That would definitely be my guess. Maybe not exactly a 'strengthened' immune response, but perhaps a balanced immune response. Most of us never get colds or real flu's once we become ill with ME/CFS, because the immune system is shifted to the Th2 state. I believe it's Rich's (and also doctors like Myhill, etc.) belief that the methylation cycle block is what ultimately causes the immune dysfunction rather than the other way around. A cold or flu, with a real, decent fever, would be a good sign I would think.
Yes, no flu or colds for in a long time. Missed H1N1 last year when the rest of the household got it. Always wondered why, before I became very ill, why I would feel so bad with a 99 fever. I subsequently realized my body temp was 95.8-96.8 degrees, and that 2-3 degrees was all I could muster.
This is another guess, but since we need folate and b12 to help make new cells of all kinds, and if overexertion damages those cells, then my guess is that the folate/b12 would go first to repairing/making new cells, thus putting 'the brakes on everything'. ???
Not sure, this is something for Rich to explain, no doubt. I did want to pass on my anecdotal experiences, and I am here today saying that oxidative stress is a show stopper, so pace yourself. I wish I was better at this. James, et al. had this to say:
"With chronic oxidative stress, however, the synthesis of methionine and its product, SAM, can progressively decline as a result of oxidative inactivation of the cobalamin cofactor of methionine synthase (31). In this way, unresolved oxidative stress can promote precursor depletion and a progressive decrease in cysteine and GSH synthesis. Treatment with methylcobalamin and folinic acid seems to have rescued GSH synthesis in this cohort of children at the expense of transmethylation metabolites."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647708/
I too did poorly on the baking soda test. A microscopic burp after about 9 minutes...just ridiculous. When I first came down with this #*@*!**!!! back in '98, the docs suggested betaine HCL, and I had to take NINE capsules before I felt any warmth. I was eventually able to back down to about 5 per meal, but in recent years, esp this past year, I backed off more (as one gets so sick of taking all this stuff)...but I paid the price w/muscle loss, bone loss, etc. -- and terrible digestion. So I'm back up to 7 capsules with a regular meal, 8 if I'm taking calcium. I think Rich says that once the methylation cycle improves, the HCL output should improve as well. He told me if betaine HCL turns out to be a problem, then supplementing with DMG might help. That's of course something to confirm with Rich, and he's away for a few weeks.
I have no reaction to baking soda in the morning after any amount of time, yet I'm not convinced I have problems digesting proteins. Who knows!
Me too. I think the main reason is that as a culture, we've been indoctrinated to think we need a drug for this and a drug for that (and of course in certain cases that's true), but Rich said this methylation problem has been found in 'almost all' PWC's, and believes it may be a good biomarker because of that. Perhaps for some it just sounds too good or too simple to be true, even though it can be complicated (there are other nutrients/minerals/amino acids that might be required.
Yes, I'm familiar with the culture. I talk to doctors every day as part of my job as a consultant, and I have found that most doctors are completely unaware about the benefits of orthomolecular medicine. The internists/primary care physicians are probably the most informed and open to new ideas. Rich has put together an impressive hypothesis that takes into account the many peculiarities of this syndrome. His work deserves more attention. Someone needs to set him up his own lab, we have plenty of guinea pigs.
I just started the protocol about 8 days ago, under my docs supervision, and she said it may take 3-4 months before I notice a definite overall improvement. I have noticed that I do sleep better, recall dreams better, but also have noticed worsening symptoms (detox?)...slight headaches, stiffer muscles in the AM, etc -- and also that itching thing you talk about.
I didn't get the muscle stiffness as a result of the protocol. For me this only comes when I push too hard.
Good luck to you.