See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19

Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Anaemia, Metformin, and an AAAAAAH Moment!

Sorry, this is going to be a very ranty post. It also contains talk of bodily functions so please stay away if you don't want to know!!

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After being diagnosed anaemic and starting iron tablets recently, I started re-taking Metformin (a diabetes drug that is prescribed off-label for PCOS) at the consultant's say-so.

The story of Metformin is this:

I was prescribed it at our first IVF appointment (21/06/12), and told to take it at 500mg for two days, then 1000mg for two days, and then increase to 1500mg and stay there. The consultant warned me I might feel sick and not to keep going if it was really bad.

Once I got to 1500mg things got really bad  - diarrhoea every other day (with no poops in between!). I also felt nauseous all the time. Thinking of eating made me feel sick. Not good.

After 10 days or so I had an attack of vertigo that kept me in bed all day (I think this was 05/07/12). Phoned consultant and she said STOP taking Metformin and get to a GP TODAY (she also said, if you can't see one, go to A&E; luckily the GP fit me in at end of surgery). I was pretty freaked out!

GP ordered blood tests. I made an appointment to discuss the results and on 16/07/12 was told I am anaemic. I figured this was because a) I am now and have always been a veggie, and b) my periods returned last autumn after a 2 1/2 year absence.

Phoned consultant with the results and she said I could go back on the Metformin if I wanted, but to go more slowly: take it at 500mg for a week, and then start 1000mg, but not to increase from there.

500mg was fine; had no side effects, so I stayed there a little longer than a week! I felt terrible (insomnia and fatigue) all last week, but as I hadn't yet been on iron tablets 2 weeks, I figured it was to do with that. I went up to 1000mg last Friday (27/07/12). Felt tired all weekend, but then OK-ish on Monday (30th) so figured things were sorting out.

I then had blood taken at CARE yesterday, and since then have felt terrible; the most fatigued I think I have ever felt: muscle cramps all over, fuzzy head feeling, headache, and so on. Slept 10 hours last night and yet was still woken by the alarm, and I could have slept much longer, but thought I should get up so as to not struggle with insomnia more. Felt totally unrefreshed by sleep. Feeling so sick today.

Knowing that this can't be normal (I love the way our bodies tell us things!), I had a google of Metformin side effects. Yes it causes fatigue... A google of 'Metformin and fatigue' led me to posts detailing how Metformin depletes the body's reserves of vitamin B12. I then looked up 'vitamin B12 deficiency'. Guess what that is? Anaemia.

So this is where I am now.

Normally I love doctors, trust them, and try to sing their praises as often as possible as I do think we assume super-human capabilities of doctors... They're only people too! But, having said that, seriously, two doctors missed that there is a link between Metformin and anaemia.

No wonder the anaemia got so much worse when I started on Metformin! As I had vertigo once just before starting Metformin (having never experienced vertigo before), I reckon I had it anyway, but it can only have made it worse...

I am feeling totally moany, fed up, and generally want a break from life right now! I am so fed up of anaemia; it is so draining and it really couldn't have come at a worse time. No wonder studying two Open Uni module alongside (something they don't recommend) was so hard, and I have enjoyed studying so much less.

I'm not sure whether I'm going to be able to complete module #2 and am feeling very anxious and sorry for myself about that. Have got so behind with it.

What I would really really like is some time off from everything to spend with God.



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