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Metformin blues?

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thumper_ke

thumper_ke

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Having been recently diagnosed and my Dr asking me to try to get to the full dose as soon as possible, I started having pains in my side. No problem, they come and go, but aren't really bothering me, however last weekend 26th/27th Jan I was feeling rough, and on the Monday I was in total agony. Saw the emergency Dr who referred me to the Surgical Emergency Unit. Stuck in Hospital for a couple of days getting antibiotics and not eating a lot at all as feeling so rough. 😱

Now question is, my Dr and I believe it is a side effect from the Metformin, but the emergency Dr and the Hospital Surgical Unit discarded this. Has anyone experienced anything like this?
 
Stomach cramps, wind and going to the loo lots are all associated with metformin. Read the patient information leaflet that came withthe tablets for guidance.

If your GP thinks you were suffering side effects from metformin he may prescribe you slow release metformin.

Keep a note of when the symptoms happen, what you have been doing and eating and hw you feel as all will help doctor make a diagnosis.
 
I have read all through the leaflet several times which is why I was the person who asked in the first place if it was the known side effect of Metformin. But the only Dr who believes as I do is my own Dr.
She and I spoke about it on the phone, and may have to amend the dose or tablets when I next see her at the end of Feb, if not sooner if the issue flares up again.
 
When on the same dose as you a while back I had a few stomach issues in that I required to visit the loo more often, but not any pain apart from a bit of a tummy ache for a few days..

I was warned about any pains when taking simvastatin as it is a know side-effect with that drug. If I had any pain I was to stop taking it and go back to Dr.

Was the simvastatin also checked?

Are you still in any pain if so perhaps go to docs for a different version of both tablets like the slow release metformin and a differnet statin to see if this improves things.
 
I have the odd jabbing pain in the side but nothing like it was last week. I think the only thing which allowed me to relax was the dose of liquid morphine after the codeine and paracetamol didn't work. I see the Dr in a couple more weeks anyway, but I had already spoken to her so if it starts to get worse I will be in to see her straight away
 
Which side, and how far down? The fact that you were given antibiotics would suggest that the surgeons thought it might be something like chronic rather than acute appendicitis.
 
It is on the right side, and they were thinking appendicitis, however I wouldn't expect it to go this quiet, and my Dr feels the same way as I raised this with her on a phone call. It is just above where my waist would be if I still had one!
 
Ah! That sounds like where your gallbladder is (if you haven't had yours out). Second-guessing again, maybe the surgeons thought it was infected rather than full of stones, hence the antibiotics.
 
My doc tried to get me on a high dose of ordinary metformin quickly as well but I refused due to the abdominal upset I was having just with the lower dose.

He said "ahh you need the slow release version." and I've never had a problem since, even on the top dose. Also helps (for me at least) to eat protein at the same time as taking them and I have to avoid porridge completely.

Don't know why they don't just issue the SR version for everyone who needs them from the outset. Would save a small forest worth of toilet paper.
 
Sorry to highjack this thread I didn't have pain when I was first diagnosed I was feeling nauseous and put on Metformin SR and simvastatin. My metformin is 500mg and I only take one per day.
The reason for the highjack is what is the full dose/top dose of metformin? And why itsallgood do you avoid porridge completely?
 
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