I NEED your ladies help!

[JoyRenee]

Just got report from doctor today: testosterone is high (116) but all other levels are normal. I DESPERATELY would like to speak with some of you who have had the same experience. I'm having a glucose and insulin and ultrasound done this week to rule out PCOS. I just need info. I'm not even sure what to ask you guys.

I'm not 100% sold on Metformin if I do have PCOS. Does anyone use a different, more natural alternative with positive results?

And if this isn't PCOS, what else could high testosterone mean?

I have 2 little girls and I've had one m/c in between them. I'm just shocked that my body is acting crazy and I haven't been able to lose the weight (50 lbs to go!). ANY info... please!!!

[scienceteacher79]

Oh, and when I said all my labs came back fine, that included my blood glucose levels. Everything was normal EXCEPT the U/S. It showed the "string of pearls" on my ovaries that indicates PCOS and I could go months without Oing without meds.

Good Luck! Keep us informed.

[scienceteacher79]

The metformin did help me ovulate,but I never lost any weight on it and I was mISERABLE for about 2-3 weeks while my body got used to it. Someone on the forums told me to take the pill AFTER I ate a meal (like 15 mins later) and it helped soooooo much!. I was taking it and then eating (don't take it on an empty stomach - it will make you sick!). So, once my body got used to it I was fine and it make me ovulate right away (15 days later). So if you have ovulatory problems I would recommend it. I have PCOS but all my lab were fine so I can't help you with the testosterone thing. The losing weight is hard - especially if you have been taking fertility drugs - they suck. Make you bloat bad and gain weight quickly and it just sticks. I weight a little less (175) than you but I know the feeling of not being able to drop it. It sucks!!

So, bottom line, I like the metformin AFTER my body gets used to it. It does help with sugar balances and I don't get that shaking feeling if I haven't eaten in a while. I also noticed that my sugar cravings went down. So, if you are having ovulatory problems, I would recommend it. (And I never had diarhea on it - I was constipated though!) Hope this helps.

Jen

[Abbey79]

I was taking Metformin for a while after I was diagnosed with PCOS in July '07.  And I am now in the process of trying to go off of it and hoping that d-pinitol will be my best alternative.  (I'm hoping to talk to my dr. about it this week.)

I have some of the side effects of Metformin...very unpleasant.  Esp. the diarrhea.  I would eat a meal and take Met and within the next couple of hours I was stuck in the bathroom for a while!!  Plus, it just made me feel blah most of the time...stomach aches, heartburn, etc.  

The only upside I get from it is that it takes away my sugar cravings...and those have been STRONG my entire life!

Like I said, I'm hoping to go to a more natural way of handling it...because I hate the way the Met makes me feel and effects any other meds I take...like my prescription allergy meds (Zyrtec D).  When I'm on Met, it makes the side effects of my other meds seem SO much stronger.  (I'm like you and am really effected by medicines.)  Plus, I'm very anxious to mix meds...esp. mixing meds with Metformin.  So being on it keeps me from taking other meds I may need.

But I don't want to discourage you from taking it...it may work wonders for you...I wish it had for me.  But if you talk to your dr. about d-pinitol, I would love to hear what they have to say, so make sure to post about it.

Good Luck and I hope that all is well from your doctor's visit.  You were going today (21st), right?

[JoyRenee]

Well my doc did do a pelvic exam and said my ovaries and my uterus were normal size, didn't feel enlarged or strange. So that is hopeful!!! The u/s will tell us one way or another. My only other guess is endometriosis, but would that cause high testosterone? I'll have to do some research on that part. Ugh, I hate this waiting game!!!

[mnkey04]

I cramp 24/7/365 its just there, more when i O omg does that hurt, and right after i O my ovaries are HUGE i mean you can press on my tummy and feel them, its kinda gross really. but thats how it goes.......
<3 Krissy

[JoyRenee]

Thanks, babyalive! I go back to my doctor on March 21st to discuss what we're going to do. I am definitely bringing up my concerns with Metformin and the risks involved with it. I havent' actually been diagnosed with PCOS until after my insulin/glucose and u/s are done.

mnkey, with PCOS do you feel crampy all the time? Like pre-menstural, not painful but noticeably there? Just wondering since I'm still trying to put all the puzzle pieces together!

Thanks for the link! I can't email you though, because they block emails. You can send me your email link privately, though!

[mnkey04]

I also take a prenatal vitamin, which i only started taking about 4 months ago, so no big change really. i am also overweight, alot really, but have been losing for 2yrs so thats good. my Dr says as long as i lose about 24lbs (2lbs a month) a yr that i am losing the healthy way so yay!!   this site will tell you more about ACTOS  

http://health.yahoo.com/diabetes-medications/pioglitazone-oral/healthwise--d04442a1.html

I was on the 45mg tablets for 5yrs and then went down to the 30mg tablets. i will find all my reseacrh papers over the next week and post them on my profile, you can also email me on yahoo

***@****

HTH!!
<3 Krissy

[babyalive]

PCOS can make it really hard to lose weight.  Metformin does help with that.  Have you talked with your dr. about your concerns with Metformin and your cardiac concerns?  

[JoyRenee]

mnkey, oh yeah, and I eat really healthy and exercise. That's why I've been so worried about the weight issue because it has taken me a year to lose 10 lbs (5 lbs of which were lost in the past few weeks). I try to eat organic as much as I can afford, no enriched products, etc.

[JoyRenee]

Oh thank you for answering my post!!! Okay, so I guess what worries me about Metformin is the increased risk of cardio problems (I used to wear a heart-rate monitor and the docs never figured out what was wrong with my heart---I was like 14-15 yrs old at that time). Also drugs really affect me. I need the tiniest dosage and it affects me because I do not ever take drugs, not even for headaches. I have taken any of the Metformin because my doc has not diagnosed PCOS yet until I get my insulin/glucose levels and u/s this week.

I did begin to take my prenatal pills and my forehead cleared up (it just had a few little breakouts which is unusual for me) and I lost a pound. I heard you could take a variety of vitamins and that could help balance out the hormones??? I want to do things as naturally as possible but I need to get this weight down as quickly and safely as possible because Diabetes and cancers run in my family (PCOS, as I've read, increases those risks).

Tell me more about this ACTOS! Do you know what D-Pinitol or D-Chiro Inositol are and if they are safe?

[JoyRenee]

babyalive, you are so sweet!!! I weigh 188 lbs. I just have a tiny face and I think it is the angle of the camera. So I need to lose 50 lbs at least to get to my ideal weight of 135 lbs because I am only 5'3". You made my day, thinking I'm a tiny thing though! I think a lot of the weight might be muscle and my chest???

[mnkey04]

Hey there!! I have PCOS and have known that i have it since i was about 12yrs old. While i started out on glucophage (metformin) i was quickly changed to ACTOS, my body couldn't handle the glucophage. I am now off of all drugs, and with the correct diet my levels stay normal. I eat and drink almost 100% organic items, no hormones in my meat or anything like that, per dr's orders, works for me. BUT i did start out on meds and was on them from 12yrs til 21yrs so almost 10yrs. if you have any other q's about what my dr did/does for me just let me know, I have yrs of research under my belt, and it was my platform when public speaking :) HTH!!!

<3 Krissy

[babyalive]

I don't have PCOS so I can't help you on the Metformin problem though I know it has been very successful for many women on here.  However, you mentioned you need to lose 50 lbs, while weight loss does help with fertility, in your picture you look very tiny.  How much do you actually weigh (if you don't mind my asking)?  It seems you would just disappear after losing 50lbs.  

[JoyRenee]

Bump