Has anyone taken antibiotics while sulfur levels were high?

[Mindy]

If so, did it increase your sulfur levels even more? I'm having serious trouble with what I think is increasing sulfur levels while taking antimicrobial herbs and antibiotics I've tried for a UTI/bladder infection. I've tried several herbs and 2 different antibiotics (which were not sulfa based). I get extreme head pressure/tension when I take any of these. Molyb and boron seem to help reduce the pressure a little, which is why I suspect sulfur and my test strips show about 1200 despite being on a low sulfur diet for wks.

I've talked to several drs. now and am not getting any help. Any insight would be appreciated. I have 2 hetero CBS, SUOX and homozygous for A1298c. My sulfur levels were relatively low before I started taking the meds for my UTI, which still isn't resolved.

Thank you.

 

[caledonia]

If so, did it increase your sulfur levels even more? I'm having serious trouble with what I think is increasing sulfur levels while taking antimicrobial herbs and antibiotics I've tried for a UTI/bladder infection. I've tried several herbs and 2 different antibiotics (which were not sulfa based). I get extreme head pressure/tension when I take any of these. Molyb and boron seem to help reduce the pressure a little, which is why I suspect sulfur and my test strips show about 1200 despite being on a low sulfur diet for wks.

I've talked to several drs. now and am not getting any help. Any insight would be appreciated. I have 2 hetero CBS, SUOX and homozygous for A1298c. My sulfur levels were relatively low before I started taking the meds for my UTI, which still isn't resolved.

Thank you.

Hi Mindy, I replied on your other thread. But now I see your SNPs on this thread - especially with SUOX, definitely what I said on the other thread applies: you have to address both ammonia and sulfur as they both detox through the CBS/SUOX pathway. SUOX is like a super bad CBS. So if you have both, it's a double whammy. You also might need to increase moly/boron/yucca more than others.

Use the self muscle testing I talked about in the other thread to determine amounts by asking a series of yes/no questions regarding amounts. I can be more specific about how to do this if you decide to learn it and need more info. It's something I came up with on my own, so I don't know of any videos or links to point you to. Just tag me or PM me. You should get a handle on basic muscle testing first though.

 

[caledonia]

Also, I just saw another one of your threads regarding SHMT spray causing the head pressure.

So what is happening is at first you were not methylating enough to send methyl groups through CBS/SUOX and cause any problems. Then you took SHMT spray which has methyl groups in it, restarting methylation. Now you're getting CBS/SUOX symptoms because methyl groups are going through the pathway, whereas before they weren't. Additions of sulfur and/or ammonia from diet/meds/supps will make this worse.

I suggest shutting down methylation by taking 50-100mg of a slow release nicotinic acid form of niacin. This will soak up methyl groups. If you have the right dose, you should get a relaxation response and probably not a niacin flush (although it won't hurt if you do). As an example, 85mg (1/6 of a 500mg pill) is the dose that works well for me.

As methylation will crank for quite awhile after you get it started, you may need to dose with the nicontinic acid four times a day for several days to get everything slowed back down.

You can use the muscle testing to determine how long to take the nicotinic acid. I've had to take it twice for different reasons. On one occasion, one day was enough. On another occasion, I had to take it for 5 or 6 days.

 

[Mindy]

caledonia - thanks so much for your response; it does make sense. BTW, I have been taking butyrate and yucca for ammonia, and I can tell it has helped. Question about taking the niacin, I think it makes sense to try that. However, I wanted to mention that I stopped the SHMT spray a couple of wks ago just in case it was causing a problem. Since I've been off of it for a couple of wks, does it still make sense to try the niacin?

And are there any potential negative problems with the niacin? I know Dr. Ben Lynch also recommends it often to stop adverse reactions. Thanks!!

PS - I worked with a practicioner who used muscle testing in the past, but I've never done it myself. Will have to look into that.

 

[Mindy]

One more comment on the SHMT spray - it caused just a slight head pressure, but nothing like what the ABX and herbs have caused. Of course I'm a few more wks into this issue now, whereas I stopped the SHMT spray early on when these symptoms were starting. They've just worsened as I've continued trying various solutions to the UTI.

