My weight has been up and down for years. Several years ago I lost 110 pounds on LA Weight Loss. Kept it off for over a year until I went off a prescription drug that I didn't realize was suppressing my appetite. My weight started climbing.

I also am hypothyroid (on Cytomel) and have PCOS (I'm on 2000 mg Metformin ER).

I recently went to a wonderful bariatrician who put me on a full fast liquid diet and I lost 30 pounds. However, within my first week I also started bleeding constantly like I did when I found out about my PCOS. I had to go on birth control (Yaz).

I had to stop going to the bariatrician because my appetite is out of control, even though he put me on Phentermine. It's like it's not working at all anymore.

My eating is out of control. I think it's the Metformin/Yaz combo. Adding Yaz definitely made my appetite increase. It's like these two drugs are battling for domination inside my body. I know that I'm ovulating, I can feel it. That's due to the increased Metformin. And I know the Yaz is trying to keep me from ovulating. I don't care - the main thing is, my period are normal again and I'm happy.

However - I feel like a very hungry monster lives inside me and I can not satiate it! I don't want to gain more weight!!! It's bad enough that after I lost my job last year I had to buy new clothes because without insurance/thyroid checks, I gained a lot of weight. I thought I was on my way back down to my comfortable size again. But what can I do if I'm constantly hungry? Phentermine isn't working. This morning I took a Green Tea/Hoodia pill that I forgot I bought at Walmart a long time ago. I'm at the end of my rope.

Does anybody know of a good appetite suppressant, preferably over the counter?

I already know that if I eat more often or more protein I won't get hungry as often. I KNOW THAT ALREADY! The problem is, I could live at a buffet right now. I could also cry constantly if I let myself.

FYI - starting the New Lifestyle Diet next week (waiting for products to come in the mail). Did Medifast before and it messed up my thyroid with all the soy protein. NLD has whey protein and is similar to the wonderful program my bariatrician put me on, except it has a LOT more food and it's way cheaper.

Sorry to be so verbose. Any help would truly be appreciated.

Thanks,
Suzanne H.

Appetite Suppressant:
IRVINGIA by Life Extension

Haven't used it personally, but know of people who have lost much weight on it and swear by it. It is pricey, but Life Extension is a reputable company.

Personally, I am losing on the Metabolic Research Center plan and love it.

Personally, I found that the METFORMIN made me ravenously hungry; I was put on that to lower my pre-diabetic blood sugar levels that went down with eating healthier and more regular exercise. I slowly weaned off the MET and those crazy cravings have all but disappeared; my suspicions were correct. Now I only get very hungry when I haven't eaten a meal or miss a snack on a busy day.

What condition did your doctor put you on the Metformin for? Is is really necessary, and can the dose be lowered? If the BC is helping your menses anyways, do you need the MET now? These might be questions that you can ask your doctor the next time you visit.

I am now taking a FLAX OIL capsule each day before dinner with water (about 30 minutes) and increasing other good oils as well. Newest research says that if your body is deprived of the good oils, you will feel hungrier too. Another good source is FISH OIL caplets, plus using olive and canola oil. We need up to 2 tbl a day for our body to function well.

Other more natural appetite remedies are a Mineral Cocktail which is 1 tbl PURE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR + 1/4 cup PURE Cranberry Juice + 8 oz water (with a bit of honey or sweetener) before meals. Some people use just the ACV + sweetener; others make a drink with lemon or lime juice (about 1-2 tbl to a glass of water; sweetened if desired). All these are to be taken BEFORE a meal; about 30 minutes is good. You can also buy ACV capsules at the drug store too; use the same way.

The FRENCH always have soup, salad, and/or juice before a meal to help fill them up; and I find they are right. A bit of good oil on a salad can help satiate you as well. The science behind this is that it takes about 20-30 minutes for your brain to get the full sensation signal -- that is why they suggest this timing. I am noticing that I am full sooner as well.

Also be sure to take a good VITAMIN with MINERALS each day so that your body is getting all it's nutrients in ...


PS ~ oh, forgot one: SUGAR-FREE Berry-flavored METAMUCIL ~ you can get this in a large container from any drug store for a decent price too. The dose is 1 tsp to a glass of water; and I actually like the taste of this one. It fills you up before a meal and has other advantages too.

Joy - thanks for the info about Irvingia. I had not heard of that. I found it pretty cheap on eBay and ordered it. It's definitely worth a shot. I'd love to hear more about MRC. People on this forum say great things about it, but I'm still confused about how much it would actually cost.


