I need your advice

[serkaddis]

Hi, I am taking levothyroxine 100mcg/day for the last 8 months my tsh is 1.268iu/(Range 0.35-4.94). My vit D level became 18.9ng/ml (Range 20-100), (deficient). She said my calcium is also low (which I don't have the number). So she prescribed 2200iu vit d3 per day for 6 days a week and to take Calcidenk (1000mg calcium with 8000iu vitamind3) per day. Please, I need your advice & opinion. Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Serkaddis

What happened to your Vit D level?

2 months ago in this thread healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... you said your level was 49.9ng/ml on 9th January this year. The Vit D Council recommends a level of 40-60ng/ml so you were within the recommended range. Did you not continue with a decent maintenance dose?

Did you start taking D3's important cofactors that Marz told you about?

Your calcium was in range then and Bantam explained how taking D3 helps raise calcium level and we shouldn't take calcium unless deficient. What is your level now that requires you to supplement calcium?

[serkaddis in reply to SeasideSusie]

Dear SeasideSuise

I appreciate your recall on the vit D being in range. That was after taking loading doses of 60000iu/week for 8 weeks. Then, since the available unit was 2200iu, she prescribed the 2200iu to be taken three days per week (Mon, Tue & Fri). So I was taking for the last 3 months. When I checked on April 18, 2018, the result came as 18.9. I have not seen the result of the calcium, but she said it's low.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to serkaddis]

serkaddis

Unfortunately your doctor is like the majority, they haven't had training in nutrition so don't really know much about it. Once we achieve the recommended level, we need a decent maintenance dose. What she prescribed - 2,200iu 3 days a week = 6,600iu which averages 942iu daily which is often too low for a maintenance dose and you can see that it's not enough for you, it didn't maintain your level, your level plummeted again.

As for a maintenance dose, as an example, I was severely deficient and once I reached the recommended level I have found that I need 5000iu daily in winter and 2000iu daily the rest of the year to maintain my level. Everyone is different so we have to find our own maintenance dose by trial and error and then we need to test twice a year to ensure we stay within the recommended range. I appreciate that you're not in the UK but is there anywhere you can arrange your own Vit D test rather than asking your GP?

I would ask your GP whether your "low calcium" means below range or low in range. If it's below range then yes you may need to supplement, but if it's low in range - and your range is so very narrow at 8.1 to 10.4mg/dl - then then taking Vit D will sort that.

The cofactors are necessary because D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium helps D3 to work and comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

[serkaddis in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SeasideSuise, I will try to check my calcium level & get back to you. You wouldn't know how I feel to know someone is there to rely on. Thanks again.

[serkaddis in reply to SeasideSusie]

Dear SeasideSuise

Last time you asked me my calcium level. Today I have tested both calcium & magnesium. So calcium 9.6mg/dl (range 8.8 to 10.6) and Magnesium 2.0mg/dl (range 1.9-2.5). I don't think i need supplement for both. Now my problem is with 2200iu/day for 6 days of vitamin d3. I began to become badly constipated. Please your opinion is highly appreciated.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to serkaddis]

Serkaddis

So you don't need to supplement calcium then.

Magnesium tests aren't particularly reliable and as magnesium is needed for your body to actually use the D3 then supplementing is usually advised. Don't forget you also need Vit K2-MK7 as explained above.

I don't know if your constipation is due to the D3, I've never seen another member mention this before. Magnesium citrate can have a laxative effect.

[serkaddis in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks