Metformin?

TLC7613

I've been struggling with losing weight for a while even with diet and exercise and I also have anovulatory periods, fatty liver and I'm insulin resistant. I've been reading up on PCOS and a lot of times they mention taking Metformin to help with these things. If I ask my Dr to put me on it, do you think they will? Or is Metformin a drug that is like a last resort and you need to try other things before they will prescribe it to you??

bpecue1

Hi! I think if you've been diagnosed with Insulin Resistance by the doctor, he should definitely give it to you. My doctor was relucant to put me on anything for the longest time because he was convinced that once I started the Met, that it would only lead to years of weight fluctuation. At the time, I wish I would have listened and just tried harder to do it on my own; however, those were during the college years which were full of beer and fast food! So essentially, the weight gain was my fault--but I blame the Insulin Resistance for not being able to get it off!

If I were you, I would exhaust ALL other option before you started the Met. It can be rough on your stomach, but some people are more sensitive to it than others. Have you tried a Low GI Diet? Also, giving up wheat/most grains ENTIRELY really helped me with overall body bloat.

The Met can definitely help, but it's a long road ahead of you once you start it.

teddiebare

One thing I recommend to anyone with IR or PCOS is to find a doctor that you like who will work with you. That has been the single most important thing I have done for myself. My general doctor told me that I had unrealistic expectations and that I should just be happy that I am healthier, and my OBGYN suggested weight loss surgery. Since neither of those were helpful, I finally found a specialist who I LOVE.

He explained everything to me in a way that I could really understand, and he sees me monthly to monitor my progress. I am on 1000mg of Metformin a day, but working up to 1500 (it's really hard on your stomach). I also eat a Ketogenic diet, having less than 50g of carbs a day. I think the low carb diet has helped me more than anything else. I had been eating at a deficit and working out hard 5-6 days a week for a year and a half when I finally got diagnosed, gaining 15 lbs on that regiment was just making me crazy. I've lost 14 lbs in 2 months on the keto diet (I started it a few weeks before the metformin), and although I am still losing ridiculously slow, at least I'm losing. I feel better than I have in years, and my mental focus is way better now. I have really bad hypoglycemia, and my blood sugar hasn't been this stable in as long as I can remember.

I believe that regular activity and increasing your overall daily movement is critical to helping control PCOS, in addition to a low carb diet (how many carbs you can have depends on your body, 150 wasn't low enough for me, but <50 seems to do the trick). I lift weights 3x a week and run 2.5 miles 2x a week. I also walk 10,000 steps a day during the week. I have a fitbit that helps keep me on track, and I consciously make an effort to walk more as I can. I park farther away, walk to the farthest bathroom, etc. I'm always going to struggle with my weight, and I've worked really hard to keep it as low as it is. I still want to lose at least another 30 lbs, and even then I'll still be in the 150s. I'm never going to be 120 lbs, and I'm never going to be able to eat whatever I want. You just have to decide what level of commitment is going to work for you, and find a doctor who will help you stay on that path.

kbshannon

Metformin helped me when I was on it, but then I got to reading some things (vitamin b-12 deficiency) and just decided that it wasn't worth the risk. I am taking inositol now (2 grams a day, level teaspoon) and my periods are regular and I feel better.