Re: Dizziness/Headache After Eating
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 11 Dec 2002 12:44:45 -0600 (CST)
Your very welcome.
Yes, glucophage (not metformin for me) has worked very well for me. It
stopped all those problems you mentioned and more in my body almost
immediately. I take only 1/2 pill (1/2 of a 500 mg. tablet) 3 x a day
which isn't much, but enough for my problem.
Glucophage helps correct insulin resistance, including the type of
insulin resistance that results in an insulin surge after eating
followed by low blood sugar, which causes the dizziness, headaches, and
shakes.
Insulin resistance, in most cases such as yours and mine, is the cause
of the pcos. Treating your hormone problem with provera only isn't
really the answer because you are just treating the symptom which is
pcos. You need to treat the CAUSE which is insulin resistance before
the hormone issues can be addressed and controlled.
"Sugar Busters" is an excellent book that explains insulin resistance,
diabetes, hypoglycemia, and gives excellent advice on the high and low
glycemic foods and balancing one's meals with problems such as ours. My
gyn recommended it to me and I loved it.
After I was diagnosed with pcos and put on the pill, it took me an
additional year to convince my doctors I needed glucophage. So I know
what you are going through. Don't wait too long. Reactive hypoglycemia
and insulin resistance, combined with a hormone imbalance that usually
cannot be corrected by provera alone in our case, can lead to things
such as painful fibromyalgia (which I ended up getting!!!) because I
wasn't treated properly in time. Not to scare you, not to say you would
get that, but just to let you know this illness cannot go untreated and
ignored.
I am glad to hear you are researching this and pursuing this on your
own. Good girl! Good luck.
At Wed, 11 Dec 2002, Sydney wrote:
>
>Thanks for your input. Has Glucophage worked well for you? What does it
>treat? My ob/gyn has never prescribed any medication for my PCOS other
>than provera when I get periods that won't quit (very rare) and drugs to
>cut cramp pain. My husband can't have kids so trying to get pregnant
>hasn't been an issue. How would I find out what carbs are low glycemic?
>Thanks.
>
>At Tue, 10 Dec 2002, anonymous wrote:
>>
>>It sounds like the type of insulin resistance and reactive hypoglycemia
>>that occurs after eating, and not at the fasting level. I had this. The
>>fasting insulin/glucose test just doesn't show it, yet it is quite
>>common in women with pcos. The medication Glucophage, which so many of
>>us with pcos take, along with a higher protein and low glycemic carb
>>diet, may work wonders. It did for me. No more dizziness or headaches
>>or shakes within 24 hours of beginning the medication. Ahhh. Discuss
>>this serious issue with your doctor or find a new doctor that is more
>>knowledgable.
>>
>>And by the way, I don't believe that glucose levels should ever go below
>>75, from what I have been told by my own endocrinologist. 50? Yikes!
>>
>>At Tue, 10 Dec 2002, anonymous wrote:
>>>
>>>I've been diagnosed with PCOS for 7 yrs. In the past 6 mths (getting
>>>progressively more consistent/worse), whenever I eat carbs/fruit/goodies
>>>I get dizzy spells that last seconds to minutes, about 30-60 minutes
>>>after eating (depending on what I eat). I am ok with meats,dairy, and
>>>veggies. The doctor took an insulin test - both free and total insulin
>>>levels below 5. Also had an oral glucose test, 90 pre-test and 105 2
>>>hrs after. During the glucose test, I got real shaky/twitchy,
>>>dizziness, and nausea and it eventually passed after the first hour. I
>>>also started monitoring my own blood sugar and I don't see anything
>>>unusual; I can drop as low as 50 between meals and I never go higher
>>>than 125 1 hr after meals. During this time, I also skipped my period
>>>twice in a row.
>>>
>>>If I abuse food (talking like two cans of soda, a couple cookies, not
>>>like a whole plethora of junk food in a day), I will get a headache
>>>within 1 hr of eating and a hangover like feeling the following day.
>>>
>>>My doctor wants to wait another month and see if the symptoms go away on
>>>their own. Hah hah. Anyone experience similiar symptoms and if so,
>>>what was their diagnosis? Thanks for any info you can provide; I'm
>>>pretty much at wits end.
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