I have doubts, serious ones, over the use of "paleo" or other low carb diets as "reatment" for PCOS> There is not actually much in the way of studies to support it, only one small one I ever found that suggests women with PCOS lose a tiny amount more weight on a low carb diet than on a typical low calorie diet. I also had heart palpitations on extreme low carb, so I stopped. I suggest listening to what your body tells you.

Metformin has helped my weight loss, although I think my doctor should raise my dosage as I seem to have stalled... it helps a lot of women with PCOS, but not all. If you are on met, you shouldn't need to do low carb as metformin regulates your insulin so you have a more normal blood sugar curve. Although I would still avoid sugar, no need to push the issue (plus sugar with metformin will make you sick!)

ravenstar25 wrote: »

I have doubts, serious ones, over the use of "paleo" or other low carb diets as "reatment" for PCOS> There is not actually much in the way of studies to support it, only one small one I ever found that suggests women with PCOS lose a tiny amount more weight on a low carb diet than on a typical low calorie diet. I also had heart palpitations on extreme low carb, so I stopped. I suggest listening to what your body tells you.

Metformin has helped my weight loss, although I think my doctor should raise my dosage as I seem to have stalled... it helps a lot of women with PCOS, but not all. If you are on met, you shouldn't need to do low carb as metformin regulates your insulin so you have a more normal blood sugar curve. Although I would still avoid sugar, no need to push the issue (plus sugar with metformin will make you sick!)

1. Paleo is not necessarily low carb. It is generally lower carb by default, simply by virtue of shifting the foundation of one's diet away from grains, but fruits and tubers are still fair game and can quickly increase the amount of carbohydrate in the diet.

2. PCOS responds quite well to lower carb diets, and not just on the weight front, and Metformin's job is often augmented, and its side effects reduced, by said lower carb diet. The exact carb amount depends largely on how well a person responds to the changes. Some women do just fine doing the "low-GI" or "slow carb" route, while others may need to go further down. More study needs to be done (because unfortunately, there haven't been many formal studies), but here's one of the pilot studies on the matter, here's a larger study, as well (the real cool part about this one is that it was a weight-maintaining diet, so weight loss can't take credit for the improvements). And another one.

KnitOrMiss wrote: »

You might consider switching the time of day you take your Metformin. For me, it triggered such a high energy response that I had to take it during the day. I waited a full day plus about 12 hours to shift it from being at night to being in the morning, and I took the 500 mg ER. It made such a difference for me... I don't know what different it might make in heartburn and such, but if you take it shortly before laying down, it might be a gastro effect that takes a modified form...

My thinking was along the same lines.

Also, what are you usually eating for dinner? I found that if I have starch or sugar with or after dinner, I'm pretty much guaranteed heartburn. If you're still getting heartburn, try evaluating what you're eating for dinner and give eating fewer starches/sugars at that meal a try for a week or so and see if you notice a difference.

swithrow656 wrote: »

I drink until I'm sloshing around. Urine is mostly clear. Doc told me I'd have to go in again to talk about Zoloft. Still can't sleep though. Lol

If it comes back to that, check out Phosphatidyl Serine before going to the SSRI route, especially since there seems to be a known trigger and it's a temporary thing. Phosphatidyl Serine is a type of phospholipid that is important in cell signalling. Supplements of it are known to help reduce cortisol levels. The nice thing about it is that it has fewer side effects and acts faster than SSRIs like Zoloft (you can take the PS on an as-needed basis, which is a nice bonus).

KnitOrMiss wrote: »

Dragonwolf wrote: »

ravenstar25 wrote: »

I have doubts, serious ones, over the use of "paleo" or other low carb diets as "reatment" for PCOS> There is not actually much in the way of studies to support it, only one small one I ever found that suggests women with PCOS lose a tiny amount more weight on a low carb diet than on a typical low calorie diet. I also had heart palpitations on extreme low carb, so I stopped. I suggest listening to what your body tells you.

Metformin has helped my weight loss, although I think my doctor should raise my dosage as I seem to have stalled... it helps a lot of women with PCOS, but not all. If you are on met, you shouldn't need to do low carb as metformin regulates your insulin so you have a more normal blood sugar curve. Although I would still avoid sugar, no need to push the issue (plus sugar with metformin will make you sick!)

1. Paleo is not necessarily low carb. It is generally lower carb by default, simply by virtue of shifting the foundation of one's diet away from grains, but fruits and tubers are still fair game and can quickly increase the amount of carbohydrate in the diet.

2. PCOS responds quite well to lower carb diets, and not just on the weight front, and Metformin's job is often augmented, and its side effects reduced, by said lower carb diet. The exact carb amount depends largely on how well a person responds to the changes. Some women do just fine doing the "low-GI" or "slow carb" route, while others may need to go further down. More study needs to be done (because unfortunately, there haven't been many formal studies), but here's one of the pilot studies on the matter, here's a larger study, as well (the real cool part about this one is that it was a weight-maintaining diet, so weight loss can't take credit for the improvements). And another one.

KnitOrMiss wrote: »

You might consider switching the time of day you take your Metformin. For me, it triggered such a high energy response that I had to take it during the day. I waited a full day plus about 12 hours to shift it from being at night to being in the morning, and I took the 500 mg ER. It made such a difference for me... I don't know what different it might make in heartburn and such, but if you take it shortly before laying down, it might be a gastro effect that takes a modified form...

My thinking was along the same lines.

Also, what are you usually eating for dinner? I found that if I have starch or sugar with or after dinner, I'm pretty much guaranteed heartburn. If you're still getting heartburn, try evaluating what you're eating for dinner and give eating fewer starches/sugars at that meal a try for a week or so and see if you notice a difference.

swithrow656 wrote: »

I drink until I'm sloshing around. Urine is mostly clear. Doc told me I'd have to go in again to talk about Zoloft. Still can't sleep though. Lol

If it comes back to that, check out Phosphatidyl Serine before going to the SSRI route, especially since there seems to be a known trigger and it's a temporary thing. Phosphatidyl Serine is a type of phospholipid that is important in cell signalling. Supplements of it are known to help reduce cortisol levels. The nice thing about it is that it has fewer side effects and acts faster than SSRIs like Zoloft (you can take the PS on an as-needed basis, which is a nice bonus).

I had cortisol testing done extensively, @Dragonwolf, including a 24-hour urine test, and did not show any problems. If I still have difficulties settling down to sleep and such, do you think something like this might help? I know L-Theanine helped in the past (Melatonin never did anything for me), but it isn't budget friendly...

It shouldn't hurt to try. PS is still a needed compound in the body, so the body will put it to use, even if it's not getting used for cortisol purposes.

Have you checked out sleep hygiene resources yet? They might help, too. Things like f.lux for your computer and turning down the lights in the evening can go a long way to helping you sleep better at night, and many/most of them are free.