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  #1   ^
Old Thu, Jan-10-02, 14:47
Tara44 Tara44 is offline
New Member
Posts: 23
 
Plan: CAD
Stats: 272/267/150
BF:
Progress:
Location: OHIO
Default need help with meds

Hello!

I'm new to this and have so many questions but I don't want to ask too many too soon. I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago when they didn't have any information on this horrific burden. I went to a doctor who told me if I would just quit eating and lose weight, everything would be ok. That is so not the case and if any of you suffer with facial hair, depression, the day to day weird feelings of high's and low's-you know exactly what I mean. I finally found a doctor who has prescribed glucophage and I started it TODAY!! My question is, does anyone know if I can take glucophage with Chromium and Magnesium which CAD suggests? I know your not Doctors but I thought maybe someone would know. I so badly want this to work. I feel like I'm at my breaking point, lost and hopeless. I want to believe this will help (along with the low carbing) but I'm so afraid of being disapointed again....anyone else feel the same???
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  #2   ^
Old Sun, Jan-13-02, 10:13
Gracia_30 Gracia_30 is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 253
 
Plan: CAD/CALP
Stats: 184/181/150
BF:
Progress: 9%
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Default Hi

I don't know about the supplements but I am on Met and LC.

I just went back on Met after stopping it for a little over a month. And if you get the sickish feeling, like nausea and or diarhea, don't worry. It does go away. Just don't stop taking the pills (trust me I speak from experience).

What I suggest to you for the supplements, is to call your pharmacist and ask them. They usually have the answer for you right away and are realiable. Or you could call your doctor's office and ask them as well. (why make an appointment for only one question right).

I'm not sure if I helped you, but keep the questions coming. That's what this forum is about, helping each other!!!
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  #3   ^
Old Thu, Jan-17-02, 18:05
Chele Chele is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 31
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 153/143/125
BF:
Progress: 36%
Location: Kansas City
Default

I am also taking glucophage and am on chromium as well! I hadn't even thought about a problem taking them both at the same time so you opened my curiousity! I accessed a website, www.rxlist.com and looked at glucophage/metformin and couldn't find a contraindication for chromium or magnesium. I will also call my pharmacist for a more reliable answer. The website is fairly long and drawn out!

Chele
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  #4   ^
Old Fri, Jan-18-02, 07:14
Tara44 Tara44 is offline
New Member
Posts: 23
 
Plan: CAD
Stats: 272/267/150
BF:
Progress:
Location: OHIO
Default

Chele,

Thanks so much for the info! I have been taking all (3) for about 2 weeks now and I've noticed that the Glucaphage does make me sickly (in both ways)...YUK!! How long have you been on Gluc? Have you experienced any stomach problems? Does it truly go away like the above lady mentioned? I guess I am just so afraid that this is going to be a way of life and to be honest, I think it's horrible. I feel like everytime I take a pill, I need to be by a bathroom. Have you been on Chromium and Gluc for very long? Have you had any luck with it? Losing weight? feeling better? etc. I've been on the meds and Low carbing for 2 weeks now and have lost 17 lbs. I've noticed I'm starting to slow down on the weight loss now...Please keep the messages coming, I want to learn as much as possible. Thanks for your info and if you do ask your pharmicist or doctor about Chrom. and Gluc, let me know what they say! I will do the same in turn!

Tara
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  #5   ^
Old Sat, Jan-19-02, 14:34
Chele Chele is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 31
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 153/143/125
BF:
Progress: 36%
Location: Kansas City
Default

Tara,

My new doctor just called me last night and took me off it, sighting the New England journal of medicine' aritcle on glucophage toxicity and how it is so commonly given without cause. He wants to do more research on it and get back to me. In the meantime, I am totally stumped and have to wait for him to contact me again. Wish I could be off more help!

Chele
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  #6   ^
Old Mon, Jan-21-02, 06:56
Tara44 Tara44 is offline
New Member
Posts: 23
 
Plan: CAD
Stats: 272/267/150
BF:
Progress:
Location: OHIO
Default

Chele:

I'm curious as to why your doctor would take you off Glucaphage. I know of soooo many woman who suffer with PCOS taking it. I've also done so much research myself and everything points to PCOS being insulin related. The glucaphage is supposed to help level your insulin which in turn helps you to not only lose weight, but it helps to regulate your monthly cycles.
Please let me know what your doctor says.

Tara
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  #7   ^
Old Mon, Jan-21-02, 14:38
Chele Chele is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 31
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 153/143/125
BF:
Progress: 36%
Location: Kansas City
Default Tara

Will keep you posted. I am going to make an appt. to meet with him so I better understand where he is coming from. I have had good results with Met as well, (or at least think I have!)so am dumbfounded as to what is going on. Maybe if I speak to him in person, it could shed some light of his way of thinking!

Chele
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  #8   ^
Old Mon, Jan-21-02, 15:26
Tara44 Tara44 is offline
New Member
Posts: 23
 
Plan: CAD
Stats: 272/267/150
BF:
Progress:
Location: OHIO
Default

Chele:

Thanks for the update and I look forward to hearing from you. Please let your doctor know that 1000's of ObGYN's, fertility doctors, etc treat PCOS patients with Glucaphage. Not to be rude, but there are soooo many doctors that are not familiar with PCOS and the effects that insulin has on us. If you really want help, you should try looking for a specialist in your area that specializes in PCOS. Just some advice...hope all goes well for you and I just hate to hear you getting of your meds if they were helping. Are you still taking your Chromium or Magnesium? Are you low carbing? How has that worked for you? If you don't mind, I would love to hear more about you. When did you develop PCOS?
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  #9   ^
Old Mon, Jan-21-02, 16:00
Chele Chele is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 31
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 153/143/125
BF:
Progress: 36%
Location: Kansas City
Default Tara

