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    Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.

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Search results

  1. Tor

    Coffee & Methylation: To Stop or Not?

    Hey rglr! How are you doing with this? After a week of weaning, yesterday was my first day with zero coffee, now I'm on day 2. Big headache yesterday but Advil helped. My early morning 4am wakeups have returned, but I actually feel energetic and positive! Could be due to starting the methylation...
  2. Tor

    Methyl-Folate worsened shortness of breath, anxiety, irritability

    @caledonia this guide is SO helpful, thank you!!! I love this forum!
  3. Tor

    Methyl-Folate worsened shortness of breath, anxiety, irritability

    Hi @Dazey , @Critterina , and @caledonia , I got my 23andme results today! I was wondering if you might be able to interpret this better than me? I'm so hopeful that I have clues now. Thank you in advance! First off, MTHFR is compound heterozygous, not homozygous! I called my doctor to confirm...
  4. Tor

    Constant 24/7 tightness in chest/heart

    I do not have ME, but was hoping someone might know this symptom. Every day for 5 years now, I have had constant squeezing in my heart from the second I wake up to the second I fall asleep. There is absolutely zero relief from it (not even one minute in the past five years). It is not painful...
  5. Tor

    Coffee & Methylation: To Stop or Not?

    Alright, I'll join you on this one! I want to give it a full year before deciding the effect it has on me. Wishing you the best of luck on this!
  6. Tor

    Coffee & Methylation: To Stop or Not?

    Over the past 5 years, my mental health has been slowly eroding due to some major stressors. I've also been drinking coffee for 5 years, and am wondering if I should cut it out or if it is helping me. I only have one cup in the morning, but it gives me a very strong boost of happiness and...
  7. Tor

    Methyl-Folate worsened shortness of breath, anxiety, irritability

    Hi @Dazey , your reply gave me so much hope! I've almost never had anyone say "hey me too" when I describe my symptoms (more "uhh wtf"). I'm so glad you've found answers and relief from your dread feeling. It sounds like the methylation protocol has given your mind/body the tools it needs to...
  8. Tor

    Methyl-Folate worsened shortness of breath, anxiety, irritability

    Thank you @caledonia , these are some wonderful resources! As you learned more about your SNPs and methylation, did the corresponding treatment improve your symptoms? I just want to make sure I'm heading down a helpful path - I know I can be sort of impatient :) My cortisol test showed this...
  9. Tor

    Methyl-Folate worsened shortness of breath, anxiety, irritability

    Thank you again @Critterina! Your kind & detailed responses mean the world to me. I can't wait to hear back from 23andme as well! My brothers both dealt with addictions to dopamine-boosting stuff (amphetamines), so that might make sense! For me, a bottle of wine would provide some really...
  10. Tor

    Drinking coffee improves my sleep. Wait, what?

    My sleeping problems all started when I tried to quit coffee - now that I'm "using" again, my sleep is slowly improving but still not where it used to be. Coffee has a very odd effect on me. A lot of people need it to help with energy / fatigue. For me, it gives me a mental boost that makes me...
  11. Tor

    Methyl-Folate worsened shortness of breath, anxiety, irritability

    Hi @Critterina , thank you so much for your reply! I'm so glad your mom & great aunt were both okay, yikes!! My doctor let me know this feeling isn't a heart attack, but instead a physical manifestation of anxiety/depression. I've had this feeling for years now (constantly, 24x7), and just keeps...
  12. Tor

    Methyl-Folate worsened shortness of breath, anxiety, irritability

    I don't have ME, but this forum is the most helpful resource ever, so I hope it is okay to post here. My blood test showed that I'm homozygous for the MTHFR mutation - I am 24 years old. This was a huge relief to learn, as my health has been quickly deteriorating over the past few years, and...