Presentation and looking for advice

[dps231]

Everything you are telling to me is very useful Tex.
So many of us have mthrf genes? wow
Many times looked at 23andme because I've always had the feeling of being "different". Maybe I should try it, now it's at 50%

[tex]

The results will allow you to answer a lot of questions. And there are a number of outside websites that can be used to analyze the data to give you interpretations of those results, some are free, and some are paid. Some healthcare professionals have considered recommending it, because it allows targeting treatments much more accurately, but many are afraid that once patients get the results, too many people will begin treating themselves to resolve their disorders (and they're correct, of course, because vitamins [even in the active forms] and minerals are much cheaper than medical care through the healthcare system).

This discussion forum has a section (methylation issues) devoted to that problem which lists basic information.

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

Doing the testing and looking at the WHOLE methylation profile is very useful
I had neither of the two main MTHFR genes compromised, but did have other items in the full methylation profile that were causing issues

It is one of the 4 things that helped me solve my wellness puzzle of what my body needed to heal.

as I mentioned previously mainstream testing is not a reliable sense of what is going on

Re the B6 - P5P. no you dont have to take with the other active B's
albeit as you do some reading about the methylation cycle and active B's you will start to see some of the reasons why it is recommended

I understand the need to do things right - for now give up perfectionism - progress not perfection is a good approach
there is no one size fits all solution, dosages, product combo that works for everybody
we have to do trial and error, there are no mistakes, only learnings - be ok mentally and emotionally with that

[brandy]

Welcome! I think we might have a Spanish language version of Tex's book around in an electronic version. It may be on Amazon for a nominal charge.

Your English is very good but it may be helpful to have a copy of Tex's book in your native language.

You can achieve remission but it will take time. We are talking not days and weeks but for me it took about 24 months.

[dps231]

Hi everyone,
Just an update:
I'm stucked with SSRI reduction. It's been 3 months, now at 50% of the full dose I'm struggling with strong Insomnia and anxiety.
I cannot continue with the withdrawal this way...

Also I've received 23andme results. I can see something wrong with MTHFR but I don't understand, attaching a capture.
Can anyone give me a any clue?
Is a Mthfr defect related somehow with my longlife depression/anxiety and therefore dependency on antidepressants?

Thanks!

[dps231]

Adding results by Promethease

[tex]

Since no one else has responded to this, I'll post my thoughts, but I don't consider myself to be an expert on MTHFR genetic defects. Personally, I've always found the analysis by the GeneticGenie to provide the most useful results.

Looking at your Promethease analysis, you have a severely compromised ability to convert folic acid into the active form so that your body can use it, consequently you're very low on levomefolic acid, also known as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). Note that although the terms “folic acid” and “folate” are often used interchangeably, folic acid and folate are not equivalent — folate is a general term used to describe the many different forms of vitamin B9. The healthiest dietary sources of vitamin B9 are whole foods, such as leafy green vegetables. In your case, you will surely need to take a supplement, and methyl folate is the most useful supplemental form. You will also need to take an active vitamin B12 supplement in the form of methylcobalamin.

5–MTHF is necessary in order to enable many chemical conversions that take place in the body, and this tends to cause other problems, such as the conversion of vitamin B12 and other vitamins into the active forms so that your body can use them. It can also cause the body to produce abnormally large red blood cells that don't function properly, so that they aren't able to supply adequate oxygen to cells. This condition is called megaloblastic anemia.

That's probably contributing to your sleep and anxiety problems, but I'll also point out that difficulty sleeping, and anxiety are symptoms of magnesium deficiency, and magnesium deficiency is probably the reason why you can't wean off an SSRI successfully.

Remember, I'm not a doctor, and these are just my opinions.

Tex

[dps231]

Thanks for your response Tex!
Mthfr seems to be a very complex topic, and I want to keep things simple. Let's see if anyone could add some more info.
Regarding magnesium, some weeks ago I read your Magtein experiment in the newsletter, Tex, and I've started to combine it with Doctor's Best.

