A Woman’s Journey with MTHFR, Chronic Inflammation, and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

She spent 30 years doing everything right, eating all the organic foods, using clean products in the house, cutting sugar, trying all the supplements you can think of, but she was still waking up all the time with migraines, with bad brain fog and full body pain. And then she did 5 sessions of something most people have never heard of, and her words were, I feel like I got myself Back. This is Katina's story. Katina, I am so happy that you're here and you've completed TPE, like your rounds of therapeutic plasma exchange, and you're here to share your experience. So thank you.

Yeah, thanks for having me.

Of course. Well, yeah, we're getting to know each other a little bit before hitting record, but I didn't want to ask you too much because obvious reasons. I want to share it here. So I guess give me, um, yeah, hi, you know, very beginning, uh, who the heck are you? You know, um, tell me, tell me, yeah, who you are a little bit, um, kind of the life before TPE was ever on your radar.

Sure.

And, and we'll start there.

Yeah, absolutely. Um, you know, I kind of grew up in one of those healthy— okay, so I am a '70s baby, was born in '72. Um, you know, my mom didn't go back to work until all the kids were in school and But it was still home-cooked meals. There was no, uh, Hamburger Helper in my house, you know. There's none of that stuff. Everything was from scratch, you know. We even took vitamins and stuff.

Wow, really?

Which was weird back in the '70s, you know, '80s. So my parents had, you know, a health-minded attitude. Um, there's just not really junk food in the house. It was a special treat type thing. We didn't go to, you know, any of the fast foods unless it was like a special night, you know. Long John Silver's. I can't even imagine now. And then, you know, I somewhat continued that, but, you know, sugar left my sugar. I was considered healthy, like in college, you know, worked out and blah, blah, blah. But, you know, still had my— I think it was Cinnamon Toast Crunch was my, like, favorite sugar cereal. Total junk. Total junk. And, you know, I think just I started getting migraines in my 20s. But everyone just thought it was like the menstrual migraines, it was related to hormones, which it very well could have been. And I was on the birth control pill from 15 to 30.

Yeah.

And we got married in our late 20s. We started dating when we were in our early 20s, my husband and I, and then got married in our late 20s. And I think probably with most people, oh, I'm responsible for another person when you get pregnant. And so then it's like, oh, I should pay attention to these things. So it was like, I paid attention to the cleaners and, you know, trying to eat organic and, you know, wading my way through all of that stuff like most people I think do. And, um, but I didn't know to look at, you know, products. And I've never been like a huge makeup person or, you know, maybe perfume once in a while. Like, I was never big with that kind of stuff. But as you know, it, it doesn't matter. Like, Mm-hmm. women's products are horrendous in general. And I don't really wear tons of makeup anyway, but it doesn't matter. Like, if you're using crap, you're using bad stuff. So, um, I just continued to, you know, get healthier and learn more and make better choices. But guarantee the whole greenwashing thing is real, you know. So I was a sucker, just like most people, you know, find themselves like, oh no, that's bad too, you know. Um, and so I would say probably like most women mid-30s, I was just hitting the worst where I was having migraines every day. Sometimes I could get out of bed, sometimes I couldn't, but it was like Excedrin migraine and then drink a cup of coffee and hope I can get out of bed and all of that stuff. And, it's that you've got so many toxins coming in, you just can't possibly keep up with the detox. Then, I found out I had MTHFR, which obviously makes it harder for your body to detox.

Can you explain what that is?

I can listen.

Your understanding at least.

I am no expert. However, they're saying now about 70% of the population has that. And, it sounds like you're saying a swear word, right? MTHFR. 8th grade level, my understanding and the easiest way is I have a genetic mutation. I have two variants. My body cannot process toxins and detox properly, so it needs help. And not only that, but like I have to be careful about what kind of supplements I have. You can't take folic acid because folic acid is stored as a toxin. I can't get rid of it. So you really need the real version, which is folate. So there's just a lot of you have to be careful if you're going in to do anesthesia. You have to be. You should never do laughing gas at the dentist. So, there's just a lot of things that go along with that. So, that was— then I went ahead and got my kids tested because I'm like, you need to know.

