Help vitimin D truma: Hi can anyone help please... - Thyroid UK

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Help vitimin D truma

Caldereta profile image
40 Replies

Hi can anyone help please my doctor has prescribed colekal-d3 vitamins for low levels of this this vitamin, I suffer diverticulitis and ibs they gave me a very bad burning heartburn plus belching and stomach pain plus constipation and sickness,the dose is 20,000 l.U capsules he says they are shark oil I cannot see this in the ingredients though,does anyone no of a type I could take that I don't have this awful reaction? I have had this reaction before and they were stopped,but with having a low count what other alternative is there????

Thankyou.

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Caldereta
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Caldereta

I have had this reaction before and they were stopped,but with having a low count what other alternative is there????

A supplement with no excipients?

Looking at that brand, albeit 800iu dose but I don't suppose the ingredients would be any different, then the following excipients are included:

Microcrystalline Cellulose PH102

Starch 1500

Croscarmellose Sodium

Colloidal Silicondioxide

Magnesium Stearate

Maybe you are reacting to one of those.

The British National Formulary doesn't list that brand for their 20,000iu dose, and I can't find a patient information leaflet for it.

Maybe buy your own and look at an excipient free supplement, eg Doctor's Best D3 softgels which contain only D3 and extra virgin olive oil. If you still get problems then you are reacting to the D3 itself which a few people do.

Shark oil? I'm a bit dubious about that. Most D3 is from lanolin obtained from sheep's wool. Shark oil would certainly not be the first choice for D3, I haven't seen any D3 supplements (and I've looked at a lot of brands) which list shark oil.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results and ranges

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

800iu vitamin D is likely far too small dose to increase vitamin D levels, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function. There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need,

Calculator for working out dose you may need to bring level to 40ng/ml = 100nmol

grassrootshealth.net/projec...

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSlowDragon

Hi the vitamin D came back low and potassium this has to be tested this week again my GP has said he would give me shark oil vitamin D the one given I can not see any of the ingredients where it says shark oil,the ones which I have are cole kal-D3 2,000 units l.u capsules 2 a week.I am awaiting the antibodies to come back ,I have severe iting with ras on upper body too,when my thyroid came back a different Gp said it was a little low and increased it 25mg the other GP said it was normal and wouldn't have increased it he says now to get a full reading I will have to stay on 125mg until March so to get a accurate reading.

The vit d I speak of gave me a really bad burning indigestion pain with persistent burping sickness and gut pain.

I have had this reaction to vit d in the past.

I think I have sent you my thyroid result before.

Thanks vivien.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toCaldereta

Caldereta

From your first post:

the dose is 20,000 l.U capsules

and from your next post:

the ones which I have are cole kal-D3 2,000 units l.u capsules 2 a week

Which is it?

What is your actual Vit D level?

If it is <25nmol/L then that is Vit D deficiency and requires loading doses of 300,000 over 6 or 7 weeks and is often given as 2 x 20,000iu capsules per week.

If you have been given 2,000iu capules to be taken twice a week for Vit D deficiency then your GP is not following the guidance.

Be aware that the BetterYou oral spray contains quite a few excipients, if you reacted to the excipients in your prescribed capsule you may very well react to the excipients in the spray. It could be, of course, that you are reacting to the D3 itself, some people do find they can't take it.

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSeasideSusie

The dose is 2,000 2 times a week for 7 weeks then maintenance. Thanks

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toCaldereta

Caldereta

Can you please tell us what your Vit D level is.

Do you have Vit D deficiency?

2,000iu twice a week is 4,000iu per week. I take 5,000iu per day as my maintenance dose as do some other members.

4,000iu per week for 7 weeks =28,000iu

So if you have Vit D deficiency you need 20,000iu twice a week, as explained above. The loading doses are 280,000 or 300,000iu over 6 or 7 weeks.

If you have Vit D deficiency then you need to show the following to your GP and ask that he follows the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary and give you the proper loading doses:

NICE treatment summary for Vit D deficiency: cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d...

(click on Management > Scenario:Management)

"Treat for vitamin D deficiency if serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels are less than 25 nmol/L.

For the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, the recommended treatment is based on fixed loading doses of vitamin D (up to a total of about 300,000 international units [IU]) given either as weekly or daily split doses, followed by lifelong maintenance treatment of about 800 IU a day. Higher doses of up to 2000 IU a day, occasionally up to 4000 IU a day, may be used for certain groups of people, for example those with malabsorption disorders.

* Several treatment regimens are available, including 50,000 IU once a week for 6 weeks (300,000 IU in total), 20,000 IU twice a week for 7 weeks (280,000 IU in total), or 4000 IU daily for 10 weeks (280,000 IU in total)."

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSeasideSusie

Sorry don't have them i will get it printed off.Slow dragon seems to think it maybe due to under prescribed with thyroxine can have a bearing on the vit d results.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toCaldereta

I think your GP was being sarcastic calling vitamin D “shark oil”

If your not on high enough dose levothyroxine and TSH high and Ft4/Ft3 low then you need dose increase

taking vitamin D can underline or make more obvious that you are under medicated

Gut issues are common hypothyroid symptom due to low stomach acid.....

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSlowDragon

Hi here are the results thyroid and ferritin.

Caldereta I have removed your picture as it shows your name and NHS number and leaves you vulnerable to identity theft.

in reply toCaldereta

I recommend deleting this photo as is contains personal information.

Results are Ferritin 58 (10 - 130)

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toCaldereta

Thankyou,Are the thyroid results ok I sent you ??Thanks.

