Doctor or supplements?

[TraceyLE]

I have just had my vit D checked by Blue Horizons and the results are low : 16 (50-199). I'm not really up on quality of Vits etc. Do I make an appointment to see the doctor or just go to Boots and buy a tub which is obviously easier.

Many thanks

[shaws Administrator]

Yes, go to your GP. You are very deficient and he/she should give you a quality VitD prescription.

[TraceyLE in reply to shaws]

Thank you I will make an appointment.

[Moggie]

Your GP may possible want to test a few more things as well as giving you VitD suppliments plus he/she may want to do his/her own VitD test.

Moggie x

[TraceyLE in reply to Moggie]

Thanks Moggie, sounds odd but really pleased to be Vit D deficient as it could be the explanation of muscle aching, tiredness etc.etc.

[shaws Administrator in reply to TraceyLE]

If he hasn't done Vit B12 ask for this also as usually if one is deficient the other could be too.

[TraceyLE in reply to shaws]

Hi, had Active B12 done prior to this test and it was 50.1 (25.1 - 165). I have just started taking B12 tabs to supplement it but will inform GP when I go next week.

Many thanks

[Moggie]

This is my second time around with VitD deficiency - first time was back in June last year when my levels were 12.5. After treatment (50,000iu tablets from GP) my levels went to 154. Now, after bloods last week done by my endo, I have again got to take the same high powered VitD tablets. So what I thought was fixed isn't and maybe when you have been low in VitD once then there is always a tendency to fall back again. Maybe making sure you get it checked yearly would be a good idea.

Yes it could well explain all your symptoms and hopefully your GP will sort you out.

Moggie x

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Moggie]

This happened to me too! I went up and down even with three months of a loading dose and then substantial daily supplements and eventually my test results were right back down to nothing. And I got a bit fed up and stopped taking all my supplements and the next test I had was something like 98! It's a mystery, though I did try a gluten free diet and I don't know if this would improve absorption - ? I had also had a holiday in slightly sunnier climes. This seems like the sort of thing to keep an eye on over time as it's so hard to stabilise.

[LinDonaldson]

Hi there,

Personally, I was not happy with the supplements that my GP supplied and went to a private nutritionist. I did not feel comfortable taking massive doses of Vit D3 so opted for a conservative 2500 ius daily. I buy my supplements from a health food company. They come in vegetarian capsule form. I took them for a year because I had been deficient for some years. Consequently, I developed Osteomalacia. After a year I have much less problems with joints and muscles and my bones are slowly healing. My inner core strength has also improved greatly I continue to take 1400 ius of VD3 and will continue for another year. From then on I will take a maintenance dose of 1000ius daily. I also take VK2 as this supplement works with the VD3 to make bone. It is a good idea to consult a nutritioniist because he/she will be able to help with dosages. It is important to ask for calcium levels to be tested as you need a baseline figure. If you are low then it is also important to take calcium supplements. It is advisable to have VD3 and calcium measured after 6 months of supplementation.

My GP is happy with this method as she has the job of monitoring progress and I feel happy because I kind of trust nutritionists.

Regards

Lin

[Moggie in reply to LinDonaldson]

Lin,

Could you tell me if it is expensive to go down this route as, like you say, I think I may have to suppliment for years.

Moggie x

[LinDonaldson in reply to Moggie]

Dear Moggie,

I am pretty hard up so I have tried to be as economical as possible. First asked the GP to do baseline tests then talked with nutritionists over the phone to gauge their level of knowledge and how much they charge. I also bought The Vitamin D Revolution by Soram Khalsa (6 Jul 2009). You can buy it at Amazon for under £5.00 and if you have a Kindle it is even cheaper than in book form.

The nutritionist I saw was very good and I had one consultation £80 but after that I could phone her and discuss how I was feeling.

Acupuncture really helped too. I joined a multi- bed clinic so treatment was £12 per session. Truthfully I never thought having needles stuck in me could help (scared of being hurt I suppose). How wrong can a person be. My mobility was much improved after a session and I felt less pain. The most important factor for me though was feeling cared for. Lying on a bed with incense wafting around, the glow of candles in the room and feeling warm was by itself very therapeutic. However, it was the acupuncture itself that calmed my aching body.

I buy my own sups (try Nature's Best on the net). A year's supply of VD3 cost about £18 and the Vit K2 about £15.00. If you need calcium I would ask the doc for that.

I wish you the very best of luck. I know my life has turned around since I started the VD3 sups. In order to switch from T4 to T3 I stopped taking all supps and meds just to let my system respond to the T3. Immediately that ghastly tiredness came back. Back on all supps. Hurrah!

Regards

Lin

[Moggie in reply to LinDonaldson]

Thanks ever so much Lin, will be looking into the Natures Best range after my mega VitD boost again from the GP. (which I dont think does me any favours as I get a lot of pain in my kidneys - is it any wonder seeing as the liver and kidneys do all the processing).

Moggie x

[LinDonaldson in reply to Moggie]

Hi Moggie

Sorry about kidneys. My doctor offered me Adcal 800 ius not enough to cure a mouse. Good luck with long term sups! Amazon advertises lots of VD3 too.

Regards

Lin

[Moggie in reply to LinDonaldson]

Thanks Lin,

Will be taking a week of 50,000iu and then, according to endo's instructions "a long term maintenance dose" whatever that means (possible a silly amount like you were offered). Dont have print out of latest results yet but they are low enough for the endo to suppliment so I need to know WHY and WHERE all my VitD has gone in such a short space of time.

Thanks for your help.

Moggie x

[LinDonaldson]

Oh sorry just one more thing. It might be that you will have to supplement for the rest of your life. At least some eople with hypothyroidism have issues with converting UV light to vitamin D3.