It might sound crazy but I could not be more excited to finally have someone confirm with me that there IS something wrong with me hormonally. In June of last year I had a dermatologist tell me that my acne was due to hormones. In August I had an acupuncturist tell me many of my symptoms were hormonal (excessive sweating and body heat) I wasn't sure how to approach my RE about this so it kind of just sat in the back of my mind. I certainly wasn't as educated about the reproductive system as I am now, otherwise I would of spoken up about it.
So, rather than Metformin, which is what most women seem to be treated with, my Endo chose to put me on the brand name GLUMETZA. Unlike immediate-release metformin, GLUMETZA is released slowly and steadily over several hours. This delay in the release of the medicine may result in fewer stomach-related side effects, such as nausea, in the 1st week of taking the medication. She wants to get me up to 2000mg a day, so here is my future dosing schedule:
Week 1: 500mg 1x day
Week 2: 1000 mg 1x day
Week 3: 1500 mg 1x day
Week 4: 2000 mg 1x day
Week 2: 1000 mg 1x day
Week 3: 1500 mg 1x day
Week 4: 2000 mg 1x day
She also advised she would like me to reduce my carbohydrate intake to less than 120g daily and my protein up to 60g daily (at least). She says that will boost my weight loss since I'm currently at a standstill after losing 20lbs.
**Also, She said that my initial weight gain is what actually brought the PCOS to the surface. Since I have been off of BC since April 2010, the weight gain triggered it. And even after losing the 20lbs it won't completely go away. It has actually made it worse for some strange reason. It gets worse each and every week.
SO, my other good news involves my 2 MTHFR gene mutations, which my Endo happened to know a lot about. For those who don't know what this is......it's a blood disease that deals with blood clotting and the inability for my body to metabolize Folic acid. She explained that the Folic acid that I currently have a prescription for (1mg 2x daily) is considered synthetic Folic acid. She wrote me a prescription for NEEVO DHA. This is a prenatal that also contains L-Methlyfolate, nature’s active form of folate as found in leafy green foods. L-methylfolate is superior to synthetic folic acid. Several months ago one of the BB Blog readers commented on my post about this so it has always been in my mind. And to my surprise today my Endo mentioned this so I became pretty excited. This will be taken in place of my existing Pre-Natal 1x daily. On a side note, she did tell me that these mutations were most likely the cause of my 3 miscarriages (not the 1 tubal though). No one has yet to tell me that (not even my RE) so it was such an amazing feeling to hear that news. Nearly 2 years I have been waiting to hear that.
If you also unfortunate enough to have 2 mutuations of the MTHFR gene and would like additional information, here is the brands website:
http://www.neevodha.com/
Well, that is all I have for now, I will be very surprised if many make it through reading this entire posting. If you do, I much appreciate it :) So I end this cold rainy day with hope in my heart. Sad songs didn't sound so sad today, and my optimism is at the highest it has been in a very very long time. Please keep me in your prayers that I will soon get my baby back. I know he is up there waiting for me to bring him back down :) Let's hope the 5th time's a charm!!
I knew it!!!! Welcome to the PCOS club. It's so good to have answers and be able to justify your infertility issues. You ant get somewhere without knowing how to get there, and I believe your RE just layed you a path. I pray that you will be able to have your BFP and take home baby :)
ReplyDeleteBuckeye I am so happy that you finally have some resolution. No one wants heartache, especially this kind but a kind of relief comes when you can place an explanation behind it. The heartache never goes away, but it's different somehow.
ReplyDeleteAnyways...I'm glad that your doc cleared these things up for you and that you have a path to follow. I pray that your babies who have gone will soon get to be the angels watching over your baby to come! =o)
It sounds like you have found a wonderful doctor who is taking your medical conditions very seriously. He sounds great! I work with NeevoDHA, the prenatal you mention. You have the most severe form of the MTHFR polymorphism. You have a very limited ability to break down synthetic folic acid to its active form, L-methylfolate. This puts you at risk for folate deficiency related pregnancy complications. Because you are taking NeevoDHA, which contains active L-methylfolate, you should not have to worry about folate deficiency while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteI have very rarely encountered a woman with repeat pregnancy loss like you who does not have some form of the polymorphism. Your doctor obviously believes that it is a contributing factor and has put you on a regimen that will hopefully be the difference for you.
I will keep you in my prayers for a happy, healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy in the very near future. Best of luck!!
Thanks for your kind words ladies. I started my meds and NO side affects so far. We'll see how it goes once I get bumped up to 1000mg on Tuesday! All the side affects will be worth it tho, so I wont be complaining. lol
ReplyDeleteHolly, you are actually the person I was mentioning in this blog posting! I thought about what you said for a long time and I thank you SO SO SO much for explaining how effective it can be. Hugs to you!!! Now, if I could just get pregnant, I have HIGH hopes I will actually be able to carry! Thank you again!