what are the symptoms of vitamin D deficency

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

The Vitamin D Council says this:

What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency could be described as chronic pain, weak bones, frequent infections, depression, etc., but the same will not be true for everyone who is deficient. Because the possible effects of vitamin D deficiency are wide-ranging and can manifest in the body in any number of ways, there are no specific associated symptoms.

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

Have a good look round while you are on that site.

Rod

[Hidden]

Good question Gizzi,

9 months ago I would have attributed all my symptoms to my partial thyroidectomy and having spare neck ribs. Not the official line but my experience (only). For those who've heard this time after time, I apologise.

~ I was feeling very low & tired - doc said depression, CFS/ME nothing they could do, apart from ADs, made me feel hopeless. All I wanted was to sleep.

~ Joints aching & weak - been like this for years, a ski-ing holiday highlighted shin & calf pain, had to stop for breath after 5 mins. OK I wasn't the same person as 30 years ago, but determined, just point skis downwards! (I'd given up trying to horse ride for ages - pull to stop - no chance)

~ At home, I winced trying to lift a saucepan, even a hair-dryer became heavy.

~ Tingling in both hands then feet. (pins and needles) & 3 white fingers.

~ Couldn't walk far, jelly legs.

~ A cold would knock me for six, streaming so even if I turned up for work I couldn't focus on the computer, lasted ages.

2 MRIs, various xrays, 2 nerve conduction tests inconclusive, bloods fine, but carpal and cubital tunnel could be 'fixed' with surgery.

Meanwhile, I thought surely vitamins don't make much difference? but what's to lose? as no treatment offered except more ops, I thought OK I'll start doing my own thing & bought a test for £25 (vitamindtest.org.uk/ - NHS lab) a BIG step, the doc is right - yes? No!

I was 'inadequate' at 40 something, not deficient (but daughter was) I got H&B D3 pills & felt better - lashed out with a holiday to Egypt & a sun spa too! annoyingly not much difference in bloods but I felt better, daughter had drops & felt heaps better - so I went onto drops - feel great! Maybe I overdosed a bit & wakeful at night, learnt to take them first thing instead.

Nearly all of the above ~ gone. OK I can still sleep for England, but I feel better and brighter with no pain. Constant pain gets you down, big time. But the main thing was, I took notice, the penny dropped (takes me a while as I'm a sceptic & pill phobic!) J

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

How long did it take for the pain to disappear Spareribs?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

As Jackie says, pains eased about 3 months and I retested after 6 months (51nmol/L) then took drops instead - now I forget to take them everyday but am reminded when my wrists start to twinge a bit. GP was intrigued I'd done my own test but wouldn't do one or calcium or B12 either.

I forgot to list Ribcage pain, and the City Assays NHS lab link is vitamindtest.org.uk/

J

[Jackie]

Hi Speaking from medical advice and personal experience, when my D is very low all the joints are very painful, especially legs. Going upstairs you are more comfortable crawling! Also when really bad I have oseomalacia ( adult rickets) , much worse pains in legs, especially at night. It is quite unmistakable.Vit D has to be increased slowly according to calcium tests ( which must always be in range). It takes 3 months for D to alter in the blood.

goo dluck with it!

Jackie

[waveylines]

hi,

When my vit D levels were low i felt very tired all the time, non restful sleep, aching joints and I caught infections easily, frequently, which took ages to go. Eventually one of my legs broke for no reason so it was investigated and my vit D levels were something like 3nmol -so very very low! These days I take 5000iu per day of D3 as advised by the Vitamin D Council ( ver yehlpful site that Rod gave you the link to), daily. I am unable to tolerate sun -even the English spring sun burns me. GP's should be ok with testing you for vit D deficiency -ask for a blood test but make sure you get a print out of the result -as you maybe told you are in range when you are actually low. hope this helps and you feel better soon. xx