It doesn't matter what anyone else takes.

Either you make the choice to follow your doctors orders, or you don't.

What one person takes, may not be the right thing for the next person.

i take 50,000 twice a week--lilas right do what dr says--we all need diff amounts--in rare cases vit d can be toxic--

Sherry, do you get this at the doctor"s office? Just wondering, my doctor said something about it, but I am trying to figure around the whole insurance thing.

i got it in rx strength at cvs--it is covered under my ins and cost 10.00

the last dr tht rx it was i think 10.000 units --that one cost about 5.99

Thanks!

I understand the importance of following the doctors advice. I was just wondering about what others are taking, and if it was by their doctors choice.

I was told the insurance should help me get it through the pharmacy, but it did not cover it. I got it anyhow, but due to my family's lack of income with the economy, I got it, but had to sacrifice other things. Unfortunately, my sacrifice was a bit of food. But, I now have my vitamin d 3. Hopefully our financial will pick up, and I will be able to continue to buy what is needed.

Thank you to those of you who replied. I appreciate that!

You can get vit d3 from Swanson in 5000 unit caps for under $10. Your doc will do blood levels and adjust your dosage.

i'm always the odd one out it seems, but i get mine thru chocolate soy milk, multigrain cheerios, yogurt, and 20 minutes of sunshine a day

Lillyrose, you mentioned your way of getting vtamin d, I wish I could get my vit d 3 through regular sources, but I have many food allergies that prevent me from taking in vit. D. I can't have dairy products, or soy, or nuts, or seeds or leafy green vegetables! So, I have rice milk, and other things.
My dr. has done a blood test, and said my vit. d level is way down, and therefore, I need to get as much as I can at this time.
Thanks for your imput on how you get your vit. D ! I appreciate it!

When I went to my MS Clinic last week, they check my Vit. D level. From what I understand, the normal level is between 25-80 and mine was 16. So, I was told to have 15 minutes of sunshine each day, as possible and take 2000mg. of Vit. D daily. My question is what is the difference between Vit. D and Vit D3? Anybody know and is one better than the other for MS? I guess that I will email my neuro.

MSKC- you onlu make Vitamin D if you are exposed to UV-B rays which in the north you don't get enough to say so 3/4 of the year. So unless it is summer you NEED vitamin D3 if your level is only 16. Normal range varies on where you are at in US, in IL it is 32-100. HOWEVER, healthy range is 75-100. see URL below for research links.
If your doctor has you tested and you are not in healthy range then taking D3, K and fishoil are a good way to bring up your numbers as D3 needs K and fat in the GI for it to properly be absorbed and stored as a secosteriod.

Best wishes to all,
EP
www.RAMSwebsite.Net click Vitamin D3 link

In regards to a message I was sent.--------

Respectfully, I am sure your NP is a knowledgeable person. However, no one can read all the research that is out there and your NP has obviously NOT read the published study below.

Munger, KL, LI Levin, BW Hollis, NS Howard, A Ascherio. 2006. Serum 25 Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis. Journal of American Medical Association(JAMA). 296:2832-2838.
This research showed for every 50 nmol/L increase in vitamin D level there was a 41% decrease in the incidences of MS in white males and females. This study was done with a control group of over 200 people and close to 150 people with MS. They, the military, took 3 blood samples over time with those who had MS BEFORE dx and then one afterward and compared it to the control group with MS and found LOW D lead to MS not the other way around.

If you can not get this study online then ask your library if they can get if for you through their databases. Once you get a printout then you can take it to your NP for her to read as JAMA is highly respected journal in the medical community. You need to take D3 with K and some sort of essential fat (good fats) for it to be properly absorbed and turned into a secosteroid (made of fat).

Best wishes to you,
EP

2 more studies on how D DOES affect MS.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6191131.stm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11115787

See my information on my website www.RAMSwebsite.Net for more research links.

MSKC, I am not certain your question was answered, but D is worth only about 40% of D3, and that is if your body is converting it properly. I am told that here in IL, it is only during the summer that we make enough D3 through sunlight. If your doctor has ordered it, at least he knows it is necessary.