search:

Re: Metformin and hypoglycemia

From: cw (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 26 Mar 2003 21:15:44 -0600 (CST)

Hi Dr. Sam -

I'm the "anonymous" poster who had the questions about Metformin and possible hypoglycemia. So sorry that I didn't see your reply sooner. I haven't been on the boards lately. Thanks for all of your help so far.

In answer to your question, I have been on Metformin since late 1999. I am starting to feel somewhat better being on the higher iron but still get rather fatigued easier than I used to.

I do have a question that hopefully you can answer. Since the anemia started some time back (unexplained thus far), I started suffering from abdominal bloating that my docs (regular and also gastroenterologist) can not explain other than "It must be Irritable Bowel Syndrome". I've had the IBS symptoms off and on most of my life and never have experienced this type of bloating.

About one year ago, my regular doc ordered pelvic and abdominal sonograms due to the complaints of bloating. An internal sonogram (vaginal) was done after the external one wouldn't show my left ovary on viewing. The report for the internal sono came back that I had some small cysts on my right ovary but that my left ovary was not able to be viewed. The tech doing the sono at the time indicated that she was having a hard time getting my left ovary to show up due to scar tissue (I had a C-section in 1994 with the birth of my twins). I also had a small fibroid tumor that showed up in my uterus.

When I had my yearly OB exam this past December, this was the first year that my OB had a hard time doing the exam - she said she was having a hard time feeling my left ovary - again due to "excessive scar tissue". It was quite uncomfortable, though not what I consider to be painful.

Should I be concerned that I may have something going on with my left ovary? The doctor didn't mention finding anything after the exam. Does ovarian cancer cause abdominal swelling and/or anemia? Should I call and insist to be examined further? I'm really confused and don't want to appear to them to be a hypochondriac or anything! But NO ONE can explain the anemia, the tiredness, the abdominal swelling - or the unexplained recent weight gain of around 10 pounds (no major change in diet or activity level). Can you help point me in the right direction? Thank you so much.

At Fri, 7 Mar 2003, =?iso-8859-2?q?Zalányi wrote: >
>Hi,
>
>Some update for your dr: serum ferritin goes DOWN when you take iron therapy, so nothing to wonder about. Increasing your iron supplementation will do nothing, as the absorption is the limiting factor in the iron balance.
>How long have you been on metformin?
>Fatigue has several other causes, which should be investigated.
>Further info coming...
>
>Sam
>
>> >
>> >Hi there -
>> I got my results today - the doctor had run some normal blood
>> chemestries and an A1C test (checks glucose levels over the last couple
>> of months) - he said my glucose was 86 which he said was normal and none
>> of the blood work indicates any diagnosis of diabetes. However, I have
>> been suffering from chronic anemia for over a year and he checked my
>> serum ferretin levels and my count was a 2!! And I have been taking a
>> daily iron supplement already! My Doctor said the minimum count should
>> be a 10.
>>
>> He said the fatigue and other symptoms appear to be caused from my
>> anemia, which he has increased my ferrous sulfate to 325 mg. 3 times
>> daily. He wants to check my insulin and testosterone levels in 90 days
>> when he rechecks my iron, unless I have more 'episodes' that appear to
>> be hypoglycemic in nature occur before then. He did say that Metformin
>> usually does NOT cause hypoglycemic reactions. We will see how the
>> increase in iron goes. To date, NO ONE has been able to indicate why I
>> suffer from the iron-deficiency (which, by the way, just popped up about
>> 2 years ago for no reason) other than they have ruled out intestinal
>> bleeding (upper GI, colonoscopy, occult blood test) and they have ruled
>> out my diet (I eat rather healthy). I guess I have to just play the
>> waiting game for now......
>>

recommended search...
Google
OBGYN.net forums endometriosis zone Web
use when must restrict search to only the pcos medication forum...
Enter search keywords:
Returns per screen: Require all keywords:
Return to [ PCOS Discussion Forums ] Technical Problems: webmaster@obgyn.net
Last Updated: Mon May 19 16:29:12 2008

Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote

home | medical professionals | women | industry | forums | international
e-mail | about us | advertising | our sponsors | contact us | disclaimer |

This information is provided for educational purposes only.
Please read the disclaimer. ©1996-2008, all rights reserved.
Do not reproduce without permission of MediSpecialty.com