8/9- Had a bit of a rough afternoon yesterday after an extra dose so I laid off it last night and was pleased with the result today. Gold's 5 in 37:19 (7:28 pace). Splits were 18:25-18:54 so yes, I faded but I could have kept going for another few miles. If I raced a half mary today, I likely would have been in the low 1:50s with Gallowalking in the last 5K. I've still got 5 weeks until race day. As for the SUOX treatment, I need to go low and slow. No more than 2 drops at night for now and no action at all with methylation for another few weeks.
Distance=5.0
8/10- Lakeshore 5 in 39:35 (7:55 pace). Not horrible but a bit of a downer after yesterday's step forward. Ran with a group of college runners who had an easy session so I felt out of place. Passed 3 in 23-flat (7:40) then slipped to a 16:35 (8:17) for the last 2 and didn't have much left in the tank when I finished. I took Sparga yesterday afternoon and reacted badly to it so I'm done with that stuff. I believe the culprit today was too much SUOX (3 drops last night). I going down to 1 from now on. The jury is still out. I had to start out LOW on both the All in One and B-12 but now I can take as much as I want/need. Not surprisingly, I reacted badly to half a TMG pill (too much methylation). Tomorrow will be a big day. Planning either a Mile time trial or an indoor tempo if it rains.
Distance=5.0
8/11-Opted for a tempo at Gold's. Finished 3 miles in 21:54 (7:18 pace). 5th straight non-horrible day but I should be progressing faster than this. If I had kept going, I would have been hard pressed to beat my 5 miler from 2 days ago. Took 2 drops last night. Here's what I predict will happen:
I will be better tomorrow morning after laying off it tonight but if I stay off, I will revert back to 9 minute miles within 3-5 days. I may have to alternate days for a couple weeks until I can tolerate more. That means a long road ahead. I'm okay with that so long as the road is not a dead end and progress is relatively steady. I plan to run in the morning tomorrow then take another dose after that.
Distance=3.0
8/12- Made it 6 in a row but it was downer. Group run on Lakeshore and called it quits after 3 miles in 23:45 (7:55 pace). Turned around early to avoid the walk of shame. I was pushing pretty much all out and just could not get the pace much below 8. To my credit, I was able to hold it there and actually managed a slight negative split (11:56-11:49). Again, I believe I could have finished a half marathon today but would have struggled for a sub-2.
SUOX: Woke up in the morning and knew that I was way off after not taking it last night. Took 1 drop and felt better but 2 drops were too much. A 3rd drop after I got home made it worse. I HATE this sensitivity but it's just the way it is right now. The alternative is to accept defeat. My tolerance should improve in time and it is comforting to know that I have found something helpful. If I can make it 7 tomorrow, it will be a big boost.
Distance=3.5
8/13- AM- Took ZERO drops last night and was probably as close to equilibrium as I get this morning. Vestavia Mile time trial in 6:09.6 (89-95-96-89). I was hoping for 10 seconds faster but this is still my fastest time since starting the methylation treatment (I did a 5:48 earlier in the year). At my peak, I was ripping off 96 second laps for a full 10K and this time is 54 seconds from my goal. At least I am within a minute/mile. I might try again this afternoon but I predict that I will begin to deteriorate after another half day without a drop.
PM- Started fading before lunchtime today so no attempt to run this afternoon. This still counts as 7 in a row. A key question has been answered. I need to SUOX drops every day. 3 dosage options remain: 1 drop, 2 at night or 2 in divided doses.
-2 at night yielded the 21:54 3 mile. I'll see if I can do better on the other options. Again, I hope to increase the dose over time.
Distance= 1.5
8/14- Took only 1 drop last night and it clearly was NOT enough. I'm nearly positive that the best formula right now is 2 drop at night and hope to eventually bump it up to 4-6. The sooner I can do that, the sooner I will be able to tolerate methyl.
- 1 Mile at Vestavia and slipped to 6:56 with splits of 3:23-3:33. I'm unsure if I could have done sub-8 for 3 miles so I can't count it as non-horrible but I don't consider it a real attempt either so the streak is still alive.
Distance= 1,0
8/15- BAFA day. 3 miles with the BTC in a time of 28:54 (9:38 pace). That's a failure for today. Held the pace with the group for just 1.2 miles then died. Funny thing is that I didn't feel half bad when I woke up but got much worse after taking my normal ADHS. I will try some methylation but if that doesn't work, the ADHS must be cut. I don't understand that because it's a modulator. Extra pills should not hurt.
PM- 3 miles again this time at Gold's. Took a half pill of TMG and my time was all the way down to 23:15 (7:45 pace) with fairly even splits. That's right. I was MINUS 5:39 all because of a HALF PILL. This is nothing new for me. Tomorrow, I will first attempt to reduce the ADHS and if that does not work, it's back on the TMG. If the SUOX drops have opened the methylation pathway, it would be EXCELLENT news. If I cannot tolerate it, I'm in BIG trouble yet again.
Distance= 6.0
8/16- Run #1- Cut the ADHS down to 3 pills and was worse. Yesterday, I was able to hold the pace for a mile. Today, I could not even do that. Wisteria Mile in 9:38 (4:46-4:52). Took some TMG and am fixin' to go back out right now.
Run #2- Added nearly a full TMG pill and was down to 14:46 for 2 miles (7:23 pace) this time at Vestavia. I was MINUS 2:15/mile, which is a greater improvement than yesterday. I am going to test out Methionine now.
Run #3- Gold's 3 mile in 20:52 (6:57 pace), which is MINUS 26 over an extra mile. Started strong with a 6:44 opening mile then had to hang on for the sub-7 pace overall. I did pass the test but am a little uneasy about Methionine going forward. It seems like I am getting worse as the pill fully kicks in. If I am to take it, it will be minuscule amounts. I feel better about the TMG. I am not trying the cysteine.
Distance= 6.0
Weekly total= 31 miles
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Friday, August 7, 2015
CBS or SUOX mutation
Running update:
8/6- AM. 1 mile on Wisteria in 9:30 with splits of 4:22-5:08.
8/6-PM. Took 2 drops of the new SUOX product and felt better immediately. Hit Gold’s for 2 miles in 15:46 (7:53 pace). Splits were 7:50-7:56.
8/7-AM. After a 2nd dose. Gold’s 3 in 22:52 (7:37 pace). Splits were 7:37-7:41-7:34
8/8- BTC group run. I was shooting for 7 @ 8:00 pace. Made it through 5 on target then collapsed. Finished with 6 in 48:42 (8:07 pace) in humid conditions (72 dewpoint)
8/8- BTC group run. I was shooting for 7 @ 8:00 pace. Made it through 5 on target then collapsed. Finished with 6 in 48:42 (8:07 pace) in humid conditions (72 dewpoint)
If you have read this blog for any length of time, you know that such dramatic improvements are not unusual for me but I could collapse again tomorrow. I will not even allow my hopes to rise until I make it at least 2 weeks without a collapse. I was hoping for a bit more improvement between the 1st and 2nd dose. It would be ugly but I could finish a half marathon now. Yesterday morning? Even with a 3.5 hour time limit, I’m not sure.
