Lis
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Hi Dr Ben,
Thankyou so much for starting this website. I intend to schedule a consult with you very soon, but in meantime have a couple of questions. My background is I’ve been going through IVF this past 12 months (3 x IUI, 2 x fresh stim cycles, 2 x frozen transfers). Only 1 chemical pregnancy. Total time TTC is 3 years. Was on birth control for a few years previously. I pushed and pushed for testing and discovered I have extremely high NK cells (56%). Started on steroid/clexane treatment along with normal IVF drugs which resulted in the only chem preg. After 4 months of steroids i was on verge of nervous breakdown and needed a few months off. 2 weeks ago I have tested positive for MTHFR – C677T Homozygous.
1. Have you ever noticed a link between elevated NK cells and MTHFR?
2. I have ordered all the suggested supplements (5-MTHF, Methyl B-12 lozenges, vit D-5000, cal/mag citrate powder). How long would you suggest waiting to do another IVF cycle? Do I need time for my body to absorb folic acid? I have bought 1mg 5-MTHF tablets and 5mg 5-MTHF so I can wean on as you’ve suggested. Starting at 1mg for 1 week etc. My homoscyteine levels were normal, so i don’t think i need to take the special formula for that.
3. What would be the best article to give my IVF specialist to explain the need for methylated folate? I cannot believe I have been told to take 5mg of folic acid (megafol) by him. It is only due to my own research (having read Br Alan Beer’s book) and stumbling across your website that I know this is wrong! I am currently on a wait list to see a local doctor in Australia who has a similar natural background to you to assist with my MTHFR supplements. I won’t see him until 20th April.
In a way I think it must be a blessing in disguise that we have not fallen pregnant before my diagnosis of MTHFR. Although we have wanted a child so much, this gives me the opportunity to get my health on track before our next attempt.
I have also suffered anxiety and depression for many years. When driving to school as a child I would get a terribly nervous stomach and have to run to the toilet as soon as I got to school. I didn’t have the vocabulary to tell my parents what was going on and thought everyone felt the same as me. Even with these issues I excelled at school and was school vice-captain. In my late teens and early 20′s I had severe addiction issues and was treated for depression with Aropax for 8 years (Paxil). Then I got clean and sober for 6 years through a 12 step group. Years later in my 30′s (33 now) I have left the 12 step group as I realised I had grown up and didn’t need to use alcohol or drugs as a crutch anymore. I now drink in moderation (my main issues were taking speed to give me energy, and using pot to relax). However after reading about the addiction issues of people with MTHFR my past is making a lot more sense. I have always felt fatigue/depression/anxiety. Always such physical symptoms (not seeming to be caused by actual events). I can understand how people with MTHFR who don’t absorb enough vitamins and constantly feel low could reach for substances to help them feel better (not sure if my understanding of the link is correct). That’s how it always felt for me. Like I never felt I was functioning as well as others, didn’t cope as well with stress, not enough energy, so I would rely on substances to give me a boost or calm me down. Thank God I have learnt that drugs and alcohol are not the answer. I want to find out how I can lead the best/healthiest life possible with the body I’ve been given.
I have gone gluten free/dairy free etc in past but it never helped, probably because I didn’t have the right supplementation to assist me. I am also currently on Prozac as I tried to live without anti-depressants for 1 year and started having panic attacks and terrible anxiety. I am generally either depressed or anxious, one or the other all the time. And the doctors said this would not help me concieve so they suggested I go back on an SSRI. I would dearly love to be anti-d free!! However after being on them since my early 20′s I feel like my brain may have not had the chance to develop properly. It scares me to think of the damage that might have been done by this long term use of SSRI’s. All along I had no idea I was not absorbing folic/B vitamins. I guess my best shot is to get my health on track and then attempt to tackle the anti-d issue.
So sorry for the long post. I guess I had a lot to get off my chest. Perhaps it will be best to schedule a consult so that you can help me work with my new doctor. I hope you are available to consult with me in Australia, I will call your office at the next available time to discuss(due to time difference).
I am currently cutting out all wheat, eating lots of fruit and veges and exercising daily. I have made a start on trying to improve things myself and would be so appreciative of being able to consult with you about above issues.
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Lis
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Also, once I get my own health on track I would love to assist getting the word out in my part of the world about MTHFR. Having only been diagnosed 2 weeks ago I am still in shock over the fact that I have been through 12 months of IVF before this test was even suggested. You would think given the importance of folic acid for a developing baby that each and every woman who is intending to concieve should be tested for this (and free by the government!). A friend of a friend has a little girl with spina bifida who is 3 years old (most beautiful child) and endured many operations and hospital stays becauser her mother was not tested for this before she was born. If we can save one child from similar health issues it will be worth every effort.
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