[Indychick829]

Ok. So when the doc put me on metformin, she only had me on 2 pills a day (500 mg each). I went back in to the doc today for some back pain (not sure what i did...but i hurt my back the other day...) and she talked about giving me steroids (for one week) for the pain and i freaked at that - because I remember when she put me on steroids last year for a rash from sun poisoning, i gained a few pounds...and since i'm FINALLY starting to lose weight again - i said no. well, that got us to talking about the metformin i'm on - and the doc (not my actual doc - but her assistant, which was the one looking at me today) saw that the doc only had me on 2 pills (1000mg) per day and thought that was way too low and wrote me a new scrip for 4 pills/day. which I'm happy with, because I was hoping she would do this. I also know that as far as my diet goes, I need to "re-arrange" some things and cut SOME carbs down and up my protein.

so ANYWAYS. my question is this...has anyone gone through this? being on a low dose of metformin - and seeing a SMALL weight loss - then upping the dosage? If you have - did you notice more of a weight loss?

Thanks!!!!

[rockstar87]

I practically forced my first endo (hated that woman...haha) to give me metformin when I thought I had PCOS from research I'd done on my own. She put me at 1500mg and I didn't drop a pound even with my diet being very good at the time (low carb, watching calories, working out lots, etc).

A year and a half later my new endo put me on 2000mg and I dropped 16lbs in a few months. (More or less the same diet/exercise as before). It's really important to find a dose that works for your body...at least it was for me. But either way you have to do your part and be very rigorous about controlling your diet and exercising tons to see results even if you get a high enough dose.

Hopefully the new dose works for you, good luck!

[wahinegirl]

I am on 500mg twice a day and with that lost about 6lbs the first week being on it. After that nothing. I think what's important is not so much the weight but how the symptoms are reacting. With my current dose I do not crave as many carbs and I don't have the uncontrolable hunger. I feel better and don't get as sleepy in the afternoon.

What has worked for me is cutting out the breads even whole grain and wheat, pastas, potatoes etc. I've lost 7 lbs in 2 weeks. Exercise is a must with PCOS/IR. Anything is better than nothing to get you going! I've been told it's best 40-60min a day. I have been working out on the treadmill for a min of 30 mins a day. I feel much better too!

Good Luck and keep us posted!

[rockstar87]

I agree completely with what wahinegirl said. 40-60min of activity a day is crucial in people with PCOS, as is watching your carbs. Metformin is by no means a wonder drug.

I watch my symptoms too. I'd had about six periods in my entire life when I started metformin the second time (I was 18) and now I get them regularly on nothing but metformin every 6-8 weeks. The weight is coming off slowly but the periods were my first indicator that the metformin was working.

[Indychick829]

thanks for the replies! As far as my exercise goes - I normally do 60 minutes of cardio about 3 times a week with 15 - 20 minutes of resistance training PLUS a muscle conditioning (resistance bands) training on Thursdays...however - this week - (as my previous post stated) because I injured my back - I'm not doing any cardio or training this week and we'll see about next week :-( It sucks - but I'd rather get better first and then get back in to it. But I know too, once I get back into it, I need to up my resistance training even more.

I actually won't start the new dosage for a month - since I still have one month of pills left ... then I will get my new bottle with more pils for the higher dosage.

I posted a few messages down from here that as of right now - I have NOT been diagnosed with PCOS - but only Insulin Resistance...however I asked her at the appointment whether or not I did have it - and she said they haven't completely ruled it out - but haven't tested for it yet. Thing is - with me - as far as any symptoms (asides from IR) - I have NO actual symptoms of PCOS - and my periods have been on time clockwork since I started puberty at 13. But, again - it hasn't been ruled out - but as of right now, I'm thinking I do not have it. I guess we'll see when we decide to start a family!

but anyways...as far as my diet - we buy only whole grains (at least when we go grocery shopping). I keep couscous, quinoa, barley, bulgar, etc...in the house. I eat oatmeal for breakfast every morning...I try to follow the Weight Watchers "core" program - which allows you "enough" of whatever you are eating (from the core foods list) to satisfy your hunger...

