Why I don't take Kuvan

A couple of years ago I was invited to this conference my dietitian thought I'd be interested in. It was about Kuvan. I went and listened, but afterward... decided I didn't want to do it. Here's why:

1. I'd need to get more tests done than usual- I don't like blood tests. Especially finger prics which would be the way I'd have to get it done. And so the idea of MORE tests... it makes me shudder.
2. I plan on having children in the future- Kuvan wasn't tested on pregnant woman. So either I would have to stop using the tablets and switch back or I would be tested on even MORE intensely! I don't want to risk my child's health so I can have a piece of bread. And even if I stopped using Kuvan while I was pregnant it would be harder for me to go back knowing how some things taste.
3. I'd have to take a TON of pills!- I can't remember the exact number of pills I would have to take. (And even if I did it's based on weight so it would have changed anyway.) But I watched a British documentary on utube about PKU (just for fun) and they talked about this 14 year old soccer player boy who had to take 60 pills a day!!! I'm older than him and would probably need around 80 pills a day! It's ridiculous! I can barely swallow 1 pill let alone 80! All for a piece of bread!
4. It's not a cure for PKU- It is a step in the right direction, but it's not a cure. I would still need to be in a low-protein diet. It's just that I could have more "wheat foods" like bread or pasta. I'm already comfortable with the diet I have. I can live without those things.
5. It may or may not work anyway- I have Classic PKU, which is the most severe type there is. It only works on 40% of PKU'ers with classic PKU. And the chance it works on Classic PKU?? Less. But you never know if you don't try! I just chose to be happy with what I'm doing now.

There are lots of PKU'ers that do take Kuvan, and that's great for them. But I don't take it. I like my life and I can live without a piece of bread. It seems like a miracle that we can take pills to help lower our levels. But you know what? There's going to be better things out there someday, I've decided to wait for them.

If you ARE interested in Kuvan the official site tells us how it works:

How KUVAN Works

Working at the source of the problem

In the body, the enzyme called phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) converts phenylalanine (Phe) into tyrosine in the presence of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). BH4 is a natural substance found in the body that helps reduce Phe to safe levels in the blood.

In PKU, the PAH enzyme doesn't work well and too much Phe builds up in the blood. High levels of Phe affect the brain if left untreated.

The active ingredient in KUVAN is a pharmaceutical version of BH4. It works in the same way as your body's BH4.

KUVAN adds more BH4 and stimulates the PAH enzyme to “wake up” and process Phe in PKU patients.

The PAH enzyme begins to convert Phe to tyrosine, and helps to keep your blood Phe levels low.

And here's a site with answers to your questions! http://www.kuvan.com/hcp/kuvan-faq.html

Thanks for listening to my rantings!!!! Share if possible!