I had my surgery on April 15/15.  I am down 92 pounds from my heaviest and 62 pounds since surgery.  I have PCOS.  My GP recently took me off of the Metformin that I had been using for years to help control my PCOS, and my half water pill for bloating.  He felt with all this weight loss, I didnt need it anymore.  Now I have suddenly gained 2.5 pounds in spite of eating exactly as I should and exercising.  I only get between 500-600 calories a day, and eat high protein (80-90g), low carb and low fat.  I also get between 45-60 min of exercise a day.  I am not pre menstrual.  I'm not sure what is happening.  DO you think this could be from going off the metformin?  Will it level out and start losing again?  Any suggestions?  I am only 4 and a half months out and have at least 45 pounds more to lose to get to the high end of BMI. I am feeling discouraged and would love some feedback.  Thank you.

 

I am not sure what PCOS is, but it could be water weight gain from not taking the water pill.  I am off all my diabetic meds, but I can not get away from my fluid pills yet.  Every body is different, but talk to your dr about re visiting that fluid pill.  

I can't answer this question as I'm not sure but I have seen someone else talk about PCOS and Metformin.  Maybe you could change the topic to something that gets her attention. Since she is on metformin she seems to be very knowledgable on this topic.  I wish I could remember who it is.  Could be Skinnyscientist, dang I wish I could help you more or at least remember who exactly I've seen post on this.  Anyways, I do wish you the very best and I hope whoever it is reads your post and can help you out!  Keep up the good work, 92lbs is AMAZING and 62 of that in less than 5 months is AWESOME!!!

Melissa

HI!

It was me.

It could be the water pill.

But metformin also contains a lot of surfactant to solublize the drug. Thus, the metformin has a bit of a laxative effect.

So, if your bowel movements has decreased in frequency or volume, it could be from being taken off of metformin.

Metformin also has helped women with PCOS lose weight.

Hum Reprod Update. 2015 Sep;21(5):560-74. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmv025. Epub 2015 Jun 9.

Metformin and lifestyle modification in polycystic ovary syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Naderpoor N1, Shoraka  

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder with diverse reproductive and metabolic features. It is underpinned by insulin resistance that is exacerbated by obesity. Lifestyle modification is the first line treatment in PCOS, but it is associated with low adherence and sustainability. In small studies, metforminimproves outcomes such as hyperinsulinaemia, ovulation and menstrual cyclicity. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effect of lifestyle modification + metformin with lifestyle modification ± placebo, and of metformin alone with lifestyle modification ± placebo in PCOS on anthropometric, metabolic, reproductive and psychological outcomes.

METHODS:

Databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Pubmed, Scopus, Cochrane, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Clinical Trials registry and ANZCTR were searched for RCTs conducted on humans and published in English up to August 2014. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of PCOS based on Rotterdam criteria (inclusive of National Institutes of Health criteria) at any age and with any BMI. Interventions of interest included lifestyle + metformin (with any dose and any duration) or metformin alone compared with lifestyle ± placebo.

RESULTS:

Of 2372 identified studies, 12 RCTs were included for analysis comprising 608 women with PCOS. Lifestyle + metformin were associated with lower BMI (mean difference (MD) -0.73 kg/m(2), 95% confidence intervals (CI) -1.14, -0.32, P = 0.0005) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (MD -92.49 cm(2), 95% CI -164.14, -20.84, P = 0.01) and increased number of menstrual cycles (MD 1.06, 95% CI 0.30, 1.82, P = 0.006) after 6 months compared with lifestyle ± placebo. There were no differences in other anthropometric, metabolic (surrogate markers of insulin resistance, fasting and area under the curve glucose, lipids and blood pressure), reproductive (clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism), and psychological (quality of life) outcomes after 6 months between lifestyle + metformincompared with lifestyle ± placebo. With metformin alone compared with lifestyle ± placebo, weight and BMI were similar after 6 months, but testosterone was lower with metformin.

CONCLUSIONS:

Lifestyle + metformin is associated with lower BMI and subcutaneous adipose tissue and improved menstruation in women with PCOS compared with lifestyle ± placebo over 6 months. Metformin alone compared with lifestyle showed similar BMI at 6 months. These results suggest the combination of lifestyle with metformin has a role to play in weight management: a key concern for women with PCOS. Existing study limitations include small sample sizes, short durations and risk of bias. With international guidelines now acknowledging that lifestyle and pharmacotherapy are required for weight loss and maintenance in obesity, future studies of appropriate size and duration are vital to clarify the role of metformin in PCOS management.

I was just going through the different forums and there is one for PCOS. Maybe you could cross post this on there and have better luck!

:)

Melissa

You can retain water, regardless of meds or your menstrual cycle, at ANY time.   This just sounds like a temporary water weight gain to me, especially since you stopped taking the water pill.

Try to take a deep breath and not stress so much over just two pounds.

Lora

Years ago I used to take water pills the week before a doctor appointment.  I would lose five pounds and gain it back as soon as I quit the water pills

You were more clever than me.  I'd take off all jewelry, wear no sleeve light fabrics, and urinate before stepping gingerly on the scale.  My DH wears a t-shirt under his work shirt year-round, industrial jeans, and size 14 steel-toe boots.  He'll hop the scale and still come in underweight for his 6'5" frame.  Would a judge or pastor grant that as a valid reason for requesting divorce?

Nope it is not something you can divorce him for.  Those of us who are vertically challenged will never get away with that.  I like getting weighed in the summer when I can wear a cotton sundress and slip off my sandals.