Sun lamp

[Tweetypie28]

Just wondering if anyone uses a sun lamp to help boost their vit D levels? If so, which one and does it work??

[Ginsing]

Goodmorning My daughter has one she got it from bOOTS IT IS BRILLIANT we strongly recomend one.

[sarahstevenson]

I bought one last Feb from Lumie. I love the light quality - can't be sure it boosts my Vit Do but it does boost how I feel.

[PinkNinja in reply to sarahstevenson]

I also have a light box but I don't think it does much for vitamin D levels. It does help with neurotransmitters such as serotonin and melatonin levels though. These apparently affect TSH levels and thus production and conversion of thyroid hormones. I have no doubt these work for many people during the winter months. I haven't needed it since getting some T3 though, but it is fantastic for knitting and so forth. As you say, a great light quality

[Kangagirl]

I also bought a light box from Lumie last year, but unfortunately it did not work for me. It was very good quality, and the light was very powerful, but if I had it on my desk within the distance they say is effective, I found that it actually hurt my eyes and gave me a headache which would morph into a migraine if I persevered with it. I found myself actually shading my eyes from the light, which kind of defeats the objective!

It also made the outside appear even more dark (during the day) so perversely this made me feel even more low. The instructions said that if I didn't feel some improvement after two weeks it was probably not going to happen, so as it was rather expensive to keep just as a table lamp, I returned it. I am sure they do work for some people though. I think perhaps my SAD is also connected to winter in general (which I have always hated but more so during the past few years as the HypoT has restricted more and more of what I can do), and the whole need to get outside, to be doing something, and for the weather to be warm and dry and bright. Some hopes. I also have some kind of weird mould intolerance - among many others - and it's virtually impossible to avoid ingesting mould spores when the weather is so damp and well, mouldy, with dead leaves, wet earth, damp air even, etc etc.

I thought it was interesting when I read on Dr Myhill's website that some of her patients don't get well until they go and live in a Mediterranean climate. Again, if only! She concentrates more on treating ME and CFS and I seem to have both this and HypoT - each seems to aggravate the other. (I'm one of the ones with a strong belief that ME/CFS does exist, as somebody who has had it since 1972, long before I became HypoT - but that's a whole other discussion!)

I digress as usual

The kind of lamp you need for boosting Vitamin D isn't a SAD light box though, it's a 'narrow band UVB lamp'. There are several on the market. I did get one (we have moved so it's still packed in it's box and I can't remember what brand it is). They are considerably more expensive than light boxes. It isn't the same as a sun lamp which emits a high level of the damaging UVA rays, (so don't get one of those for Vitamin D levels), but you still have to be careful and build up your exposure from about 30 seconds at the beginning to a maximum of I think several minutes. It isn't something you can sit in front of for hours, and you must wear the goggles they provide.

The one I've got is similar to the ones they use in hospitals for skin conditions and (apparently) they are also recommended for boosting Vitamin D. It's quite large and stands on a tripod like a camera, and the angle of the lamp part can be adjusted. I figured the expense was worth it as I can't tolerate supplements very well and it would be a lifetime thing. The problem for me is remembering to use it! It seemed an awful lot off faff to get undressed for the 30 seconds I was 'allowed' when I was feeling so rotten, and to my embarrassment I have hardly used it, so can't tell you if it works or not - which isn't much help to you, sorry. I just wanted to let you know that the kind of lamp recommended for Vitamin D is the 'narrow band' UVB kind, not the SAD ones. To find out more, you could either Google narrow-band UVB lamps, or I could go and unpack it to find out the brand if you like.

I have another reason for not being sure whether I should use it or not. I am very 'moley' (I don't spend much time burrowing in the garden these days though ). I recently had a large mole on my back removed because it had got bigger and firmer and had changed colour. This had nothing to do with the lamp as I hadn't been using it, but it has made me a bit wary now. Although the UVB lamps are supposed to be safer in comparison to the UVA ones, I would probably only expose the parts of my body that are mole-less, like my legs. Not sure if this would be enough to be effective though.

Hope this is of some help, good luck.

Kanga x

[Hidden in reply to Kangagirl]

wanna sell your light box?

[Kangagirl in reply to Hidden]

Hi fenwoman. I just need to reiterate that what I've got isn't a light box (like the Lumie ones for SAD, which I returned).

Looking at your other post below, I'm not sure if you're serious , or interested in a light box rather than a UVB lamp, so you might not even be asking me - if your question was meant for somebody else, apologies.