Right.

You could take the wrong medication and be in major trouble. I lost my mom at the age of 40. And, for her, and I guarantee, right, you get it from your parents. So, she had at least one of the variants, if not both. I'm going to guess both. But she was put on a blood thinner after a heart attack that we did not want her to be put on, but they told us there was no option. And we— with— from— it was the beginning of November she had the heart attack, was put on the medication, and we lost her in January of that year to a brain bleed.

Really?

So then it's like, oh, all this genetic testing and stuff that, you know, people need to know what we're all uniquely made. Not— there's no one-size-fits-all for everybody. Um, so yeah, so we just have continued to be like, oh, let's try this supplement, let's try this diet, let's try— you know what I mean? All of those different things and finding out— weird side note, but I'm very sensitive to electricity, so I can't sleep with things plugged in by my head. I can't— it's so weird— I can't use like an electric leaf blower. Wow. My neck will lock up, and I'll get a horrible headache. It's just weird.

So it's like a nervous system somehow.

It's nervous system thing, I guess. I don't know. Like, I just I can't. My body can't handle those that and you know EMF and sure yeah all of things. So it's always just been trying to figure things out. What can I do differently? What can suit better? Trying different diets, all of the things. And then. I keep getting older and the toxins keep building up because there's so much you cannot control. You control controllables, but then you also realize you can slip into throwing your nervous system into wacky world because you're afraid of everything. That's true.

You bubble up and yeah.

Yeah. And my husband, when we were considering the TPE, he said that to me, it just described it perfectly. He goes, It's like you're walking a tightrope. And I was like, yes, every day you do the wrong thing, you get exposed to the wrong thing, and you're toast. You're just toast. You either in bed with a migraine or you're just like in that horrible fog where you can hardly function. Uh, yeah, so just that. And I was to the point of Autoimmune symptoms, and my mom actually had autoimmune stuff going on. But I didn't want to get diagnosed. I was like, I'm gonna live under that label. I know, I know. I don't. I'm not gonna. I'm just gonna keep trying to mitigate what I can and do better. Like, I don't know. Do better. So I was having the brain fog, the fatigue. Also with my age, you know, I. My hormones are wackadoo right now, and that was one thing was going through this, finding a new balance, and then getting hormones tested and address all those other things that go along with middle age.

Oh, I know. I'm starting to hear all about that from my wife and all the things. Yeah. So yeah, that's the whole. Yeah. And Dr. Pam Smith, who's on the on the board of she's awesome.

So she's funny. She so this is a funny side note, but. So we went to Washington, DC. That's where we met Dr. Savage and through Dr. Chris Davis, who we'd known for a few years. And Dr. Pam came up to me and she goes, because my husband said something about me because I had come. And she said, okay, first of all, your hair is beautiful. And I don't know if you can tell, but it's pretty silver.

It looks great.

Yeah. And she goes, and I hope one day to have that kind of hair. She's like 70. It's her natural hair color. You know what I mean? It's like brown.

I've chatted with her a few times. I think she told me that too.

And she's like, I would really like to do a toxin test on you. And I was like, so apparently that's something that is related to the toxins. So I would be curious to know, My hair's gotten darker since doing the TPE. This—

my hair is at— I'm at 40, and I got gray early.

But yours used to be white. This was—

no way—

so white, and it's like coming darker. And even this darker, it's all gotten darker as the chemicals have left.

Um, hey, that's interesting.

Yeah, yeah. So we, we started talking to Dr., um, Savage about it, and, and I would say— so I was I was having that all-over muscle pain every day, all day. Now, one thing that had helped me a little bit with it, um, was doing a 3-day water fast, which was hell.

Yeah.

