Metformin... what not to eat?

[PamCake]

Hi everybody!
I've been newly diagnosed with PCOS, and my doctor prescribed Metformin today (in hopes that it would help with my menstrual irregularities, weight issues, etc.)
Really, though, I'm new to all of this. I've been sort-of researching PCOS all evening and learning a lot... I've done a little reading about Metformin and I must admit that I'm scared of the side effects (mostly the nausea). I gathered that there seems to be a connection between diet and the severity of side effects... and I wondered if you have any advice for a newbie? I know that all people react differently to meds, but I was curious about what seems to help you and what seems to make things worse?
I appreciate any info! :)
Many thanks,
Pam

[sarahj]

Today is the start of my second week on metformin, and it hasn't been that bad. I have been staying away from sugar and refined carbohydrates. I have been eating alot of lean protein and veggies. More specifically: chicken, seafood, salads, leafy greens. HTH :D

[luvdagiants]

I am recently diagnosed as well. I am on my second week of Metformin and it is kicking my butt. Not to scare ya or anything, but I have been constantly sick to my stomach. I have tried the protein and veggies, but even those are turning my stomach now. I would to read some suggestions for a newbie as well!

[PamCake]

Thanks for your responses.. Today was my first day (I took 500 mg with breakfast). I've been drinking low-carb/low-fat meal replacements twice a day, and eating real food in the evening. Tonight I had a tofu "hot dog" with a low-carb tortilla and apple.
I'm not sure if it's the metformin or my nerves, but I felt icky after I ate... I do want to lose weight, but I don't know if this is the best way? I had to force myself to get 500 calories in today :( - I'm kind of afraid to eat anything because I think it will make me feel sick. Does that make any sense?
Again... I appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks,
PamCake

[Lizzy83]

I started Met in Nov. When I started it, I only took 1 pill a day (500 Mg). I had the stomaches and the diaraha. After 3 weeks I then started taking both pills, and I soon felt better. I don't know what to tell you to make you feel better. I know that I was in constant pain for quite a while. I almost stopped eatting so I wouldn't have to deal with going to the bathroom. :cry:

[slong007]

Okay PamCake 500 calories is too low! Met is designed to help your body with its insulin. What you eat also has an effect on insulin. You should be approaching your eating as if you were diabetic. No sugar, refined carbs lots of lean protein and veggies (veggies have good carbs and fiber). You want to make sure you are getting enough fiber as well. I personally started following South Beach when I started taking Met to avoid the side effects, although I also hoped it would lead to weight loss, which it has. I liked the South Beach book because it explained how to eat to help regulate your insulin and blood chemistry, something as PCOSers we need to do. Your low-carb/low-fat shakes may have a lot of sugar in them and we need fat in our diet to help with digestion...you just want the right kinds of fat. Additionally you need protein, which your tofu dog, tortilla and apple didn't have much of I'm guessing. I recommend the South Beach book, but there are other diets people have had success one. If you are interested in losing weight you'll have to eat more than 500 calories or you body will think its in famine and slow your metabolism and store fat.

Also, take your Met with dinner not breakfast. It will help you sleep through some of the side effects. If you aren't on the extended release version ask to be switched it is less demanding on your digestive system. I've been very lucky to not have any side effects unless I eat the wrong foods. My aunt who also has PCOS just started Met last week and she has already had the same response as me. Side effects when not eating properly.

[HeidiD]

Have your doctors recommended doing the low-sugar low-carb diets? Mine hasn't said boo about that but I don't feel very well on Met. I have no energy and diarrhea. Should I skip the sugar?

[mdub]

I started South Beach when i started met and the first two days I had diarrhea and then it stopped. I also had no energy and a headache but that could ahve been a combination of my body adjusting to no carbs and the medication. But after that, I was fine! I even upped my dosage on Monday and have had no new side effects. My sister taking the medication has not done the low carb thing and has continued to have side effects from the met. So it seems to help!

