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MTHFR and clinical history

Messages
296
Hi, I'm posting this for a friend with MTHFR. Please tell what steps she should take, what tests/supplements would be helpful in her condition, would an full comprehensive Amy Yasko test help? Any guidance would be appreciated.

"
I am 66 years old. My mother is getting ready to turn 96. My dad died at age 73 from lung cancer (he smoked for years).

At age 16 I became suicidal & depressed because my boyfriend broke up with me. I was a depressed and a rebellious teenager. My parents put me in a mental hospital which began 5 years of going in and out of every mental hospital in the area, sometimes for 1 year at a time. I was in the best private hospitals to a state institution. They tried every treatment on me from no meds, to group therapy, to private therapy, to shock treatments, and then wanted to do a lobotomy which I refused to sign off on! (Thank goodness!) I was finally released from all hospitals and moved out on my own.

This was back in the 60s so drugs were everywhere! I got into every drug available. I finally met my future husband, who saved my life by loving me! I got pregnant and we have lived happily ever after. My self confidence grew and everything fell into place. We spent years talking about our pasts and growing together, but I was able to "get well" just by being in a loving relationship.

When I was 50 I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. I have no idea how I got it. I gave up all alcohol and cigarettes. I have never been treated for Hep C. For 16 years I have been taking milk thistle and I watch my liver enzymes.

At age 55 I came down w colon cancer, had surgery and chemo for 6 months. They decided to take my gall bladder while they were cutting my colon! 11 years later (present time) I am doing fine. I have not eaten meat in 40 years. In the past 11 years I have gone from vegetarian to vegan to high fat raw to mostly raw and try to stick to 80-10-10. I found Dr Morse about 2 years ago.

About a 1 year & a half ago I was told I had both MTHFR genetic defects. I have gone back and forth using supplements and since I don't have any current symptoms that I know of, I don't know what to do. In the past 2 years my toes have become numb. I don't know if this is a result of the chemo from 11 years ago or the MTHFR defect. In the past 5 years I have experienced what I think is venous insufficiency in both legs. If I stand for long periods of time for several days in a row or fly in an airplane, my feet swell and my legs get little red dots (leaking blood vessels?) all over them which can turn into an infection. I just started taking horse chestnut capsules to see if it can build up my veins.

So that's my little health history. I feel great, I am always happy, since going raw I have no aches or pains in my body. My weight is good and I live a happy and fulfilling life. I appreciate any insight you have or any guidance you can give me."

Oh and if anyone knows a practitioner of methylation in Washington DC, it would be helpful.
 

taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia
It sounds like you have been extremely lucky as far as the MTHFR mutation goes, I wasnt so and it caused severe issues in my case (my daughter was born deformed due to it and it does affect my ME/CFS a bit). It is best to treat this as otherwise it can greatly increase risk of strokes and heart issues.

I think mental hospitals are some of the worst places for people who probably just are in need of some good counselling, it must be hard for people to recover in one as I cant think of places more depressing!

I'd give you a list of what my MTHFR specialist has me on and the brands (I order from iherb as its quite cheap compared to buying offline) if I could find where I've my container of supplements!! (Ive lost them all week, my support workers cant even find them, I must of put them in some crazy place when my brain wasnt working).

Anyway, she'd a form of active folate (not normal folate) eg methyl folate, I take another active form.. as her body cant convert normal folate well.

She'd also need methyl B12 too.

Note some brands of things are better then others so best getting advice with brands for this too, my MTHFR specialist was very specific on what brands I should get with this. (sorry my brain isnt working well enough for me to be able to remember my normal brands either).
 
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Messages
15,786
@LivingwithFibro - She shouldn't have to worry about MTHFR. Having a high veggie diet completely compensates for it.

But as a vegan she NEEDS to supplement B12, which is really only naturally available in meat, and is an essential vitamin. She might be experiencing neuropathy due to a B12 deficiency.