My problem is that I don't lead anything like a normal life, whatever that is. I don't get out much, particularly at this time of year - no energy, feeling rough, hate the cold and damp. etc etc - in fact I may be part tortoise as I feel a strong urge to hibernate until next spring. And my diet is far from healthy because of many food intolerances and a decidedly dodgy digestive system. When things are really bad I get almost constant nausea and have lost a lot of weight I couldn't afford to lose in the first place. So I feel I need all the help I can get, however whacky it might sound.

I think I will hang on to the lamp for the time being as I haven't really given it a fair trial. As I say, after the Mutant Mole Incident I probably won't use it for my upper body, just the bits that are't already mole infested. Thanks anyway.

Kanga

[Hidden in reply to Kangagirl]

forgot the smiley was joking. I am the opposite. I LOVE the cold, can't bear the heat. However with animals, I tend to be outside a lot. In Summer I tend to be in and out, but only 10 minutes at a time is enough apparently. I too am moley and had skin cancer removed a few years ago .You can still get the 'good rays' on a cloudy overcast day too.

I keep reptiles and understand the importance of the UV (can never remember if they are A or B) and each has to have a special bulb in the vivarium. I have a little desk lamp with one in.

My friend, who suffers from depression and fibromyalgia, listened when I told her she needed this as her house is very dark and she rarely goes outside. Her lovely partner spent a fortune replacing every bulb in the house, with a UV bulb and the difference felt when you go into her house now, is astounding.

She has even ditched the antidepressants, and, as a big bonus, the kids seem to suffer less bugs and illnesses than before.She went from being unhappy, and spending days unable to function, sleeping during the day and missing so much life, to being the person I knew years ago.

Something worth thinking about.

[Kangagirl in reply to Hidden]

That's very interesting about the lightbulbs, and certainly worth thinking about.

We live in a rented house at the moment, and the light fittings are many, bonkers and various, from dim and useless inset spotlights in the kitchen which is VERY dark, (that'll teach me to have my husband, bless him, look at houses because I was too ill to make the trip), to the lounge which has really weird wall light things where you turn them on and off by either repeatedly touching or just passing your hand over these kind of nipple things on the wall.

Not like anything I've ever seen before and drives me nuts, they have a disconcerting habit of going on and off on their own, and you can feel a 'vibration' coming from the nipple thing without even touching it when your hand gets near.

You even need a special gadget to get the bulbs out!

I hate all these wretched gadgets, half of which don't work, and wish we just had regular lights that hang from the middle of the ceiling! It seems as though the people who lived here before were prepared to stumble around in semi-darkness just so they could appear 'cool' and never actually had to DO anything. It's a lovely house otherwise, but doh....

I gave up and went and bought some table lamps - even that is a traumatic experience now, necessitating a lie down with a wet newspaper on your head when you get home. I also found it impossible to just 'go and get a light bulb'. Screw in or bayonet? Energy saving (ten times the price for a tenth of the light) or not? Is it worth buying a bulb which costs more than the lamp? The 40w bulbs have been replaced in some stores by 42w, and no you can't use them in a lamp rated for 40w because if it goes wrong it's your fault.

But there are no lamps rated for these 42w bulbs as yet - apparently it's 'all changing' again. So it meant a trek to several different stores to find first some small lamps which didn't break the bank, then round again to find the right type of bulb. What used to take half an hour now takes half a day.

When I finally tracked down a pair of 'candle shaped' lightbulbs of correct low wattage for my lamps, the first one was cracked and broke in my hand when I screwed it in. Back to the store....

I have an 'office type' table lamp for working, which takes an old 100 watt spotlight. When that gives up the ghost, what will I do? I stocked up on 100w spots but now I can't get a lamp that will take them.

I sometimes think 'progress' is just another way of making life so difficult it drives you round the bend. Life is just too short to have to stress over a flipping light bulb.

End of bulb rant.

Still it would be useful to know where you or the lady's husband got the UV bulbs, and whether or not they would fit table lamps. They sound miraculous. We can't do much about the lighting that is already installed in the house - ie no central fittings, just these weird and not so wonderful gadgets - but if I thought I could get the other bulbs around here without having a meltdown while searching, and they would fit the lamps, I would certainly give it a go.

Lucky you by the way if you like the cold, you're certainly in the right place. I can't take extreme heat but I do much better when it's warm and dry and bright. Like about 5 days throughout the whole year if you're lucky.

Also, can't be too careful with those dastardly moles. Hope you are OK now.

