[twister_mama]

I went to the doctor yesterday for my headache, and he said it definitely sounds like a wicked sinus infection, so he got me started on antibiotics for two weeks. Hopefully this will do the trick, finally! I am wondering, though, if my sinus infection is the real reason why my temp is running higher than it's usually been for me recently. I guess time will tell.

I've been feeling horrible the past five days. Similar to how I was feeling a month ago, except I have not been having panic/anxiety attacks or uncontrollable shaking. I've been bloated, kinda nauseous, and have had really bad cramps that felt exactly like period cramps; except I have no uterus or cervix since I had a hysterectomy almost two years ago. And Sunday through Wednesday, I've had A LOT of vaginal discharge (sorry if TMI!). Like, so much that I kept going into the bathroom to check my pantiliner, thinking it was a period (absurd, I know; but that's exactly how it felt). The discharge was a darker tan color instead of my usual light yellow color. I have hardly any appetite; and I'm starting to have diarrhea now too. My stomach is sore if I gently push on it in the center. I was concerned; and I was considering going to my OB/GYN since I haven't been there since my hysterectomy post-op. Then it occurred to me last night that I've been taking milk thistle for the past nearly four weeks now; and since it's supposed to detox your liver, it's quite possible it could cause some gastrointestinal problems. So I looked up "side effects of milk thistle," and checked out several different sites. Every site said that possible side effects can include: Stomach upset, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, loss of appetite, heartburn, sweating, insomnia, runny or stuffy nose and irritated eyes, headaches, irritability, joint pain, weakness, and impotence. The ones in bold are what I've been experiencing; some of them for a few weeks now, some of them have become more severe as time has gone on. I also read on every site that the recommended dose of milk thistle is *UP TO* 250 mg of extract (70-80% standardized) three times daily. My pills are 1000 mg each. They are 80% standardized extract (according to one site that sells them), and the bottle says "from 250 mg of 4:1 extract." I've been taking THREE pills a day for the last two weeks (only one pill, and then two pills a day for the two weeks before that), per the instructions on the bottle. So, if I'm not mistaken, that is FOUR TIMES THE MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED AMOUNT!!! And I'm not a big person; only 120 pounds. No wonder I'm feeling so sick right now! I also read that it can interact adversely with Allegra (allergy medication), and of course, I've been taking Allegra for nearly four weeks now as well. And you should avoid milk thistle if you are allergic to ragweed, which of course I am (I already knew this; but I guess I figured that if I would react to milk thistle, I'd get a rash or something). Allergic reactions to milk thistle can include: A rash or hives, itching, swelling of the mouth or throat, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Funny, I wondered why my new asthma inhalers were not helping my breathing problems at all these past few weeks! Needless to say, I will not be taking milk thistle anymore. I also learned from all those different sites that milk thistle may have estrogen-like properties; and it is advised you not use it if you have estrogen-dependent tumors or cancers like uterine, cervical, ovarian, or breast; and because of this it could theoretically worsen estrogen-sensitive conditions like uterine fibroids and endometriosis (of which I've had both). Probably explains that "period cramping" pain I've been having, and the increased vaginal discharge too. I feel this information needs to be out there for everyone on this forum, since milk thistle is mentioned and used a lot for liver detox. There is such a thing as "too much," regardless of what the label on the bottle may say! I may start a new thread on the general discussion board and copy and paste this info on there, just so everyone is aware of this.

So ladies, as I have learned, PLEASE do your research and look up the possible side effects and dosages for EVERY supplement you consider taking, BEFORE you take it! And then proceed with caution. At least you'll be informed about what you MIGHT experience while taking the supplement; and you'll have some idea as to what the appropriate dosage is.

And oh, I will be making an appointment with my OB/GYN just to get a check-up, since it's been quite a while. I do have a history of polycystic ovary syndrome, fibroids, and endometriosis; so it would probably be a good idea to get checked out once in a while. Unfortunately, it seems that my doctor is currently scheduling way out into July now; so it'll be a couple months before I can get in to see her. That figures, lol.

Now I'm kinda bummed, because I was all prepared to start back on my BB pills and protein drinks tomorrow (my month-long break is over now); but because my stomach is doing so badly, I should probably wait another week or so until I recover from this. Darn it.

Edit: I just wanted to say that obviously I cannot be totally, 100% sure that the milk thistle is entirely to blame for my recent gastrointestinal symptoms; but after reading the side effects, and the correct dosages, it seems very likely to me that I have been taking WAY too much, and as a result, am experiencing some pretty severe illness because of it. Bad enough that I felt it was necessary to bring it to the attention of my fellow NBE'ers! If my symptoms don't improve over the next week or so, then I will need to explore other causes.