very interesting. will go out to the back yard this week. it's a promise.

I have had a problem with Vitamin D for the past couple years. I just don't have much of it. Blood tests a couple years ago indicated a problem and my doctor started me on 50,000 IU per week. When I first started taking it I felt somewhat better, not as much morning pain. Gradually, the pain was back. When I started with the vitamin D supplements my doctor also recommended a special sunlamp to use indoors (it rains a lot here in Oregon)so I use that during the rainy season when I can't sit for a while in the backyard.

Normal range for adult woman is: 32.0-80.0 ng/ml

So, I'm taking my 50,000 units per week and either using the sunlamp or sitting outside. Imagine my surprise when my labs came back last week. My Vitamin D is at 17, close to half of low normal. I have not been feeling well generally for a couple of months but was surprised at the low Vitamin D count since I get so much of it. My doctor now has me on 100,000 units per week. I had a lot of my labs come back as abnormal including glucose and kidney function so probably looking at diabetes and more changes. I do remember feeling a lot better when I first started taking the D. I'm thinking if I get the the glucose and kidney function better the Vitamin D just might come up too. Next time you are in to see your doctor & you need blood work for something you might want to ask if they would test your Vitamin D levels.

I have bloodwork coming up. I will ask her for my vitamin D level. Esp. since I rarely go out in the sun. Thank you.

It's such a simple fix, although, pordlaw, yours is not turning out to be, is it? Are you sure you're taking the D3? Not D2. My testing had shown me to be low. After taking it, one doc said he'd never seen levels as high as mine. But according to Dr. Cannell, the docs are used to seeing dangerously low, they just don't know it because the current recommended levels are so low.

Vitamin D deficiency is very common. Everyone with Fibromyalgia needs to be tested regularly. Mine was 6. It should be somewhere between 30 and 50. That doesn't mean I don't have Fibromyalgia. I still have both. Treating the Vitamin D deficiency has just removed one layer of pain.

The rheumatologist did lab tests in May 2010 to rule out Lupus or other diseases. My Vitamin D level came back very low. She put me on 50,000 IU, taking 2x a week and informed me that I need more sunlight. The body naturally produces Vitamin D when we get direct sunlight.

I will continue to take Vitamin D supplements but reducing to once a week. Vitaming D is essential to strong bones/joints. Since we have pain and problems with muscles and joint pain, vitamin D may be a great idea for fibromyalgia suffers.

I was tested a few months ago and was extremly low in vitamin D also. I do get sun, but was still low. Started taking vit D with calcium, didn't feel a bit better. :(

i was tested 8 months ago and mine was 12 and i keep getting tests and put on more and more higher doses and i think my body just can't absorb vit d, it keeps comming back the same, oh well at least its not comming back lower lol

Since I've been taking Vit D with calcium, I test fine. I don't feel any better, though. Or maybe the statement should be, I could feel worse. :-)

My doctor told me that my vit. D level didn't even show because it was so low. I didn't realize how important it was as I was so sick at that time last year, but six months later she retested it again, and it was still not showing. I've been taking 5,000 p/d, but I still cannot tell any significant decrease in my pain. I have read in a couple of other articles that it can take 12 months for it to build up. These articles did state that there should be a difference when the level gets to where it should be. I have lupus and fibro, and I cannot be in the sun without causing a flare with the lupus. It seems that many patients do suffer from low vit D levels especially with fibro and also lupus.

I just started with the increased Vitamin D this week. jumping from 50,000 to 100,000 units. Last year when I first started with the Vit D my doctor told me it can take a few months before your count is better. I have been taking it for over a year now and was shocked that it came back even lower. I try to use the sun lamp more than actual sunshine. I have had to have facial surgery because I developed a stage 3 carcinoma on my face and needed surgery & radiation a few years ago. The surgeon removing the cancer told me all those days on the beach in CA is starting to catch up with me. Thus, the sun lamp can be used and I can keep the light off my face. I've also started to drink more milk fortified with Vit D and Calcium. I have had several problems over the years with auto immune problems. It was a toss up for awhile as to whether or not I had MS or Fibromyalgia. I do have the white lesions of MS on my brain (3 lesions) but a spinal tap was negative. I have also had periods where my blood glucose is totally out of whack and have taken meds for diabetes. I watch my diet with that in mind but labs came back with elevated glucose and the test showing glucose over several months also came back high. I also have Hasimoto's Disease and finding the right dosage of thyroid has been difficult. With the blood work done this last time I also came up with abnormal in the area of kidney function. I have had high BP for years. This combo is what killed my father at a young age. High PB and renal failure. I am very worried I am on the same track. Test results came back while my doctor is on vacation. His partner called and told me not to change anything except the Vit D dosage until my Doctor is back. See him Aug 30th. I have a feeling I will be having more tests and meds changed around. I just titrated off Savella because of depression and terrible terrible sweating. Time to start digging a little further to see what is happening here. I do not want to end up like my father so must get BP down and kidney function under control. It always has to be something, huh?
Kathy

oh, Kathy, prayers for you; that sounds scary. I'm sorry you lost your dad at a young age and share similar health problems!