Severe Vitamin D deficiency: I did that Vitamin D... - Thyroid UK

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Severe Vitamin D deficiency

ennogh profile image
27 Replies

I did that Vitamin D blood test by post, because I just wanted to see what my levels were. I just got them back and it said severe deficiency, 11.7 nmol/L. How did I get that? I can't just be bad weather, can it?

Assuming these tests are accurate, I guess I'll be off to the GP again. I can't believe it though!

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ennogh profile image
ennogh
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27 Replies
Issy profile image
Issy

Thyroid issues may mean that you absorb less nutrients from your food.

I found it easier just to but Vit D from Amazon, though.

Moggie profile image
Moggie

My VitD level last May was 12.5 and after treatment it went up to 154. Now its back down in the 30's and I am on treatment again. My GP's suggestion to take a holiday abroad (I wished) and my endo's suggestion of "spend 10 minutes every day with your face AND arms exposed" made me look at him like he was mad as it was, and still is, snowing outside.

As Issy said it can be due to absorbtion and gut issues.

Moggie x

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply toMoggie

Maybe your Endo wanted you to experience another hypo (thermia),

Moggie profile image
Moggie in reply toshaws

Very witty shaws - it did make me smile.

Moggie x

mighty_mouse profile image
mighty_mouse in reply toshaws

ROFLMAO

ennogh profile image
ennogh

Thanks, I think I'll go the GP and hope he'll not mind me bringing these test results

PinkNinja profile image
PinkNinja

That is very low. I keep forgetting to take my supplement and I'm pretty sure I'm deficient again. I did manage to get my level up but I got lazy. It's unfortunate that snow can't manufacture vitamin D or we'd all be replete :D

I took my result last April (40) to my GP who was 'very interested' and 'I expect to see a lot more of this, thanks', (copied result) then said 'go to boots'.

despite a week in Egypt and any sun I could get over the summer (as well as supplementing) it only raised to 50 by September (supposedly the highest time if you saw the Bart's graph).

Was it the NHS Birmingham one? (vitamindtest.org.uk/) surely they can't argue with an NHS lab! - hope you get treated - however it seems they don't know what to prescribe (I take Bio emulsion drops £7 for 3 months) although some do have injections to start.

Supplementing has definitely got rid of my aches & pains 'tho! (and my daughter who was deficient, and my Mum doesn't complain about aches & pains now - yay! and a coleague's mum and my friend with CFS - all noticed the difference) - I'm sure you will too! Jane :D x

Harper profile image
Harper in reply to

Hi could me what you take for aches and pains and where you get it please. I'm waiting for Endo report but have to wait 3 months. It seems to me it is probably better to help yourself if you can! Glad to hear your success! Thanks

Harper

in reply toHarper

Please see my reply about Vitamin D below :)

TraceyLE profile image
TraceyLE in reply to

Hi Jane, I'm after some Vit D and there are so many out there. Can you post a link to where you found yours please. Thanks Tracey

in reply toTraceyLE

Here's some info - also I replied below

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

in reply to

Others go to Amazon or iHerb etc. for capsules - I did start on H&B tablets but my daughter improved faster with drops, I'm not promoting any particular sort, but I go here.....

bodykind.com/product.aspx?p...

It may take a few months to feel the benefit - Of course your GP should test & prescribe it really, and do a calcium test too. I send away for a vitD test every 6 months (£25).

A previous discussion may be of interest...

thyroiduk.healthunlocked.co...

J :D

TraceyLE profile image
TraceyLE in reply to

Thanks Jane, yes I went to the doc and asked for strong Vit D prescription and he gave me a website address for "5 steps for emotional wellbeing" as he thinks I'm nuts :O) I've ordered some from bodykind - thanks

in reply toTraceyLE

I think it's awful that you weren't treated for a deficiency!

Don't forget to grab some sunshine too, if you can, 20 mins at lunchtime can make a difference - if only it was a bit warmer to go out!

PS I have a few drops in a little milk before work. Magnesium spray & epsom salt baths help as well, Jane :D

jetgj profile image
jetgj in reply toTraceyLE

perhaps we have the same gp, see 5 a day and look after your husband

Issy profile image
Issy

cholesterol-and-health.com/...

"One of cholesterol's many functions in the body is to act as a precursor to vitamin D.

Vitamin D can also be obtained from foods. Interestingly, foods that provide this vitamin -- all of which are animal foods -- tend to be high in cholesterol.

Since cholesterol is a precursor to vitamin D, inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol will also inhibit the synthesis of vitamin D. Since sunlight is required to turn cholesterol into vitamin D, avoiding the sun will likewise undermine our ability to synthesize vitamin D. And since vitamin D-rich foods are also rich in cholesterol, low-cholesterol diets are inherently deficient in vitamin D.

Vitamin D is best known for its role in calcium metabolism and bone health, but new roles are continually being discovered for it, including roles in mental health, blood sugar regulation, the immune system, and cancer prevention. Yet standard modern advice -- take cholesterol-lowering drugs, avoid the sun, eat a low-cholesterol diet -- combined with a recommended daily intake of vitamin D that is only a tenth of what many researchers believe to be sufficient all seems to pave the way for widespread vitamin D deficiency."