For me, it was hell. For some people, it's no big deal. For me, it was hell. Um, that helped, but then I was right, you know, kind of back to feeling bad and it— the fatigue, um, and the brain fog. Just awful.

So is there like a moment that— because it sounds like you were aware of toxins before, like for a long time. It sounds like you grew up in that and you're aware of genetic history, which is awesome. That's super important. I can relate to that as well. But was there like a moment, like a switching moment that you just knew, okay, I need to, I need to do something radically different?

I was constantly looking for the answer. Constantly, like always trying to educate myself. Like I said, trying a new supplement.

Yeah.

Try like cut sugar. Like I've done all the things. Like I've cut out years ago. I cut out the grains. I cut out the sugar.

Like yeah.

You know, but still doing the maple syrup and the honey, and then you know. But it's it's just all inflammation, especially. I mean, I don't know for me personally. First of all, sugar is not good for anybody. But I think for some of us, if we are having these toxin issues as well, I think it just contributes to the inflammation to a point where your body's screaming for help.

It's fire, right? It's like, that's what Dr. Savage said. It's like a forest fire in your body and you're just stoking it with whatever can feed the inflammation. Yeah. So basically all of that led to, and you said you met, yeah, Dr. Pam, Dr. Savage. And was that when it was more like an education of like what was possible?

Yeah, he was like, are you kidding me? Right? Because when you're talking about things that they tell you you can never get rid of, you can't detox this, you can't. And he's going, no, you can get it out. Like, that's, that's a miracle. I mean, really, that's a miracle. Yeah, that is even possible that that kind of technology exists, especially when you feel like no matter what, you're getting poisoned.

Was this the first time you heard about therapeutic plasma exchange, like the protocol? It's possible.

Like, I, I mean, I knew, and I knew about ibu, and I knew that that was in the realm of things. But I also knew, like, with ibu, some people don't respond well to it. So I was very apprehensive about that.

Yeah.

Um, and it being kind of new. Uh, but I also know, you know, like, I always just was like, oh yeah, you'll just get like an oil change, you know what I mean? Like, that's how kind of how I thought about it. Like, But I, I don't know that I ever thought that I would do it. I don't know, like, I wanted to do something like that. Like, I just thought that's where I was in my health journey. I didn't know. I mean, because for most people, I'm crazy.

Yeah.

I mean, like, you're, you know, Katina, she's, she's a little crazy when it comes to the health stuff. You know, they think You know, I'm I don't know just off the reservation, just over the top healthy. You know, just crazy. Like nobody can imagine, you know, me doing something more than I already do. You know what I mean?

Yeah.

It's like I don't eat out. Like you know, I I'm very careful about all the stuff that comes into my house and my cleaners and all that stuff. But you know, still you think you're living a perfect life, but I still every day was walking a tightrope. Yeah, that would just push me over the edge to the other side to where now I'm in bed and I have a migraine.

And I think a lot of people can relate to that. And, um, I'm curious, like, so the toxin test before, like, the actual, you know, plasma exchange— tell me, you know, toxin testing, we talk about all the time, it's pretty easy. But like, what were the— and I don't think you know all the details of it, but were you shocked or what?

After Dr. PM and Dr. Savage were both like, oh, you're classic textbook.

Whoa.

They both told me, they said, you're classic. You're a middle-aged woman. You're thin. You're gonna be so toxic. Mhmm. And I'm like, that's so rude.

Rude.

That's true.

Obviously, they told you why, though. I'm sure. Yeah. Yeah.

Why? Because it's— and not— and then the crazy— and I know so much of it probably goes to my genetics, but I've been so conscious of all of what I'm doing for years. Still.

It's everywhere and, and especially in your house. So it's the most toxic place. That's—

Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, Dr. Davis, after all he's done and his switch and, you know, careers and everything, he, he'll, he'll tell you that I totally believe that it all comes down to toxins. Every disease, it comes to toxins.

