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  #16   ^
Old Sat, Mar-19-05, 10:20
xnikx xnikx is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 505
 
Plan: cut out carbs
Stats: 299.2/205.5/168 Female 173cm
BF:41%
Progress: 71%
Location: london nt far frm croydon
Default

wel my bowels wer fine b4 taken metformin, i havent changed my diet so i can only think that its themetformin makin me constipated and no laxative has workd
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  #17   ^
Old Sat, Mar-19-05, 21:25
haileydawg's Avatar
haileydawg haileydawg is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 138
 
Plan: none
Stats: 000/000/000 Female 00
BF:yep
Progress: 58%
Default

That's weird because I have the complete opposite of constipation on it and have had since day one. I always have to know where the bathrooms are everywhere I go because I don't get much warning....it sucks!
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  #18   ^
Old Mon, Mar-21-05, 11:30
xnikx xnikx is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 505
 
Plan: cut out carbs
Stats: 299.2/205.5/168 Female 173cm
BF:41%
Progress: 71%
Location: london nt far frm croydon
Default

i dont get why im the only one reportin of constipation cz i only got it when startin the metformin surely there is a link? my doc sed that it CANT be the met cz its meant to cause the reverse affects so whats rong with me, i feel like i have put on a stone cause all the stuff im eatin with out any out goins. helppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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  #19   ^
Old Tue, Mar-22-05, 17:56
nicki6750 nicki6750 is offline
New Member
Posts: 1
 
Plan: none
Stats: 168/169/140 Female 5 feet 6 inches
BF:
Progress:
Smile new user - advice on PCOS and metformin needed!

undefined

hey all!

Ive only just found this website, its perfect for the advice i need! Ive known ive had PCOS for about 2 and a half years now and ive been getting so down about my weight and general appearence. ive finally been put ona waiting list to see a specialist about starting metformin but i was just wondering, does anyone know how much you have to weigh for them to put you on it - just that i heard it was only for obese women....i mean i have put on a lot of weight but i wouldnt class myself as obese, i only weigh about 12 and a half stone but that is 3 and a half more than i did before the diagnosis and its rising all the time! Do you think he will just look at me and say no or do i have a sensible case?!!

Nicki
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  #20   ^
Old Wed, Mar-23-05, 07:52
Nikara2005's Avatar
Nikara2005 Nikara2005 is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 78
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 253/220/200 Female 5 10
BF:36%/30%/28%
Progress: 62%
Location: Michigan
Red face Metaformin and PCOS

Metaformin (Glucophage) is not just used for weight loss within women who have PCOS. It is used to help regulate your menstral cycle, hirsutism (hair growth) and more. You do not HAVE to be overweight or obese to take it. It does however have a beneficial side effect which is the weight loss. Obese people (me) have more success with loosing weight on the drug but if you are having a normal cycle and you dont have any problem with hair growth etc there is really no need for you to be on the drug. Its not a "quick fix" drug it is something that you will have to take for the rest of your life so ask your DR about it if you think you really "need" it.
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  #21   ^
Old Wed, Mar-23-05, 12:02
xnikx xnikx is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 505
 
Plan: cut out carbs
Stats: 299.2/205.5/168 Female 173cm
BF:41%
Progress: 71%
Location: london nt far frm croydon
Default

has any one else got really bad depression from taken metformin or hav there original depression got much worse like mine has from all the bad side affects?
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  #22   ^
Old Fri, Mar-25-05, 12:28
gracechild gracechild is offline
New Member
Posts: 3
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 138/122/115 Female 5'4"
BF:
Progress: 70%
Default Hang in there!

I am going through my second adjustment period on the metformin (glucophage). I came off of my metformin to isolate the cause of some unpleasant symptoms only to find out that it wasn't the metformin, so I am going back on it now (500 XR mg AM/PM). It takes me three weeks to adjust to the nausea and sometimes overwhelming fatigue. This time however I was looking for others who felt depressed or blue while on the metformin and I am glad to discover I am not the only one. I can say that it helps a lot to use the natural Trivita products (www.Trivita.com). Metformin reduces (a lot) the absorption of B vitamins, which help the body in a lot of ways- moods being one of them. I ordered the sublingual B-12 complex and Energy Now products and they are helping me get through the acclimation period again. I am on the Metformin for PCOS and hormone imbalance. Depression and anxiety are sadly something I am prone to and have to reallly battle with. The nausea and fatigue doesn't help those, but I assure you after 3 weeks things get a lot easier as far as the nausea and fatigue are concerned.
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  #23   ^
Old Fri, Mar-25-05, 12:36
gracechild gracechild is offline
New Member
Posts: 3
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 138/122/115 Female 5'4"
BF:
Progress: 70%
Smile Just a bit more...

