MD wrote a script for Metformin today. (Siggy Warning)

Lauren79 · March 2012

I posted my re-intro a few weeks ago. I had trouble TTC my daughter. DH and I tried TTC for 1 year although we were never careful in the 7 years we have been married so I thought we would have trouble. After a year I went to my RE, and after all the testing they put me on femara and luckily I got pregnant the first cycle.

Now TTC#2. Last months cycle of femara did not work. I had an appointment today. My RE said I might have PCOS although they have never been able to confirm with US or bloodwork. He said I may have type 2 diabetes. I just don't think the docs are sure with me. Other than erratic cycles nothing has even shown up. He is putting me on metformin for 6 weeks to see what happens. He also told me I should lose weight and attend a weight loss seminar which baffled me because I am only overweight by maybe 10 lbs. DH thinks I should go to another RE. I have no experience with metformin. Will it make me lose weight? I am honestly not even sure why I am taking it now. I did feel a little rushed when I was there. Are there any ladies that can provide any info or advice? Thanks.

katib77 · March 2012

You pic looks like you don't need to lose weight - but if they thing you have diabetes I'd ask what your A1C level is. I have type two diabetes and was put on metformin two years ago by my family doc (nothing to do with IF, it was actually before I started seeing my RE). An A1C level looks at your sugars over the last three months (as opposed to a blood glucose, which looks at your sugars right at that moment). A1C level at or above 6.0 is diabetic.

As for why on earth your RE suggested losing weight and a seminar, are you sure they were not talking about a healthy eating seminar for diabetics? To control your protein vs. sugar levels? Because that is common for diabetic and you can have diabetes even as a skinnier person, and sadly, even losing 10 pounds may help put your A1C level below 6.0. And since hormones play such a key role in TTC, he may be taking a guess on why it's hard for you right now.

But...diabetes does not equal PCOS. I do not have PCOS, but I have diabetes. But as PCOS does not mean Diabetes. I personally would email or call to learn more about your A1C level and get clarity on why they think you may have PCOS and why they want you to lose weight.

But, yes - Metformin helped me lose 20 lbs the first six month I was on it. Then over the next year I gained ten of it back...so I'm still down ten pounds from where I started it.

notquiteblushing · March 2012

Hi, I'm pretty new to this process but my RE diagnosed me with PCOS even though my ultrasound and bloodwork were normal. He said it is a condition that can be diagnosed if you have two or more of the symptoms. I asked him about Metformin and he said we may try it but he didn't believe it would help me get pregnant even if it did help my PCOS (confusing yes, it made more sense when he explained it). This weekend I had a fasting labs to see if I am insulin resistant - have you had those? I'm sure if you were diabetic that would show up on a blood test. What is your BMI? I know my RE's office has a cut off for treatment at a certain BMI level. I'm overweight but I still made the cut luckily.

pulga131 · March 2012

I don't have PCOS but that just doesn't add up to me. As far as I know there are a few factors that could indicate PCOS and you have to have some of them to be diagnosed. And 10 lbs should not make a difference- while it would be good for your general health to be at your "target" weight; 10lbs should not really affect your fertility. I would find a new RE pronto and would not take the metformin at this point. JMHO GL!

ETA- I agree with katib find out what your AIC was

lcgmommy12 · March 2012

Hi all!

Metformin can help with a couple things, diabetes only being one. After looking at your pic, I believe as well your doctor was a little hasty in telling you to loose weight. He may believe you are insulin resistant which doesn't show up on normal diabetic tests. Symptoms of this include abnormal weight gain or weight gain around the torso only, facial hair growth, and lack of ovulation. Now don't get me wrong, you may not have insulin resistance either, but I think that may be where your RE was headed. Weight loss does improve these symptoms as estrogen is stored in fat and the more fat we have the more our hormones are thrown out of whack.

In your case, Metformin may help you regulate your ovulation but it may not. I personally would ask for a second opinion, especially if your blood work is all normal. If you decide to take it, expect some mild-moderate nausea, some serious toilet time (if there was a book you ever wanted to sit down and read, NOW would be the time to go buy it) and a 10-15lb weight loss (possibly). I don't see any harm in trying it. Just know that you'll need to have some snacks on hand because although it doesn't cause hypoglycemia, it can make you all kinds of hungry unexpectedly. Good luck!

katib77 · March 2012

lcgmommy12:
If you decide to take it, expect some mild-moderate nausea, some serious toilet time (if there was a book you ever wanted to sit down and read, NOW would be the time to go buy it) and a 10-15lb weight loss (possibly).
Just know that you'll need to have some snacks on hand because although it doesn't cause hypoglycemia, it can make you all kinds of hungry unexpectedly. Good luck!

I totally agree with the toilet time. My joke about Metformin is "Weight loss through $h!tting!"

As for hypoglycemia (or being hungry and needing to snack on met)...before my pancreas decided to give out, I was hypoglycemic. Maybe because of my eating habits from a lifetime of watching my sugars and eating the right amounts of proteins vs. sugars - I never found I was hungry or needing to snack more....but I eat four times a day on a very regimented time frame.

Lauren79 · March 2012

My favorite snacks during the day are fiber one bars, maybe I should hold off on those for awhile Wink

Thank you for all of your responses. I think I am going to start taking it tomorrow and see what happend. It can't hurt. I am going to call first for my A1C level. Everything is just so confusing. Trying understand it all. My mom has type 2 diabetes and is underweight. I think the doctor is testing this to see what happens because he isn't sure what is going on with me.

lcgmommy12 · March 2012

Sweet pea, your A1C will be normal, trust me. Stay FAR AWAY from the fiber bars! Go easy on carbs too. Metformin + heavy carbs= No more booty. Your right, no reason not to try it. Good luck!

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MD wrote a script for Metformin today. (Siggy Warning)

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