Sensilun » insulin resistance symptoms

Metformin and polycystic ovarian syndrome?

admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:48:24 +0000

Is metformin effective in helping with symptoms like excess hairgrowth, weight gain and insulin resistance associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Has anyone out there tried this med and had some success? So sick of this. I tried the birth control pill Yasmin but that had side effects I could not tolerate. Please tell me your experience.

Metformin is very effective! I have PCOS, but my doctor has decided that I am doing fine on birth control alone, so I don’t need it (yet), but it is one of the most frequently prescribed medications for PCOS and I suggest taking it unless it is causing major health problems.

Normal blood sugar levels.. but could I still have Insulin Resistance?

admin — Sun, 23 May 2010 20:16:44 +0000

I’m in the process of getting a diagnoses for PCOS. I have many of the symptoms but this question, I’m focusing on sugar levels and insulin resistance.
I have a blood test, part of which was to look at my blood sugar levels and they came back normal.. would this rule out insulin resistance or could I still have insulin resistance?
I’m obese, and I don’t eat a lot, and yet I’m still putting on weight so I feel I must have insulin resistance that’s related to PCOS but I’m not sure since I have normal blood sugar levels.

Thanks in advance.

ya need a 2 hour glucose tesr and A1C……………..then you will know

Insulin resistance, possible PCOS, elevated prolactin. It is long, sorry, but I really would love some input!?

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:18:57 +0000

I’ll try to make this as brief as possible. Thank you now for reading! Okay, I’m 22 years old. I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life but mainly since I hit puberty. Long story short, I have always been a pretty good eater. I naturally love veggies and the healthier things in life and love to be active. I also just don’t care for chips and sweets, etc on a regular basis. None of this is to say that I don’t need a Dr. Pepper or a Snickers here and there. My point is, my lifestyle and eating habits never really matched up with my weight. I’ve always kind of been a "skinny person stuck in a fat person’s body" on many levels. Mid of last year my periods began going erratic, I suddenly (with better eating and more exercise) gained about 25lbs in about 2 months. I started getting headaches, ankle swelling, suddenly sleepiness, the whole 9 yards. I visited the gyno. She suggested PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) and did tests. She drilled me with question after question and agreed that something wasn’t adding up with me. After my blood work results she said she would diagnose me with PCOS but that I had elevated prolactin which could be the ultimate culprit. She also said I was mildly insulin resistant but that my triglycerides and such were great. Anywho, she said because of my elevated prolactin (a hormone produced by your pituitary gland) that I may have a tumor on my pituitary gland and that can cause the symptoms I am having. So, she didn’t want to treat me since my combination of issues is rare and so she is referring me to an endocrinologist. I’ll get around to my question as I realize what it even is, lol, but really I’m looking for some kind of support. It’s frustrating being the weight I am because I don’t feel like I am fat. I literally forget until I see a mirror or a picture, lol. I’m active, and I am a very health conscious eater. It seems almost unfair to me. Have any of you been through this? How did they treat you and after you began treatment did you lose weight? I would love for this hormone fix to be the answer to my weight loss since I almost feel like there isn’t a whole lot more I could do on my own as far as my eating goes. I could join a gym if I could afford it but for now walking and other active activities is where it’s at for me. As far as my eating habits go, I’m already about as healthy as it gets and I’m very smart in that department. My gyno said that she really thinks my struggles with weight are mostly because of my hormones. She also said that she feels this has been going on a very long time and I’m just now seeing it’s damage. I’ve researched weight loss and causes and such for a long time now. I don’t want to diet. I want a healthy lifestyle which is what I aim for. Many websites suggest you get x amount of calories in a day to maintain or lost weight depending on your current weight. I calculated my calories in a day for a typical day’s work of eating and I don’t come anywhere close to what they say I should get. Which concerns me that maybe I’m in starvation mode.. I don’t know. It’s frustrating. I don’t intentionally not eat, but I feel like I’d have to eat all day to get to that number and I can’t just eat to eat all day. Really, any input you could give would be awesome. I’m so sorry this is so long. Thank you, thank you, thank you for any input!! God bless!

