my mouth. If that means I can only have 2 slices of bread and a half cup of beans a day for carbs, then so be it!

I’ve also been reading an obesity help forum which is sadly geared towards encouraging people to do gastric bypass. There are so many people on that website who have IR or PCOS but never got a diagnosis, and they feel that surgery is the only option I’m trying to educate a few there to get tested for IR instead of going under the knife.

Hi Sub,

Thanks for the reply! I just recently had my bloodwork again, so we'll be able to see what's going on on the inside! So far me and South Beach have been able to lose 15 pounds. I'm hoping to see another pound lost here soon, don't want to get discouraged. You know how easy that is with IR!

It's sad to say, but before I knew I had IR, had I had the money, I may certainly have considered something like liposuction. Well, at least I say I would have...who knows. But I guess what I mean is I know I was desperate to lose. Nothing I ate or didn't eat, no amount of exercise was working, and certainly no doctor identified that I had a problem. So yes, I can see doing something drastic in desperation. The pain and frustration can sometimes be unbearable.

I'm glad you're at the site giving them other things to think about though. Until I was diagnosed I had no idea.

Susan

Susan, How ya doin'?

How very nice of you to inquire! I'm doing well, weight wise. Down from 189 to 163 or so. BG levels are rising, but the doctor would like to see me to continue with my successful weightloss and diet, to see if we can manage the insulin resistance this way, before medication. I'm all for that, if I'm not doing any further damage. That is always the question...

Thanks for asking about me

Hi everyone...I am new to this site as several others are....Whats the best way to get started on this challenge? I am not on any meds at this time...starting the South Beach Diet and excersise. Battling alot of fatigue and not sleeping well...I am too young to feel this way. Oh and how do i use one of those weight trackers I see at the bottom of peoples quotes...I like them. Sunkissed quoute on getting started is how I found this site and her situation sounded like she was talking about me. Please advise...frustrated and anxious to get started.

anyone still use this thread?

Hi,

Not much activity as far as I can tell. How are you doing on South Beach? I've luckily had much success with it, although I am in a mini stall. I've got to get back on track w/diet. The exercise I have under control, but I've backslid a couple of times this past few weeks. Still, my backsliding is 100% better than most peoples good days.

No meds for me yet ( thank goodness! ) Doctor would like me to continue with the weightloss. I'm hoping this will be enough, but scared that it won't.

Susan

Hi Susan,
yeah I see the activity level has certainly decreased. Well, I am not sure I am doing it truely the way it should be...Kinda my own version of it, ww and good excersise. I guess what I am really doing it watching my carbs, calories, Water, and excersise. I eat a lot of the SB foods and cook my own. I do not buty any SB, WW, or smartones with the pastas and such...I try to get my carbs naturally with fruit and such without choose meals the breads, pastas, and pototoes etc, starches, on a regular basis. I think it working but I have just started being more strick with no cheating so we will see.

No meds here either. So, we will see. But I have 100 to loose so i am tempted.

keep me posted on your success and challenges and what works for you and I will too.

Lori

Will do Lori!

Hi, I'm new too...
I was diagnosed with IR in February, and I started Metformin, but I had a lot of bad collateral effect, and I was feeling so bad that I stopped to take it. I'm now dieting at 1000/1200 cal a day and walking (at least) 40 minutes a day: in 4 weeks I lost 2.5 kilos, that is not much...May be it's better for me to restart Met, but I'm worryed about feeling so "down", and the gastroetc.
I'm wondering also how many of you had "night sweats" while on Metformine: I stopped Met for this first of all, because after having started it, I had a long and anovulatory cycle (after 6 months of regular periods) and these "hot flashes" in the morning or during the night...I was starting to believe I was going into menopause! But no more "hot flashes" after I stopped Metformin (but no periods anyway ); and now I read that someone else is experiencing the some "hot flashes"...and that they are due to hypoglicemia... Please, let me know!

Alba

Hello and welcome Alba,

Sorry I can't be of any help here. I'm hoping to be able to control my BG with diet and exercise. I am currently not on any medication, although the doctor and I have agreed to watch the numbers and prescribe accordingly. I've been successful at losing almost 30 pounds sinse the beginning of this year using the South Beach diet and exercising 1 hour per day. I've also incorporated 5 pound weights 2X per week to help produce muscle. I seem to be at a standstill this past month and have to figure out how to "kick it up a notch" as to get past this dang mini-plateau.

Good luck to you on finding what works for you also!

Susan

I'm in springfield, mo too. My mother has this condition and I've been exhibiting symptoms for 2 years, but I don't have a clue who to see for diagnosis and treatment. Any ideas? Feel free to e-mail me. Also, I did get put on an insulan resistance diet, and lost 45 lbs, but I still feel bad if I don't eat all the time. Anyone else having that issue or does the Metformin fix that? Thanks ladies!

Hi Bonnie,

I ended up having a Glucose/Insulin intolerance test before diagnosis. Otherwise I was basically ignored by the medical community. My weight gain was due to either my age, the fact that I had thyroid disease, or "fork and mouth" disease. No one bothered checking my glucose levels.

I'm sure if you request such a test, your regular health care provider can get you one. Especially if it runs in your family.

I am currently trying to control the insulin resistance through diet and exercise and am not on any medications. There are plenty that are and I'm sure you'll find tons of info re: Metformin as it is one of the most popular drugs in controlling insulin resistance.

Good luck to both you and your mother!