Journey With Jen

  One of my tests came back and I have a genetic mutation called MTHFR C677T.  You can look at the letters and tell what they doctors all called it in med school!  (yes that told me that!) 😂 I am one of 20 - 30% of Caucasians that have this mutation. Which at the scientific level means that the DNA base cytosine (C) is replaced by thymine (T).  At the basic sticker level -- it means that my body does not process B vitamins.  I am have been taking in my Multivitamin, a B12 pill, and folic acid each and every day.  And my body has not been able to use it and it's probably now contaminated my body.  I have to switch to a mentholated vitamin.  Which sounds easy enough, right?  Thank goodness the person that called to tell me about my diagnosis is a pharmacist and has this mutation as well.  Because there is so much more than just taking a different vitamin.  The MTHFR gene is critical in the methylation cycle.  Which since I have ...

 Well, just me. Little update on things. I was on the Methotrexate for 4 weeks and it didn't help with pain or inflammation at all.  It did cause some hair to come out, for the hair that I do have to dry out, and for total exhaustion throughout my body.  It really was a great 4 weeks!  (just kidding!)  My last dose was just a few days ago so I'll be glad when it is out of my system. Apparently it must help most people because they were really surprised when I had absolutely nothing positive to say about the last 4 weeks.  My knee swelled so much I could not squat.  My hands had sharp pain several times this month.  Hips hurt constantly not just when I'm trying to sleep.  And my feet are still swelling.  So really - nothing positive to say.  😂 So, they drew blood and are now doing a pharmacogenetics test.   Besides the physical part of it all - I am really missing being me.  I want to be outdoors.  Go on a hike. ...

My blood tests came back and apparently, I don't have any food allergies.  I was a bit disappointed.  I keep hoping for a moment where it is a, "yes!  that's the reason!"  I wanted to know the reason for this stuff to be happening.  To point at something and I have this food intolerance and it caused my body to react.  But alas, that is not the case for me. I did go to another podiatrist.  The idea that the arthritis on the top of my foot was causing all of this swelling in my feet.  It just didn't seem right.  That clinic slapped a label on it and that was it.  The new podiatrist didn't even do x-rays.  He felt around on my feet and told me that several of his patients have arthritis in their feet but it does not look like mine.  He thinks that it has be something in my system causing the swelling because when ever it is not working right - swelling always go to the feet. He saw that I had to have kidney surgery and wants to b...