MTHFR and vision improvement

Of all the results I didn't expect from methyl folate supplementation - my vision has notably improved. my eye doctor almost jumped out of her chair when I was reading smaller and smaller type on the eye chart.

She encouraged me to keep taking methyl folate so we can see what changes at my next annual visit.

Wow!

Over methylation - Yikes.

The past 9 months have driven me crazy. Yes, I’ve had high energy, need less sleep, need way fewer naps. I’ve felt brilliant in social situations.

The downside is that I’ve been super irritable and breathtakingly anxious. I am so fortunate that my partner is patient and easily accepts my anxiety as “no-big-deal.” He handles my moods far better than I do.

When I’ve consulted my “healers” – my spiritual and medical intuitive and regular MDs who use the EAV biofeedback machines all told me to keep up the MTHFR and the methyl B12. In fact, they have suggested I take as much as 2800 mg MTHFR a day. This advice didn’t make sense considering my inner tension

Something was really “off.” And what was “off” was me. What could possibly be causing – all at the same time – a shingles outbreak near my lower rib cage, herpes and a mosquito attack? Since I had no idea what shingles was, I thought those bumps were bug or mosquito bites. When a bite happens, I use scotch tape. I put a piece of tape on the bite as a scratch inhibitor and to draw out the toxins. Whenever I feel irresistibly and unconsciously drawn to scratch, the tape creates a barrier. This works like magic. But let me tell you, those shingles hurt so much when I pulled off the tape. Ouch!!! So don’t put tape on shingles. Concurrently I had one or two herpes spots (which I haven’t had in over 30 years), and for some odd reason, I acquired about 30 mosquito bites all over my face and neck. (No one else got bit. Weird!) Towards the end of our Sedona vacation, I  was wearing many pieces of tape all over – well, all over everywhere. At the same time I was feeling super sexual. Fun and misery combined.

No matter what any expert said, something was way wrong. I seemed to be reacting to methylation in very “off” ways. I slowly cut back and the shingles and herpes retreated, then disappeared. The mosquito bites healed as they usually do. But it wasn’t until I went cold turkey – no MTHFR and no methyl B12 that the eczema vanished. Virtually overnight.

Did going off the methylation products hurt me in any way? I don’t think so.  My personality became a bit subdued and I was disoriented mentally, but I seemed fine. If I were to quick diagnose, which as we all know is a questionable practice,  I would say that I had worn myself out. My nervous system and my adrenals had worked overtime for perhaps 6-9 months. I was listless. I decided to simply let it be for a while.

Which lead me to consult with a new doc – a naturopath who after studying my genome print out from www.23andme.com, wrote a prescription for thyroid and suggested I return in 2 weeks. As if. He didn’t explain anything to me. He then handed me yet another food-restrictive diet. Again, no explanation. So much for visiting that doctor again.

He did get me thinking, though, so I found a homeopathic remedy in my drawer for Adrenal Support. It contains thyroidinum and I’ve been taking 10 drops 3 times daily. I’ve perked up a bit and am now ready to do some serious research and try to learn all I can about methylation, my personal genome and what it’s all about. 

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.

Check for MTHFR

After Pilates class this morning I chatted with a gal who has so many odd symptoms - and nothing she is doing for them is working. Plantar fasciitis, anxiety, insomnia, hormonal imbalances, arthritis-type aches and pains. And those are only the ones she mentioned. Plus she was on Prozac.

So far her strategy has been to do lots of juice fasts and detox routines, which, of course, help. But with all those symptoms, it sounded like she could have the MTHFR mutation. So I suggested she contact my doc, read through the www.MTHFR.net website, purchase those marvelous Foot Wakers to exercise her feet, plus purchase a pair of MBT shoes.

MBT shoes immediately stop the pain of plantar fasciitis and even though they are stylish in a very funky sort of way, no one would think they're sexy. What's sexy about them is they make your feet so happy that you'll feel sexier than if you continued to go for the glamour and thus chose to live with that excruciating pain and discomfort.

And, of course, get tested for the mutation.

I wonder how many folks with anxiety disorder couldn't be readily cured with methylfolate and methyl B12. And then toss the psychotropic medications and be happy naturally.

What surprises me is that I haven't heard of a psychiatrist or counselor who first suggests testing for MTHFR mutation before prescribing meds. It would reduce the amount of pain, the cost of those drugs, and perhaps folks could really live happier ever after. I know people can skip the drugs and go straight to methylation, once they know why they have such odd body things going on.