I too have experienced constipation this time around where as my first time on metformin (glucopahge) I had loose bowels. The depression has been really bad this time around too.
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  #24   ^
Old Fri, Mar-25-05, 12:59
xnikx xnikx is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 505
 
Plan: cut out carbs
Stats: 299.2/205.5/168 Female 173cm
BF:41%
Progress: 71%
Location: london nt far frm croydon
Default

yay sum one who i can relate to proper in the bowel area lol wat are u doin to help ur constipation? and are u def sure it is the metformin that is causin it? cz wen i told my doc of such affect she seemd a bit baffled as metformin is known to give the opposit affect and made it seem like it must be something else causin me this but i can not see any other changes i have made besides startin metformin.

and btw metfomin is an unlicensed drug for people with PCOS or obesity, at the moment. it is only lincensed as a drug for diabetics (not sure if this is uk only) although soon with enough research it will be a licensed drug for PCOS
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  #25   ^
Old Fri, Mar-25-05, 13:08
gracechild gracechild is offline
New Member
Posts: 3
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 138/122/115 Female 5'4"
BF:
Progress: 70%
Default

My doc diagnosed me with subclinical type II diabetes after 2 years of dealing with cysts (PCOS). The good news is that I haven't had a cyst or any of the normal PCOS symptoms in 11 months. I have been dealing with the constipation by increasing my use of Ester-C and Philip's Milk of Magnesia at night before going to bed. I am contacting my doctor today to discuss an alternative to the metformin though because the depression is kicking my butt-
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  #26   ^
Old Fri, Mar-25-05, 13:30
xnikx xnikx is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 505
 
Plan: cut out carbs
Stats: 299.2/205.5/168 Female 173cm
BF:41%
Progress: 71%
Location: london nt far frm croydon
Default

yeh me to i hav been on anti depressants for just over a year and i thnik iv been depressed all my life for other reasons then the low moods that PCOS gives, but the side affects realy get ya dwn, ur ment to exercise to help lose weight on metformin as everyone says it works wonders, but how can u even feel like exercisin wen ur sufferin all the stomach cramps and fatigue and have so little energy. i dont think that im gona lose any weight on it, i feel like iv put there 3 kilos i lost back on
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  #27   ^
Old Mon, Apr-18-05, 14:23
LKPNYC's Avatar
LKPNYC LKPNYC is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 46
 
Plan: Low-Carb for PCOS
Stats: 244/193/170 Female 5' 6"
BF:Going down
Progress: 69%
Location: NYC
Default

The best tip my doctor ever gave me was to take metformin with a glass of milk. Something about the proteins in the milk (2 percent or whole.. skim is too sugary) helping your stomach absorb the medicine better. I, too, was so nauseous the first few weeks. The thought of ever eating again was SO not a priority! When I upped my dosage again I had the initial upset (and occasionally piercing stomach cramps)... but now this only happens if I eat something I know I shouldn't (too many carbs, margaritas, etc.. ha!) Good luck!!
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  #28   ^
Old Tue, Apr-19-05, 02:10
xnikx xnikx is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 505
 
Plan: cut out carbs
Stats: 299.2/205.5/168 Female 173cm
BF:41%
Progress: 71%
Location: london nt far frm croydon
Default

thanks

my side affects have worn off now but come june i think my doc will be takin the dosage up so have more to look forward to

havent been eatin healthy like i should be and losin a little weight, not even started exercisin yet neither. if i wanted fast results i would be doin these things. but still wait to start fitness stuff in a week or so
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  #29   ^
Old Tue, Apr-19-05, 04:24
MoNoCarb's Avatar
MoNoCarb MoNoCarb is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 299
 
Plan: Atkins variation
Stats: 218/196/150 Female 5 feet 8 inches
BF:
Progress: 32%
Location: London UK
Default

I'm about to take my first dosage of metformin today.

Two questions -

1. If metformin is an insulin sensitizer and my insulin levels are already way down because of the lo carb diet (I'm on 20g / day at present), won't I have like a low blood sugar crash? Should I increase my carbs slightly when I go on the met?

2. WIll I really need to take met for the rest of my life? I was kind of under the impression that once the weight is off and my insulin levels and periods are normalised, I would be able to wean off the met and control with diet alone? Is that not true?

Thanks
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  #30   ^
Old Tue, Apr-19-05, 06:58
xnikx xnikx is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 505
 
Plan: cut out carbs
Stats: 299.2/205.5/168 Female 173cm
BF:41%
Progress: 71%
Location: london nt far frm croydon
Default

im no expert, but i askd my doc the same thing about the blood sugar thing, and she said ignore wat the leaflet tels u cz that is ONLY for diabetics, metformin iv been told kick starts ppls pancreas to wrk beter as they believe ppl with PCOS hav a slugish one and cant keep up the demands of producin insulin to keep up with the needs. for example pasta is glucose, the pancreas sees it as a free meal and thinks it doesnt need to break it dwn so just passes it thru, the metformin is ment to make it do the job properly makin weight loss a bit easier when dietin and keepin fit

my doc said if u start to get dizzy frm slightly low sugar in the blood or any head aches eat sum carbs like brown bread as it gets in to ur body quiker and fixs the bad feelin

best tip i had about takin it was make sure u take it on a full stomach, cz at the start i didnt and i used to feel so sick, but trust me the side affects will only last 2-3 weeks til ur body adjusts, i used to get realy depressed with it all but its ok in the end just stik it out, iv already noticed a lil weight loss

that reminds me, hav to go pop another pill
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