I've been eating a full cup of oatmeal every morning with 1 1/2 cups skim milk and 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries for breakfast. Which is fine - because I HAVE actually lost 10 pounds...however - I know I need to cut that down to 1/2 cup oatmeal and instead add 1/2 cup scrambled egg whites for protein. Basically - my doc told me do NOT actually cut out my carbs - and continue to eat the whole grains that I do - but just cut back on the portion and add protein to the times when I tend to eat only carbs (such as breakfast)...

We've stopped eating a lot of carbs at dinner - due to my bf trying to change his eating habits too. So that has helped... :-D

But anyways...again I will be upping my metformin from 2 500mg pills to 4 500mg pills next month - but until then, I'll get used to adding protein to my breakfast and see if that helps.

[rockstar87]

Definitely let us know what happens with the increased dosage! And I would absolutely advocate waiting until your back gets better before trying to work it out again. Work around the injury if you can - like swimming or something low impact - just to keep moving. But don't aggravate it, it'll only take longer to heal and your workouts will be sub par.

Good job adding the protein to your breakfast. I haven't cut out carbs completely either, I just make sure I only eat low glycemic index carbs and try to keep them below 40% of my total caloric intake for the day. Cutting out carbs entirely just isn't realistic for me.

[Indychick829]

oh yeah - don't worry - i'm not stepping on any exercise machine (or going to a class) until i'm completely fully healed. although - honestly I must say this not exercising thing REALLY ticks me off!!! grrr but yeah - i'm NOT going to make it worse. so i just have to deal.

yeah - as far as the carbs...i guess it's hard for me to go "low carb" only because I've always been 'against' low carb/no carb diets as normally they are NOT good for you...and my doc (well, the nurse practitioner) I spoke with yesterday - actually said, "you should try atkins for a week". ACK! but - I understand, after a lot of research - that truth be told, having insulin resistance - we are the type of people that low carb diets were made for. :-(

And I do trust this doctor (nurse practitioner) since she herself has Insulin Resistance (and is luckily thin! lol)...

so until i'm healed - it looks like i just have to concentrate on my eating habits and tweaking those....again. lol course - what i hate about being 'injured' is that BEING injured makes me want to eat bad. :-(
i'm going back to work tomorrow, though - and will get back into as 'normal' a routine as i can (minus the exercise) and make sure my eating plan gets done right!

[rockstar87]

Yeah...I never did Atkins because I think not eating fruit is ridiculous. Watch your carbs and always pair them with a protein when you do eat them and you'll be fine.

I hear ya on the being unable to workout too. I never get sick and of course, a month into my new exercise program I get bronchitis. I was out of the gym for a week and came within an inch of insanity I'm sure. I couldn't eat anything either except for like sherbert and saltines and soup (high carb, obviously) and that made it all that much worse. (Thankfully I didn't gain any weight.) Hopefully getting back to work helps you...

[wahinegirl]

I hope your back gets better...it's never fun or easy when you are limited by an injury.

Just so you know I haven't eliminated all carbs I just cut out those specific carbs...breads, potatoes, pastas, rice, tortillas. During this past week I have splurged a bit and had cake and ice cream, and some thin mints and continued to lose. There is another gal that is doing this and she is doing great so I thought I would try it, and so far I have lost 8 lbs. This was something I couldn't do in the past 2 years. I also have hypothyroidism along with PCOS and IR and to top it off I also have Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis and Urticaria (allergic to exercise..funny but serious!) and because of this if I want to exercise I have to take Clariton prior to exercise. So please...talk about obstacles...lol!!

Anyway...stay motivated even on your back!! You can do this!! Let us know how the new Rx is hopefully it will help you out!!