Kanga x

[Hidden in reply to Kangagirl]

re buying the bulbs, both ebay and google are great places. I currently

get the reptile ones which come in different percentages (5% for the snails, and 10% for Moriarty the bearded dragon)., or even Amazon if you don't mind supporting a company which pays no taxes. I get my reptiglow bulbs off ebay or a reptile shop. Look for exo terra bulbs. You get either normal screw or bayonet types or the fluorescent tubes.

ebay.co.uk/itm/EXO-TERRA-13...

[Kangagirl in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks fenwoman. 'Moriarty the bearded dragon....' - I like it!

[Hidden in reply to Kangagirl]

I'll tell you an amusing story to make you smile. I once had visitors. One of which was a little boy aged 3 years. Kids are fascinated by my many animals so I was showing him them all. I mentioned that Moriarty was a bearded dragon, got him out of his vivarium, let the little boy stroke him to feel how rough he was. Placed Moriarty back in the viv' and carried on. Little boy piped up after a few minutes of pondering and asked "is he a REAL dragon then?" I said that indeed he was. I asked the little boy to look around the room. Did he notice any radiators like he had in his own house, which kept him warm in winter? He said she couldn't see one. I pointed to the woodburning stove and told him that this was how I keep warm, but since I had to put firewood in it, and could never find any matches, which were very dangerous in any case and should never be touched by children, I used Moriarty to light the firewood. His eyes grew round as he mulled it over. I asked him if he knew that dragons could breath fire. He said he did know this. So I said "well, in Winter, I put a bit of paper in the stove, then I put a bit of fire wood, then I get Moriarty out, put his mouth near the paper and wood, and I give him a squeeze. Not a big squeeze mind, just a little one. Out of his mouth comes fire, it lights the paper and wood, and I get nice and warm in no time". That little boy is now 10 years old and has never forgotten the time he met a lady who kept a real dragon who used to light her fire for her!! What's the betting he will remember it as an adult, even if he does by then know the truth. Kids are wonderful

[Kangagirl in reply to Hidden]

Fenwoman, what a lovely story. It did make me smile. I could just imagine a kid trying it out on every animal he came across! What else have you got besides Moriarty? I don't even want to ask what you feed them with...

Oops, something happened there, my picture disappeared...finally...

[Hidden in reply to Kangagirl]

I have dogs, cats, ferrets, parrots, finches, gerbils, rats, mice , chickens, ducks, Moriarty, hermit crabs, a large snake, lots of fish, various frogs and toads, loads of different beetles and about 6 variety of cockroaches , a tortoise and a stinkpot turtle, and some giant african land snails. Used to keep goats, pigs and rabbits too.

[Kangagirl in reply to Hidden]

Blimey, I don't know what to say! That sounds as though you have your own private zoo They must take a lot of looking after. I'm impressed.

We only had four house bunnies, all mini-lops and as cute as can be, and we thought we had our hands full - they aren't always as angelic as they look. I also used to have a beautiful Irish Setter years ago, who wasn't the least bit mad as they are supposed to be.

But I don't think I could cope with a crowd like yours. Do you have names for all of them, and where do you live that has room for them all? I was wondering if 'fenwoman' meant you live in Norfolk, or maybe I've got that wrong? I used to live in Suffolk.

[Hidden in reply to Kangagirl]

it's funny how, when people hear what I have, they think that my day is spent tending to them all. The reality is so very different. I'm a creature of habit, have slight OCD and thrive on routine. So for instance, it's 9.14 am now. I've been up just over an hour. I've made my bed, swept all downstairs (no nasty unhygienic carpets in this house), had a strip wash and cleaned teeth while the house dogs are put outside to run about and toilet (I have an acre). Once floors are swept, out comes the bleachy bucket and they are all mopped. All vivarium, fish tank and faunarium lights turned on, fish all fed.All surfaces dusted with the feather duster. Back door opened, front windows opened, dogs allowed in and fed, while the house gets a good blow through (Summer and Winter)and then I sit down for a cup of black coffee (no sugar) and one slice of multigrain bread, toasted, with honey on. Which is where I am now :). I can do the start up routine in my sleep. Later on I'll let the kennel dogs out, do a bit more cleaning (I love my bleachy bucket lol) do some laundry perhaps, get out of the freezer what I plan to eat tonight and look through recipes, get the cats minced chicken out of the pet meat freezer and set to defrost. That is what HAS to happen every day and because I'm on auto pilot, I really don't think about it. Any extras like odd jobs, gardening, clipping the dogs, shopping,etc all get done between the MUST DO jobs. Looking at the list, it seems loads, but anyone with children will be doing much the same. These creatures keep me sane (ish), they have given me status and respect from people in the animal world who respect my knowledge, and understand my dedication, and it's nice to be respected isn't it? They have literally saved my life. No matter how low I get with the depression, I can never take my own life because it would destroy theirs.The dogs are my friends, defenders acolytes, bed warmers and however crap I feel or look, they love me unconditionally. Yes, I do keep a lot of species, yes it means work, no my house doesn't stink and no I could never imagine not having them. I have often wondered just what 'normal' people do all day. I have a couple of unpleasant and very painful disabilities which means I am unable to work. So had I not got this lot, and my routine, I'd get out of bed and amble down stairs, shower, clean teeth have coffee and toast and then what? A whole day, full of empty meaningless hours stretching into the distance, until it's time to climb the stairs again. Now then I really WOULD prefer to be dead than suffer that existence :/ Sorry for the diatribe, I'm feeling particularly garrulous this morning lol. And I'm in Cambridgeshire. Not Fenland born originally (that's a whole 'nother story), but I'd not move from my beloved flatlands for all of King John's treasure

