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I've been lurking for years but finally joined the forums. I've left an "Introduce Yourself" post that contains most of my back story. I do have questions that I haven't been able to find answers for. Main complaints chronic fatigue, depressed mood, constipation, gallbladder pain. I'll list my pertinent labs and supplements first in case they are helpful.
MTR A2756G +/-
MTHFR C677T +/-
MTHFR A1298C +/-
4/3/14 Homocysteine 6.40 (<10.4 µmol/L)
1/12/15 Vitamin B-12 692 (211-911 pg/mL)
1/12/15 Folic Acid 8.88 (>5.38 ng/mL)
5/30/17 Hair mineral lithium <0.004 L (0.007-0.020 µg/g)
5/30/17 Doctors Data Hair mineral cobalt 0.44 H (0.005-0.040 µg/g)
5/30/17 Doctors Data Hair mineral potassium <3 L (8-75 µg/g)
5/30/17 Doctors Data Hair mineral manganese 3.9 H (0.08-0.60 µg/g)
11/10/17 Homocysteine 6.1 (<10.4 µmol/L)
12/6/18 Quicksilver Blood methyl mercury 0.039 (<0.003-23.3 ng/mL)
12/6/18 Quicksilver Blood Inorganic mercury non-detectable (<0.007-1.75 ng/mL)
12/6/18 Quicksilver Whole Blood lithium 0.6 (<0.1-160 µg/L)
12/6/18 Quicksilver Whole blood cobalt 0.9 (<5.0 µg/L) at 99th percentile
Digestive enzymes with HCl and Ox bile at all meals
Potassium Citrate 2x10 MEq twice daily
Fish Oil 1000mg twice daily
Zinc Picolinate 2x20mg daily
Theracurmin HP 1 daily
Magnesium Glycinate 120mg 3 times daily
DHEA 10mg 1 daily
Hydrocortisone 5mg 1/2 tab daily
Locorice Solid Extract 1/4 tsp daily
Probiotic Powder 1/2 tsp daily
Desiccated Liver Capsules 4 daily
Vitamins ADK 1 daily
Monolaurin pellets 1 scoop daily
I don't take any B vitamin supplements but I do eat my vegetables.
I know that hair mineral testing does not directly correlate with body tissue levels but I believe hair lithium is a good measure of body stores.
My most recent naturopath had me convinced that since my homocysteine is normal that methylation is not a problem for me. But according to Chris Shade (per Quicksilver Tri-test interpretation video) my extremely low mercury represents a poor methylator pattern. That everybody takes in some mercury and should show at least a little on their testing unless they are a poor methylator; in which case that needs to be worked on before it will show up in his test.
I did try lithium citrate 1mg daily for a week or 2 several months ago. I'm having a hard time remembering all the reasons why I decided to stop. I think I was also trying diet restrictions and wasn't sure if the extreme constipation and agitation I started experiencing were related to one or the other. I did try one dose the other morning with breakfast. I felt normal all day until dinnertime when I felt so nauseous that I put a trash can next to bed that night. I had horribly disturbing dreams. Had an uptick in energy and mood the next morning at work as well as not needing to wear the extra sweater that is my constant companion. Also a feeling like someone was pinching my neck above my clavicle and the same pinching feeling near my right kidney (need for extra potassium?). I have had these symptoms before when starting methylation supplements.
So now I'm confused and here are my questions. What are the tests that I should be asking for to confirm a functional methylation issue and does my low lithium level have any effect on those tests? In other words would my low lithium have made it look like I don't have a methylation problem?
Is it possible that I only have low lithium and for reasons that I can't figure that would make my metals test show up with a poor methylator pattern?
Also should I wait on adding lithium until after this testing is done?
Thanks all. I'm hoping this might be the breakthrough I'm looking for.
MTR A2756G +/-
MTHFR C677T +/-
MTHFR A1298C +/-
4/3/14 Homocysteine 6.40 (<10.4 µmol/L)
1/12/15 Vitamin B-12 692 (211-911 pg/mL)
1/12/15 Folic Acid 8.88 (>5.38 ng/mL)
5/30/17 Hair mineral lithium <0.004 L (0.007-0.020 µg/g)
5/30/17 Doctors Data Hair mineral cobalt 0.44 H (0.005-0.040 µg/g)
5/30/17 Doctors Data Hair mineral potassium <3 L (8-75 µg/g)
5/30/17 Doctors Data Hair mineral manganese 3.9 H (0.08-0.60 µg/g)
11/10/17 Homocysteine 6.1 (<10.4 µmol/L)
12/6/18 Quicksilver Blood methyl mercury 0.039 (<0.003-23.3 ng/mL)
12/6/18 Quicksilver Blood Inorganic mercury non-detectable (<0.007-1.75 ng/mL)
12/6/18 Quicksilver Whole Blood lithium 0.6 (<0.1-160 µg/L)
12/6/18 Quicksilver Whole blood cobalt 0.9 (<5.0 µg/L) at 99th percentile
Digestive enzymes with HCl and Ox bile at all meals
Potassium Citrate 2x10 MEq twice daily
Fish Oil 1000mg twice daily
Zinc Picolinate 2x20mg daily
Theracurmin HP 1 daily
Magnesium Glycinate 120mg 3 times daily
DHEA 10mg 1 daily
Hydrocortisone 5mg 1/2 tab daily
Locorice Solid Extract 1/4 tsp daily
Probiotic Powder 1/2 tsp daily
Desiccated Liver Capsules 4 daily
Vitamins ADK 1 daily
Monolaurin pellets 1 scoop daily
I don't take any B vitamin supplements but I do eat my vegetables.
I know that hair mineral testing does not directly correlate with body tissue levels but I believe hair lithium is a good measure of body stores.
My most recent naturopath had me convinced that since my homocysteine is normal that methylation is not a problem for me. But according to Chris Shade (per Quicksilver Tri-test interpretation video) my extremely low mercury represents a poor methylator pattern. That everybody takes in some mercury and should show at least a little on their testing unless they are a poor methylator; in which case that needs to be worked on before it will show up in his test.
I did try lithium citrate 1mg daily for a week or 2 several months ago. I'm having a hard time remembering all the reasons why I decided to stop. I think I was also trying diet restrictions and wasn't sure if the extreme constipation and agitation I started experiencing were related to one or the other. I did try one dose the other morning with breakfast. I felt normal all day until dinnertime when I felt so nauseous that I put a trash can next to bed that night. I had horribly disturbing dreams. Had an uptick in energy and mood the next morning at work as well as not needing to wear the extra sweater that is my constant companion. Also a feeling like someone was pinching my neck above my clavicle and the same pinching feeling near my right kidney (need for extra potassium?). I have had these symptoms before when starting methylation supplements.
So now I'm confused and here are my questions. What are the tests that I should be asking for to confirm a functional methylation issue and does my low lithium level have any effect on those tests? In other words would my low lithium have made it look like I don't have a methylation problem?
Is it possible that I only have low lithium and for reasons that I can't figure that would make my metals test show up with a poor methylator pattern?
Also should I wait on adding lithium until after this testing is done?
Thanks all. I'm hoping this might be the breakthrough I'm looking for.