Methylation Perfection

Adding L-5-MTHFR as a supplement has been miraculous and treacherous over the past 6 months. Finding the balance of taking enough to experience even energy levels and uplifted moods without getting looney or maniac is challenging.

I think I've finally arrived at an optimal dose for me. This doesn't mean that my optimal amounts will in any way be best for you. NOr that they'll remain the best for me. They could and probably will change. Other members of my family take way more than I do with terrific results.

I started with the prescription medication Deplin at 15 mg. I was looney. Flying. Nutty. Unbalanced as I had to hold onto furniture to get around the living room.  Soon after that, I took 2400 mcg - a way lower amount. This worked superbly as my body began to methylate. My vision improved - I was reading 3 lines lower on the eye chart at the optometrist's. My hearing was improved. I finally understood why the Beatles were so remarkable. My energy was level. I no longer needed to take a nap every afternoon just to have enough energy to make dinner and spend a fun time with my husband when he came home from wotk.

But then, after a month or so, I was getting too anxious. I cut back to only 1800 mcg - 1000 at breakfast, 400 at lunch, 400 at dinner. Seems that most of the bottles come in 400 mcg amounts.

But, again after 2 months, I was getting weird. Looney is a far more pleasant mental state than mania. I was maniac. Fussy, wanting to cry. Wanting to rage. It seemed that my insides shook. Music sounded way too loud and agressive. Nothing my husband did was right. (He is so blessedly patient.) I simply couldn't calm down inside.

I started doing things to detox. I took infrared saunas twice a week. I wanted to binge on chocolate candy. My sleep was disordered. Finally one night after dinner I purposely broke a dish.

I was so startled that I googled MTHFR and discovered that too much MTHFR can create a build-up of SAMe. The remedy for this is to take Niacin. I did. The mania abated for a while. I researched SAMe. Side effects are mania especially if a person has a tendency to depression or anxiety.

During this time I had a weird rash on my side under my bra line extending toward my belly button. It was painful. I thought it was a series of spider bites. But it wasn't. It was shingles. They can erupt from stress.

I cut back to 400 mcg three times a day with meals.

I've become an angel again - at least compared to my maniac self. This amount is working perfectly for me now. All of the benefits of methylation have returned without any of the mania. The shingles attack has subsided. I feel clear once again.

My husband has agreed to let me know if I start getting maniac again as it's so hard to see in oneself. If this happens, I'll take some niacin and then figure out if I need to cut back again on the methyl folate.

What I've learned is that for me, there is no methylation perfectiion. Instead, for me, I have an ongoing "living in the question" strategy. Right now it's working and life is extraordinarily good.