Adverse reaction to DIM Plus

[jostafford0]

Hello, I was wondering whether anyone else has had a bad reaction to DIM Plus? I started taking it to reduce my oestrogen dominance but I've felt so dizzy, lethargic, starving hungry, faint and shaky that I've had to stop it. I do suffer with endometriosis, under active thyroid, adrenal fatigue, low cortisol and low sodium so I think this has something to do with it. Any advice, suggestions or comments will be welcome. Thank you Jo.

[jjeemm]

Hi there

So sorry you've had a bad reaction to DIM Plus. I just wanted to write and say that I've been feeling fine taking it (my tablets are DIM + Calcium D Glucarate). I started back in November and have been taking one a day immediately after breakfast ever since. I am a strong believer in not persevering with any supplement that appears to have negative effects, however, so I think you're right to stop taking it - have you felt better since you stopped? If so, then probably DIM Plus isn't for you.

I started taking milk thistle a couple of months ago and stopped taking it almost immediately because I felt a bit nauseous afterwards. I think we should always listen to what our bodies are telling us.

Best of luck finding the right kind of supplements that can help you!

[jostafford0 in reply to jjeemm]

Hello - thank you for replying. I feel so much better today, I stopped taking it yesterday and I haven't been as shaky or starving hungry & faint today. I might even make it to the car without wanting to pass out! So frustrated I can't take it though as I thought this was the answer to my oestrogen dominance issues. Back to the drawing board for me, humph.

[jjeemm in reply to jostafford0]

Hi there

Ah...very telling....yes, you're quite right to have stopped taking the DIM, then. Other supplements which are supposed to help detoxify oestrogen from the body and provide hormonal balance are: milk thistle, and chasteberry (vitex) and schisandra. Also eating brassica veg is suppose to help detoxify the liver and eating foods high in fibre to boost bowel motility is also generally beneficial.

Like you, I've been on the hunt for anything that can help treat this horrible disease and have been trying lots of different things...and since I've made changes to my diet and taken supplements I do feel so much better. I've also been using progesterone cream which is supposed to help boost progesterone levels and at the same time balance oestrogen. Although my consultant said using progesterone cream was similar to drinking weak beer when what I need is strong vodka (he wants me to have GnRH injections but I'm not keen)..I still think using the cream is better than nothing and hasn't had any adverse effects. And my mantra is anything that's not harmful is worth a try!!!

Anyway, best of luck finding something good that helps you reduce your oestrogen production.

Take care X

[jostafford0 in reply to jjeemm]

Thank you - that explains why I didn't notice much change! There is a progesterone tincture that I have been thinking to purchase from Forefront Heath. You rub the liquid on your gums which seems a bit better than the cream. I might give it a try.

[jjeemm]

I didn't know you could buy a progesterone tincture...sounds interesting....if it works, do let me know!

[jostafford0 in reply to jjeemm]

forefronthealth.com/

This is the most informative website I've read. Tom Brimeyer knows his stuff!

[jjeemm in reply to jostafford0]

Many thanks for that...I'll have a read through.

Thank goodness for the Internet! I've learned so much about endo and how to 'manage' my symptoms, especially from other users on this forum. Thanks so much to everyone for sharing all their stories!! X

[KarenG194]

I’ve just joined after trying to find someone who has had a bad experience with DIM. I started taking it 4 weeks ago and initially I had bad headaches but I was told that that is to be expected so I carried on. In that time I have not had a good nights sleep, my period has stopped, I have terrible constant hot sweats/flashes, I’m up and down with moods and the water retention is unbearable. I have also gained weight and my hair is falling out! I stopped taking it 5 days ago but I still haven’t slept and no amount of sleeping tablets are helping. It’s been hell and a bad start to the year. I’ve got period pain badly but no period and it’s notmally every 19-21 days but nothing! I’m so worried that I’ve been to the doctors and I’m awaiting bloods but I feel terrible. I do not drink alcohol, I eat plant based with good fats. I used to be very fit but the fatigue has got worse this past year along with high Estrogen symptoms so a nutritionist suggested DIM now I wish I had not!

I have Endometriosis, PCOS, Fibroids, Bipolar rapid cycling - I had 2 ectopics while on the pill in 2001 and 2003 and I’m 38! Does anyone have any idea how long it will take to get out of my system? I just want to sleep!! The only good thing was my skin and hair were oil free so it did some good but the cons outweigh the pros for sure

[jostafford0]

Hi Karen, just checking to see if you have had tests for your thyroid? I have endometriosis, ulcerative colitis, under active thyroid and institial cystitis. I've recently found out I am oestrogen dominant by doing a private test although I suspected it anyway. My thyroid has caused me to have sleeping problems so I'm wondering if this what problems you have? Regards Jo

[zerendipity]

I would not recommend vitex (agnus castus, chasteberry) because it makes the lining of the uterus thicker. Unless you want to conceive you might not want to have a thick lining because it will give you heavy periods. I got extreme periods when on vitex and became severly anemic. My sister tried it and had heavy bleeding as well. Also, I wonder how it affects endo lesions since it’s very similar to the lining of the uterus.

Dandelion, milk thistle and SAMe are safer routes to help your liver metabolise excess estrogen.

Since you also have a thyroid condition, it’s important to manage your estrogen levels as excess estrogen can contribute to development of thyroid nodules. Reduce sugar and dairy consumption and avoid soy.