[teebeetx]

I had a terrible time with Metformin in the beginning. I found myself only able to stomach one thing for weeks....canned peaches! Even the thought of anything else made me heave. So, I didn't fight it. I just lived on peaches until I could slowly start to incorporate other things. Now I am back to norm. All side effects disappeared after about 3 months. MAny people don't even experience side effects, so let me clarify that I have a very sensitive digestive system to begin with!!!

[medic_632]

i have to agree with slong...anything less than 1000-1200 calories (even for severly over weight people) is very dangerous, even more to those of us with insulin probs...i had some nausea (which i am used to cause of the damage to my stomach from Lyme attack) fortunalty fo me i had an RX for the nausea but i was only allowed to use it if it was "violent" nausea...anway the point is that we all get through it eventually and even if you don't feel cured, internally it is doing something...low-carb (not no carb) diets such as those mentioned are great with met and from experience after your belly calms down and you want a treat DO IT IN MODERATION (anything high in greasy fats ie...butter, or sugars will cause a very very upset stomach)

i went and talked to a nutrionist who helped me work out where i need to be everyday with food intake and exercise (caloric burning)

Per Day
1200-1500 calories
less than 35g Fat
as little saturated fat as possible
as little cholesterol as possible
as little sodium as possible
less than 100 carbs daily (all from whole grains not white enriched)
as much fiber as possible (without making me sick)
90-100 protein daily
and recommended daily values of vits and minerals (get from supplement)
also take all meds on time everyday(MET, Cinnamon 3000mg day, Lyme meds)

i try to eat all white meats (turkey, chix, lean pork) & seafood
veggies with butter sprinkles are great
salads with vinigrettes instead of cream type dressing (ie..ranch)
low fat dairy products

when i really need a sweet fix i eat Russell Stover Sugar Free Breakfast Bars and Hershey's Sugar Free chocolates, PB cups, or PPMint Patties

they are actually really good and much better for you

I also joined an online calorie/health tracker where you can track all food you take in, exercise, weight, and there is a chat board, pro advice, and even an analysis of how you do everyday...and the best part--IT IS FREE
www.calorie-count.com

GOOD LUCK...please feel free to PM me if you have any questions, i can always ask the Nutritionist for you :lol: (i'm not expert beleive me but i try to learn a lot)


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[PamCake]

Thanks for all this new info, ladies!...
I backed down on my met dosage (after a night of feeling horribly ill) from 1000 mg to 500 mg. I'm supposed to work my way up to 1500, though... yuck
Another possible contributing problem: For several years, I had an eating disorder (bulimia, non-purging type); I'm doing well now, but some behaviors remain, and I think that this is making the food problem even more... problematic.
Medic_362, do you find that the nutritionist helps? If it's not too nosy of me to ask, did you see your nutritionist only once for a consult, or are you going regularly? Is he/she able to offer any good PCOS-specific advice (particularly how to eat while taking Met)? I haven't seen a nutritionist in quite some time, but I'm thinking that this might be a good time to go back...
Thanks,
PamCake

[medic_632]

PamCake...i saw the nutritionist cause of many reasons, the first being i was getting very fat and had hard time controlling what i ate and how i ate...the other beinf PCOS making it hard to lose what i had gained...and the third being that I have Advanced (late 2nd stage) Lyme Disease that i am being TX for (and prob will be for rest of life) and i am on many meds for that which made it difficult to eat certain things and certain foods will interact with some of my meds so it was easier to get a DO NOT EAT list...

Yes the nutrionist was very helpful, has since left the shore but referred me to new one (haven't seen her yet but have called for questions) she is soooo nice! A nutrionist is always a good idea and the two that i have worked with have been very knowledgable about PCOS and how create just the right healthy mix

Hope this helps...any more questions fire away...will help as much as i can


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[Missdowndazed]

Hello ladies... I am in my third week of taking met. My doctor told me to take 500mg first week, 1000mg the second and 1500 for the remander of the time. She also said to take it at bed time. Which I have been doing. I haven't had any nausea or diareah. Gas? That's a different story...HAHA
But, I recommend taking it right before bed, if definitely helps. If I take it and stay up, then I start feeling a lil dizy and sick, so if you are having problems with it, just take it before bedtime. It helps SOOO MUCH! Good luck ladies. Stay positive

[turtle*in*sun]

Try taking it with a good size glass of milk...helps to coat your stomach.