CBS mutation:
I know that I have it because my genome shows it but I have no homozygous mutations on any SNPs. Rather, I am compound hetero, which indicates that the key enzyme is about 50% defective. Homozygous cases can have upwards of a 70% defect. I have tried everything for CBS defect including:
CBS RNA drops
CBS/NOS caps
Orinthine
Charcoal
Sparga
Most failed within 2-3 days even at miniscule doses. Only the Sparga worked for about a month before it failed abruptly. That left me with the question that while I am certainly intolerant to sulfur containing amino acids, is CBS the problem? I am beginning to think that the answer is NO. Typically with CBS issues, Taurine and Ammonia will be sky high on a Urinary Amino Acids Test. In my case, taurine was just a hair above the reference range. That may have been due more to my history of supplementation than the CBS upregulation. Ammonia was higher than average but well within the range.
23andme does not test key SUOX SNPs so I am unsure where I stand in that regard. I do know that with this enzyme defect, the ability to metabolize sulfur is severely compromised and it can lead to deficiencies in ATP and well as cysteine and methionine. The latter 2 are critical for the methylation cycle but I cannot support them because doing so will worsen my sulfur burden. What were my test results? Cysteine was low and Methionine was SEVERE low. If Yasko’s test strips are accurate, my sulfur burden is extreme high. That’s certainly strong evidence of a problem with the SUOX enzyme. Did the CBS treatments somehow worsen the SUOX? Can the new product bring relief? Time will tell.
Amalgam removal:
I’ve decided to hold off on it and have cancelled the appointment with the local denty who never did call to confirm that he is certified under the safety protocol. If I am to get it done, it will be in Atlanta or Dothan and not until the SUOX option has been fully explored. Yasko gave me another 3 free tests (God bless her) though I think only 1 of them will be useful. It is a urine test that determines your toxic metal burden, which includes mercury. If mercury tests low, amalgam removal is likely unnecessary.
Monday, August 3, 2015
2nd Thoughts about Amalgam Removal/SUOX mutation?
Last weekend was HORRIBLE and today is even worse. I barely made it through the day at work and if I wasn't on phone duty this week, I may have called in sick. Obviously, I cannot go on like this. Although I do get an occasional window of decent energy levels, the overall trend has been sharply downhill. If I don't do anything about it, I believe that I will be worse in 3 months when it's time for my last race. I've tried everything. What more can I do?
More thoughts on the amalgam removal:
This will be a tough decision to make. Some days, I'm sure that I want to get it done. Other times, I'm scared by the risks. I've heard so many conflicting stories. Some describe it as a life saver while others become even sicker as undergoing the procedure. I heard about a woman who had been very athletic and active who gradually got to the point in which she could not do anything anymore. Sound familiar? She got her life back after the procedure
On the other hand, Morley Robbins, a well respected hair test naturopath, warned me that some of his sickest patients are those who have had amalgam removal and have traced their downturn to that procedure. The key is to find somebody who is very skilled and trained under the Hal Huggins protocol. Even if they are skilled, success is not guaranteed. The risk is that the amalgam could break and thus spill toxic mercury into the rest of your tissues and leave you with other problems and even worsen your fatigue. As bad as I am right now, I can't possibly get any worse right? Wrong. Even if I can't run anymore, at least I can work and live independently. If I suffer a brutal downturn, the worst case scenario is possible.
I am unsure if my local denty is trained to use the Hal Huggins safety protocol and since there was no mention of it on his website, I must assume that he is not. I called his office and asked that question specifically and he has yet to respond. I am suddenly awfully leery about this procedure especially from him. I cannot undo it once it's done.
Again, I cannot accept the status-quo and be miserable more often than not. I have no life at all outside of work and you could say that I am existing rather than living. If I have truly exhausted every option and continue to get worse, then it's a risk that I am going to have to take.
If I am committed to going through with it, I have 3 options:
1). Get it done with the local denty. I have only 3 amalgams on 2 teeth so with fewer of them to remove, my risk of complications is a bit lower and I could get it done no later than mid-September, possibly earlier. It was a good call not to rush into it.
2), Get it done with somebody else out of town. There is a denty in Dothan and another in Atlanta that are most definitely trained under the safety protocol. I'll have to read up on each of them but a 2.5-3 hour drive is not much of a factor.Waiting list and multiple consults could be a factor and the cost will be considerable as well. Another denty may be able to measure my mercury burden, which the local guy has not done.
3). Pull the tooth with the double amalgam. Most people will shoot down that idea quickly but hear me out. It's on the end and above another extracted tooth so I won't miss it and it won't affect my smile at all. I will eliminate 2/3 of the mercury in my mouth without any risk of complications.
If I don't improve, I won't bother with the last amalgam.
How sure am I that mercury toxicity is the source of all my troubles? Not completely. The more likely thorn is sulfur toxicity but that may be at least partly related to mercury. It is known that mercury can mess up methylation, which I am severely deficient.
Final option:
My genetic test from 23andme did not test key SNPs for the SUOX mutaion, which along with CBS and NOS are responsible for sulfur metabolism. I have no official documented test for sulfur toxicity except for a mildly elevated taurine level, which may be due to a history of supplementation. That said, I am nearly 100% sure that I have the gene and the enzyme deficiency. I cannot tolerate any sulfur containing amino acids despite the fact that my UAA test shows that I badly need them. Test strips from Yasko show sulfate levels in the highest range (over 1600). Can I do anything else that I haven't already tried? Fortunately, the answer is yes. Yasko has 2 products specifically for SUOX. One is a pill and the other is a liquid dropper. I have ordered them both in addition to Sparga. I'll know within a few weeks if it is working and my decision will be delayed until then.
I will welcome any comments and advice.
More thoughts on the amalgam removal:
This will be a tough decision to make. Some days, I'm sure that I want to get it done. Other times, I'm scared by the risks. I've heard so many conflicting stories. Some describe it as a life saver while others become even sicker as undergoing the procedure. I heard about a woman who had been very athletic and active who gradually got to the point in which she could not do anything anymore. Sound familiar? She got her life back after the procedure
On the other hand, Morley Robbins, a well respected hair test naturopath, warned me that some of his sickest patients are those who have had amalgam removal and have traced their downturn to that procedure. The key is to find somebody who is very skilled and trained under the Hal Huggins protocol. Even if they are skilled, success is not guaranteed. The risk is that the amalgam could break and thus spill toxic mercury into the rest of your tissues and leave you with other problems and even worsen your fatigue. As bad as I am right now, I can't possibly get any worse right? Wrong. Even if I can't run anymore, at least I can work and live independently. If I suffer a brutal downturn, the worst case scenario is possible.
I am unsure if my local denty is trained to use the Hal Huggins safety protocol and since there was no mention of it on his website, I must assume that he is not. I called his office and asked that question specifically and he has yet to respond. I am suddenly awfully leery about this procedure especially from him. I cannot undo it once it's done.