Righty ho, half 9, time to clean litter trays, take painkillers, general tidy and putting away of things, before my next coffee. Got to stick to the routine otherwise standards will slip.lol

and yes, most have names. I can tell each dog by it's bark like a Mother can tell which of her children is crying. Obviously, the cockroaches and beetles have no names, besides, they all look the same. The bearded dragon is Moriarty, my 58 year old tortoise is Horatio, one toad is called Norbert, the tree frogs are Lolita and Fred, my python is Louis (after an ex). I have cats named Pimple, Cockroach, Tuppence, Pog, Frodo among others.I have some of the lovliest dogs including Archie The Pig, my English bull terrier,Minnie and Nancy the naked Chinese crested sisters, Spider and Einstein the chihuahuas oh and sooooo many many more.

[Kangagirl in reply to Hidden]

I just Googled where the Fens are, and they cover a bigger area than I thought, so apologies that my geography isn't very good!

I admire your dedication and devotion to your animals, and can certainly identify with the unconditional love you get, particularly from a dog. My Setter was with me through good times and very horrible times, a constant loving presence, and I miss her still.

I think most of us who can't fill their lives with family, or 'going out to work' or doing what are universally classed as 'normal' things ( whatever that means) for one reason or another, particularly through health issues, have to have something to keep us sane (ish), to get up for in the mornings, to care about and plan for, take our minds to another place etc etc. Everybody is different and your animals give something back which is priceless. And a daily routine that you HAVE to do has a kind of anchoring and comforting effect - I can't really explain what I mean, but as you say, a whole day stretching ahead, full of meaningless hours, makes one feel 'what is the point of anything?'

My personal saving grace has been my art - I get very twitchy and miserable if I'm not painting or creating or making something, which doesn't make for a very tidy house and means that I have accumulated loads of 'stuff' over the years, (not to the point of hoarding, but the materials fill a great many plastic boxes, which is a bit embarrassing when moving house as we have just done) But what the hell, whatever works for each us is nobody else's business. At least we're breaking no laws and not hurting anybody.

I'm intrigued by the names - 'Louis the python' - can't work out if that's a compliment or an insult to your ex, but Moriarty has to be my favourite. I'm a little disappointed that you haven't named the cockroaches

but I suppose it is difficult if they all look alike. Oh well, can't win 'em all. More power to you, I say. x

[Hidden in reply to Kangagirl]

I suppose the animals are my 'art'. And yes I agree that life MUST have meaning on some level, whether it be animals, art or anything else. Well at least for intelligent people. I'd never be content to waste hours just sitting and staring blankly at a telly or something.As for naming the cockroaches, when my son as a small lad, he had a tank of stick insects, named sticky, ick, wicky, nicky, flicky, dicky etc and he swore he could tell them apart. Strange child, but then, with a Mother like me, how could he be any different

[Hidden]

I would not bother. If you live a normal life, are exposed to UV rays from walking about outside (you don't need strong sunshine) and eat a healthy diet containing things like fish oils, you will be wasting your money. A cheaper option would perhaps be to buy yourself a 10% reptile UV bulb and put it into a desk lamp if you think you need it for S.A.D. as opposed to curing rickets.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Is a reptile lamp safe for human exposure?

After all, it is usual to wear appropriate goggles with UVA sources - and reptile lamps seem to issue UVA as well as some UVB.

Excess UV (and I don't know much about which frequencies of UV have the greatest effect) can harm eyes.

Rod

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

I have a feeling they are UVB, They would HAVE to be safe for human eyes since reptile keepers are surrounded by them. What would burn human eyes would burn reptile eyes too.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Some reptile lamps positively claim UVA output (e.g. Arcadia).

