Metformin 1, Erin 0

I started back on metformin (850 mg extended-release, which is what I've always taken) last week, on Wednesday morning.  I had some stomach rumblings that evening and a few more the next day, after another pill on Thursday morning.  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were fine, so I decided to add the second one on Sunday evening.  I did the same thing Monday evening, though I felt very mildly nauseated.  Tuesday night, I felt nauseated to the point that I turned down J's amorous overtures, pulled the covers over my head, and went straight to sleep to escape the nausea.  I felt fine on Wednesday morning and through the day.  Wednesday night, I had a brilliant idea--if I wait to take the metformin until I'm about to go to bed, I'll sleep through the nausea and my body will start adjusting!  Sure enough, I had a small snack along with my metformin as I was about to go to bed and fell asleep no problem.

All was good until about 3:30 a.m., when I woke up feeling very nauseated.  To the point where I laid there for 10 minutes debating about getting up to go throw up.  Finally, I decided that I did in fact need to throw up, went to the bathroom, vomited repeatedly and horribly, and after copious mouth rinsings (did you know you shouldn't brush your teeth right after you throw up because you can brush off tooth enamel that gets softened by the stomach acid?  I learned that from my dental hygiene students.), went back to bed with my stomach feeling pretty well settled.  I woke up at 6:30 feeling like you would expect from having been so sick in the middle of the night.  Bleh.  After a few hours, some water, and some Cheerios, I felt pretty much like my normal self.

Both of the previous times I've started metformin again (once before getting pregnant with P and once when we were TTC#2), I've only had minor stomach upset.  I couldn't figure out what happened this time.  Then I realized--when I added the second pill each of those times, I would alternate days and do 1-2-1-2 until my stomach was OK before going to 2 pills every day.  This time I completely forgot about that and, once I was adjusted to one pill, went straight to two every day.  Oops.

So I took yesterday off the metformin entirely and will go back to taking just one per day for the weekend.  Then next week, I'll alternate days for two.  I'm going to do it for a full week, because we'll be at my IL's house for Thanksgiving and I don't want to risk middle-of-the-night vomiting in a bathroom right next to their bedroom.

On the bright side, I've already lost 2 pounds and have been feeling significantly fewer food cravings.  I think it's already really helping to even out my blood sugar levels.  I do have to be careful to eat a well-balanced meal with good protein in order not to feel faint between meals (small snacks are good too).  Since I would really like to avoid the type II diabetes that my mom has already developed, I know this will be helpful.  It's frustrating to feel like all you can think about is that next carb-loaded snack, and I'm really glad this is helping me.

As long as I can avoid the vomiting.

Comments

[JessPond]

I hope you're evened out soon. It sounds miserable!!

[sky girl]

Yeesh. What a yucky time. Hope your new pill schedule helps you get by this phase quickly.

[My Reality]

Yuck. I hope it becomes easier to swallow!

[Rebel]

Oh I so totally feel you on this one... with me it is the other end that suffers...

I will never need to cleanse my colon that is for sure!! :o)

Good Luck at the IL's!!!

Hugs from the NC

[Samantha]

Reading this reminds me of when I first went on metformin. It was four years ago, right before Thanksgiving. One pill a day was fine, but then on day after Thanksgiving, I ramped it up to two. Saturday night we went out for a rich dinner, and that evening I got NO sleep, but like Rebel, it was all out the other end. I think Sunday I had a couple pieces of toast and that was it!

Good luck getting readjusted to that drug - I hope it does its job for you!

[anymommy]

Avoiding vomiting is a huge goal of mine!! Hope it goes better with your new schedule and that otherwise, it's working as it should.

[Christy]

Ahhh, Metformin. So sorry it made you feel icky to that degree (though I'm glad you figured out something to help ease you in). Oh, and thanks for the post-vomit tooth-brushing advice ... I'd never heard that before!

If I don't get to see you, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[Karen]

I started metformin again recently (1500mg XR), and never used to have problems with the XR, but this time, boy has it SUCKED. (though I've pretty well adjusted to it now)

btw, my new blog just for the return to IVF is: http://notaclowncar.blogspot.com which is separate from my regular chezperky blog.