 

[caledonia]

caledonia - thanks so much for your response; it does make sense. BTW, I have been taking butyrate and yucca for ammonia, and I can tell it has helped. Question about taking the niacin, I think it makes sense to try that. However, I wanted to mention that I stopped the SHMT spray a couple of wks ago just in case it was causing a problem. Since I've been off of it for a couple of wks, does it still make sense to try the niacin?

And are there any potential negative problems with the niacin? I know Dr. Ben Lynch also recommends it often to stop adverse reactions. Thanks!!

PS - I worked with a practicioner who used muscle testing in the past, but I've never done it myself. Will have to look into that.

I got the tip on the niacin from Ben Lynch and then have tried it out myself. Yes, if you stopped SHMT spray weeks ago, methylation could still be cranking, so niacin is worth a try. There are no downsides, unless you get the wrong dose. I've already run into two people on here who took 500mg instead of 50-100mg. (It's often sold in 500mg capsules.) The first person had a return of horrible stomach problems which have lasted for at least a week I think. The second person had a nice niacin flush, but no relief. When they got the right dose - bingo.

Also, I just found out that candida will make ammonia, so that could be another source.

 

[caledonia]

One more comment on the SHMT spray - it caused just a slight head pressure, but nothing like what the ABX and herbs have caused. Of course I'm a few more wks into this issue now, whereas I stopped the SHMT spray early on when these symptoms were starting. They've just worsened as I've continued trying various solutions to the UTI.

I don't know if methylation per se will cause CBS type problems, but it does set the stage for problems once you have methylation cranking and then get additions of sulfur/ammonia. So the more methylation is cranking, the more sulfur and ammonia go zooming down the pathway, which then get clogged up at SUOX.

So, little methylation = little CBS activity, probably enough that your SUOX can handle, so no symptoms
More methylation = more CBS activity -more than SUOX can handle, so you get symptoms

So you stop methylation and it should go back to where it was before.

So I guess we can consider your head pressure to be a symptom of this, instead of the usual stress/anxiety symptoms. I wonder why you're getting head pressure instead. If you were stressed out, say by work issues, or family issues, would you get the classic stress feeling (tight shoulder muscles, feeling a bit anxious, butterflies in your stomach, etc.) or would you get a head pressure? I guess head pressure, if you think of them as headaches, could fit into a stress reaction.

 

[Mindy]

caledonia - your explanation makes sense and likely explains why I didn't have any trouble with sulfur foods/supps/meds prior to take methyl supplements. No, I do not experience this head pressure under stress. The head pressure skyrockets when I take a supplement/med and will start to come down w/molyb, so I feel sure it's sulfur. I've never experienced it before, until I took the methyl supplements which was 5-6 months ago. I really wish I'd read more about this before taking the supps.

I've been reading on Dr. Ben's site about how adverse reactions to methyl supps are more likely with CBS, COMT, MAO and SUOX. I'm certain I have the first 3 at least hetero, and I think SUOX as well. I'm also reading others experiencing tight chestness, which has also been happening to me within the past week or so as this has progressed.

Thanks again for your insight.

 

[Mindy]

caledonia - I think you are right about what's going on. I've been slowly adding in the Niacin and it seems to be helping stop this head pressure. I skipped a few doses after going back to work yesterday, and things seemed worse. Then after being at home and taking it again I realized it seemed to be helping. Just wanted to say THANK YOU for listening to me & responding.

You gave more insight than any of the drs. I've spent about $1,000 on over the past couple of wks. I went to urgent care, found a new local MD/nutritional specialist which cost me $400, 1 consult with my lyme dr and 2 with my MTHFR dr. Nothing useful. Not to mention the weight I lost weight b/c of limiting sulfur/ammonia, bringing me down to 106 lbs and I'm 5'6".

It's really scary to mess around with something that nearly no one in the medical field knows about. Fingers crossed that this will help me get past this...still have to figure out how to eliminate the UTI by means other than Levaquin since that's all the MDs are recommending while my MTHFR dr. says to avoid it. Thank you!