Vitamin D - GP said no longer needed

[HKAnne]

My 94 year old mother, who never goes out or sees the sun has been told by her GP in an email that "in accordance with local guidelines she no longer needs vitamin D and her prescription is being cancelled" and apparently once you have had a course of vit D you should not need it again! She has been taking vitamin D tablets for the past 8 or 9 years.Why don't they say it how it is - they are being forced to make cut backs, which I understand but why insult our intelligence and jeopardize our wellbeing by telling us we no longer need medication?

Sorry, just needed to get that off my chest - thanks for reading.

[Marz]

Not expensive to buy and probably better quality. Gel capsules with olive oil are good as VitD is fat soluble - bought on-line. GP prescription may well have been too low. Worth testing with on-line testing kit to ascertain an appropriate dose.

I agree stopping your Mum's prescription is false economy - sadly.

[HKAnne in reply to Marz]

Many thanks for the advice Marz. I am happy to to buy the vitamins myself, I just don't like the way this is presented to someone who is vulnerable and elderly.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HKAnne]

Probably only getting prescribed a tiny dose

Suggest you test her vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels

[HKAnne in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon - ferritin is dangerously low, hoping I can get the private geriatrician that she is seeing on Friday to organise an iron infusion.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HKAnne]

How much levothyroxine is she taking and what are her most recent TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 results

Is she taking levothyroxine everyday, on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

no other medications or supplements within at least 2 hours

Iron, magnesium, vitamin D tablets, magnesium at least four hours away

[Marz in reply to HKAnne]

At 77 I am considered elderly and fight for my wellness ... your Mum of course deserves better.

[HKAnne in reply to Marz]

It is a shame we have to fight but sadly it seems to be the only way these days. I am glad we are able to fight and greatful for the support from everyone from the Health Unlocked community.

[HKAnne]

She has a normal functioning thyroid.I have Hashimotos.

[Marz in reply to HKAnne]

Do you have copies of results that indicated a 'normal' functioning thyroid ?

Low Ferritin - Low VitD could indicate a problem. How are B12 and Folate results ?

[HKAnne in reply to Marz]

B12 and Folate all normal

[Marz in reply to HKAnne]

So B12 is 500+ & Folate mid range ?

[HKAnne in reply to Marz]

All within good range

[humanbean]

To get vitamin D level tested privately :

vitamindtest.org.uk/

For more info on vitamin D from Thyroid UK

thyroiduk.org/vitamin-d/

[HKAnne in reply to humanbean]

Thank you humanbean, hopefully the geriatrician will organise some extra blood tests.

[humanbean in reply to HKAnne]

I have to ask. What will you do if they don't?

[HKAnne in reply to humanbean]

My Mum is 94 she has a list of medical problems as long as my arm. We have known the geriatrician for 8 years, she is excellent. My Mum is frail and will never be 100%, so I will continue to do my best for her (she lives with me)

[Sparklingsunshine]

I was diagnosed by NHS with low vitamin D years ago and was prescribed a once monthly megadose, think it was around 25,000iu per phial. I took it for a few years then got contacted by letter saying vitamins were no longer being prescribed if you could buy them otc. It was when the NHS stopped a lot of treatments like non prescription painkillers, headice treatment, eczema moisturisers, it was a long list.

This was pre hypothyroid, since joining this forum I realised the importance of K2 with vitamin D so the supplement I use now is better than the one I got from my doctor. I'm actually surprised your mum got treated at all and not told to buy her own 😏 as I thought the guidance was nationwide. The list of things the NHS no longer treats grows ever longer.

[HKAnne in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

I have no problem paying for medication/treatment (the funding is simply not there), what I am unhappy about is that elderly and/or vulnerable people are being told they no longer need treatment without even being seen or tested.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to HKAnne]

I dont disagree but unfortunately there are so many cutbacks nowadays to services we perhaps took for granted. Its just going to be more common. When my NHS vitamin D was stopped several years ago I was never seen or tested either. I only got a vitamin D test last year because I was having investigations for parathyroid dysfunction. The NHS dont like requesting Vitamin D testing as I believe its expensive.

[userotc]

Does anyone believe GPs have any training and know anything/much about vitamins like vit D? For example, has anyone's GP ever recommended taking magnesium and/or vit K2 alongside vit D?