[S]ometimes supplements crucial to our recovery cause unpleasant “startup reactions”. I’ve learned that through my research on methylation and my experiments with the supplements. Starting yesterday I made the bold decision to to try to break on through to the other side of my brain fog reaction with vitamin B6. Let me explain.
Here’s a sample of what Freddd teaches which encapsulates my thinking about B6:
Methylb12 does indeed cause major startup symptoms in the severely deficient such as long term CFS/ME/FMS. It affects virtually every one of as many as 200-300 symptoms all at once and can certainly look like a worsening when in fact it leads to actual healing and recovery. The majority see significant results, the most significant being seen in those that have the most intense startup effects who are usually the sickest . . .
People without methylb12 deficiency symptoms have no reaction to mb12 at all. People without adenosylb12 deficiency symptoms have no reaction to adb12 at all. Some people have reactions to both. They are both absolutely essential to the proper functioning of the body, there are no substitutes or workarounds.
Hit play on the video and let’s continue.
What Fred describes is what I’ve experienced with methylation supplements. At first, they energized me. Then they made me lightheaded. The lightheadedness will last for about two weeks. When I increase my dosage or add a cofactor like carnitine, I get lightheaded again and the cycle starts over. Here’s a great couple of testimonials on this process.
Yes, I realize this is potentially dangerous thinking if you’re wrong about the supplements you think you need. Many people object to being told they need to push through unpleasant reactions. It may not work for everyone and it may not be the right time in your situation to make one of these pushes.
That being said, I’ve come to the conclusion that vitamin B6 is probably a critical linchpin for me and I’m going for it. Nowhere have I been able to find any reference for the idea that B6 is one of those supplements that might respond to this sort of “break on through” treatment. But, here’s why think it might work:
- B6 is a methylation cycle support
- Andy Cutler recommends 50 mg several times a day
- HTI page 114: “Having a high ratio of calcium to phosphorus along with a low ratio of sodium to magnesium suggest the need for supplementary vitamin B6″ and page 118: “high hair zinc and also low hair magnesium are signs that more vitamin B6 may be needed.”
And finally I’ve always thought that when I discovered the key(s) to my recovery, I’d feel calm and sleep deeply. in fact, the unpleasant reaction I get from B6 has a little bit of this color. It clouds my brain a little bit like Valium or GABA does. If I didn’t have responsibilities and need to work, I probably wouldn’t object very much to it. So perhaps if I take it for a few weeks, the feeling will fade to something really nice.
I started two days ago with 25 mg mixed in water and it didn’t affect me much. That night I slept deeply and was surprised and confused by my nighttime dose alarms. The second day I decided to jump up to 50 mg with breakfast, lunch, and dinner and that’s when the brain fog really hit me hard. But, I slept easily and deeply again which rarely occurs for me two nights in a row. So, I have some promising signs.
Then again, I’m always changing too many things at once. I’ve also been significantly increasing magnesium, increasing iodine and increasing my 30 second sprinting intensity.
I’m going to give myself three weeks to break on through. That’s until July 24. It feels like a momentous challenge, but then most of the time I’m overly worried about everything… and maybe that’s because I need more anxiety-blocking B6.