Re: question for dr Sam
From: =?iso-8859-2?q?Zalányi Sámuel?= (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 4 May 2001 23:02:40 +0100 (MET DST)
Hi Kristin,
So the pieces fall into place. You are PCOSer and IR definitely. I would suggest to stay on metformin. Avandia is less investigated for PCOS and definitely is less likely to cause weight loss (some people even gain on it). Unfortunately the weight loss with metformin is not predictable either. For decrease of excess androgens you need to wait some 3-6 months, because they start to decrease only after your insulin has normalised. Probably you should have your fasting insulin checked to see if it improved.
Hope this helps
Sam
> In answer to your question...I got a PCOS diagnosis in much the same way the
> other women on this board did....i went to my GYN looking for a solution to
> some horrible right sided pelvic pain that i was having. This was oh about 4
> years ago. He did a laparoscopy and came back with a dx of endometriosis and
> put me on BCP's. Those made me retain a ton of fluid to the point where i
> was taking Lasix to control that, never mind the moody, cranky witch that I
> was becoming. When his only answer was to continue the BCP's, I searched for
> another GYN. At this time I had a head of long thick hair that had all but
> fallen out and I could have a beard growing contest with my brother. I have
> never been real regular as so far as periods go, and right after I hit 15 or
> so, I started to put on weight. The weight gain took another big leap after
> the bout with the BCP's. The new GYN that i found put all this together,
> along with a ton of lab work and came back with PCOS. He had me on Depo
> Provera for about two years and Spiro. This all worked well (i even lost
> about 30 pounds), until I had a nonstop bleeding episode (about 8 wks). The
> next step was the Met therapy, which as I said, I don't think I have been on
> it long enough to be sure that it works or not. Incidentally, I have had
> several pre-Met fasting glucose tolerance tests in which the glucose is fine
> but the insulin levels are like 53!!!
> So that's where I am at, Still a moody, hairy little butterball but hoping
> that things will get better with this round of horse pills.......kristin
>> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Zalányi" <zalanyi.samuel@drotposta.hu>
> To: "Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION"
> <pcos-medication@mail.medispecialty.com>
> Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 12:07 PM
> Subject: Re: question for dr Sam
>
> > Hi Kristin,
> >
> > Why have you started metformin in the first place (Dg?), what do you
> expect from the treatment? After providing me with these informations I can
> probably answer your questions
> >
> > Sam
> >
> > > >I am currently on 1700 mg of Glucophage daily (2X/day of the 850mg). It
> > > took
> > > >some time, but i am not doing too badly with the GI side effects. I
> started
> > > >with 1000mg/day and gradually was titrated upto the level I am at now.
> I
> > > >have been on this medication for a total of about 4 months, with the
> last
> > > >month at the higher dose. While I seem to feel better, I have only lost
> > > >about 4-5 pounds. I am thinking that I should give this regimen a few
> more
> > > >months before looking for something else. The thing is, I have access
> to
> > > >Avandia at no cost (family works for the manufacturer). I was wondering
> > > >whether these two drugs are comparable and in what dosages? I have read
> > > that
> > > >sometimes the Avandia is prescribed concurrently with the Glucophage.
> Any
> > > >info would be most helpful. I have a very good RE, who is thankfully
> very
> > > >open to suggestions and is very informed on PCOS, but I would like some
> > > >information on this thought before I go asking for my medication to be
> > > >changed. thanks bunches...Kristin
> > >
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