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSlowDragon

I have just sent you the thyroid results doctor 1 increased doc 2 said normal no I'm not gluten free.I had to send thyroid via email as wouldnt allow me to send on the site.

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSlowDragon

Thyroid result tsh 0.1 -5.0 free t4 12-23.Hope this helps

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSlowDragon

Thyroid result tsh 0.1-5.0Free t4 12-23 .

Hope this helps

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toCaldereta

These are the reference ranges we also need the results. Look at how Hidden has shown your Ferritin result - result is 58 and the range is in brackets.

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSeasideSusie

Don't understand are we talking the thyroid or ferritin i dont understand what the correct levels should be because I've a arse of a gp which I've reported so he's playing some sort of game with my health here.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toCaldereta

Your Ferritin result we know. OforOnward took these from your picture and posted them above for you before the image was removed. We need your thyroid results, you have given the reference ranges for TSH and FT4 but we need the result.

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSeasideSusie

Hi thats what they gave me and told me that was my result so I asked for a print off.I thought that was my result same as the ferritin?

I just asked for my results this is driving me mad,that doctor told me that my vit d was low and as slow dragon was messaging me about the vit D making me ill with stomach upset and asked for thyroid results which I sent not knowing it was the range not the result as you have made me aware.

The vit d my gp supplied he informed were with shark oil ,slow dragon said he thought he was being sarcastic and he had not heard

Of it.

Thanks viv

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toCaldereta

Can you confirm if the levels of my thyroid are correct as my partner was reading the scale my results are TSH 4.57 FREE T4 16is this ok or not ?Thanks.viv

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toCaldereta

Caldereta

There is a shark oil supplement, the oil is derived from the sharks' livers. It has Vit A and tocopherol (a form of Vit E) but I haven't seen anything about it being a form of or having any useful amount of, if any, Vit D.

The picture that was removed had your Ferritin result on, with reference range.

Do you have a print out that shows your thyroid results, as you have given the ranges?

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSeasideSusie

TSH 4.57 FREE T4 16 MY RESULT.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toCaldereta

Caldereta

TSH 4.57 (0.1-5.0)

FREE T4 16 (12-23)

Are you taking levothyroxine?

If so, how much?

If you are taking levothyroxine you are undermedicated.

The aim of a treated hypo patient on Levo only, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges if that is where you feel well.

Your TSH is very close to the top if it's range and your FT4 is only 36% through it's range, so if you are taking levothyroxine you need an increase in dose, 25mcg now and retest in 6-8 weeks.

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSeasideSusie

Thankyou I'm taking since a month 125 daily increased 3 weeks ago retest March.

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSeasideSusie

Rash unknown

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toCaldereta

Caldereta

Rash unknown

Sorry, I'm not understanding this? What's it referring to?

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSeasideSusie

Apart from my thyroid issues and the vit d intolerance I have itching and a rash I don't no if this is to do with thyroid or vit d.?

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toCaldereta

Caldereta

Sorry, but there is no way anyone here can know if it's connected. It could be caused by anything. You'd need to be able to pinpoint when it started and if coincided with anything.

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSeasideSusie

Maybe the change of thyroid meds from teva to astro after 25 years now on wockhardt because the pharmacy couldnt get teva.Thanks viv

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toSeasideSusie

Thankyoux

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply toSlowDragon

I hope so, as sharks are now an endangered species

Partner20 profile image
Partner20

My partner was prescribed cholecalciferol as he was deficient in Vit.D, but experienced severe side-effects similar to yours, and he has stomach/digestive issues, too. He remembers having side-effects from cod-liver oil and suchlike in the past, too. He has tried many different Vit.D supplements, even those just in pure olive oil, and sublingual versions,too, but finds them all impossible to tolerate. When his levels really dip, he tries to take a dosage that is least problematic for a while, but stops as soon as he can. Luckily, due to other conditions he has, this is tested quite frequently. So, unfortunately, I have no advice as to any alternative.

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toPartner20

Hi its a nightmare they are trying the drops next i know you can have it in injection form and it bypasses the gut has your partner been offered that?I am dubious to try this as the burning from that one tablet was awful and the crampsx

Partner20 profile image
Partner20 in reply toCaldereta

Interesting. No, although under the care of several departments including endocrinology, hepatology and digestive diseases, no-one has come up with a solution for him. Hope something will be found for you.

pinkjess17 profile image
pinkjess17

Maybe you can only tolerate a small dose? I react badly and just take a small amount when I get symptoms

Partner20 profile image
Partner20 in reply topinkjess17

My partner cannot tolerate even the smallest dose, unfortunately, and I think this can be the same for a limited number of people.

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toPartner20

Hi at present my doc is talking about seeing a dermatologist, as I have awful itching and spots .feels a little like when I had shingles 2 times in my late 20s the itch is intensive but scratch and it burns hot dont no whether its thyroid change or linked to vit d.He just gives antistomine. X

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply topinkjess17

Hi what are your symptoms please?

pinkjess17 profile image
pinkjess17

Mainly joint pain, low mood, slower heart rate x

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply topinkjess17

Thankyoux

Caldereta profile image
Caldereta in reply toCaldereta

Well I'm on the liquid vitd 4,000 a week take with a fatty meal,I had tummy issues with the tablet now with this also but quite severe I told doc ,he says stop taking it ,he will contact the rheumatology and ask them the next step funny I do experienced a dry mouth as well never feel good after a dose. Xx

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