Great info on methylation

[Ricobord]

dearpharmacist.com/2013/08/08/2394/       by pharmacist Suzy Cohen

A useful read for many Lyme patients!

This is the most thorough article I've seen on methylation and how it relates to multiple conditions, including Lyme Disease.  The pharmacist author mentions specific medications and supplements that help and that hurt.  (For example, Cholestyramine can make a person with methylation problems feel worse.)

Methylation problems can explain why some Lyme patients don't get better with antibiotic treatment.  Dealing with the methylation issues can make a big difference.

[cave76]

"The article is very informative even without all the product recommendations."

Probably.

It's still muddied by the marketing, in my opinion.

"Yes, Suzy Cohen sells stuff.  So do a whole lot of other docs and medical professionals."

An all too common retort but one I have to agree with.

But I have the same opinion about them, even though I would go to that doctor if he had proven to be good at treating diseases. I'm not one to cut my nose off to spite my face, but I do want to know everything I can first.

Just as I would go to Burrascano even though he was heavily involved in FAIM (the first one, now gone off the Internet).

Go to his guidelines on ILADS:
MANAGING LYME DISEASE, 16th edition, October, 2008
Page 28 of 37

[FAIM stood for Foundation for Integrative Medicine which promoted the alternative herb/supplement business.]

Nu Skin and Pharmanex are intertwined in one of those common relationships between companies. Google it. Nu Skin has many awards. It's also been written up in Wiki.

I would still prefer an article without the marketing better. But, as you implied, that's going to be hard to find! When the 'father' of Lyme guidelines succumbs, then...........

[Ricobord]

Yes, Suzy Cohen sells stuff.  So do a whole lot of other docs and medical professionals.  I had a highly respected allergist in a major city who insisted I take a high dose, costly Rx antihistamine all the time, not just when my allergies were problematic. My GP then told me that was way too much for me, backed off my dose, and I was still fine. I found out later that the allergist was a paid consultant for the manufacturer of the drug.

I now check out everything that's recommended to me by ANY medical professional to look for some additional validation, such as other patients who've benefitted from it. But just because someone recommends a product they profit from (and who would sell a product they DON'T recommend?) doesn't mean that the diagnosis or the product should be rejected outright.  It might indeed be just what I need.

The article is very informative even without all the product recommendations.

[mojogal]

Burrascano recommended it highly, that is why my LLMD gave it to me to begin with.

Have you done the 23andme testing?

[cave76]

"cholestryamine because I took it and felt worse."

So did I.

I wonder what Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker (a name that is VERY visible on the Internet, Facebook, YouTube, you name it) is thinking about methylation and cholestyramine now.

[mojogal]

Rico, thanks for the link. Since I know I have this problem its interesting to hear about cholestryamine because I took it and felt worse.

[cave76]

Without going into the pros and cons of methylation (I'm still reading as much as I can about it) the site 'dearpharmacist' has all the earmarks of a marketing site.

Here's one rather blatant example:
"You can get 10% off at checkout on your total purchase on HomocysteX Plus by using the coupon code: Suzysfans  I love making things easy for you.  Xymogen, a fine company does not sell online unless you have your doctor’s access code and he is a Xymogen rep."

http://www.dearpharmacist.com/2013/08/08/2394/

Suzy ' loves making things easy for you'. Yes. And by using her coupon code she will get percentage of all the click-throughs that end up with a purchase. But, hey, everyone has to make a living.

Plus she also touts the use of certain supplements at certain sites. (I'm not saying that they may or may not be the supplement one needs, just sayin' .........)

I would love reading an article by a 'person' who isn't intent on selling and concentrates more on the science of methylation.