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jessica · 10-12-2005, 04:15 AM

Hi~After a year of chemo, I con't on weekly Herceptin & my weight just started creeping up. To the tune of 18 lbs in 4 mos. I was tragically tired all the time, I'd fall asleep at stop lights& couldn't get thru the day without a long, deep-sleep, nap! My onc kept saying "You look fine.Do you exercise? Are you eating more?" I wanted to scream "I'M A PILATES INSTRUCTOR FOR GOD's SAKE! I'M AT THE GYM EVERY DAY!" My onc also thought I was depressed & kept suggesting I go on an antidepressant.I agreed at one point b/c I knew that Wellbutrin made you feel really speedy & was a good appetite suppresant. Ofcourse it didn't work!
I did go see an endocrinologist b/c I thought I was hypothyroid, but I wasn't. Add'l test showed that I am hypoglycemic and INSULIN RESISTANT. As it turns out, IR may be a secondary effect to long term exposure to chemotherapy. The muscles become insulin resistant, so much of what you eat is not metabolized into energy, just stored as fat. So you're literally, fat and tired.AND, to add insult to injury, steroids increases insulin resistance-so for those of us on pre-meds for chemo, the tendency to be/become insulin resistant is even greater.(I think there's something in the recent edition of CURE mag on obesity/syndrome X/insulin resistance). There was info presented at ASCO in 2004 about this.I was so frustrated w/my onc for not being aware of this-especially the steroids part.
Regardless, I'm on glucophage (aka-metformin) now-500mg bid-I've lost all but 5 lbs of the weight I gained (within 6 mos)& I have lots of energy again.I'm grateful to have found an endocrinologist that had the patience & knowledge to help me out. I was getting really discouraged about the weight gain.
Hope this info is helpful. I'll try & find those studies investigate a link between IR & increased recurrence & mortality from BC & Colon Ca.

10-12-2005, 04:15 AM	#8
jessica Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 87	Insulin Resistance? Hi~After a year of chemo, I con't on weekly Herceptin & my weight just started creeping up. To the tune of 18 lbs in 4 mos. I was tragically tired all the time, I'd fall asleep at stop lights& couldn't get thru the day without a long, deep-sleep, nap! My onc kept saying "You look fine.Do you exercise? Are you eating more?" I wanted to scream "I'M A PILATES INSTRUCTOR FOR GOD's SAKE! I'M AT THE GYM EVERY DAY!" My onc also thought I was depressed & kept suggesting I go on an antidepressant.I agreed at one point b/c I knew that Wellbutrin made you feel really speedy & was a good appetite suppresant. Ofcourse it didn't work! I did go see an endocrinologist b/c I thought I was hypothyroid, but I wasn't. Add'l test showed that I am hypoglycemic and INSULIN RESISTANT. As it turns out, IR may be a secondary effect to long term exposure to chemotherapy. The muscles become insulin resistant, so much of what you eat is not metabolized into energy, just stored as fat. So you're literally, fat and tired.AND, to add insult to injury, steroids increases insulin resistance-so for those of us on pre-meds for chemo, the tendency to be/become insulin resistant is even greater.(I think there's something in the recent edition of CURE mag on obesity/syndrome X/insulin resistance). There was info presented at ASCO in 2004 about this.I was so frustrated w/my onc for not being aware of this-especially the steroids part. Regardless, I'm on glucophage (aka-metformin) now-500mg bid-I've lost all but 5 lbs of the weight I gained (within 6 mos)& I have lots of energy again.I'm grateful to have found an endocrinologist that had the patience & knowledge to help me out. I was getting really discouraged about the weight gain. Hope this info is helpful. I'll try & find those studies investigate a link between IR & increased recurrence & mortality from BC & Colon Ca.