Cut out gluten. You sound like a mirror image of me. I ate far less than all of my friends and just kept gaining weight. I also had PCOS. And I say had because all of my symptoms went away when I cut out gluten. Here are some links to look at:

PCOS:

http://www.bellaonline.org/articles/art1507.asp

Weight Gain:

http://www.celiac.com/categories/Celiac-Disease-Research:-Associated-Diseases-and-Disorders/Obesity,-Overweight-&-Celiac-Disease/

Prolactin:

http://www.celiac.com/articles/766/1/Elevated-Levels-of-Serum-Prolactin-Linked-to-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html

Headaches:

http://www.celiac.com/categories/Celiac-Disease-Research:-Associated-Diseases-and-Disorders/Migraine-Headaches-and-Celiac-Disease/

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/

Please read if you have ever had polycystic ovarian syndrome or insulin resistance. =)?

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:24:19 +0000

I’m 21–almost 22 just so everyone knows.
I just got back from the gyno. I had made the appointment because in the last 2 months I suddenly was not getting periods, getting chronic head aches, abdominal pain just above my pubic area, and gained 20lbs unexplainably. I talked her about this and before the exam she suggested that I may have polycystic ovarian syndrome derived from insulin resistance. I have to go in, in the next couple weeks for an ultrasound and also for a fasting insulin test or something like that. I looked online to find out about both PSOC and insulin resistance and I have many, many of the symptoms on there including sudden weight gain around just my middle. Anyway, if you have had any of these, can you please tell me your story, how old you were, what happened, your symptoms, how they treated it, and anything else you would like to add. ALSO, I talked to my doctor about my diet. I am overweight but I eat very healthy and balanced and am very active. It’s very upsetting to gain weight when you don’t live in a way that should make you overweight. If you have dealt with this also, input please. =)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Hi my name is Jenny. I am now 33 years old but right around your age I read about PCOS and I think about that time is was still quite new. But I had almost all of the symptoms. Although I on the other hand was not very active and I have been overweight most of my life. But they started a study of PCOS and it included taking a medication called Metformin. This is an oral medication used for diabetes. I also did the fasting test and was told that I showed signs of being a diabetic and I was advised to contact my primary doctor. I was 21 and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes which is the insulin resist type. I have taken metformin since then and I will tell you that the metformin helped to regulate my cycles, since sometimes I would 6 months with no cycle. But when i finally did get my cycle it was 7 days with lots of cramps, back pain and a constant heavy flow. Once on the medication my cycles have changed and are not so bothersome at this point. I am now on insulin injections since I still am unable to get full control of my diabetes and everyday is a constant struggle. But hang in there and it will all work out!

Jenny

I have PCOS metformin and provera didn’t work, and I cannot take bc due to a blood clot, any suggestions? HELP?

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:38:04 +0000

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 15 and I am 26 now. As you know a quick fix to PCOS is taking birth control pills. Well in January of 2009 I had a pulmonary embolism while on birth control (nuva ring) and cannot take ANY hormones anymore or it is not recommended because of the increased risk of forming another blood clot and not being so lucky the next time. My OLD OBGYN put me on metformin (1500 mg 3x a day) for 3 months and that did nothing but make me gain 30lbs. I have taken 10mg provera and that made me drop a few spots of blood but that is it. Then bc of the blood clot he got scared and started giving me 2.5mg of provera which produced little to almost no visible blood.