The glass of a typical vivarium would absorb at least some of the UV.

Some people suffer eye damage from the UV output from various standard light sources such as CFLs or even fluorescent tubes.

Putting one is a desk lamp might result in a very different exposure to UV to that which would occur incidentally.

Maybe reptile keepers do suffer?

Rod

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

since you appear to know more than I do about it, why ask? I know a lot of reptile keepers. Most of us keep more than one specimen, I don't know any that have suffered eye problems. I tend not to dwell on 'some' and 'might' and 'perhaps'. I was so afraid of things, I'd just sit under a rock with my eyes shut in case anything might harm me. Incidentally, Arcadia is just a make. They make literally dozens of lamps with different percentages and different spectrums, to suit all sorts of situations.Not all UV lamps emit exactly the same amount of UV (a or b)

[Kangagirl in reply to Hidden]

I know I have to wear goggles with my UVB lamp, but I don't have the faintest idea how it's strength compares with that of a reptile lamp, or even if the manufacturers are being ultra cautious so that they don't get anybody suing them. It's size alone seems to suggest it's much stronger than the reptile lamps (for want of a better name).

I had a sun tanning lamp many years ago before there was any of the adverse opinion/evidence on UVA rays, and that also came with goggles. I didn't use it much, perhaps fortunately, as my one 15 minutes on a full sun bed resulted in an alarming increase in my mole population. I also felt as though I was in a coffin and never tried it again.

Now after having the mole taken off my back I don't know if I should use the UVB lamp or not. Not much point in having increased Vitamin D if the UVB is as risky as the UVA, (although they say it isn't). I'm the opposite of you, I worry about everything!

I was thinking the smaller bulbs might be safer and maybe beneficial after the story of your friend's tranformation, but now I'm not sure what to do. Being a worrier is so worrying...

[Hidden in reply to Kangagirl]

but that's like saying that because the sun can damage your eyes, you must never look at a lightbulb, or microwave oven or anything else which emits any kind of UV. Or howabout "because you have to wear a seat belt in cars, all cars are dangerous and nobody should ever get in one".

When I get to the stage that I am simply too timid to exist on any functional level, I will take steps to stop being alive. Don't get me wrong, I've been in situations which have made me very afraid. Very very very afraid. However forward planning, assessing risk, doing some research are how I tend to operate. I got myself out of all of the situations which could have ended up with me coming to some great harm or dead because of prior experience. You learn as you take risk. Being very risk averse isn't healthy. My friend's partner refuses to allow his 4 year old son to have a swing in the garden "in case he falls off and hurts himself". Child never learns to balance or hold on ergo he hurts himself an awful lot.Don't live your life by might's and maybe's unless of course you ENJOY the feeling of fear.

[cein]

Good morning,

I have a light box which I bought 7 years ago on the advice of my GP after being diagnosed a few years earlier ... the surgery actually helped me purchase it as I suffer really bad with S.A.D in winter since coming back from Africa.

Its called a '' Brite Box '' sorry I can't give you any more details on the company right now as I can't remember ( I am away at my sons for 9 days.)

The name on the box is ''Bright Box '' it was developed many years ago by a guy called Mark ? who suffered S.A.D for a long time, before realising why .. then he worked with different companies to develope his light box's.

Now there are many products and variaties to choose from.

But I couldn't and wouldn't be without it in winter, I use it first thing in the morning for minimum of 30 min while I am getting ready ( it gives me the equivalent of 8hrs bright sunshine ) it is not a tanning machine so will not give you a tan ? .....

Everyone is different some people react to the light, and it gives some people headaches.

Now I am retired and I can ... depending how dark it's been I use it twice a day.

I bought a large light box because I couldn't use it continuously during the day because of my work unlike a small one which you can sit to one side on the desk infront of you for the whole day. You do not look at the light the whole time you just need to glance at it occasionally.

Anyway that's my story everyone is different and so have to do what works for them .. Good luck

[cein]

Just to say if you decide to buy one a light box must have a mimimum of 10,000 Lux of light.

But if you are having to wake up in the '' dark '' for work .. you might be better with a Dawn Riser which wakes you up naturally.

I think that was the biggest problem for me ...waking up suddenly with the alarm clock. But I didnt know about the dawn Riser then.

[Tweetypie28]

Thank you everyone for your comments. It's all very interesting to read. I think I'll do some more research and try and fnd out what would be the best for me. Thanks again for taking the time to respond x

[Kangagirl in reply to Tweetypie28]

It's the narrow band UVB for Vitamin D, and the lightbox for SAD or depression. Two different types of lamp. Good luck. x