Again, I cannot accept the status-quo and be miserable more often than not. I have no life at all outside of work and you could say that I am existing rather than living. If I have truly exhausted every option and continue to get worse, then it's a risk that I am going to have to take.
If I am committed to going through with it, I have 3 options:
1). Get it done with the local denty. I have only 3 amalgams on 2 teeth so with fewer of them to remove, my risk of complications is a bit lower and I could get it done no later than mid-September, possibly earlier. It was a good call not to rush into it.
2), Get it done with somebody else out of town. There is a denty in Dothan and another in Atlanta that are most definitely trained under the safety protocol. I'll have to read up on each of them but a 2.5-3 hour drive is not much of a factor.Waiting list and multiple consults could be a factor and the cost will be considerable as well. Another denty may be able to measure my mercury burden, which the local guy has not done.
3). Pull the tooth with the double amalgam. Most people will shoot down that idea quickly but hear me out. It's on the end and above another extracted tooth so I won't miss it and it won't affect my smile at all. I will eliminate 2/3 of the mercury in my mouth without any risk of complications.
If I don't improve, I won't bother with the last amalgam.
How sure am I that mercury toxicity is the source of all my troubles? Not completely. The more likely thorn is sulfur toxicity but that may be at least partly related to mercury. It is known that mercury can mess up methylation, which I am severely deficient.
Final option:
My genetic test from 23andme did not test key SNPs for the SUOX mutaion, which along with CBS and NOS are responsible for sulfur metabolism. I have no official documented test for sulfur toxicity except for a mildly elevated taurine level, which may be due to a history of supplementation. That said, I am nearly 100% sure that I have the gene and the enzyme deficiency. I cannot tolerate any sulfur containing amino acids despite the fact that my UAA test shows that I badly need them. Test strips from Yasko show sulfate levels in the highest range (over 1600). Can I do anything else that I haven't already tried? Fortunately, the answer is yes. Yasko has 2 products specifically for SUOX. One is a pill and the other is a liquid dropper. I have ordered them both in addition to Sparga. I'll know within a few weeks if it is working and my decision will be delayed until then.
I will welcome any comments and advice.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Final Zinc and Ceruloplasmin Test
I wanted bad news to get an explanation as to why I feel like this. Nope. The result is surprisingly GOOD, which is actually somewhat disappointing to me.
Here are the numbers:
Ceruloplasmin- 25.9 (plus 2.9)
Zinc- 115 (plus 47)- SHOCKER.
I did not test total copper and am not concerned about my bound/unbound percentage.
Reaction:
I boosted the ceruloplasmin without taking the Liver Beef glandular. Earlier in the year, I had been taking it 1-2x/week. However, since starting on the methylation treatments in late March-early April, I have been off it completely. I posed the following question to Health Coach 7: Can hydroxy B-12 raise copper/Cp or at least prevent loss? He never answered but I found out myself. My theory was correct. B-12 supplementation apparently is helpful for copper deficiency. I hoped to eventually boost my ceruloplasmin to 25.0, which is the low end of the optimal range and I've done it with 0.9 units to spare. I was very pleased with this number.
Zinc: Since zinc and copper are direct antagonists of each other, I expected that my rise in copper would be accompanied by a DROP in zinc. Instead, the opposite has occurred. The optimal range for zinc is 100-130 so mine is PERFECT. What accounts for this rise? Stopping the Liver Beef, no doubt. Health Coach did advise against me taking it and at least this once, he was right. Liver Beef contains not only copper but also significant amounts of Vitamin A and Iron, which is known to suppress zinc. Why did I feel better after taking zinc? Probably the sulfur toxicity. I may be able to continue taking it but the dose must be low.
In any event, I pronounce myself cured of zinc/copper dysregulation. I should be feeling better but I am not!
It is clear to me that the sulfur toxicity MUST be dealt with but I have literally tried everything with no success. Where to go from here?
I really don't know. Perhaps there is a chance that zinc alone without the TMG will better allow me to tolerate the ADHS but that seems unlikely. I could re-order the Sparga but keep the dosage low.
I have made an appointment to get my dental amalgams removed in mid-September just after my Pennsylvania half marathon but it seems unlikely that it will make much difference. I have only 3 amalgam fillings and only 2 teeth are affected so if there is a mercury toxicity, it is likely not very significant. My friend Carrie has 13 and stands to benefit a lot more than I do.
I did think of 2 important points about mercury toxicity. First, according to my hair test, I am a very poor eliminator of toxic metals so even if my mouth is not loaded with it, damage is still possible. Second, as I have stated previously, a HIGH cysteine and LOW methionine is a strong indicator of mercury toxicity. In my case, both are LOW but cysteine is high RELATIVE to methionine. Just like calcium and magnesium on a hair test. Both may read high but if your Mag is low RELATIVE to Cal, a deficiency is likely. I said before that this was an option of near last resort but there are few if any other viable alternatives.
The current plan is to continue "training" as best as I can for the next 3 months. If those last 2 half marathons take 3 hours each, SO WHAT! The Half2Run Challenge will be done come hell or high water. I still could get lucky with a 1:45-1:50 if I hit a window of decent energy. I am 3 months away from my deadline. If it doesn't turn around by then, I'm taking 2 months of inactivity and then I will become a casual jogger. The blog will stay up but I will be posting very infrequently and the training updates will be gone for good.
Here are the numbers:
Ceruloplasmin- 25.9 (plus 2.9)
Zinc- 115 (plus 47)- SHOCKER.
I did not test total copper and am not concerned about my bound/unbound percentage.
Reaction:
I boosted the ceruloplasmin without taking the Liver Beef glandular. Earlier in the year, I had been taking it 1-2x/week. However, since starting on the methylation treatments in late March-early April, I have been off it completely. I posed the following question to Health Coach 7: Can hydroxy B-12 raise copper/Cp or at least prevent loss? He never answered but I found out myself. My theory was correct. B-12 supplementation apparently is helpful for copper deficiency. I hoped to eventually boost my ceruloplasmin to 25.0, which is the low end of the optimal range and I've done it with 0.9 units to spare. I was very pleased with this number.
Zinc: Since zinc and copper are direct antagonists of each other, I expected that my rise in copper would be accompanied by a DROP in zinc. Instead, the opposite has occurred. The optimal range for zinc is 100-130 so mine is PERFECT. What accounts for this rise? Stopping the Liver Beef, no doubt. Health Coach did advise against me taking it and at least this once, he was right. Liver Beef contains not only copper but also significant amounts of Vitamin A and Iron, which is known to suppress zinc. Why did I feel better after taking zinc? Probably the sulfur toxicity. I may be able to continue taking it but the dose must be low.
In any event, I pronounce myself cured of zinc/copper dysregulation. I should be feeling better but I am not!
It is clear to me that the sulfur toxicity MUST be dealt with but I have literally tried everything with no success. Where to go from here?
I really don't know. Perhaps there is a chance that zinc alone without the TMG will better allow me to tolerate the ADHS but that seems unlikely. I could re-order the Sparga but keep the dosage low.
