Anyone With PCOS?

[kilee]

I'm wondering if anyone else takes Glucophage for PCOS....and what dosages they take and if they feel it works for helping them w/ any part of their PCOS.

I've had a hard time finding a physician to treat me a bit more aggresively for the PCOS. I finally got someone who is very educated in this disorder and tomorrow I start the Glucophage at what should be a more appropriate dose. I've been on Glucophage for 3 yrs for the PCOS but at a really low dose, that research shows isn't beneficial.

Just wondering if anyone else has PCOS and what treatments they've had luck w/ if any. I know many doctors don't really treat it.

 

[pearlieq]

I was diagnosed when I was 15. For a while it was hard to get good treatment, but in the last 5 years I've found a lot of doctors really getting much better educated about it. My OB-GYNs have been really good, but they tend to look at it only terms of fertility so I have to reserach and advocate for myself.

I currently take Glucophage (2000 mg/day), Spironolactone (200 mg/day), BCPs (Tried Yasmin, didn't work for me, now I'm starting EstroStep), and I use Vaniqa for my facial hair.

I respond really, really well to exercise and a controlled-carb diet. I'm at my worst when I don't work out and eat a lot of sugar/refined carbs.

Did they tell you to ease into the higher dose of Glucophage? You can get some real stomach upset at the beginning with Glucophage, so it's best to ramp it up slowly.

There are a couple of helpful websites. www.pcosupport.org has some good information and www.soulcysters.com has a nice community.

 

[crazygirlscotland]

I have also been diagnosed with PCOS and am finding it hard to find a Doctor to take me seriously because I don't want kids at the moment. I'm not being treated for my weight issues and have been told my diet is fine but I cant shift any more than 20lbs before I hit a brick wall and I stop losing weight altogether. Its really getting me down

 

[Hedy]

I was diagnosed when I was 15. For a while it was hard to get good treatment, but in the last 5 years I've found a lot of doctors really getting much better educated about it. My OB-GYNs have been really good, but they tend to look at it only terms of fertility so I have to reserach and advocate for myself.

I currently take Glucophage (2000 mg/day), Spironolactone (200 mg/day), BCPs (Tried Yasmin, didn't work for me, now I'm starting EstroStep), and I use Vaniqa for my facial hair.

I respond really, really well to exercise and a controlled-carb diet. I'm at my worst when I don't work out and eat a lot of sugar/refined carbs.

Did they tell you to ease into the higher dose of Glucophage? You can get some real stomach upset at the beginning with Glucophage, so it's best to ramp it up slowly.

There are a couple of helpful websites. www.pcosupport.org has some good information and www.soulcysters.com has a nice community.

FWIW, I've had great luck with Estrostep (fellow cyster).

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 20, but wasn't really treated for it until last year when I started trying to get pregnant. Right now, I'm on 1500mg of Glucophage, with not too many side effects. I was on the Yasmin, but it would be fairly ineffective to take it and try to get pregnant I originally stopped the Yasmin due to migraines, but I still get them, so it's unlikely that was the cause.

I have a lot of the symptoms (overweight, insulin resistant, hair), but not the ovarian cysts. So my PCP said that couldn't be it (no cysts, no PCOS). My OB/GYN disagreed.

Jen

 

[Momma Rabbit]

Like the above poster mentioned....if you start taking gluophage slowly ramp up your dosage. I was so sick when I first went on that medicine.

I was diagnosed with PCOS 2 years ago. I was taking 2000mg of Glucophage, & Yasmin. Since, I was getting no relief from any of my symptoms and my pelvic ultersounds kept coming back with no cysts. I finally got my PCM to refer me out to a Endrocrinologist (sp) After tons of new tests I found out that I didn't have PCOS... I've got Cushings. My Dr. said that a lot of time people are misdiagnosed with PCOS.

 

[RadioFanatic]

I have it too but have also been trying to get pregnant, including with fertility meds. what can I take while trying to get pregnant?

 

[Jen_in_NH]

You can take the Glucophage while trying to get pregnant. Some docs will have you try italong with Clomid and other fertility meds to try and regulate your cycles.

Jen

 

[pearlieq]

You can take the Glucophage while trying to get pregnant. Some docs will have you try italong with Clomid and other fertility meds to try and regulate your cycles.

Jen

Yup, Glucophage and Clomid are usually the dynamic duo for PCOS women trying to get pregnant.

There are some risks associated with taking Glucophage while pregnant. It's a choice ever women has to make with the help of her partner and doctor. Personally, I think I'm going to go ahead and keep taking it after we conceive. Women with uncontrolled PCOS have up to a 45% miscarriage rate, and Glucophage can bring that way down. You may be able to taper back off of it after the pregnancy becomes more established.

The other thing you can do to dramatically help your fertility as a woman with PCOS is to lose weight (if this applies to you). Sometimes even a 10% weight loss can help result in a successful conception.

Since PCOS usually goes hand in hand with insulin resistance (there's kind of a chicken/egg question as to which comes first), a controlled carb diet (not Atkins, but more like a South Beach type diet) and exercise really make a huge impact!

 

[mickeyboat]

I was diagnosed wit mild insulin resistance / PCOS when trying (2 1/2 years) to get PG. I found out I was PG three weeks after startig Glucophage. My RE had me coninue on the meds until about 8 weeks along, and did not seem too concerned about the effect of it on the baby.