Talk to me about the process. Like, so when you, when you, you know, you, you took the word of Dr. Savage and Dr. Smith, you took the toxin test because that's kind of the first step. Yeah. What, I guess, how did the process look like? You know, can you just walk us through how you're feeling?

And— So it's funny because we, we tried to be You know, good about tracking my journey. So I think maybe, maybe we videotaped on our like the first one or took a couple pictures and then videotaped maybe on my way to the second one.

Yeah.

So it's so easy. I mean, it was one of those things where you know you you're like okay well I need to know what could happen or what could go wrong. But I mean really the risk is so minimal. And, and I, and I, Greg was, my husband Greg was talking to Dr. Davis and just going, well, what would you do? You know, because we've known him a long time. Um, and he said, you know, if it was his wife and he's like, if she had these symptoms, does she have migraines? Does she have fatigue? Does she have brain fog? Does she have all over body pain? He's like, yeah, that's like autoimmune. He's like, I would want those out of her. I would want them out of her. And so to me, any risk And to me, it was more risk to keep the toxins, which sounds weird, right? But it was more risk to not do it than it was to do it. And it's like, I want to be a hot great grandma, you know what I mean? There you go. Be fun. I don't, I don't want to be, you know, in the chair.

No, wheeled around or, or, uh, yeah, just—

I know, just let me go in a home, but I think she'd take care of her mom.

Sounds like you got good kids. They like it.

Give you a little feedback.

But you said, yeah, so overall though, you felt like it was easy.

Yeah.

Because I think that's a worry a lot of people have is the process itself. So I don't know if there's any other details.

You know, obviously Dr. Savage, like, he surrounds himself with good people. And so my nurse Mitch was awesome. Uh, we had a great time. We just chatted the whole time I was there. You know, obviously all of the nurses are so trained, so good at what they do, obviously go into that because they care about people and want to help people. Um, so I don't really think I was scared. I don't really think I was apprehensive. You know, I just was like, you know, prayed over myself and was like, okay. And, you know, you're just basically hanging out, right? Sitting in the chair and—

Sure.

I would say after the first time, um, I didn't know how else to describe it, but I felt very peaceful.

Ah, so that was the, after the first, 'cause did you, how many sessions did you do?

I did 5.

5.

Wow.

Okay, cool. And that was in Sarasota, right? In Florida, it sounds like. Yeah. 'Cause I've, I've chatted with Mitch too, so yeah, he's awesome. Yeah.

Super, super sweet guy.

Cool.

Love him.

Yeah.

So, um, I just felt very peaceful, very quiet. I don't know.

Was that like right after these sessions were done? Or are you saying like—

Right after the first one, I felt very, very peaceful. Just very calm. Tired. Very tired. Very tired. But just chill. So chill. I would say probably after the second one too, I felt Great. Calm, peaceful. Um, but the— maybe that— maybe it was the 4th one. I did not feel good. Did not feel good at all. But after talking to, um, everyone about it, they said that's when you're getting to like the really deep toxins. And that's why— that's why most— some people Not everyone, but some people do feel worse in the last ones. So I'd say the last two, I did not feel as good. And in fact, on my last one, was funny. I you know you get that you don't know how long you're gonna sit there, right? So you go to the bathroom, you get there, and then I would always get because then you're drinking stuff, right? Because they have you drink stuff when you're when you're there at a certain point. And so then I was going to the bathroom. When I left— when I went to the bathroom before I left, I was like, I, I look horrible.

Oh, no.

I look like I aged 10 years in there, you know what I mean? But then you consider what your body has just been through, you know, that doesn't last, right? But you just realize, like, the amount of detox your body has to do. And then, you know, that's a lot of plasma that you're letting go of.

Take out all of your blood. Yeah.

So it's like, here, can I pull up? Great. Um, but I mean, I'm feeling better every day. And I, I know I also had like some skin stuff come up throughout the time. Oh, this is a weird one. I also had like a rash like go across here or whatever. But you know, your skin is your biggest detox organ, right?

Right.

