Can't get prescribed Metformin

[kpeters]

How did everyone get a prescription for Metformin? All of my Drs (general prac, obgyn, endo) want to prescribe bcps...everything I have read and my acupuncturist/acupressurist say that bcps don't do anything but alleviate symptoms without actually dealing with the problems causing them.

A little background: acupuncture has regulated my cycle, but it has not helping with my blood sugar. Despite removing wheat and dairy from my diet, and heavily increasing whole foods, protein, increasing exercise and limiting total calorie intake, I CANNOT lose weight. I am desperate to see if a blood sugar regulating drug would help.

I am soooo frustrated! Any advice you can give on Dr's in California bay area, or specific things to say would be great. Thanks!

[Oreosmom]

Maybe they're saying BCP because they don't know much about PCOS you might want to look for someone with a lot of experience dealing with PCOS. They also might be saying BCP because it's the easiest fix in their mind and they think why not you're not trying to get pregnant anyway. Just because you're seeing an endocrinologist doesn't mean they specialize in PCOS. I saw an endo last year gave her all my past records and she ran a ton of tests. End result no answers from her everything looked "normal". Then in the fall I went to my yearly with my OBGYN and provided him with all my recent labs, etc... and he found my lh:fsh ratio was 4:1 from a test I had done prior to my endo appt. last summer. She should have seen that when I provided her my old records at our first appt. There's nothing wrong with changing doctors or looking for other opinions, somewhere along the way we all got afraid to get a second, third, or even fourth opinion. I would see as many people as you have to, to get the answers you seek. If you don't feel comfortable letting your doctor know your getting another opinion just call your doctors office and ask for a copy of your records, you're allowed to say you'd just like to keep a copy since you've had so much going on. Then send them to the new doctor yourself. I can't remember where I saw it at the moment, but recently I saw something that you can search your area and come up with a doctor that specializes in PCOS. I'll post it later if I think of it.

[Oreosmom]

Just looked and the link for the directory is on the medical page of pcosupport.org. Then you click on AACE Physician Finder. Then you search by your location and be sure to select specialty PCOS. I did the search for you here are the results.

Nathan Becker, MD, FACP, FACE
350 Parnassus Ave Ste 707
San Francisco, CA 94117-3621
Directions to Office
Phone: (415) 681-7707
Interest Areas:
Diabetes Mellitus
General Endocrinology and Metabolism
Hypertension
Pituitary Disorders
Thyroid Dysfunction
PCOS


Marcelle Ivonne Cedars, MD
Ucsf Fertility Group, Box 0916
350 Parnassus Ave Ste 300
San Francisco, CA 94117-3617
Directions to Office
Interest Areas:
Disease of Pregnancy
General Endocrinology and Metabolism
Reproductive Endocrinology
Other
Osteoporosis
PCOS


Karen Elizabeth Earle, MD
2340 Clay Street
6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94115
Directions to Office
Phone: (415) 600-3700
Interest Areas:
Diabetes Mellitus
Disease of Pregnancy
General Endocrinology and Metabolism
Parathyroid Disorders
Thyroid Dysfunction
Osteoporosis
PCOS


Karen Elizabeth Earle, MD
3801 Sacramento St, 7th floor
San Francisco, CA 95118
Directions to Office
Phone: (415) 600-0506
Interest Areas:
Diabetes Mellitus
Disease of Pregnancy
General Endocrinology and Metabolism
Parathyroid Disorders
Thyroid Dysfunction
Osteoporosis
PCOS


E. Ann Myers, MD, FACP, FACE
3045 Jackson Street, 601
San Francisco, CA 94115
Directions to Office
Phone: (415) 668-6767
Interest Areas:
Diabetes Mellitus
General Endocrinology and Metabolism
Lipid Disorders
Metabolic Bone Disorders
PCOS
Menopause

[kpeters]

Thank you so much for all of your help!

Everything I keep hearing is that since I'm not technically diabetic it is not indicated that met is the correct treatment. It's looking like I'm going to go outside of my insurance, which sucks, but may just be what I have to do. I just can't believe that a good doctor would believe that I need to get worse before I can be treated! I'll look into the drs you found, that was so sweet of you!

[maelan]

For the longest time I went undx because as soon as the dr would ask "are you ttc" and I would say no then I was handed the lastest and greatest bcp and sent on my way. After 2 yrs of ttc unsuccessfully with my ob, I started doing the research and lo and behold presented my facts to the ob and was dx with pcos. I then had to DEMAND met. She never mentioned it and even when I asked about it she didn't want to rx it so I finally said I want it and I got the rx. I've learned that you sometimes have to be forceful with the dr...you are paying them not the other way around.

So before moving to dr outside of your ins, I would make an appt with the dr and demand met and bring in the facts that support that. If even after showing them studies and what not then move on. I'm sure there is a dr within your ins that will rx the met. Good luck!

[kpeters]

Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for your advice and support! I finally found a doctor who seems to really know what he's doing and is willing to work with me until we find the right combination of treatments to help me improve. The aace site was a great tool, thank you!