I have made an appointment to get my dental amalgams removed in mid-September just after my Pennsylvania half marathon but it seems unlikely that it will make much difference. I have only 3 amalgam fillings and only 2 teeth are affected so if there is a mercury toxicity, it is likely not very significant. My friend Carrie has 13 and stands to benefit a lot more than I do.
I did think of 2 important points about mercury toxicity. First, according to my hair test, I am a very poor eliminator of toxic metals so even if my mouth is not loaded with it, damage is still possible. Second, as I have stated previously, a HIGH cysteine and LOW methionine is a strong indicator of mercury toxicity. In my case, both are LOW but cysteine is high RELATIVE to methionine. Just like calcium and magnesium on a hair test. Both may read high but if your Mag is low RELATIVE to Cal, a deficiency is likely. I said before that this was an option of near last resort but there are few if any other viable alternatives.
The current plan is to continue "training" as best as I can for the next 3 months. If those last 2 half marathons take 3 hours each, SO WHAT! The Half2Run Challenge will be done come hell or high water. I still could get lucky with a 1:45-1:50 if I hit a window of decent energy. I am 3 months away from my deadline. If it doesn't turn around by then, I'm taking 2 months of inactivity and then I will become a casual jogger. The blog will stay up but I will be posting very infrequently and the training updates will be gone for good.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Training 7/23-8/2
7/23- First full day off the Sparga was no sudden miracle. Workout was a 1 Mile time trial at Gold's in a time of 7:49. I was better than yesterday however and I managed fairly even splits though the sub-8 was in doubt until the final lap. First day back on the TMG, which is intended to improve methionine, which I am SEVERELY deficient and I have a strong feeling that this deficiency is responsible for the instability.
7/24- AM- Maybe another faint glimmer of hope. On the 2nd full day off the Sparga, I improved by 40 seconds to 7:09 with splits of 3:33-3:36. Clearly had more energy but legs remain very stiff and sore for no good reason.
PM- Lakeshore 2.5 in tough humid conditions. Finished with a moving time of 18:49 (7:32 pace) but did stop to squat and get a drink at the halfway point.
7/25- BTC group run. I only planned on 5 so I had to ditch the group in Mile 3 to take the cutoff route back. Finished a hilly route in a time of 38:40 (7:44 pace). Struggled a bit in the last 2 miles but managed to keep it under 8 all the way.
7/26- AM. Vestavia Mile trial. I was hoping for a sub-6:30 and managed a 6:15 with good splits (93-96-96-90). That's minus 53 in the last 2 days and minus 93 in the last 3. How I wish it was this easy to improve in the 5s.
PM- Interesting better with or without test this time with the TMG. 2 miles at Gold's in 14:50 then popped a pill and ran the next 2 in 14:40. Felt only a slight difference in energy with the extra pill but 5 ticks per mile is not enough to be considered significant. Had to squat again but that's probably detox. Good thing I was indoors. Overall time was 29:30 for 4 miles (7:23 pace). Totaled 23 miles on the week.
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7/27- Gold's 3 in 21:54 (7:18 pace). Performance was similar to yesterday but did feel a bit more loose in the legs. A 5K would have been in the mid-22s but I was not going all out. I'm planning on trying another Mile tomorrow and think I have a chance at a sub-6:00. My best time since starting the methylation support is only a 6:12.
Update: I have ordered another lab test. This time I will test only zinc and ceruloplasmin. I'm not worried about unbound copper. The test will reveal what, if any effect B-12 has on Cp. I have not tried Liver recently but doubt that I can tolerate it. If I need zinc, which is possible, I should be able to tolerate it now that my methylation has improved. I want to try methionine and cysteine soon but as long as I am improving, I'm sticking with the current formula. That said, I could collapse tomorrow. 4 straight non-horrible days is one of my longest streaks of the year.
7/28- The collapse did indeed come today. Spain Park Mile in 7:50. Splits were 1:36-2:00-2:13-2:01 and needed a rally just to secure a sub-8. Heavy and slow from the start and the power cut off completely after just 200 meters. TMG (methylation) is the culprit yet I desperately need it. Catch 22. I'm hoping to see a severe zinc deficit on my lab test. Methionine and cysteine are OUT! I may need to go back on Sparga at a lower dose.
PM- Better with or without test with zinc on Wisteria. Ran the first HALF mile downhill in 5:30 (11:00 pace) after getting worse with more TMG. Popped a zinc pill and immediately improved to 4:20 (8:40 pace) going uphill. Lab test is tomorrow.
7/29- Worked only a half day but the afternoon included a trip to the denty for a cleaning. I've made an appointment to get my amalgams out in late September. From there, it was to the lab for the zinc and ceruloplasmin blood test.
Trak Shak 3 in 23:51 (7:57 pace). A non-horrible day but just barely. I didn't have much more to give but the zinc most definitely made a difference. Splits were 7:47-8:03-8:01.
7/30- 3 miles at Gold's in 23:00 (7:40 pace). It was a zinc test. Passed 1.5 in 11:49, which was almost exactly the same as yesterday then popped 1 more zinc and finished with an 11:11 (7:27 pace vs 7:53 in the fist half). That's not a radical difference but it IS enough to be considered significant. I should get the blood test back tomorrow. As it stands, I need the ADHS or else my Na and K will go through the roof but I cannot take it without TMG. I cannot tolerate TMG without zinc. IT SUCKS TO BE ME!
7/31- BAD! No attempt to run, which is a shame because it's cooler and less humid today. I cannot take a whole TMG even with the extra zinc. Without any TMG, I probably cannot tolerate the ADHS.
8/1-BTC social run was a complete disaster. 1 Mile in 9:26. I am now completely intolerant to TMG. I'm going to order Sparga again but doubt that it will work.
8/2- Very modest improvement to 8:22 on Wisteria.
Summary:
I'm beginning to think that dental amalgam removal is my only remaining option. There are risks involved and I intend to fully question the denty and get Yasko's opinion. Yes, there is a risk that I will get worse but at this point, it's a risk that I am willing to take. Although I get an occasional 3 day window in which I do a little better, the overall trend has been sharply downhill. I am FAR worse now than I was just 2 months ago when I was preparing for the Asheville 10K. I will make another attempt to go completely sugar free and will give the Sparga another try.
7/24- AM- Maybe another faint glimmer of hope. On the 2nd full day off the Sparga, I improved by 40 seconds to 7:09 with splits of 3:33-3:36. Clearly had more energy but legs remain very stiff and sore for no good reason.
PM- Lakeshore 2.5 in tough humid conditions. Finished with a moving time of 18:49 (7:32 pace) but did stop to squat and get a drink at the halfway point.
7/25- BTC group run. I only planned on 5 so I had to ditch the group in Mile 3 to take the cutoff route back. Finished a hilly route in a time of 38:40 (7:44 pace). Struggled a bit in the last 2 miles but managed to keep it under 8 all the way.