I continue thinking about the connection between SSRI and MC.
I wonder if the root of the problem is:
- all about serotonin itself because reuptake inhibition leads to an excessive accumulation of serotonin in gut's tissue.
- or the SSRI drug itself. but on this case, why is the whole SSRI family considered harmful...?

Therefore, another way to ask the same:
A 5HTP supplement (vs any SSRI) would be a more MC-compatible approach in order to handle depression/anxiety?

Tex, do you have any insight about this? I'm considering low dose 5htp in order to achieve full withdrawal of SSRI, because I always find and invisible wall I can't go through.

[tex]

[Quote ="dps231"]A 5HTP supplement (vs any SSRI) would be a more MC-compatible approach in order to handle depression/anxiety?

Tex, do you have any insight about this? I'm considering low dose 5htp in order to achieve full withdrawal of SSRI, because I always find and invisible wall I can't go through.[/quote]

Yes, in my opinion, the active forms of vitamins B-9 and B-12 would be much more helpful, and well-tolerated.

Tex

[dps231]

Sorry for the confusion Tex, I meant 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5htp). I want to know the difference between 5htp and SSRI regarding MC.

And talking of Mthfr, my concerning about this is: how can I tell the difference between over or under methylation?
I was reading your messages here and I'm confused: https://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB/viewt ... on#p167053

Does Gabes know more about methylation?

[tex]

I know practically nothing about that. This discussion is getting way past the current level of medical understanding of MC. All I know is that the intestines are loaded with serotonin, (95% of the body's serotonin is located in the gut), and antidepressants such as this increase serotonin levels in the brain, which almost surely increases the level in the gut. I'm not enough of a neurologist to make an assessment.

The concept of over-methylation is still only speculation, as far as I'm aware.

Tex

[dps231]

Update:
after some weeks of my last ssri reduction, now at 50% of the full dose, I'm starting to feel better, I can sleep again.
I will take a couple of weeks or so to recover and get stronger, and I will continue with the withdrawal.

[Gabes-Apg]

Great news!!

[dps231]

Hi Tex and Gabes,
I continue fighting anxiety and the withdrawal of SSRI. It's been a year and now I'm taking 40% of the pill. I'm using magnesium and folinic acid (mthfr) at small doses to improve wellbeing.
I'm following the stage0 diet with no luck.

At this point I've lost a lot of weight and I have very painful joints and tendons.

I read in the forum that pain (which wasn't there during first years after diagnosis) must be related to intestinal permeability, right?

Also I read that the diet is likely to be useless as long as I don't quit the drug, but also the withdrawal of the drug is not going to be enough.

My question then is, Should I continue my fight with the withdrawal, shouldn't I? I mean, despite not being enough, maybe the diet (gf,df,ef etc) will be the key once I quit Ssri, am I right?

Regarding dysbiosis, Should I do something? I have Proteobacteria hyper high and no regulatory microbiota. Befadefensin-2 is also stupidly high which indicates that the body is trying to lower gram-negative bacteria.

I need some support, I feel really bad and pretty hopeless.

[tex]

You may have misinterpreted what we said. What we said was, the diet is not likely to stop your symptoms, as long as you're still taking the SSRI. That doesn't mean it may not be helping, it simply means that it's not going to be able to bring complete remission as long as you're taking an SSRI. But if you're able to wean off the SSRI, then sure, the diet should be able to begin healing your digestive system. I'm pretty sure you have a chronic magnesium deficiency, if you're unable to wean off an SSRI (because depression and anxiety are symptoms of a chronic magnesium deficiency). And if that's the case, then you may have trouble reaching remission, because your immune system will not be able to function properly without sufficient magnesium.

Regarding an altered gut microbiota, our gut microbiota depends on our diet, so it's not very likely that any of us have a normal gut bacteria profile, because we're all eating an abnormal diet (compared with people who don't have MC). And when MC is active, especially, we definitely will have dysbiosis. There's no point in worrying about your gut bacteria, because they will take care of themselves. When you finally reach remission and get settled in on a safe diet, then your gut bacteria will adjust to match that diet, and everything will be fine.

I hope this helps.

Tex