FEAR &PCO
Question:
Hi Sax- I hope I can answer at least some of your questions from a not- conceiving-now-or-ever standpoint. Almost two years ago, before I heard about the joys of Metformin, my doc and I looked at all the then available research on the best way to treat pcos, and we decided to try low carb. Most of the decision was by process of elimination – regular diets only made me sicker and fatter. At the time, I had high blood pressure, controlled by medication, high cholestrol and triglicerides, also controlled by medication. I was taking 200 mg. of Spironolactone to offset the hirsuitism, etc. The diet I chose to use was Adkins, again doing enough research to be comfortable with my decision. Within one month of honest low carbing, not cheating at all, my blood pressure had returned to normal, and blood tests confirmed that my cholestrol and triglicerides was within normal ranges. I went off all medication except the Spironolactone and my estrogen. The only thing I’ve added to the meds list was Saw Palmetto to help with hair regrowth. I did not begin to see any difference for about 6 months, but after that, my beautician started seeing little hairs all over the top of my head. I can’t tell you which, or if any of the medications is doing that, but I can tell you I’m not brave enough to go without them now. Before, when I looked straight into a mirror that had a light overhead (like in the bathroom) I could plainly see the outline of my skull . I can’t do that now. If my experience is any indication, yes, your insulin levels should improve with the correct amounts of medication and low carb eating. If you haven’t begun low carbing and aren’t on any medication, then I would do as you normally do before the testing, and once that’s done, then begin low carbing. I will not guarantee immediate success with any of us, since this thing is so fickle, but if the researchers are right, eliminating carbohydrates should control the amount of insulin the body produces. Remember that each of us is different; most of us also have thyroid complications that muddy the effects of low carbing, but generally this way seems to help. I genuinely feel better when I eat correctly; I feel slugglish and slow when I don’t. Since Metformin will not cause insulin levels to drop too low, and since it seems to help with other pcos symptoms, then taking the medication along with following the diet would be appropriate, I think. Finally, (I’m sorry this is so long) I have tried and tried to get on that darn list and I haven’t succeeded yet, so good luck. Let me know what you did to get a response. Good luck! Barbara P.S. as with any situation, YMMV…this was only my experience… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -SF SF wrote: > I’ve been reading the posts about PCO and the recent literature. > It’s quite interesting, but I’m concerned about "new" information. > The are posters in this newsgroup seem to be having a lot of > success, but I’m wondering about the lack of success stories in > those who don’t post. > I’m concerned mainly about the long term effects of IR rather than > conceiving. In using new treatments, all too often, the patient is > a "guinea pig" and that scares me. > I have PCO, and I’ve had success on the low carbo diet, but until I > get my insulin and glucose levels checked again, I’m not sure how > it’s effecting the PCO. > Do insulin levels improve when on a low carbo diet? If I’m to be > tested, would I go off this low carbo diet? > If symptoms of IR remit with the low carbo diet alone, then there’s > no need for Metformin or medicine of a similar ilk. > Lastly, I’d like to know how I can join a PCO mailing list. > Thanks
Response:
I’ve been reading the posts about PCO and the recent literature. It’s quite interesting, but I’m concerned about "new" information. The are posters in this newsgroup seem to be having a lot of success, but I’m wondering about the lack of success stories in those who don’t post. I’m concerned mainly about the long term effects of IR rather than conceiving. In using new treatments, all too often, the patient is a "guinea pig" and that scares me. I have PCO, and I’ve had success on the low carbo diet, but until I get my insulin and glucose levels checked again, I’m not sure how it’s effecting the PCO. Do insulin levels improve when on a low carbo diet? If I’m to be tested, would I go off this low carbo diet? If symptoms of IR remit with the low carbo diet alone, then there’s no need for Metformin or medicine of a similar ilk. Lastly, I’d like to know how I can join a PCO mailing list. Thanks
Response:
Filed under: PCOS Diet
Leave a Comment
XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
TrackBack URL | RSS feed for comments on this post.