7/26- AM. Vestavia Mile trial. I was hoping for a sub-6:30 and managed a 6:15 with good splits (93-96-96-90). That's minus 53 in the last 2 days and minus 93 in the last 3. How I wish it was this easy to improve in the 5s.
PM- Interesting better with or without test this time with the TMG. 2 miles at Gold's in 14:50 then popped a pill and ran the next 2 in 14:40. Felt only a slight difference in energy with the extra pill but 5 ticks per mile is not enough to be considered significant. Had to squat again but that's probably detox. Good thing I was indoors. Overall time was 29:30 for 4 miles (7:23 pace). Totaled 23 miles on the week.
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7/27- Gold's 3 in 21:54 (7:18 pace). Performance was similar to yesterday but did feel a bit more loose in the legs. A 5K would have been in the mid-22s but I was not going all out. I'm planning on trying another Mile tomorrow and think I have a chance at a sub-6:00. My best time since starting the methylation support is only a 6:12.
Update: I have ordered another lab test. This time I will test only zinc and ceruloplasmin. I'm not worried about unbound copper. The test will reveal what, if any effect B-12 has on Cp. I have not tried Liver recently but doubt that I can tolerate it. If I need zinc, which is possible, I should be able to tolerate it now that my methylation has improved. I want to try methionine and cysteine soon but as long as I am improving, I'm sticking with the current formula. That said, I could collapse tomorrow. 4 straight non-horrible days is one of my longest streaks of the year.
7/28- The collapse did indeed come today. Spain Park Mile in 7:50. Splits were 1:36-2:00-2:13-2:01 and needed a rally just to secure a sub-8. Heavy and slow from the start and the power cut off completely after just 200 meters. TMG (methylation) is the culprit yet I desperately need it. Catch 22. I'm hoping to see a severe zinc deficit on my lab test. Methionine and cysteine are OUT! I may need to go back on Sparga at a lower dose.
PM- Better with or without test with zinc on Wisteria. Ran the first HALF mile downhill in 5:30 (11:00 pace) after getting worse with more TMG. Popped a zinc pill and immediately improved to 4:20 (8:40 pace) going uphill. Lab test is tomorrow.
7/29- Worked only a half day but the afternoon included a trip to the denty for a cleaning. I've made an appointment to get my amalgams out in late September. From there, it was to the lab for the zinc and ceruloplasmin blood test.
Trak Shak 3 in 23:51 (7:57 pace). A non-horrible day but just barely. I didn't have much more to give but the zinc most definitely made a difference. Splits were 7:47-8:03-8:01.
7/30- 3 miles at Gold's in 23:00 (7:40 pace). It was a zinc test. Passed 1.5 in 11:49, which was almost exactly the same as yesterday then popped 1 more zinc and finished with an 11:11 (7:27 pace vs 7:53 in the fist half). That's not a radical difference but it IS enough to be considered significant. I should get the blood test back tomorrow. As it stands, I need the ADHS or else my Na and K will go through the roof but I cannot take it without TMG. I cannot tolerate TMG without zinc. IT SUCKS TO BE ME!
7/31- BAD! No attempt to run, which is a shame because it's cooler and less humid today. I cannot take a whole TMG even with the extra zinc. Without any TMG, I probably cannot tolerate the ADHS.
8/1-BTC social run was a complete disaster. 1 Mile in 9:26. I am now completely intolerant to TMG. I'm going to order Sparga again but doubt that it will work.
8/2- Very modest improvement to 8:22 on Wisteria.
Summary:
I'm beginning to think that dental amalgam removal is my only remaining option. There are risks involved and I intend to fully question the denty and get Yasko's opinion. Yes, there is a risk that I will get worse but at this point, it's a risk that I am willing to take. Although I get an occasional 3 day window in which I do a little better, the overall trend has been sharply downhill. I am FAR worse now than I was just 2 months ago when I was preparing for the Asheville 10K. I will make another attempt to go completely sugar free and will give the Sparga another try.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Sparga/Additional tests
This week has been HORRIBLE thus far. I barely made 3 @ sub-8 pace on Monday and failed the last 2 days. Sparga is the culprit. It's a product that is related to asparagus in concentrated liquid form that is simply added to a cup of water to make it nearly tasteless. Supposedly, it can clear a CBS mutation in about 3 months and usually is not necessary to take for life.
I've been on this stuff for about 6 weeks but have been very aggressive with the dose. It calls for 8-10 drops but also says that it can be taken 2-3 times per day. I've been taking it twice a day for about a month. It was the only sulfur detox treatment that I had been able to tolerate for any length of time. I did one better with or without test on it and found that my speed was nearly identical either way. It was not this Monday night that I recognized that I became MUCH stiffer after my evening dosage and a 2nd dose confirmed it. It is possible that I am releasing sulfur that was trapped in organ as was the case with copper last year. If that's true, I will get better eventually but it takes time and I have lost patience.
The only good news is that it seems that I CAN tolerate TMG, which produces methionine (I tested at 2 vs a reference range of 7-35). If I'm bold, I may try adding some methionine itself along with cysteine. I'm still taking a little extra Cal/Mag and B-12 with no problem. Extra zinc could be an option.
Testing:
I need to do another zinc/ceruloplasmin test. A big question that I had is whether or not B-12 can raise copper and Cp. Health Coach 7 NEVER answered. Again, go with Yasko instead! I'll find out myself by next week.
I'll hold off on the free UAA re-test until mid-late August. I want to see improvements in my taurine and methionine more than anything else.
I see the dentist next week for a cleaning. I'm not going to rush into getting amalgams removed but it remains an option to consider.
Racing:
I have signed up for the Montour Trail half marathon (PA) on 9/12 and it's gonna suck!
I will sign up for Greenville half (SC) on 10/31 shortly, which finishes the Half2Run challenge.
The time limit for both races is 3.5 hours (16 minute pace) so even if I have to walk most of it, finishing is a pretty safe bet no matter how terrible I feel.
The end of October will be my deadline. I'm semi-retired now but if I have not made significant steady progress by then, it's time to hang it up officially .
I've been on this stuff for about 6 weeks but have been very aggressive with the dose. It calls for 8-10 drops but also says that it can be taken 2-3 times per day. I've been taking it twice a day for about a month. It was the only sulfur detox treatment that I had been able to tolerate for any length of time. I did one better with or without test on it and found that my speed was nearly identical either way. It was not this Monday night that I recognized that I became MUCH stiffer after my evening dosage and a 2nd dose confirmed it. It is possible that I am releasing sulfur that was trapped in organ as was the case with copper last year. If that's true, I will get better eventually but it takes time and I have lost patience.
The only good news is that it seems that I CAN tolerate TMG, which produces methionine (I tested at 2 vs a reference range of 7-35). If I'm bold, I may try adding some methionine itself along with cysteine. I'm still taking a little extra Cal/Mag and B-12 with no problem. Extra zinc could be an option.
Testing:
I need to do another zinc/ceruloplasmin test. A big question that I had is whether or not B-12 can raise copper and Cp. Health Coach 7 NEVER answered. Again, go with Yasko instead! I'll find out myself by next week.