My PCOS symptoms are weight gain, change in moods, insulin resistance etc. However, I do not have diabetes (had 2 hr glucose test), I have no excessive hair growth, and I do not have acne or any problems with my skin. I am now seeing a great Dr. her in South Carolina. I don’t know what else to do other than change my diet, and exercise to lose the excess weight (which I am currently doing). I am so sad and mad at my body. I mean a woman’s body is programmed to ovulate and mine just won’t do it. I feel like a freak like I am not a REAL woman because I cannot ovulate and have a period on my own. And now I want to have babies and I feel like it will take forever. My Dr agrees that I WILL be able to have babies though. Any suggestions, advice, or can you share your success stories? Offer any helpful websites or support groups in my area (SC) or via the net?
Thanks

Hi first of all try not to beat yourself up. I can understand your pain as far as trying to conceive and having PCOS. I’m an african american who was diagnosed with pcos June 2008 and I was trying to get pregnant,so my Doctor prescribed me to Clomid 50mg…wasn’t aware of this fertility drug until that year. I wasn’t releasing any eggs. I only stayed on it for two months and didn’t want to take it anymore because I was afraid of possible side affects. Mind you I’ve been trying to get pregnant for years…5 months later by the grace of God I was pregnant!!! God has blessed my hubby and I with a beautiful baby boy who is now a month old….My first his second.

With my PCOS I had a normal period,and no excessive hair growth. Ask your Doctor about Clomid and check out Web MD on PCOS. I wish you well and God bless!

Can you have hypoglycemia and not have diabetes or even be at risk for diabetes?

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:11:26 +0000

I have a few of the symptoms of hypoglycemia – but the most defined symptom is that I literally come seconds away from passing out before I can get something down. I’ve been tested for diabetes and insulin resistance and the tests come up negative. I’m curious if I should even get tested for hypoglycemia or if having neither diabetes nor IR means I don’t have hypoglycemia either…

Yes, you can have hypoglycaemia without having diabetes.

What is it that makes a woman with PCOS infertile?

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:20:40 +0000

I understand many factors contribute such as insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance etc, but does the symptom of cysts in the ovary/ies contribute largely? I’m afraid of infertility as I have PCOS, I have irregular periods and at times they are lengthy when they come, in previous scans it shows that I am producing eggs normally even though I don’t get periods often, BUT I don’t have cysts and my insulin is normal, the only symptoms I have with my PCOS is hirsutism acne and irregular, and lengthy periods.

Does the above sound "ok" in terms of pregnancy chances in the future compared to other PCOS experiences?

I don’t have PCOS (at least not that I’m aware of) but usually, the production of eggs (or rather, the lack thereof) is where infertility lies with PCOS. It’s possible to PRODUCE eggs, ie: eggs are matured properly, but they are not released. This is also where the many cysts typically symptomatic of PCOS are from…the follicle matures but does not rupture, releasing the egg. If you are actually ovulating and do so every cycle, then you may be winning half of the battle.

You could try charting BBT for a few cycles and see if it confirms ovulation. OPKs will probably be useless for you because, with PCOS, you can get several days of LH surge (+OPKs) and then not ovulate, so having a +OPK can be misleading in cases of PCOS. BBT isn’t always as accurate either, but this is mainly the case of PCOSers who do NOT ovulate as their charts would be very up and down.

The only real way to know if your fertility is affected greatly is to TTC. you can have every test run and they may come back saying you will or won’t be able to become PG (at least easily!) and you may prove the opposite.

Best of luck

Insulin Resistance?

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:09:36 +0000

I exercise 6 days a week 30 min a time at Curves and hike 2 miles on sundays I eat low fat low carb diet. I eat 6 very small meals a day and consume 1275 -1300 cal a day.I have been doing this programme for a year and only dropped 20 lbs. My weight fluxs any where from 5 -9 lbs a week. I check my blood sugar many times a day and it goes UP (133-150) prior to eating and drops (90-100) after eating. A1C and gluclose testing is normal. My doctors Two GP’s, an Endocrinologist accuses me "sneaking" on my diet or not working out as hard as I report. Can anyone tell me what is happening to me. One Endo told me that I have PCOD but I reacted badly to the meds. I am only 40 y/o and want to loose wieght and get in to shape but I can’t seem to do it. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. below you will find other symptoms
facial hair growth, adult onset acne, sleep abnormalities, leg adema. I am in dire need of advice.

