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u/Particular_Laugh7991

r/NaturalCyclesBC r/PelvicFloor r/ConstipationAdvice r/BRCA
▲ 7 r/ConstipationAdvice+1 crossposts

Chronic constipation and hypertonic pelvic floor

Hello!

I am a 24 y/o female, and I think I might have a hypertonic pelvic floor. I’ve had chronic constipation for several years that has been unresponsive to dietary changes, exercise, and laxatives. However, I was an endurance runner for years as a kid and throughout high school (I don’t run anymore though). I currently strength train 5x/week. I’ve always had tighter hips and glutes, and my hips often make a loud popping sound when I stretch, but they don’t hurt. After doing some digging, I learned that years of running and heavy strength training may be a contributing factor to pelvic floor dysfunction. I don’t have any issues with urinary incontinence or feeling the urge to pee all the time though. I have a gyn appointment in two weeks, so hopefully I can get a referral to a PT! For those of you diagnosed with hypertonic pelvic floor, what were your symptoms? Does anyone have a similar experience to mine? Thanks!

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u/Particular_Laugh7991 — 7 days ago
▲ 4 r/BRCA

Genetic Variants

Hello!

I’m curious if there is anyone else with my BRCA2 gene variant, other than some of my immediate family members who have tested positive. I have significant family history of pancreatic and breast cancer, and the variant is labeled “pathogenic.”

My variant is:

c.6990_6994del (p.Ile2330Metfs*8).

I just signed up on the Connect My Variant website as well.

Thanks!

reddit.com
u/Particular_Laugh7991 — 18 days ago
▲ 1 r/NaturalCyclesBC

DIM side effects??

Hello everyone,

I’ve been reading in various Reddit forums about DIM side effects, but I have yet to come across anyone who reports an experience quite like mine. I’m also desperate to fix my hormonal issues. For context, I am a 23 y/o F, and I started using DIM a couple years ago when I began to have heavy, painful, periods, short cycles (~21 days or less), and hormonal acne. These symptoms started when I was 18. Lab work showed that I had low progesterone and high estrogen levels (particularly estrone).

My conventional doctors just wanted to throw me on BC, which I did not want to do. My functional medicine doctor recommended DIM, and I started taking 150 mg/day. It really worked well at first. My periods became lighter and the acne improved. However, at one point I became MENOPAUSAL. I did not have a period for 74 days and started getting hot flashes. During this time, I had a few days of spotting. I told my doctor and stopped the DIM for a while. But then my hormonal acne, heavy, painful periods, and short cycles came back full force, so I asked her if I could start taking it again. After this experience, I decided to start tracking my cycles using Natural Cycles to see if I could get a better picture of what’s going on. I’m currently taking 100 mg of DIM every other day. For the last 7 cycles (pictured above), it looks like I haven’t ovulated at all, and my periods are still heavy and irregular. I never have a consistent BBT rise in the second half of my cycle either.

Additionally, I’ve experienced chronic constipation for the last 2-3 years, and I’m really thinking it’s hormone related. I’ve read that both low estrogen and low progesterone can slow gut motility. I know it’s not diet related (I am a dietitian, so I know how eat right). I know that hormones can get reactivated and recirculated when stool sits in the gut for too long as well. This cycle I’ve had a really strange experience too. On cycle D18-20, I experienced brown/pink discharge and some cramping. Then no discharge for a day, and then more spotting the next day (currently on CD24 now). My skin also decided to explode with hormonal acne.

I’m so frustrated, because I’ve done everything diet and lifestyle wise to balance my hormones. I’m really wondering if the DIM is just making things worse and masking an underlying issue. I suspect that given my history of low progesterone and estrogen-dominance symptoms, I’ve had ovulatory dysfunction for years (though PCOS has been ruled out). I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m afraid to stop the DIM for fear that my estrogen levels are going to get too high again, which is a particular concern for me because I am BRCA2+. At the same time, I want to know if DIM is artificially suppressing ovulation or if I truly have an underlying issue, because I’m concerned about my future fertility! Has anyone had a similar experience? Should I see a reproductive endocrinologist/hormone expert? Should I consider bioidentical progesterone? HELP!

u/Particular_Laugh7991 — 1 month ago