I'll hold off on the free UAA re-test until mid-late August. I want to see improvements in my taurine and methionine more than anything else.
I see the dentist next week for a cleaning. I'm not going to rush into getting amalgams removed but it remains an option to consider.
Racing:
I have signed up for the Montour Trail half marathon (PA) on 9/12 and it's gonna suck!
I will sign up for Greenville half (SC) on 10/31 shortly, which finishes the Half2Run challenge.
The time limit for both races is 3.5 hours (16 minute pace) so even if I have to walk most of it, finishing is a pretty safe bet no matter how terrible I feel.
The end of October will be my deadline. I'm semi-retired now but if I have not made significant steady progress by then, it's time to hang it up officially .
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Future road trips
The one thing that I will miss the most is all the travel involved with racing. Of course, I can still do it but there are a lot of places that I would not go without a race. Here's a breakdown of places that I'd like to go. The yes/probably/maybe/doubtful/no indicates whether or not I'd go without a race:
Domestic:
Ocean City, Maryland- I spent a summer here and liked the area and there is a fast course here in April. I've raced on the Great Lakes, Pacific coast and Gulf coast but not the Atlantic in the USA. I suppose you could count Halifax, Nova Scotia though. One thing that I never did when I lived here was drive all the way up and down the Delmarva peninsula, which I would certainly do this time. It would be a nice trip but I likely would NOT do it without a race.
Dallas, Texas- I've raced in Austin and it was my crowning achievement but Austin is not culturally similar to the rest of Texas and I figure Dallas is my best choice for that. There are a lot of good options in the early Spring and late Fall here. In this case, YES, I would make the trip to see Bush-43's presidential library. I'm a Carter baby and I've seen the library of every president that has served in my lifetime except W's. That would make it worth the trip.
San Diego, California- I chose a good one for California with 13.1 LA but have wanted to race here as well. Dubbed America's Finest City, there are several options here but would likely choose a half here in mid-August where I could go from temps in the mid-90s with high humidity to sunny and 75. I've never been more than ankle deep in the Pacific but August in San Diego might be warm enough to swim. Maybe, I would go there without a race.
New England double- In October, there is a race in Connecticut on Saturday followed by another in Rhode Island on Sunday. Obviously, I am in no condition for that any time soon. I MIGHT go here anyway because I feel like I'm cheating on the 50 states project. I have very faint memories of being in Massachusetts but no memory of Connecticut and Rhode Island. I may have to go back to truly count those 2.
Anchorage, Alaska- The race to run here held near the summer solstice with nearly 24 hours of daylight and the average temps are usually around 60 here by early summer vs 90 in Birmingham. YES, I would go here regardless. I've been to 48 states already and I've got to finish now.
Hawaii- Same deal here but it will be awfully depressing to go here without a woman.
International:
Calgary, Alberta, Canada- This is the only international city on my list that I would even consider visiting without a race. I'd probably fly into Spokane and make the scenic drive through British Columbia and expect the border crossing to go without a hitch. I hear the Canadian Rockies are really beautiful too.
Liverpool, England- I'd fly to London and take the train to run a RNR event here. I could also stop in Birmingham just for fun and cross the border into Scotland to get in touch with my roots. I am approximately 20% Scottish according to 23andme DNA. I'd probably enjoy this trip but traveling alone across the ocean just doesn't appeal to me.
Cape Town, South Africa- One of the most beautiful cities in the world and reportedly safe for tourists. It is home to the "most beautiful marathon" which encompasses the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Hence, the name 2 Oceans. There's plenty to see and do aside from racing here but I definitely would not go here alone.
Jerusalem, Israel, Hong Kong and Sydney Australia fit the same category. All would be great trips but too depressing to visit alone.
Domestic:
Ocean City, Maryland- I spent a summer here and liked the area and there is a fast course here in April. I've raced on the Great Lakes, Pacific coast and Gulf coast but not the Atlantic in the USA. I suppose you could count Halifax, Nova Scotia though. One thing that I never did when I lived here was drive all the way up and down the Delmarva peninsula, which I would certainly do this time. It would be a nice trip but I likely would NOT do it without a race.
Dallas, Texas- I've raced in Austin and it was my crowning achievement but Austin is not culturally similar to the rest of Texas and I figure Dallas is my best choice for that. There are a lot of good options in the early Spring and late Fall here. In this case, YES, I would make the trip to see Bush-43's presidential library. I'm a Carter baby and I've seen the library of every president that has served in my lifetime except W's. That would make it worth the trip.
San Diego, California- I chose a good one for California with 13.1 LA but have wanted to race here as well. Dubbed America's Finest City, there are several options here but would likely choose a half here in mid-August where I could go from temps in the mid-90s with high humidity to sunny and 75. I've never been more than ankle deep in the Pacific but August in San Diego might be warm enough to swim. Maybe, I would go there without a race.
New England double- In October, there is a race in Connecticut on Saturday followed by another in Rhode Island on Sunday. Obviously, I am in no condition for that any time soon. I MIGHT go here anyway because I feel like I'm cheating on the 50 states project. I have very faint memories of being in Massachusetts but no memory of Connecticut and Rhode Island. I may have to go back to truly count those 2.
Anchorage, Alaska- The race to run here held near the summer solstice with nearly 24 hours of daylight and the average temps are usually around 60 here by early summer vs 90 in Birmingham. YES, I would go here regardless. I've been to 48 states already and I've got to finish now.
Hawaii- Same deal here but it will be awfully depressing to go here without a woman.
International:
Calgary, Alberta, Canada- This is the only international city on my list that I would even consider visiting without a race. I'd probably fly into Spokane and make the scenic drive through British Columbia and expect the border crossing to go without a hitch. I hear the Canadian Rockies are really beautiful too.
Liverpool, England- I'd fly to London and take the train to run a RNR event here. I could also stop in Birmingham just for fun and cross the border into Scotland to get in touch with my roots. I am approximately 20% Scottish according to 23andme DNA. I'd probably enjoy this trip but traveling alone across the ocean just doesn't appeal to me.
Cape Town, South Africa- One of the most beautiful cities in the world and reportedly safe for tourists. It is home to the "most beautiful marathon" which encompasses the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Hence, the name 2 Oceans. There's plenty to see and do aside from racing here but I definitely would not go here alone.
Jerusalem, Israel, Hong Kong and Sydney Australia fit the same category. All would be great trips but too depressing to visit alone.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Training 7/13-7/19
Another faint glimmer of hope recently. Since receiving the UAA results, I have been VERY aggressive with the Sparga and have upped my Cal in an attempt to control my sulfur toxicity. Since then, it appears that my tolerance to methyl donors has improved.
7/13- AM- Went off ADHS and had a good morning session. 2 miles in 13:50 with an even pace.
PM- Magic wore off. Time was up to 16:40 over the same distance.
7/14- No attempt to run. Took half a TMG (methyl) and seemed to tolerate it well.