I am not sure when I developed PCOS, but was diagnosed in 1999. We had been trying to have a baby at that time for about 2 years and had already had one pregnancy that resulted in a miscarriage. My PCP sent me to a RE and they did testing and all that jazz and said I had "hyperinsulinemia" and PCOS. They gave me a couple of pamphlets and that was it. Didn't really explain what PCOS was except to say that I produce small cysts in my ovaries instead of a follicle or embryo. I had no idea about the "hyperinsulinism", but after researching it a little bit, knew they were talking about IR. I am still taking the chrom and mag as usual, and have been LC' ing since November. I was reading a book about infertility and how nutrition affects fertility. The book talked about Atkins, and how they had a good philosophy going pertaining to helping PCOS/IR. I started LCing in November because I finally realized there was something I could do about my fertility and thought I should take action if no one else was going to bat on my behalf. I wanted to loss some weight, too, and had tried MANY different kinds of diets, but always found that they really didnt work for me. I LOVE to eat, and knew I could never be on a diet that made me hungry all the time, or had me doing 2 hours of exercise a day. I was stuck in the "low fat" mentality and never lost weight with it. Although I will say it was a TON easier to be low-fat that it is to be LC because it hasn't quite caught on yet. You can go anywhere and get low-fat, but LC is harder to come buy and it seems a lot more expensive, too. I will continue to LC as long as I feel it is what is best for my body. Somethings are great for everyone else, but not always good for me. I am not a strict LC-er. 95% of he time, I will watch what I eat and be sensible, but if we are going out to dinner or something and we eat at Applebees, I love their chocolate walnut blondie and will order it. I will split it with my husband, but still eat some. I can't deprive myself of the things I love. But I also know that I will always want to eat bread and other starchy foods, and I always have. If it gets out of hand and I can't stop thinking about it or something like that, I cut it out of my diet. I don't want food to control me - ever! I am still at about 140 lbs or so, and would like to lose more by summer, but feel that the chrom is what has helped me to lose the 10-15 lbs I have. I also walk about 2 miles, 3 times a week or as often as I can. That to me is about being healthy, too. If I remain at 140 lbs, I'm not going to beat myself up over it. When I REALLY am ready to lose the weight, and can make that commitment, then I will.
I am not as concerned with having PCOS/IR as I am with getting a straight answer from somebody. It makes no difference to me whether I have it or not, I just want an answer. I feel like I am in limbo. I have based my decision to LC on PCOS/IR, though. If I don't have it, what is wrong with me? Not ovulating is not normal! It's just sad that we have spent so much money getting to this point, and now the possibility of starting over is just unbelievable. I don't know if I can handle the torment anymore. My plan is to follow through with this Dr. and see where it takes me. Seeing another RE will hopefully put me back on the right track.
Will keep you posted!
Chele
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  #10   ^
Old Tue, Jan-22-02, 07:45
Tara44 Tara44 is offline
New Member
Posts: 23
 
Plan: CAD
Stats: 272/267/150
BF:
Progress:
Location: OHIO
Default

Chele:

Thank you for telling me your story. I wish you all the best in your venture to discover all there is to know about PCOS. You stated "what's wrong with me, it's not normal not to ovualate". You are absolutely correct, it's not normal but having PCOS is a disease, I don't know how much you know about PCOS but it is a disease and there is no cure for it. You can try to control some of the symptoms with a low carb diet, meds and excercise but you will always have PCOS. I also belong to a support group for PCOS, I have learned so much by so many wonderful woman. I've discovered that I'm worse than some of them and better than alot of them. I understand how you feel about being discouraged, I feel that way often. I just started my low carbing Jan. 7th and have lost 17-21 lbs. I also started by glucaphage, chromium and magnesium. I've noticed that I feel soooo much better, I have so much more energy and I don't feel as depressed. I was diagnosed years ago with PCOS, but my doctor at that time said "we will just deal with it when your ready to get pregnant". Well, 12 years later and 120 lbs heavier now we are dealing with a lot more. I switched to a PCOS specialist and this is how I discovered glucaphage. I pray that it will work. I know it won't be a miracle drug to shed all of my weight, but I'm hoping it will do alot more than that for me. I just want to feel like a normal woman. I don't want to sound negative, but sometimes I just feel sorry for myself. I know that is soooo selfish to say but I'm just so sick of having to try to find ways to live with PCOS. I know you said you don't really care if you have PCOS, that's great. I'm not sure of any other symptoms you may have or your age but I can tell you that 10-15 years ago, I didn't care either. Now, I regret not caring and not researching and not finding a doctor and making him/her listen to me.
I want to have a baby so badly right now and I know it's just going to be almost impossible for me. I can't even fatham the thought of not having a child. It truly saddens my heart. I have to be on glucaphage for 3 months then my doctor said we will start on fertility drugs. I know even with fertility drugs, their is no guarentee. Back to my original subject about not caring if you have it. PLEASE care...don't wait a minute longer about doing as much research as you can on PCOS. Although you may only have a few symptoms now, as you get older, they can and will get worse. TRUST me. You must take control and do what you can now to control any symptoms you have now, that could be many tpes of symptoms from facial hair, hairy arms, legs, pits (more than usual, courser and darker than most woman) skin tags, mood swings, hot flashes, weight gain, having most of your weigh in your thighs or abdominal area, fatigue..these are just a few off the top of my head. In the beginning I only had (1) of these symptoms....now I have a few!!! I believe it's because I thoght it was no big deal. Today, it's a huge deal!!
I will go for now, I don't want to burden you with all of this information. I hope you find some of the info helpful and if you have any questions, please ask.

Take Care!!

Tara
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