Marz profile image
Marz in reply toIssy

....my understanding is that most of the cholesterol is produced in our bodies - about 80+ % - so the food industry just have another platform to make money when they sell cholesterol lowering foods. Our brains need cholesterol and so the low fat diet that has been peddled since the 70's has quite possibly caused the increase in dementia etc. Oh dear ! - it's a minefield out there !

I have lived in the sun for 9 years and my D3 was still insufficient !

Issy profile image
Issy

So - what do you need to do to convert cholesterol to Vit D? There is probably some pathway that we dont know about yet?

Jackie profile image
Jackie

Hi D is a hormone so very important to thyroid. Take the test to the GP, they or better an endo should prescribe, if very low injections. The test is the NHS one so fairly accurate .although there is a more sensitive one You need a calcium (,corrected calcium,there are 2) done before any D treatment and again after 3 months both tested. Once D OK calcium at least once a year, Calcium must always be in range and D does normally increases it.

Best wishes,

Jackie

People easily get deficient even when they are otherwise healthy... we live in the bleak north, just because we have a moderate climate, doesn't mean we get much sun, the relative warmth is caused by the Gulf stream, but we are still living far north. Manchester is over 53 degrees north, parts of Russia, a country we see as a frozen waste is only 52 degrees north!

We evolved in the African rift valley, there getting enough vitamin D from the sun was hardly a problem, moving north caused the change of skin colour to allow us to get more sun, but it couldn't make the sun shine stronger!

If you have any health issues, then it's even easier to be deficient.

Why anyone (esp. Doctors) should be surprised is a mystery for me, as back in the days of poorer nutrition (the 1920's when my parents were born, Rickets in children caused by lack of vitamin D was common, and since then the country hasn't moved south, it's only better nutrition that has prevented the extremes, but it certainly doesn't mean we have all been getting the OPTIMUM levels of vitamin D since then either, just enough to stop the worst visible problems.

in reply to

Ah Vit D3, my favourite subject. No one in the Northern Hemispheres, that means Europe and other cold sunless areas will have any Vit D3 worth having between November and March. You have to supplement, this Vitamin (hormone) it is Vital for your health. You can only get it from the sun (20 mins a day in the summer without sun block). Oily fish has some but not enough unless you eat a ton a day. Did you know that 4 children a week die in this country from cardiac arrest due to lack of Vit D3, shocking but true, caused by no oily fish in the diet and complete sun block during the summer (facts related by Dr Adrienne Martineau on Radio 4's "Inside Health" last year). Meanwhile ennogh you need to get your levels up asap. Amazon do good deals and a lot of free delivery, you need 10.000iu's a day for six weeks then 5000-8000iu's per day after that, some people take more. You will then get no more colds, flu, respiratory problems and have less pain from arthritis and joint problems and less depression including S.A.D syndrome which is Vitamin D deficiency. Look up "the benefits of Vit D3" on the net and you will be amazed at what it does, Just two of which are; helping to prevent Breast and other Cancers and preventing juvenile diabetes till the age of 18yrs if taken in pregnancy! (proven research.) That's why the government has recently (last February or one year ago I've lost track) introduced it into pregnant womens prescriptions, it's only the barest most minimum amount (cheap cheap) but better than nothing.

ennogh profile image
ennogh

The doctor prescribed 1x 800 IU pill a day for three months, then retest. Phoebs, the amounts you mentioned are a lot more, but I'll do what the doctor says first and then see what effect it has had after 3 months. I have also started taking multivitamins, but that contains Vit D as well and I was not sure if that would be too much, but now I think I'll take the Vit D every day and maybe the multivitamins every other day.

ennogh profile image
ennogh

Oh, and the GP did not mention any calcium tests. I know from previous tests that my calcium levels were in normal range, although lower normal range, so I might mention this to the GP next time I see him.

mighty_mouse profile image
mighty_mouse

Hi All.

The UK 'Normal Range' for vitamin D3 applied by many medical professionals is 30-->200 nmol/l

Please keep in mind that too much Vitamin D3 can be as bad as not enough. Rather than depositing calcium to build bone, it starts to remove it. Please be cautious when supplementing your Vit D3. Unhappily this is one Hormone where you need your doctor and blood tests.

Regards

Michael.

Sparkles_2012 profile image
Sparkles_2012

Can anyone please help an tell me how severe or mild my vitamin deficiency might be if doctor has prescribed me to take 10,000iu cholecalciferol a day for a month as after blood test results he’s had no contact, only pharmacist saying they have medication for me. Only been taking this for 3 days and feel dizzy and confused thoughts and legs very shaky like I’m going to collapse, I’m concerned this may be the vitamins or due to the fact almost my whole body has been numb for over 2 weeks which led to me going to see doctor in first place. Anyone’s help or opinion would be much appreciated 🙂

Sotospapp profile image
Sotospapp

Hello! So the best way to increase your vitamin D levels are sun beds and dietary free range eggs,fish, grass fed butter. Also cholesterol needed to make vit D !

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