What is phe?

The one thing about pku that people don't understand much is what phe is. Phe is the type of protein we have to calculate. Phe is short for phenylanie. If someone with pku has to much phe during the day it raises there blood levels. On adverage someone with pku has to keep there phe levels (which is detected by a blood test) between 2 and 6. That is the healthy range to be in. It helps us function alot better. But higher then a 6 can be toxic to the brain. Which creates brain damage over course of time. The lower your levels are the more your taking care of your brain! When someone with pku has high levels especially for a long time. It will effect you long term. Some of the side effects are head aches, mood swings, depression, axienty, having troubles pay attention at school or work, troubles with relationships with others, socially akward. Some people don't experience everything. But for me. I've experienced most of these. Especially being off diet for so long! But everyone is different and so is there phe tolerance. Phe tolerance is the amount your body can break down a day. A metabolic dietation lets you know judging on your blood tests how much you can eat. Before I was pregnant I was at 345 mg of phe a day. Which is not that much. But now being 8 months pregnant I'm at 800mg. Which is a huge jump! I know you probably wonder why? Well because being pregnant the baby is taking more nutrient than I am of what ever I consume. He basically acts like the liver I never had. Once I got my phe levels lower he Continues to keep my levels low. After having the baby most likely I will have to cut my phe tolerance in half. Which will be hard. But I'm up for the challenge.