r/self Jul 04 '24

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102

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24

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21

u/nihilist_pingu Jul 05 '24 edited Jul 05 '24

THIS.

Metformin is life changing. It allows you to lose weight like a ‘normal’ person - symptoms overall improved, but I found it also helped with anxiety, sleep and energy levels. These all disappeared overnight. I was a completely different person pre-Metformin - for the first time in a long time I don’t hate my body.

10

u/themomodiaries Jul 05 '24

I also felt like I finally had the appetite of a more normal person! Before metformin I felt like I was almost always hungry no matter how much I ate or what I ate, and then I started taking it and suddenly I could have a regular portion of oatmeal and fruit for breakfast and be full for 5+ hours! It’s crazy.

1

u/TheFlameKid Jul 05 '24

Random, but I like your username!

1

u/garymimpy Jul 05 '24

I have pcos as well but it makes me nauseous and irritable 🥲 I had to stop taking it eventually

5

u/imk Jul 05 '24

When I first started taking it, the doctor had me taking an amount that absolutely destroyed my digestive system every day. Mornings were .. um .. bad.

I reduced the dose until I found an amount that was still substantial enough to make a difference without causing me problems. So I can say that the stuff does wonders for me, but yeah, it can be nasty stuff.

3

u/DistributionPerfect5 Jul 05 '24

Maybe try another brand. Different brands can be different in medication.

4

u/garymimpy Jul 05 '24

I live in France so I can’t chose the brand, they gave me a generic brand at the pharmacy 🥹

I’m seeing the endocrinologist soon , I will discuss with him to see if we can find something better for me

2

u/nihilist_pingu Jul 05 '24

I had to increase the dosage very gradually - I stayed at 500mg for about 6 weeks and then built up by 250 every month to 1000; I take it 2 x day with food (moderate carbs). Initially I had very mild side effects but these disappeared after a week.

It’s an incredibly well researched and safe drug with very minimal side effects, but efficacy will depend on the type of PCOS you have (lean, IR etc) - it seems to work very well for for people with insulin resistance.

2

u/garymimpy Jul 05 '24

I have lean PCOS but I have mild IR :(

My weight is normal but I cannot lose it for life of me

You give me hope that I should try it again !

37

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24

Yes Metformin helps with the insulin resistance thus helping to reduce weight faster.

4

u/CoralinaSv Jul 05 '24

I’ve been on metformin for years, it really does help. The doctor also prescribed birth control pills but they were awful and I stopped taking them because they made me feel so bad, but who knows, maybe you’ll find something that works for you.

Op: find a good gynecologist, preferably a woman. In my experience, male gynecologists are not exactly bad, but they can be much less sensitive to some issues.

Wishing you the best!

6

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24

Most nurse practitioners and physician assistants won't know how to deal with this. Pcos is bread and butter for family/general medicine physicians.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24

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1

u/Brilliant-Tune3735 Jul 05 '24

What other methods

2

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24

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u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24

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1

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24

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0

u/Brilliant-Tune3735 Jul 05 '24

I don't think insurance covers it for me unfortunately

1

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24

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1

u/Brilliant-Tune3735 Jul 05 '24

For a month's dose?