I've been on a methylation protocol for 3 weeks after recieving my 23andme results. But now I'm in a situation where I dont really know what to do and hoping for some input and guidance on how to progress. I'm mainly troubleshooting anxiety/light depression and cognitive decline but also a whole couple of other symtoms like burning feet, muscle weakness and stiffness, low energy. My initial experience however has been overly positive, I really think this approach could resolve a lot of symptoms I have. Thought I shared my start-up experience on a weekly basis, this could potentially help/direct others which are troubleshooting same symptoms as well
Potassium level before beginning supplements: 3.8
Homocysteine: 14
Gene status 23andme:
Week 1: 2-3 mg Jarrow Methyl B12 - 800 (start) -1200mg Metafolin. Occasional 500 mg TMG and 100 mg DMAE.
Experience: Some ups and downs in mood (mostly up!), cognition improved a bit (like verbal expression, focus etc), more energy, lowered anxiety. Experienced some increase in my burning sensations, also another thing that was very prominent was TINGLING in some of my fingers throughout the day.
Interesting note: Around 17:30+ Day 6 was accompanied by an extreme tiredness, like really ready to go to bed-tiredness. Almost couldn't keep my eye up for a couple of hours. Day 7 was followed by an extreme increase in well-being (other half of the day I was like EUPHORIC, hadn't felt so good in years).
Week 2: Except for the first two days, Methyl B12 and Metafolin same dosage as week 1 (excluded the other ones from this week)
Experience: First 2 days I got this tightness/anxiety that I've never felt before (I'm very prone to anxiety but this was more physical). My heartrate was around 45bpm at one point also feeling like the beat was inconsistent, felt like I had trouble breathing and sort of panicky. Immediately thought low potasssium so stopped the methylation until I had some Potassium gluconate at hand. Got it (been taking around 500mg/day) and resumed the methylation protocol at day 3. On this day I caught a really nasty cold which didn't really resolve until 10 days later. However, felt that my cognitive functions and my depression still was lifted, although I experienced an increase in anxiety from time to time and shortness of breath. Tingling in my fingers was still present.
Week 3: Same dosage for Methyl B12, ocassional 3-4 mg / day. Metafolin increased to 1200 - 1600 mg.
Experience: Beginning of week I really felt anti-depressant effects (most prominent end of week 1 to start of week 3). I must definitely been depressed prior to this, but my anxiety increased on a general basis. Could suddenly get the tightness and pain-like feeling more often at home which worried me. Also got more stomach problems (doctor said I probably have IBS before this as well). Tingling in fingers still present as well as some increase in burning sensations (not only foots now).
To summarize my situation now: Feel that my mood is slowly decreasing to my "baseline" before supplementing. For example, this day I was very low until i ate my lunch, then my mood was "more back to normal". In spite of this I do feel somewhat BETTER than before in terms of depression. Significant increases in anxiety from time to time (like social and general). Cognition nearly not as good as beginning of week although lifted. Trouble breathing (shortness of breath) has been felt more or less everyday the last 2 weeks. Tingling and occasional sensations in my legs/fingers. However, I feel that my energy/motivation is still elevated to some degree which is really good.
My speculation:
Would really appreciate some input. I know there are a lot of experienced and smart people on this forum
Potassium level before beginning supplements: 3.8
Homocysteine: 14
Gene status 23andme:
Week 1: 2-3 mg Jarrow Methyl B12 - 800 (start) -1200mg Metafolin. Occasional 500 mg TMG and 100 mg DMAE.
Experience: Some ups and downs in mood (mostly up!), cognition improved a bit (like verbal expression, focus etc), more energy, lowered anxiety. Experienced some increase in my burning sensations, also another thing that was very prominent was TINGLING in some of my fingers throughout the day.
Interesting note: Around 17:30+ Day 6 was accompanied by an extreme tiredness, like really ready to go to bed-tiredness. Almost couldn't keep my eye up for a couple of hours. Day 7 was followed by an extreme increase in well-being (other half of the day I was like EUPHORIC, hadn't felt so good in years).
Week 2: Except for the first two days, Methyl B12 and Metafolin same dosage as week 1 (excluded the other ones from this week)
Experience: First 2 days I got this tightness/anxiety that I've never felt before (I'm very prone to anxiety but this was more physical). My heartrate was around 45bpm at one point also feeling like the beat was inconsistent, felt like I had trouble breathing and sort of panicky. Immediately thought low potasssium so stopped the methylation until I had some Potassium gluconate at hand. Got it (been taking around 500mg/day) and resumed the methylation protocol at day 3. On this day I caught a really nasty cold which didn't really resolve until 10 days later. However, felt that my cognitive functions and my depression still was lifted, although I experienced an increase in anxiety from time to time and shortness of breath. Tingling in my fingers was still present.
Week 3: Same dosage for Methyl B12, ocassional 3-4 mg / day. Metafolin increased to 1200 - 1600 mg.
Experience: Beginning of week I really felt anti-depressant effects (most prominent end of week 1 to start of week 3). I must definitely been depressed prior to this, but my anxiety increased on a general basis. Could suddenly get the tightness and pain-like feeling more often at home which worried me. Also got more stomach problems (doctor said I probably have IBS before this as well). Tingling in fingers still present as well as some increase in burning sensations (not only foots now).
To summarize my situation now: Feel that my mood is slowly decreasing to my "baseline" before supplementing. For example, this day I was very low until i ate my lunch, then my mood was "more back to normal". In spite of this I do feel somewhat BETTER than before in terms of depression. Significant increases in anxiety from time to time (like social and general). Cognition nearly not as good as beginning of week although lifted. Trouble breathing (shortness of breath) has been felt more or less everyday the last 2 weeks. Tingling and occasional sensations in my legs/fingers. However, I feel that my energy/motivation is still elevated to some degree which is really good.
My speculation:
- Still low potassium? I'm taking at least 500mg/day and feel that I get some relief from it. Maybe too low dosage?
- Paradoxical folate deficiency? When I had the cold, I increased the dosage of folate and felt that the symptoms actually lessened a bit.
- Inability to tolerate methyl donors? Concerning my COMT status (+/-) but my VDR TAQ is (+/+) which I've interpreted as a need for methyl donors, and able to tolerate them.
- Overmethylation?
Would really appreciate some input. I know there are a lot of experienced and smart people on this forum