[slightly]

I haven't started my met yet (waiting for AF so can then go back on BC and then start the met 2 weeks later), BUT, my endo said there is a brand new "version" of met that doesn't have as much side effect that met does. She wants me to try the regular met (ER) though, to see if I can handle it, because the new one doesn't have generic and is very expensive. BUt, I just thought I'd pass that along for those of you that couldn't take handle the met....

[Bluebee]

Carbs are your body's preferred fuel. Your body will use carbs easier than protein. Don't get me wrong, you need protein too.

I lived on Multigrain Cheerios (nutritionally dense), rice, potatoes, oatmeal, maltomeal, cream of wheat and bread.

It's the generic that will upset your GI tract. It's usually made up of molecules all the same size so they dump into your stomach causing upset. Any of the generics that leave alot of residue in the bottle are BAD. I have had some good luck with generics, but you never know what the pharmacy is going to dispense. I take the combo namebrand... Avandamet, it's metformin (1000 mg 2x/day and Avandia 4mg 2x/day). GSK uses various size molecules of the metformin in the product so that it releases into your stomach at different rates. Limiting the explosive GI behavior. You will probably have better luck with the ACTOS as a namebrand. It takes time!

KEEP THE COURSE!!!! It will get better! I've been on it for 2 years. I remember crying in the beginning. I lived on multigrain cheerios. Stay away from saturated fats and salads!

TO DATE:
Lost - 45 lbs (179 - 134)
Testosterone - from 106 to 42
Cholesterol - from 222 to 157
Triglycerides - from 132 to 54
HDL/LDL Ratio - from 4.7 to 3.3
Insulin - 23.4 to 7.6

I have limited new hirsuitism, regular cycles and I am not moody!

Make sure your doc treats the root cause.... Metabolic Syndrome... not the PCOS symptoms. If you correct the metabolic symdrome, it opens up the physiological reproductive pathways. Make sure your doc is testing the items listed above. They all go hand in hand. Not alot is understood about this disease, so the more you learn and take charge of your own healthcare, the better off you will be.

I was diagnosed in 1993 with PCOS, little was known and little treatment has been available prior to the last 5 years. I've had great results.

My doc is a clinical professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX and a Mensa (which means he's brilliant!).

[Jeeplette]

I haven't started my met yet (waiting for AF so can then go back on BC and then start the met 2 weeks later), BUT, my endo said there is a brand new "version" of met that doesn't have as much side effect that met does. She wants me to try the regular met (ER) though, to see if I can handle it, because the new one doesn't have generic and is very expensive. BUt, I just thought I'd pass that along for those of you that couldn't take handle the met....

Do you know the name of this new version? Just curious! Thanks!

--Kathryn :D

[alleluia5]

I find that if I have something with a higher level of sugar in it, say a piece of cake - while taking met then instant run to the bathroom - it has DEFINITELY helped me steer away from a lot of sweets!

[slightly]

Kathryn - I'm not sure, but maybe the med they are discussing on this thread is it:
http://www.pcosupport.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=117991#117991

[cuddles]

hi everyone...new here....just started my met 2 days ago...feel nausea and like my eyes can focus....like a fuzzy feeling....but today i feel much better...realised that i need to eat some good carbs to actually get going...
but last nite i had a bad craving for ice cream....and i just had alittle bit of it......didnt have any problems???

I m reading some success stories....that some of you have lost weight with met.....but did you change the diet o did the sick feeling not make u want to eat....whts the reason? anyone any thoughts?

[mdub]

I have lost weight on met with diet and exercise. The exercise was definitely important. As for diet, I went on SB basically (I don't follow it to a 'T') but I really watch what type of processed carbs I eat and how much whole wheat stuff I eat too. I have to admit, the thought of getting sick REALLY kept me from cheating at all. Now I don't get sick, but I still try really hard to stick with the diet because I just try to keep in mind what it does to my body if I eat the wrong thing...but sometimes it can be hard!

I hope this helps some!