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Vitamin D

cherrychanga
cherrychanga
A few months ago my doc checked my Vitamin D level for the first time. She was shocked when the results came back. It was the lowest she'd ever seen. So, once again, I was convinced that my pain and fatigue would magically disappear when I got it up to normal levels.

I certainly had all the symptoms of someone with a low level of this vitamin and I wondered why it had never been checked before. She said it could take a year to get back to normal and she prescribed mega doses. After 5 weeks, she checked again though she was sure it would not have made much of a difference so soon.

Then...I got a letter from her telling me to stop taking it for a month because it was too high! I started to wonder if she even had a clue about treating me. She even said it was an experiment for her.

After abstaining for a month, I started on 1,000 units a day. Two weeks ago she checkd again and found that it had dropped too low again so she wants me to take 2,000 units and get 30 minutes of sunshine a day...HA. It's been raining for several days and is supposed to continue for several more. Oh well, I can still take the pills.

Has anyone else had a problem with their Vitamin D level?
deleted_user
deleted_user
if i were you, i would go to a different doctor, if she doesn't know what she is doing, vit d, can be toxic to the liver, if you get too much.
cherrychanga
cherrychanga
I checked out Vitamin D toxicity as soon as it was too high and it did scare me a little. I don't understand why my level is fluctuating so much and apparently, neither does she. My pain isn't even close to being managed, either. I had to reschedule my clients today.

I'm going to see the doc tomorrow morning and talk about a change. My stomach can't take much more of this, either.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes, I do. My level was very low (lowest ever seen I was told too). I think it was at 9.
I was taking 500,000 IU of ergocalciferol for a long time. The level went up to 35. I was then dropped to taking 250,000 IU. The level was checked again and it had dropped to 17. :(
I was upped to 500,000 IU again. The rate went back up and I was lowered to 250,000 IU again.
I was just tested again a few weeks ago and my level was at 29 which is low/normal I was told.
I am to continue taking 250,000 IU of ergocalciferol (vitamin D by prescription) and will have to have yet another blood test in 3 months.
This is sure getting old with me and I hate the blood tests being my veins are collapsed from 3 recent surgeries. It is very difficult for them to do a blood draw on me and I suffer from it every time.
As for this Vitamin D therapy thing, I cannot say I feel any different/better.
I wish I had a better reply for you.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi Cherry,

I am vitamin D 2000mg. My D was very low and after 3 months on
Vit. D thearpy it starting coming up. I have labs done every 6 months because some of the meds I take require that. It has been within the last two years that my doctor starting checking D. It is kind of a fad.
cherrychanga
cherrychanga
It's so good to find people wih similar struggles! My level was 6 when it was discovered and I was put on 50,00IU twice a week. That didn'tmake sense to me, but I followed instructions.

I've been taking 1,000IU as instructed by my doc and it dropped to 28.

I was especially disappointed to find that it made no difference for me.
angee7
angee7
My last blood test (in March), the Nurse Called with the results and said, I had low Vitamin D, and to take 1000 D Vitamin a day. I decided not to take the vitamin and just get more sunlight.

If the Doc can't explain why it's low, then I'm not going to worry about it.

Probably a stupid decision, but I'm so tired of having "one more thing" be wrong, and taking "just one more pill".
cherrychanga
cherrychanga
I know what you mean about taking yet another pill, but I don't mind if it's a vitamin. Problem is...they don't seem to do a thing for me! I was told to take fish oil quite a while ago, but couldn't bring myself to swallow something the size of a trout. My doc wrote a script for smaller ones that make it so much easier.

I get so sick of swallowing pills that I'm not very consistent with the supplements. I make a half assed attempt!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I had a vit D deficiency, 11 ng / mL. Taking 4000 IU for 2 months, then 200 IU for maintenance did wonders for my muscle spasms and pain. Vit D is fat soluble, so take it with a fatty meal or oil pill. It does not need to be fish oil. I take flax oil instead. It took 2 months @ 4000 IU to get my levels up to a normal 68 ng / mL. With maintenance on 2000 IU per day, my levels did fall to 31 ng / mL, low side of normal, by the 6th month. I am now once again on 4000 IU pills. It takes a few months to really notice the improvement.
cherrychanga
cherrychanga
I started eating a few nuts when it was first discovered so I would be doing everything right. When my level of 6 went to 68 in 5 weeks, my doc made me stop taking D completely. Now after taking 1,000 units for a while, it's down to 28. I don't understand why it changes so quickly and hasn't helped my pain level at all.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Back in November the United States and Canadian governments asked the IOM to assess the current data on health outcomes associated with calcium and vitamin D and they changed the values and now almost everyone is deficient.

Based on these new values doctors are prescribing prescription Vit D in very large doses and many patients are becoming toxic.

I expect that they will readjust the recommended daily dose again.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Vitamin D deficiency is the new fad diagnosis. It is a fat soluble vitamin meaning it doesn't just go out in the toilet if too much is given. Moderation makes the most sense
deleted_user
deleted_user
I agree with cc, I was also diagnosed by my GP, to have "the lowest vitamin D levels, and B-12 levels that he has ever seen", of course I went GNC and got all the vitamins that I could buy, this was about 6 months ago, and I feel the same way that I felt when I was told that my D was low. Ever since Oprah had the show talking about her low D levels, this has become the new "pet rock" of GP's, so don't read too much into it, summer is coming, lay out in your yard or sit outside in the sun, that will give you some D.

You can also just get a multi-vitamin, and that will take care of all of the issues. Take care, and welcome to the low D club!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I must be a rare one then! I had low vit D, went on specific treatment and feel a good bit better.

So sorry that not everyone experiences the same results. It is always dissapointing to struggle with issues.
lladyfairhair
lladyfairhair
I was very very low as well. It still goes up and down sometimes so I dunno.

To be honest, because I take other vits and supps ( Vit D 2,000 IU) I dont know which one exactly is helping. I throw it in there because if done in a logical manner I think hey... it just might help. What the heck.

Where I live, its hard to get alot of sunlight. But in the SUMMER... its absolutely GORGEOUS here and its a little easier to get some Vit D. Even though I take it in "soft gel" form ... it cannot compare in anyway, to the sunlight ... the way it synthesizes and converts it in the body is the key. IMO
irocket
irocket
Maybe it's a chronic pain thing! We all are low vit D! My joints were popping and crackling and sticking and hurting bad and my dr tested me and sure enough my levels were down. It actually helped me. I quit taking it every day though and just take 1000 iu a wk now. I read the FDA said that people were taking toxic levels and that was enough for me to lower mine.