7/15- Trak Shak 3 in about 22:30 (7:30 pace). I was working at the end but was able to keep it fairly even. Caught in rain in Mile 3 but fortunately no lightning. ADHS dose has been upped to 3.
7/16- Took a full methyl pill and tolerated 5 ADHS. Came through 3 mile in 21:43 but was fading (7:25 3rd mile) after a pair of 7:09s to start. Popped a 6th pill and was able to do another 2 in 14:41 for an overall time of 36:24 (7:17 pace) for 5 miles minus the stop.
7/17- Steamy 3 on Wisteria in 23:24 (7:48 pace). Not bad but was hoping for better. Pace slipped to the 8:00 range on the up side.
7/18- BAD. Hoping for 7 at the BTC group run. I had to stop at 2 in 15:47 then walked for a bit then worked hard for an 8:07 in Mile 3. This breaks a string of 3 straight non-horrible days.
7/19- BAD to worse. Came through 1 Mile in 7:50 then collapsed and slow jogged the next mile.
BLEAK. I'm shutting down the training log until further notice. Only 8 weeks until my next half marathon. Looking like a time in the neighborhood of 3 hours is to be expected.
7/13- AM- Went off ADHS and had a good morning session. 2 miles in 13:50 with an even pace.
PM- Magic wore off. Time was up to 16:40 over the same distance.
7/14- No attempt to run. Took half a TMG (methyl) and seemed to tolerate it well.
7/15- Trak Shak 3 in about 22:30 (7:30 pace). I was working at the end but was able to keep it fairly even. Caught in rain in Mile 3 but fortunately no lightning. ADHS dose has been upped to 3.
7/16- Took a full methyl pill and tolerated 5 ADHS. Came through 3 mile in 21:43 but was fading (7:25 3rd mile) after a pair of 7:09s to start. Popped a 6th pill and was able to do another 2 in 14:41 for an overall time of 36:24 (7:17 pace) for 5 miles minus the stop.
7/17- Steamy 3 on Wisteria in 23:24 (7:48 pace). Not bad but was hoping for better. Pace slipped to the 8:00 range on the up side.
7/18- BAD. Hoping for 7 at the BTC group run. I had to stop at 2 in 15:47 then walked for a bit then worked hard for an 8:07 in Mile 3. This breaks a string of 3 straight non-horrible days.
7/19- BAD to worse. Came through 1 Mile in 7:50 then collapsed and slow jogged the next mile.
BLEAK. I'm shutting down the training log until further notice. Only 8 weeks until my next half marathon. Looking like a time in the neighborhood of 3 hours is to be expected.
Friday, July 10, 2015
New products and testing
I DESPERATELY need to support the methionine. I need to know how close I am to being able to tolerate it.
I have ordered sulfate testing strips from Yasko. I assume that the values correlate well with taurine. How does it work? You have to urinate on a strip of paper, which turns colors based on your level of sulfur. I don't know what colors are which yet but supposedly, one color is over 1600, then it goes to 1200-1600, which is where I am now. Then, it keeps going down in increments of 400. I believe that I need to be in the 400-800 range before starting methyl. Then, it needs to be continually monitored.
I am also ordered an SHMT spray and more Hydroxy B12. Not much else to report. I will add to this later. SHMT helps convert glycine to serine, which is one of the amino acids in which I am low.
UPDATE:
So far so good with the minute dose of the SHMT spray. The strips arrived and I'm not entirely clear on how to use them but the test strip is 4 pink squares which turn orange if the sulfate levels exceed a certain point.
If all 4 squares change, you are over 1600 then it goes down in increments of 400.
I have tested several times above 1600 but word on the street is that it must be tested throughout the day to get an accurate picture. At the end of the day, I really don't care what my result is so long as I can tolerate the methyl donors that I desperately need.
I have ordered sulfate testing strips from Yasko. I assume that the values correlate well with taurine. How does it work? You have to urinate on a strip of paper, which turns colors based on your level of sulfur. I don't know what colors are which yet but supposedly, one color is over 1600, then it goes to 1200-1600, which is where I am now. Then, it keeps going down in increments of 400. I believe that I need to be in the 400-800 range before starting methyl. Then, it needs to be continually monitored.
I am also ordered an SHMT spray and more Hydroxy B12. Not much else to report. I will add to this later. SHMT helps convert glycine to serine, which is one of the amino acids in which I am low.
UPDATE:
So far so good with the minute dose of the SHMT spray. The strips arrived and I'm not entirely clear on how to use them but the test strip is 4 pink squares which turn orange if the sulfate levels exceed a certain point.
If all 4 squares change, you are over 1600 then it goes down in increments of 400.
I have tested several times above 1600 but word on the street is that it must be tested throughout the day to get an accurate picture. At the end of the day, I really don't care what my result is so long as I can tolerate the methyl donors that I desperately need.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Urinary Amino Acid Test Results
43 Amino acids were tested. I'm not going to list all of them, just the highlights and low lights.
The reference range in this case is the middle 95% of all results tested. The top and bottom 2.5% are flagged as abnormal. Keep in mind that a healthy person is much LESS likely to get tested so if you are outside the range, you've got a serious deficiency or excess. It's probably best to be between the 16th-84th percentile to be considered anywhere near optimal.
The expected abnormalities:
My mitochondrial function is weak, which prevents me from reaching my max heart rate. I already knew that but that's about the least of my problems.
-Ammonia, which was perfectly normal in the blood, was a bit on the high side here. The reference range was 9K-39K and I was 31K, which put me around the 85th percentile. Maybe that raises a yellow flag but it's not severe. Does it explain my intolerance to ammonia reducing treatments? I don't know but I doubt it.
-Taurine: The upper limit of the reference range was 1200 and I was just over at 1210. I expected it to be through the roof (over 2500) so I guess that's a pleasant surprise and supposedly, the alanine reduces it further. With that being said, that's still a BAD result and indicates compromised lung function. I'm in the 98th percentile so only 2 percent of patients tested are worse off than I am in this regard. I need to shoot for below 800 before I can tolerate any methyl donors and I've got quite a ways to go.
Cysteine, Butyrate, Serine and PEA were all low but not severely so. I know that cysteine is involved in methylation, Butyrate has to do with ammonia detox and PEA is a neurotransmitter precursor. Not too worried about those right now but I will attempt to address the Serine with SHMT.
-Several other neurotransmitter precursors such as tyrosine, tryptophan and a couple others tested on the low side of normal but within the range. Not too worried about those either.
- The glutamine/glutamate ratio along with GABA was barely normal. The spray, which targeted that GAD mutation has failed. The doc suggested another spray called SHMT. I will consider that one down the road.
The SHOCKER was beta alanine. I expected it to be very low because it is a taurine antagonist. NOPE. It was SKY HIGH! The reference range was anything below 21 and my value was 50. I had been supplementing with it with success last week but not surprisingly, it quit working soon after. PERHAPS, it did its job and lowered taurine a bit last week. I don't know what ill effects can occur when that one gets too high and I don't plan on finding out from personal experience. Regardless, this is VERY BAD NEWS and eliminates yet another promising option.