Try here:

http://www.soulcysters.net/

It’s a community for people with PCOS. There is a forum and in one part of the forum there are separate sections for weight loss and recipes.

Good luck.

Are these early pregnancy symptoms?

admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:12:19 +0000

I have been trying to conceive for a year and a half. Recently I have started taking 2000 mg of Metformin and my blood sugars have been GREAT (PCOS & Insulin Resistance) I think I may have ovulated, no EWCM but there was a lot of CM (TMI). And I had pelvic cramps. Now I have had pain having a BM, Gross I know, Not like anal pain, but pelvic pain, not always but sometimes it’s pretty severe, I also have lower back pain in the center and I feel WAY hot all the time. If I am pregnant I would only be a week to a week and a half.

Is it to early to have any symptoms?
Has anyone else had these types of symptoms in very early pregnancy?

I will be seeing a doctor but not until my next scheduled appointment in September.

And can you please tell me about any very early symptoms you may have had?

Hot flashes eh? -its a killer maybe you’ve got a bun in the oven.

my boyfriend and I are on our first month ttc. by the sounds of it, you’re having some pregnancy symptoms.

you should sign up on www.twoweekwait.com

great support forum!!

Please tell me what’s wrong with me! Bizarre health symptoms?

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:33:49 +0000

I’ve been suffering from a range of odd symptoms for a while now. From the beginning of Feb. 2009 till now. I’m desperately seeking relief from these symptoms.

A little about me: I’m 22, 5’0, 155 pounds

I have: OCD (on 50mg of Zoloft) and PCOS (on 100 mg of metformin)

My SYMPTOMS:
– Hands: Red, swollen, itchy, painful with stiff fingers (Sometimes
I notice my hands are stiff in the morning even without the rest
of the other symptoms)
– Scalp: Itchy, slightly red, large bumps all over my head. Hives
maybe?
– Lips: Swelling of the lip, usually uneven so that only part of my
lip is swollen
– Feet: usually really itchy around the hair follicles on my big toes
but occasionally elsewhere on my feet. They also get warm and
slightly red.

Other possibly relevant information: According to my BMI i’m overweight but you wouldn’t think it looking at me. I’ve got a lot of muscle mass and most of my fat is concentrated in my stomach (i think this is because of the PCOS and my insulin resistance). However, for the past 4 years I’ve hardly been eating healthy since I’ve been a college student living away from home which hasn’t helped my weight. I’m at the heaviest point i’ve ever been in my life and am desperately trying to lose weight.

I’ve seen a doctor at my school’s student health facility and they’ve run a bunch of blood tests on me, all of which came out normal (triglycerides, thyroids, HDL, LDLs, things like that). They’ve assumed its an allergic reaction to something but I really doubt it because the onset of my symptoms are really random and sporadic. There is no discernible pattern of things i’ve touched or eaten.

Please help me! I’ve researched lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme Disease and a bunch of other things, none of which seem to fit me exactly. I’m not even sure if my symptoms are all related, but I really need to find some relief. This is taking over my life! The symptoms went from occurring every once in a while (in feb.) to every couple of days now.

Please help, I beg you.
I forgot to add, the first time this happened, I was in Vietnam on vacation. I had been there for about a month at that point.

Plus, i used to be on 250 mg of zoloft but I am trying to get off the medicine. I’m down to my last 50 mg a day.

Thanks for all the responses so far!

Ouch! This definitely sounds like an allergy. I would suspect many foods and medicine at first, because it is possible that one could develop an allergy later in life. I myself have become mysteriously and mildly allergic to dairy, after 24 years of drinking milk without issue.

First off, you might want to see what happened in February that changed everything. New prescription? Switch to a different brand of healthy food (yogurt, milk, cheeses, peanut butter, eggs, etc)? Did you switch laundry detergent? Is there a new kind of plant you are being exposed to (sounds like poison ivy maybe)? Is there a smoker in your home or are you smoking? Any of these items could be the culprit.

Good luck, and try calamine lotion, it might help.