Justwant2Bhealthy - it's good to hear that hunger could be a side effect of Metformin. Most people say it takes away their appetite. I'm on it for pre-diabetes and PCOS, which often go hand-in-hand. I had been on a lower dosage from a previous doctor. My new doctor (a bariatric specialist) increased my dosage when he saw my blood test results. I'm no longer considered pre-diabetic, but if I'm hungry and keep eating, I think I might be back there once again. I appreciate your advice. I think I might try some of the things you suggested. I used to take a lot of the healthy oils but I've gotten out of the habit of that. Husband and I both lost our jobs in January 2009 and are still having trouble rebounding. Some things fell by the wayside. I used to buy a lot of supplements every month but I just can't anymore.

Thanks!
Suzy

There are many natural foods that can satiate your hunger as well that aren't as expensive as supplements. Here's some ideas I found through a bit of research ...


-- *** apples: good fiber & filling; in yogurt good too
-- *** water (1 cup at a time); esp before & in between meals
-- ***whey protein powder; add to smoothies & milk for cereal; plus come in vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry; good for building muscles; a bit more pricey but a large container can last for months.
-- ***fresh raw salads & veggies /lettuce & coleslaw; fiber/filling
-- ***veggies like cabbage, spinach, lettuce + bok choy; low cals
-- favorite soups 2 x times a day lose 50% more weight
-- pure veggie juices, like V-8
-- green, black, or oolong teas
-- hot tea + lemon + ACV = cocktail to lose weight
-- hot lemon drink with honey/sweetener Ie stevia
-- hot green tea, with lemon
-- flax seed oil/caplets (as mentioned above); flax seed and flax meal (ground flax seeds available in grocery baking section).
-- spicey foods/drinks (add peppers, hot sauce, chili powder)
-- cinnamon (good on fruit like apples)
-- salmon (good fat & protein)
-- ***omega-3 good fats and oils (flax or fish oils; olive, canola, soya, *safflower*, or sunflower oils, etc)
-- natural almond butter or peanut butter (in moderation)
-- nuts like walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts
-- pine nuts (highest protein; fat controls appetite)
-- coffee (at least one cup in the AM)
-- oatmeal with flax seed/meal + cinnamon + pine nuts
-- psyllium husks; on cereal
-- *wheatgrass/spinach GREEN DRINKS; now in grocery stores
-- sour foods like plums OR lemon or lime drink; opposites cure sweet cravings ie Umboshi plums, but just get some under-ripe (hard ones) from the grocer; cheaper and works too.
-- Protein (most protein curbs hunger; good for snacks)
-- ***pickles, esp dill and low-sugar ones; try to find natural organic ones (@ health food stores and grocers)
-- low-salt olives; low cals too
-- jello is very filling
-- other fruit like strawberries & melons; ie watermelon
-- pasta (try whole grain) satiates you longer ...

I would try to stop relying on so many pills. Are you eating enough fiber? Are you also drinking enough water- you aren't mistaking hunger for thirst? Or worse boredom? I know my big problem was being bored so I'd eat.

Can you ask for a lower dosage to see if that helps? Were you started off at 2000 mg or did you gradually increase?

Since I noticed the big upswing in hunger when I went from 1000 mg Metformin to 2000 mg, yesterday I only took 1000 mg. What a difference! I was actually able to get out of bed at 6:30 am! And I don't feel groggy. I feel much more alert than usual.

I stayed on the higher dosage for about a month, waiting to see if my body would adjust and the hunger would subside. Yesterday I decided I can't wait anymore. Today I start the New Lifestyle Diet and I don't want to worry about cravings. I did a liquid diet very recently and lost 30 pounds with almost no hunger at all. I need to lose another 50 pounds and then I can move on to something like Weight Watchers.

I also got my bottle of Irvingia yesterday and I'm going to try it today to see how that works. I need all the support I can get right now.

Thanks everyone for your help!

Suzy

beerab - I want to address something you said that kind of bothered me. You said maybe I "should stop relying on so many pills." I went for months without taking any pills at all. I lost my insurance when I lost my job last year. I gained 50 pounds as a result. I really hate being on anything that requires a prescription but I've found out the hard way that I have no choice right now. I tried everything to keep from going back to thyroid meds and Metformin.

Just felt the need to say that. I have too many people in my life who tell me all drugs are bad. Well, without them I don't know what I'd do right now.

Suzy

I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that. Relying was a wrong word. I apologize

I don't think all pills are bad- people that need medication should take it if their doctor really feels they need it (in most cases anyways). Trust me I take a medication to help with my fatigue from my sleep apnea. When my doctor tried to take me off it I had a fit because I still need it.

