PCOS Messages for July, 2003: Re: hello, new to this site

Re: hello, new to this site

From: Sonnet (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 25 Jul 2003 08:35:06 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: Darlene: "hello, new to this site"
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Hi Darlene and welcome to you!

There is now a TON of info out there on the internet about PCOS. Obviously, take everything you read with a grain of salt unless it's from a reputable site, but a quick search online should tell you a lot! You can start with the PCOS Association's site, http://www.pcosupport.org - there's a teal button on the upper right that says "What Is PCOS" that you might find helpful.

Metformin is a wonderful drug both for PCOS and Type II diabetes, but if you start it too fast it can definitely give you nausea. I think Janet already mentioned it but you've got to start very slowly with the dose, like at 250 or 500mg/day, let your body adjust, and then slowly increase it in small bits. Otherwise many women just feel too sick to be bothered, like you.

Metformin will help level out your blood sugar for the diabetes, yes.

PCOS is thought to be caused by a genetic problem in how our bodies use and produce insulin. The insulin we produce is often ineffective at getting sugar out of our blood and into our cells. The pancreas tries to compensate by producing more and more insulin. In most women, it eventually can produce enough that blood is simply forced into the cells, and in some the pancreas just can't do it no matter how much insulin it makes - then your blood sugar levels stay high, which is Type II diabetes.

The hormonal problems of PCOS come because all that excess insulin, even if it's not working to fix blood sugar levels, interacts with the rest of the endocrine system. Insulin is, for example, a fat storage hormone - so a lot of the blood sugar that isn't getting into cells is being stored as fat, whether we overeat or not. Insulin interacts with the adrenal glands and the ovaries and starts a sort of domino effect with other hormones. You end up with PCOS symptoms like acne, hair growth, head hair loss, irregular periods, infertility, etc.

So what Metformin does as a drug is makes our cells more sensitive to the insulin we produce. This means that your pancreas doesn't have to work as hard to keep blood sugar levels normal, and you have less insulin in your body, which means less symptoms. The endocrine system is complex, and so many hormone loops are involved, that it can often take a few months to see PCOS-related results from it. Blood sugars go back to normal, slowly insulin production regulates, then one hormone goes back to normal, then another, and so on. Don't feel discouraged if your period doesn't come back overnight. In most cases it will - you've just got to be on the right dose and give it enough time.

Janet already covered all the diet stuff very well (as usual!) so I'll leave that... basically stay away from anything that spikes your blood sugar high as it also gets your insulin levels higher.

The cramps you describe aren't seen with PCOS but I think in another post you mentioned you had endometriosis. The cramps are probably due to the endo instead... I would assume?

Anyway hope that all helps!

At Thu, 24 Jul 2003, Darlene wrote: >
>Hello,I only just found this site and am very glad. I was told about
>two months ago that I have pcos and Diabetes. I am 26 and have had the
>symptons for pcos for years, I quit my periods around 17, but my doctors
>never were concerned, they said some people just don't have steady
>periods. But I got a new doctor and she knew exactly what is was. The
>problem is she only told me I have pcos and put me on Metformin, I
>wasn't told what to expect or what to eat, etc... I feel confused and
>the met is making my stomach so upset I have basicaly quit taking it. I
>take maybe one to two pills a week. I was wondering if my stomach could
>handle the met, what will it do to help me? She told me it would level
>out my blood sugar, but isn't that just for the diabetes? I wonder if it
>will help my massive mood swings, or start my periods, or do anything to
>give me relief? I will attempt to take those horrible pills if I know I
>will get some relief in other areas, so my main question would be how
>others are doing on the Metformin? I have so many questions about pcos,
>but right now I just need to understand the medication, so if anyone can
>help it would be great. And I was also wondering if anyone knew of a
>support group in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area? Thankyou
>Darlene
>...Sorry this is the last question, is it normal to have cramps(minus
>period)that make you feel sick to your stomach. I have them daily,
>usually throughout the whole day, they are interfering with my job at
>times.

--
email always welcome: sonnet_fitz@hotmail.com

Next message: Jo-Nita: "Re: Lots of questions, please help..."
Previous message: Sonnet: "Re: Lots of questions, please help..."
In reply to: Darlene: "hello, new to this site"
Next in thread: Michelle: "Re: hello, new to this site"

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