I was tested several years after having my kids, and do not have the insulin resistance any more.

Denae

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

I have PCOS also. I was diagnosed in 2000, not currently on anything for it my former doctor only treats if you're TTC, which we're not.

As far as getting pregnant with PCOS, we did 5 rounds of clomid at 50mg, RE bumped me up to 150mg and we did IUI - I got pregnant that cycle. Next time we skipped ahead and went to 100mg of clomid for the first cycle and I got pregnant with DD #2.

 

[lemondog]

I have PCOS, but it's atypical. Meaning I have very few symptoms (just the irregular ovulation) and my blood tests/hormones/insulin ratios are all normal. As you can imagine getting a dx was very difficult. It took 4 doctors...finally a reproductive endocrinologist diagnosed me with a trans******l ultrasound.

I then moved to a regular endo for treatment...IMO, they or reproductive endos are the most qualified and agressive to treat you. Unfortunately, because my case is not typical the metformin did nothing to help my cycles. However, when I was pg with my twins I did take it for the first 12 weeks just to help support the pregnancy (I had a miscarriage just prior).

 

[kilee]

I want to thank everyone for sharing their stories. I am glad to see I'm not the only one who has found it difficult to get treatment at times for it.

Did they tell you to ease into the higher dose of Glucophage? You can get some real stomach upset at the beginning with Glucophage, so it's best to ramp it up slowly.

I currently have been taking 750 mg daily for the last 18-24 months. I had a doctor at the time who really put me on it to get me "off their back" so to speakl about it. Starting tomorrow I'll go to 1000 mg daily for 4-6 wks then 1500- for same length of time then to the 2000 mg. Depending on how I respond.

I was firmly diagnosed in 2001 by a reproductive endocrinologist-- I had all the symptoms and my ovaries on the sono looked textbook for it. Only problem was he refused to treat me w/o me losing a 100 pounds. He wanted me at a weight of 130-140 for my 5'5'' frame. Only he had no problem putting me and dh through every test under the sun before he said, btw, I don't treat PCOS until the women can lose ALL excess weight. I lost 50 pounds, and got really discouraged when he still wouldn't help me at 185. Then I went to another fertility specialist (only other one in the area) and he put me on the clomid amongst other things. Did the IUI's (this is before glucophage) and nothing. It was determined after going through all this the one test nobody did would of determined I had a luetal phase defect-- but I ran into other health problems at the time that lead to having gyn surgery and I was told they wouldn't continue any treatments for a few years.

Anyhow, my situation is 2 fold. #1--- I really want to get some relief from some of the symptoms. I have terrible hair growth (lots and lots of waxing to keep that in check-- sorry if that TMI), I have terrible acne (directly associated from what I've read to the PCOS), I can diet and exercise until I'm blue in the face and come up w/ NOTHING. Now, of course #2-- I would like to conceive. But that's a whole other topic-- and I'm giving myself until the end of the year to lose weight again (since I gained a lot back). Then we'll reconsult w/ another infertility specialist in another city. However, I'm hoping to just get some initial help w/ the initial symptoms.

 

[pearlieq]

I'm sorry it's been such a rough ride for you.

If you're not currently TTC, have you considered going on the pill? It helps a lot with the acne, plus helps protect your ovaries by keeping cysts from forming.

Getting to the correct dose of Glucophage should help with the weight loss. Have you ever tried a sensible reduced carb diet like South Beach? It might be worth a shot!

As for the hair, it sucks! No other polite way to put it. I've got a fair amount of arm hair, but I just live with it. It doesn't bother me too much and it's not that dark. I honestly couldn't tell you if the Spironolactone helps or not, because I've been on it for almost 10 years!

The facial hair, unfortunately, was not helped by the Spiro, Glucophage, or BCPs. The only thing that has worked for me is Vaniqa.

Of course, my insurance won't cover Vaniqa since it's considered "cosmetic" (we can cover Viagra, but I'm supposed to just suck it up as the bearded lady??). My facial hair really bothered me. I'm fair skinned and it was black and thick. I did so much tweezing and waxing and all, and it never quite worked.

Finally I realized that life was too short and this was making me too miserable to continue, so I decided to just bite the bullet and pay for the Vaniqa. It's expensive, but it turned out to not be as expensive as I'd thought. The tubes cost $48 at Costco (you don't have to be a Costco member to use their pharmacy). I got my first tube on 1/31 and I'm now beginning my 3rd tube here in August. So it's going to cost me about $200 for the year, which I found worth it to be free of the hell of facial hair!

It's not a total miracle cure. You have to put it on twice a day, and if you miss a couple of applications it shows! Some hair still does grow back, but it takes it quite a while. I've gone from daily tweezing to a light waxing every other week or so. That's more than good enough for me!

You can get a $25 mail in rebate at www.tryvaniqa.com (mine came quickly) and either your OB/GYN or GP can perscribe it.

I don't know if your hair bothers you as much as mine bothers me, but I can tell you that deciding to treat it was one of the better decisions I've ever made. I don't constantly worry about my face any more. I'm not scared to stand close to people. I don't spend 30 minutes every day tweezing. It's been great!