Glad to hear that lowering the dosage of Met helped. Personally I've had nothing but terrible experieneces with it.

It's alright, beerab. It's so hard to really be able to make your point online. It's kind of a sensitive issue for me...

You've had been experiences with Metformin? I'm actually thinking about going off of it entirely. My appetite is still pretty enormous. I've been on the extended release tablets. Even though they are supposed to release slowly throughout the day, I notice a definite decrease in my energy when I take them.

I know the simple answer is "ask your doctor" but he's the one who put me on 2000 mg. He would probably tell me just to wait it out and adjust to it. i can't! I don't want to end up weighing 300 pounds again, and that's what will happen if I stay on it.

Anyway - what things have worked for you?

Ug met was the WORST for me- I've tried it three different times- EACH time made me ill. Even tried the slow release. I did not lose ONE pound with it (okay maybe one) and omg I was so SICK with it. I would vomit at least once a day on it. I kept taking pregnancy tests I had no idea what was going on.

THEN I missed my pill one day and the next day I didn't vomit. Then when I took my pill that day the next day I DID vomit. Turns out it was the met! Then when I changed doctors she insisted I go on it again- even though my fasting blood sugar level was 79.

I tried it within 2 days I got ill again and stopped. Then she put me on slow release and after a week the vomiting came back...

What were your blood sugars before met? What are they now?

PCOS is so much trial and error for us- are you journaling your food at all? Thinking about how you are feeling when you eat/want to eat? I found I was eating a lot out of boredom. I started filling my time with workouts and hobbies

The only stuff I take for my PCOS is spironolactone, and of course BC but that's cuz I don't want to get pregnant! I really feel diet is the most important thing we can control to help our PCOS.

You can check out my blog on my signature- it's only about PCOS related issues and things I'm doing to lose the weight

Hi, I also have PCOS diagnosed 2years ago, I've done the yaz and glocophage/metformin route and had the same problem, i stopped taking yaz and lost almost 20 pounds immediately, then my problem was the glucophage made my stomach all weird i spent alot of time in the bathroom, and lost more weight, which was okay but i hated eating and feeling ill, So i stopped taking the glucophage after a year of taking it. My doctor now doesnt really believe that the yaz metformin combo works for everyone, this week i go in for an IUD because i've tried 4different bcp's and nothing has really worked for me. Hopefully this will....... Back to the eating so much problem, while i was still taking the yaz and metformin, I ate 6 small meals a day, it seemed to help because i was always eating! but i stayed at the same weight, there was no gaining but there was also no loosing no matter what i did. i spent 6 months with no bcp and no metformin and it was great!! i lost weight and i wasn't so moody, went back on bcp and gained weight and super moody again, but i can't take the chance of getting pregnant right now.I wish you the best with the doctors and figuring something out that works for you!!

Wow - you guys are great! Thanks so much for the wonderful info and support. I'm starting to get really scared. No matter what I do, I get extremely hungry after dinner. I try to tell myself it's not "real" hunger.... that I just need to drink more water or eat something healthy. But this isn't in my head. I'm hungry! I didn't feel like this until I went on Yaz. Adding the huge dosage of Metformin made things 10 times worse. I'm only on Yaz because I was bleeding abnormally after losing 12 pounds on a liquid diet in March. This is after a whole year of having regular periods. I used to bleed constantly and found out it was because of PCOS in November 2008. Doctor put me on three months of Yaz. That regulated things. That is, until March of 2010 when I lost 12 pounds and started bleeding again, constantly. So, I went on Yaz. And then my appetite spiked. But I was still able to do the liquid diet for a few more weeks, although it was much harder. Then my doctor upped me from 1000 mg Met to 2000 mg Met. That's when I started to fantasize about food all the time.

I hope this is coherent. I was just thankful to have some great feedback.

Beerab - I love your blog. I will be reading it!

It's almost 5 am. I haven't been able to sleep. I've been worrying about my weight because this hunger thing is just too much for me. I really feel like I'm at the end of my rope. I have two job interviews on Friday (been out of a permanent job since January 2009 due to the poor economy) and I'm worried that my suit won't fit because of the weight I've gained recently. But can't help it! I'M HUNGRY!!!

I think I'm going to go off of Yaz after my pills are finished. I pray that I won't start bleeding again. I can't take it.

Suzy

Thanks suzy! I try to update daily to keep the few readers I have interested! Please don't hesitate to ask me to put up a certain topic

You mind posting up a daily menu? That might help us see if you could be missing something in your diet that's making you hungry?

Thanks for all the different suggestions. Especially to justwant2bhealthy for the list of natural foods that can supress hunger.