[jostafford0 in reply to zerendipity]

I wonder why no GPs or Gynae specialists have ever mentioned oestrogen dominance or that an under active thyroid affects it?? I've asked to be referred to a gynae (I've seen 4-5 in the past and none of them have mentioned oestrogen dominance). I am going to ask if they will test me for it and whether I can be treated on the NHS for it. I guess it is worth a try. I have horrendous PMT symptoms together with a lot of pain.

[zerendipity in reply to jostafford0]

From my personal experience the docs simply don’t know or care enough to connect the dots. I have endometriosis and I am hypo too so I have been told all sorts of stupid things by docs. Just thinking about it makes me upset 😀

Mainly I’ve been told that all my issues are imaginary - in my head - and I was suggested to take antidepressants, cause you know, it helps with debilitating periods, extreme fatigue, tinnitus, freezing, tingling extremities etc.

The female endocrinologist who tested my sex hormones was not even aware that there are different phases during the female cycle which determine the normal range for results. So she diagnosed me with menopause and I absolutely freaked out cause I’m in my mid 30’s.

I had to figure out myself what is good for me. If I relied on the docs I would still be very ill.

Thyroid UK community here on HU can confirm that docs simply are deficient in knowledge, just don’t care or both.

[jostafford0 in reply to zerendipity]

Your symptoms mirror mine and probably many women on here. I don't know why they don't treat the body as a whole instead of looking at the symptoms individually. I was actually told I was pregnant in my 20's and went to hospital for an ultrasound and there was nothing there. I bet that was my fluctuating hormones back then too.

[zerendipity in reply to jostafford0]

That is something I wonder about too. How can one just look at a very specific part and dismiss everything else. I understand that docs have specialized in a specific field but they should at least have the general awareness of the other closely related fields and also communicate with other specialists because in the body everything’s interconnected.

I am looking for a good holistic clinic but so far no luck, the ones I have found aren’t taking on new patients.

[KarenG194]

Hi Jo

All my thyroid tests have always come back fine over many years. If my research serves me correct it is damage to the pituitary gland that can cause many hormone imbalances especially low progesterone/Estrogen etc so I’m asking my GP to look into that. If all bloods come back fine I’ve been looking at Dr Mark Vanderpump Endocrinologist in London to seek advice privately via Skype ASAP as he seems to be the man in the know. I spoke to a member of his team and they said to do a saliva test for all hormones inc cortisol as cortisol inhibits progesterone and if that doesn’t come back with anything then I need to get an Endocrinologist to do tests on my pituitary. There’s a very good chance that I endured 2 ectopic pregnancies because of all this many years ago and Endometriosis/PCOS/Fibroids are all linked to low progesterone/high Estrogen and a poorly functioning pituitary apparently so maybe ask to see an Endocrinologist rather then a Gynaecologist?

I will try Vitex once I know finally what is going on. Definitely will not take DIM again. It’s put me into the menopause basically way to early and it shouldn’t do that! X

[jostafford0 in reply to KarenG194]

Hi Karen, that sounds really interesting and thank you for the advice. I will look into Dr Mark Vanderpump and his team. I have hideous chronic fatigue which my GP has said it can't be my thryoid as I am medically treated for it. Do you know if endometriosis or oestrogen dominance causes chronic fatigue? I will keep researching and won't stop until I understand why my body has gone wrong.

[KarenG194 in reply to jostafford0]

I have argued with various GPs for years that my Chronic Fatigue is hormone related but until now no one listened to me. I’ve also questioned my diagnosis of Bipolar as it’s always up and down when my period is due and I’m fine the rest of the month. I was put on horrible bipolar meds for 4/5 years until I got sick of them not working as I was still as bad as I was before I started them so I tapered off them last year and now I can think and feel things again which helps! I believe there is a place for medication but not if wrongly diagnosed so I’m determined to get to the bottom of this and I’m staying pharma med free until I do. The pituitary gland is linked to Thyroid signals it might be worth looking into with an Endocrinologist?

I’ve been badly fatigued for 18 months now, yet again they say it’s CFS but my hair is falling out, my periods are irregular and I’m gaining weight around my abdomen even though I’m eating super clean and I have done for years. I’ve tried every supplement under the sun and nothing is helping me in any way. I know my body and I’ve got friends with CFS who cannot get out of bed. I can, I can still do most things I just feel tired all the time and I’ve lost my love for training when that’s what I love the most. Look up Estrogen Dominance/Low Progesterone/Low Estrogen/Prolactin etc and the side effects are all similar in many ways so I think a saliva test is the way to go before I try another ‘natural supp’ and get put back any further. I’ll see if I can send you some links on what I have found

[KarenG194 in reply to KarenG194]

All hormone imbalances result in FATIGUE - strange but true! X

[KarenG194]

Also deffo look at diet. I’m a qualified PT and after years of bodybuilding and mma I stopped eating meat due to the hormones they feed the animals with organic or not! So for my health I made the switch and it has helped until I took DIM!

Also I do not eat wheat, eggs, soy or any cows dairy from years ago when I did a York test (worth every penny!) and it came back I was intolerant to all and as soon as I stopped eating those foods I felt way better but no eating regime will help completely if your pituitary gland is damaged but it’s a good start. I love eating the way I do. I just need my hormones sorting out and I’ll be back happy again I know it 😃

[Mj1986 in reply to KarenG194]

Hello, I know this post is old but I was just wondering if you resolved the effects DIM had on your body? I started taking this for endometriosis and within 4 weeks felt extremely up and down mood wise and exhausted, plus my hair is falling out. I think it's lowered my estrogen too much. I stopped taking it 2 weeks ago but I still feel the same. Any advice would be much appreciated.