What more can I do to reduce the taurine? I've officially run out of options. I can probably tolerate occasional CBS RNA drops but must keep the dose VERY low. I also will increase the Cal/Mag. At the end of the day, I may be forced to shut it down and just endure a rough 2 months while doing whatever is necessary to get the taurine below 800.
Why is it so important to get the taurine below 800?
That is the point in which it is safe to start treating the methylation cycle and I DESPERATELY need to treat it. My worst deficiency is Methionine, the starting point of the methylation cycle. The reference range was 7-35 units. I am at 2! Though unconfirmed by the doctor, I am 95% sure that this is the cause of my extreme mineral sensitivity!! Until I get the taurine below 800, there is nothing I can do about it.
How do I know that Methionine is the problem and why not treat it now?
First off, a 2 is a SEVERE deficiency. A 7 would be in the 2.5th percentile so a 2 must be in the 0.5-0.1st percentile, which means that 99.5-99.9% of SICK patients are better off than I am in this regard. Think back to my history. Just a half a pill made the difference between a personal record and a mediocre performance. There HAD to be a severe issue somewhere that was causing such extreme reactions. TMG, which supports methylation is designed to convert homocysteine into methionine. When I took it, it DID indeed knock out the sensitivity to zinc and copper that plagued me throughout the year last racing season. Unfortunately, it also exacerbated the excess taurine and sulfur burden and actually made me feel worse overall. Again, if I can get the taurine down below 800, that won't happen.
Mercury toxicity:
I've read that yes, low methionine may be an indicator of mercury but it's usually accompanied by an elevated cysteine whereas my cysteine was also low. I'm still considering amalgam removal but will not do anything rash. Pectasol may be a better option and yes, TMG removes mercury as well.
Plan going forward:
I'm not real hopeful.
-CBS drops to lower taurine, which I will take almost no matter what ill-effects I face.
-increase Cal/Mag
-limit methyl folate
-I'll finish the Sparga even though it's ineffective.
This doctor is allowing me to do a re-test for free and overall, her prices are more reasonable than Health Coach 7. I'm sure she does that for all patients but that's a really nice thing to do. When seeking professional help, I recommend Dr. Amy Yasko, NOT Health Coach 7. By the way, I STILL have not gotten the recording of the consult with Dr. Jeff from HC7. Screw 'em!
My re-test will be done in about 6 weeks and I'll have the results in about 8 weeks. In the meantime, it's gonna SUCK!
The reference range in this case is the middle 95% of all results tested. The top and bottom 2.5% are flagged as abnormal. Keep in mind that a healthy person is much LESS likely to get tested so if you are outside the range, you've got a serious deficiency or excess. It's probably best to be between the 16th-84th percentile to be considered anywhere near optimal.
The expected abnormalities:
My mitochondrial function is weak, which prevents me from reaching my max heart rate. I already knew that but that's about the least of my problems.
-Ammonia, which was perfectly normal in the blood, was a bit on the high side here. The reference range was 9K-39K and I was 31K, which put me around the 85th percentile. Maybe that raises a yellow flag but it's not severe. Does it explain my intolerance to ammonia reducing treatments? I don't know but I doubt it.
-Taurine: The upper limit of the reference range was 1200 and I was just over at 1210. I expected it to be through the roof (over 2500) so I guess that's a pleasant surprise and supposedly, the alanine reduces it further. With that being said, that's still a BAD result and indicates compromised lung function. I'm in the 98th percentile so only 2 percent of patients tested are worse off than I am in this regard. I need to shoot for below 800 before I can tolerate any methyl donors and I've got quite a ways to go.
Cysteine, Butyrate, Serine and PEA were all low but not severely so. I know that cysteine is involved in methylation, Butyrate has to do with ammonia detox and PEA is a neurotransmitter precursor. Not too worried about those right now but I will attempt to address the Serine with SHMT.
-Several other neurotransmitter precursors such as tyrosine, tryptophan and a couple others tested on the low side of normal but within the range. Not too worried about those either.
- The glutamine/glutamate ratio along with GABA was barely normal. The spray, which targeted that GAD mutation has failed. The doc suggested another spray called SHMT. I will consider that one down the road.
The SHOCKER was beta alanine. I expected it to be very low because it is a taurine antagonist. NOPE. It was SKY HIGH! The reference range was anything below 21 and my value was 50. I had been supplementing with it with success last week but not surprisingly, it quit working soon after. PERHAPS, it did its job and lowered taurine a bit last week. I don't know what ill effects can occur when that one gets too high and I don't plan on finding out from personal experience. Regardless, this is VERY BAD NEWS and eliminates yet another promising option.
What more can I do to reduce the taurine? I've officially run out of options. I can probably tolerate occasional CBS RNA drops but must keep the dose VERY low. I also will increase the Cal/Mag. At the end of the day, I may be forced to shut it down and just endure a rough 2 months while doing whatever is necessary to get the taurine below 800.
Why is it so important to get the taurine below 800?
That is the point in which it is safe to start treating the methylation cycle and I DESPERATELY need to treat it. My worst deficiency is Methionine, the starting point of the methylation cycle. The reference range was 7-35 units. I am at 2! Though unconfirmed by the doctor, I am 95% sure that this is the cause of my extreme mineral sensitivity!! Until I get the taurine below 800, there is nothing I can do about it.
How do I know that Methionine is the problem and why not treat it now?
First off, a 2 is a SEVERE deficiency. A 7 would be in the 2.5th percentile so a 2 must be in the 0.5-0.1st percentile, which means that 99.5-99.9% of SICK patients are better off than I am in this regard. Think back to my history. Just a half a pill made the difference between a personal record and a mediocre performance. There HAD to be a severe issue somewhere that was causing such extreme reactions. TMG, which supports methylation is designed to convert homocysteine into methionine. When I took it, it DID indeed knock out the sensitivity to zinc and copper that plagued me throughout the year last racing season. Unfortunately, it also exacerbated the excess taurine and sulfur burden and actually made me feel worse overall. Again, if I can get the taurine down below 800, that won't happen.
Mercury toxicity:
I've read that yes, low methionine may be an indicator of mercury but it's usually accompanied by an elevated cysteine whereas my cysteine was also low. I'm still considering amalgam removal but will not do anything rash. Pectasol may be a better option and yes, TMG removes mercury as well.
Plan going forward:
I'm not real hopeful.
-CBS drops to lower taurine, which I will take almost no matter what ill-effects I face.
-increase Cal/Mag
-limit methyl folate
-I'll finish the Sparga even though it's ineffective.
This doctor is allowing me to do a re-test for free and overall, her prices are more reasonable than Health Coach 7. I'm sure she does that for all patients but that's a really nice thing to do. When seeking professional help, I recommend Dr. Amy Yasko, NOT Health Coach 7. By the way, I STILL have not gotten the recording of the consult with Dr. Jeff from HC7. Screw 'em!
My re-test will be done in about 6 weeks and I'll have the results in about 8 weeks. In the meantime, it's gonna SUCK!
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