Endometriosis Support Group
Endometriosis is a common medical condition where the tissue lining the uterus is found outside of the uterus, typically affecting other organs in the pelvis. The condition can lead to serious health problems, primarily pain and infertility. A major symptom of endometriosis is pain, mostly in the lower abdomen, lower back, and pelvic area.
Alright, seriously...it seems like all of us have low Vitamin D levels!! Whenever I have my labs done, the only things that are off are my Vitamin D and sodium, both of which are always on the low side. And yet, when I try to look into it, I find this: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/561436
...which, if you don't want to read it, is a study that says that women with endo actually have HIGHER serum Vitamin D levels. I'm not buying it. I smell something funky. Anyone want to weigh in?
...which, if you don't want to read it, is a study that says that women with endo actually have HIGHER serum Vitamin D levels. I'm not buying it. I smell something funky. Anyone want to weigh in?
I'm going to add my highly NON-expert opinion on the matter. Lots of disclaimers on this :)
Having lap surgery (to drain an ovarian cyst) in October 2010 and being told everything looks good (no mention of endometriosis) and then having another lap surgery (to excise an ovarian cyst) in January 2012 and being told after that surgery that I had severe endometriosis....really had me scratching my head. Huh????
I know what I'm about to say is a longshot and probably not a casual relationship....but it scared me enough anyway...........
The only thing I could think of that I was doing differently (dietary-wise, lifestyle-wise) during that time period when suddenly I developed severe endometriosis.....was I was taking a mega high dose of vitamin D.
Starting in late 2010.
(recommended by a chiropractor/nutritionist I was seeing at the time)
I was taking at least a couple thousand IUs of vitamin D daily.
I then came upon an article (like a scientific journal type article) in my research last year indicating that endometrial implants in endometriosis .... have vitamin D receptors.
Maybe I am misinterpreting that article...but it scared me enough to stop taking this mega high dose of vitamin D.
Like could I have been inadvertently feeding the implants by taking all this vitamin D?
I don't know but it just reinforced to me that mega doses of anything are never a great idea.
So that is my personal opinion on the matter.
I'll probably never know for sure though.
I'd be interested in hearing other opinions. Thanks for starting this discussion.
Anyways, I would like to add that I have low Vit. D levels. They have been low for years, even when I use to spend a lot of time outside (and Im pretty sure my endo started when between 17 and 19). I currently take 1000 IU's of Vit. D daily. Interesting article though.
BUT I do take Cytosport Muscle Milk as my protein drink pre and post workout, and it has a lot of vitamins in it. So that could be why I'm reading "normal." The Muscle Milk was masking my anemia before when I was having trouble with uterine polyps. I had stopped taking it due to an injury and that's when I got hit with all of the anemia problems (fainting, dizziness, chest pain, messed up BP). So I wouldn't be surprised if that's why my vitamin levels look like they do.