So, nothing freaked me out. I wasn't concerned. I've gone through a lot of different detox stuff, but yeah, just weird, weird little stuff.

How about you mentioned sleep and I'm curious about the body aches. Have those improved?

I don't have the body, the muscle aches and pain anymore.

Wow.

That has been like that, the brain fog and the fatigue. I feel like a different person. I feel like it's every person. Yeah.

Wow. Migraines?

I still will get migraines. I don't know that they're necess— I think they probably are more hormone related. That's what I heard. Right. We're gonna get, cuz I, I just got, let's see, I think it was, I'm not even a month out from having my last TBE. So once we get my next toxin test and we kind of allow myself to calibrate, then I'm gonna work on the whole hormone issue. Because I think that also has to do with the sleep. Because initially it was like my body was freaking out and I wasn't sleeping because I think of the toxin dump, you know, and like getting rid of all this stuff. And I am using things to help me sleep a little bit. What I— and I don't like to do that, but I mean, nothing like— not narcotics or something. I mean, like some— a little bit of melatonin, some GABA sometimes, you know, nothing crazy.

No, it's not much.

And you have to look at it like it's all a season, you know, like I'm gonna get to a point where I'm not gonna have to do all this stuff, you know, to sleep.

That's good. So, so you're about a month out now. Is there anything else like during the process that you think would be interesting to share, or?

I couldn't recommend it more. I couldn't. If, if you have the opportunity to do this and you are, if you have autoimmune, Any— and, you know, so many women do. So many women do. Um, it's worth it. It is. It's worth the time. It's worth the effort. It's worth the money. It's because how much is your health? How much is your health worth? Because if you don't pay now, you're gonna pay later with doctor visits and maybe medication. I mean, I don't take any medication except for, you know, what I was prescribed by Dr. Savage in order to help myself detox, and I'm almost done with that. But like, I'm, I'm 53, I'm on zero medication.

Nice.

You know, and I, I wanna keep it that way. My dad just turned 80. He's on zero medication.

Wow. That's impressive.

I would love to see my dad get it. I would love to, 'cause he's a Vietnam vet. I mean, he was exposed to Agent Orange. He's got some neuropathy stuff. Like, I would love to see him be able to do this.

If you could speak directly to someone listening right now who's struggling with unexplained health issues or they're feeling stuck, With all the stuff they've tried, what would you want them to know about your experience?

I am you. I mean, I have been trying to solve how I feel for 30 years, you know, and you do make progress along the way with each healthy choice you make and each new habit you put in and all of those things. Um, but this I feel like has given me my health back. Is— I mean, literally given me my life. It's given me more life, you know. I was still pushing myself to do all of the healthy things, but miserable, you know what I mean?

Yeah.

Like miserable because like you almost always have a headache. You're so tired. Like I would work out. I don't work out a lot. I go on a lot of walks. I have a dog. So, and it's, and I, and I was sorry. I was like, if you don't walk your dog, you're a bad dog owner. But if you don't walk yourself, you're a bad body owner. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, I was walking her the other day and it was kind of cold down here in Florida. And I'm, I'm, I know I'm a wussy when it comes to like temperature, but I was just, I was thinking that I was like, well, if I don't walk myself, like I'm a bad body owner. You know what I mean? So like trying to like take care of yourself constantly. Right. And you're also at, especially as a mom. And I'm like, I call myself like the support team for everybody, you know, just like keeping everybody alive and making sure everyone's good. I'm like, you know, the in-house marketing team for everybody. And it's like, if I'm not operating well, I'm not serving everybody well either. You know, we were created to serve, we were created to love, and that's where we find the most fulfillment. And it just, I just, I Feel like I got myself back.

That's incredible, Katina. Katina, thank you for being completely raw and open about your experience, and it's exactly what people need to—I feel should be hearing right now. And like you said, you are them. I'm you. You're me. All that. Yeah, yeah. All that stuff. So I relate to so much you shared with my own TB experience and toxin stuff. So I just appreciate you so much.