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How a $99 DNA Test Helped Me Find Answers After Psoriatic Arthritis Took Over My Life

Diagnosed at 32. Walking With a Cane. Losing My Hair. Hiding From the World.

In 2015, I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis.

By 2016, I was just 32 years old and already walking with a cane. My body was in constant pain. Daily life — walking, lifting, getting out of bed — felt like a battle.

By 2018, more than half my hair had fallen out, my face was covered in psoriasis, and I rarely left my home. I wasn’t just sick — I was invisible. Isolated by the pain, and by the way people stared.

Taltz Helped — Until It Didn’t

When I finally found Taltz, a biologic for psoriatic arthritis, it felt like hope. My psoriasis cleared up, the joint pain eased, and for the first time in years, I felt semi-normal again. It wasn’t perfect — about 80% relief — but it was the best I’d felt in years.

But then, it stopped working.

When I asked about switching biologics, my insurance told me I’d have to go backward — trying medications I had already failed — before they’d consider better options.

That wasn’t something I could do, physically or mentally. I was exhausted. And I knew there had to be a better way.

The Gene No One Told Me About: MTHFR

That’s when a friend — a former nurse, now struggling with her own health battles — told me about the MTHFR gene mutation.

I had never heard of it.

She told me it could explain a lifetime of chronic inflammation, medication sensitivity, and crippling anxiety and depression that no medication had ever truly helped.

She said, “You might be able to reverse some of the damage — if you know what to look for.”

So I did a deep dive into my health. I already had a 23andMe raw DNA file, so I used it to look for genetic mutations.

What I Found Changed Everything

My results were clear: I had two MTHFR mutations, plus others that explained why my body processed medications differently — and why I never responded well to certain treatments.

Suddenly, so much made sense:

• Why my immune system was in overdrive
• Why certain vitamins made me feel worse
• Why my anxiety and depression never fully responded to medication
• Why my body wasn’t detoxing properly
• Why inflammation kept raging, even with treatment

This wasn’t just in my head. It was in my genes.

No Doctor Had Ever Looked for It

Despite years of tests, specialists, and treatments, no one had ever mentioned MTHFR or tested for it.

Most people with autoimmune issues — especially women — are told:

• “Your labs are normal”
• “It’s just stress”
• “Try this new prescription”
• “It’s probably in your head”

But MTHFR mutations affect up to 60% of the population, and they’re linked to:

• Autoimmune diseases like psoriasis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Mental health challenges including anxiety and depression
• Hormonal imbalance and fertility issues
• Poor detoxification and chronic fatigue

A $99 DNA Kit Told Me More Than Thousands in Doctor Bills

The test that gave me these answers wasn’t a lab panel or blood test. It wasn’t prescribed by a rheumatologist.

It was my raw DNA file from Ancestry. A $99 kit, sitting in my inbox, had all the clues I needed — I just didn’t know how to read them.

Now I do. And now, I help other people read theirs.

This Is Why I Do What I Do Now

I started this journey because I had no other choice. Now, I guide others who are sick of hitting dead ends.

I help people analyze their raw DNA to uncover:

• MTHFR mutations and what they mean
• Other key gene variants like COMT, MAOA, and CYP2D6
• Why their body might struggle with inflammation, detox, mood regulation, or medications
• What natural supports might actually work — and which ones to avoid

I’m not a doctor. I’m a survivor.
And I’m here to help you understand your body — in a way no one else has before.

Could This Be You?

If you’re reading this and nodding your head, you’re not alone.

• You have autoimmune disease and still don’t feel right
• You have anxiety or depression that meds barely touch
• You feel worse after taking multivitamins or trying new prescriptions
• Your doctors say your labs are “normal” — but your body says otherwise
• You’ve tried everything, and still have no answers

Your DNA may hold the key.

Want Help Reading It?

If you have raw DNA from 23andMe or Ancestry, I can help you unlock it.

👉 Click here to learn more about my DNA Report Service
You’ll get a full breakdown of your MTHFR and related genes, explained in plain English — no science degree required.

Let’s take your healing into your own hands.

beth

March 27, 2025

5 min

Uncategorized

One Hour, Two Generations: A Beginner’s Journey into Family History

When Laura reached out to me, she had one simple request: “I just want to know where my great-grandparents were from.” Like many, she had heard bits and pieces of family lore—stories of immigration, whispered names from old letters—but no solid proof of her roots.

She was skeptical that much could be found in just an hour. I assured her that even in a short amount of time, we could uncover key details about her ancestors that might lead to much bigger discoveries.

The Search Begins

With just the names of her grandparents and their approximate birth years, I started digging. The first stop? Census records. Within minutes, I found her grandfather as a young boy in the 1930 U.S. Census, living in Pennsylvania with his parents and three siblings.

This one record gave us a wealth of information:
✔️ Her great-grandparents’ names.
✔️ Their birthplaces (surprise—her great-grandfather was born in Italy, not the U.S. as she thought!).
✔️ Their occupations—her great-grandfather worked in a steel mill, while her great-grandmother was listed as a homemaker.
✔️ The year they immigrated—1912.

Laura was stunned. She had never heard Italy mentioned in her family before.

Tracing the Journey

Next, I searched immigration records. In a 1912 ship manifest, we found her great-grandfather’s name—spelled slightly differently—along with the village he came from. He was just 18 years old, traveling alone, with only $10 in his pocket and a note that he was heading to his older brother’s home in Pennsylvania.

“This is amazing,” Laura whispered. “I can’t believe this is real.”

A Window into Their Lives

To add even more depth, I checked old newspaper archives. We found a marriage announcement from 1920, confirming the full maiden name of Laura’s great-grandmother and the church where they were wed. A few clicks later, I pulled up her great-grandfather’s WWII draft registration card, showing his exact height, weight, and even his signature.

By the end of the hour, Laura had gone from knowing almost nothing about her great-grandparents to having names, dates, locations, and even handwritten records that connected her to their journey.

The Next Steps

With this new information, I now had the tools to:
✅ Research her family’s village in Italy.
✅ Order birth records from the local archives.
✅ Look for additional immigration and naturalization documents.

She left the session overwhelmed—but excited and inspired. “I never expected to learn so much in just one hour,” she said. “This makes me want to keep going.”

And that’s the beauty of genealogy—one small discovery can open the door to an entire world of history.

Want to Start Your Own Family Journey?

Your ancestors’ stories are waiting to be discovered! In just one hour, I can help you find birth, marriage, and death records, immigration details, military service, newspaper mentions, and more.

beth

March 27, 2025

5 min