How much vitamin D is safe : I am 35 yr old... - Vasculitis UK

Vasculitis UK

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How much vitamin D is safe

That_mountain_girl profile image

I am 35 yr old female and have been suffering with frequent muscle spasms on doing any activity and have tiredness and pain all over my body on and off for 4 weeks now.

My GP recommended me to take highest over the counter vitamin D supplements, as tests are not feasible due to corona lockdown.

I got 2500 IU but am desperate to get rid of this situation. Will taking 2 of those a day for couple of weeks and then go down a dose be more effective , i.e 5000IU/day ?

UPDATE

Got my blood tests done and everything came normal. After soaking in sun and supplements for a month my levels of Vitamin D came in 50’ s. Still below requied margin but I will get there. My B12 is also good - thanks to yogurt love 💕 and green diet.

My muscle related issues seems to be reducing but gastric issues flared up during this period.

I read somewhere that vitamin D deficiency causes gastric issues. Anyone ?

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That_mountain_girl
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20 Replies
lesleyg profile image
lesleyg

I’m not so sure of Vitamin D (I take 1000 iu) however I believe magnesium is very good for muscle spasms. Best to check with your pharmacist or GP first.

That_mountain_girl profile image
That_mountain_girl in reply tolesleyg

Thank you. Will surely check that with my GP, if treating vitamin D doesn’t help.

Usually magnesium absorption increases once you treat vitamin D deficiency.

I haven’t taken any supplements all winter and now I regret it.

PMRpro profile image
PMRpro

Up to 4 or 5,000 IU is felt to be fine even longer term. If vit D levels are found to be very low they sometimes prescribe 50,000 IU per week for 8-10 weeks. However - the lower daily dose is felt to be more effective than the large bolus doses and also have fewer potential adverse effects (some people get GI symptoms).

That_mountain_girl profile image
That_mountain_girl in reply toPMRpro

Thank you so much, that’s what I thought. Will start popping it twice a day.

Any idea how long will it take to see the positive effect - I am tired and achy for weeks now.

PMRpro profile image
PMRpro in reply toThat_mountain_girl

Not really - depends how low you have got to and also if it is a low vit D that is the cause. It isn't always. Sometimes it can be quick, sometimes it may take weeks.

That_mountain_girl profile image
That_mountain_girl in reply toPMRpro

thank you so much.

I will try this for few weeks and get in touch with my GP if need be.

Nell profile image
Nell

Hi

I was the same in the past and found magnesium supplement very effective but as Lesley gets suggests check with your go or pharmacist first. Hope you feel better soon

That_mountain_girl profile image
That_mountain_girl in reply toNell

Hi, thanks for replying.

Was your vitamin D levels fine that time ?

dianamarie profile image
dianamarie

Google research magnesium and potassium. Try eating a banana every day, or Google foods to eat for muscle spasms to find a way to get rid of them by simple dietary changes. Also dehydration is a major cause as well. Are you drinking enough water? The formula for how much water you should drink is your body weight divided in half, that amount in ounces is how much you should consume. For example if you weigh a hundred and fifty pounds, you should drink 75 oz of water daily. And if you're a big coffee drinker you need to drink even more water than that because coffee dehydrates. Another simple way is to take electrolytes which generally contain magnesium and potassium. I had the exact same problem as you and this is how I fixed it! Also want to mention that you can get vitamin D naturally by sitting in the sun, 🌞which is easier to do than taking more pills... You can learn about that on Google as well. Since everybody's been on lockdown lately there's a lot of vitamin D deficiency going on right now.

Best of luck to you! 🙂

That_mountain_girl profile image
That_mountain_girl in reply todianamarie

Thanks for water formula. I hydrate a lot usually but a reminder is always welcome.

Scottish sun ain’t powerful at all for vit D during winters and I guess that is the culprit for my supposed low count. Didn’t have any vit D supplements throughout Scottish winter.

Mg and K would be my second guesses but yes I will make sure I am not missing it in diet.

Thanks a ton!

Correen196 profile image
Correen196

5000 should be dine till u can have a test

That_mountain_girl profile image
That_mountain_girl in reply toCorreen196

Thanks. That is what I am doing since yesterday till I get tests or start feeling better.

Correen196 profile image
Correen196 in reply toThat_mountain_girl

ive found the 1000 spray most effective.

Correen196 profile image
Correen196 in reply toThat_mountain_girl

products.mercola.com/vitami...

Nell profile image
Nell

Hi. I was taking vit D anyway for osteoporosis at the time. If my muscle spasms return I just top up with magnesium. Be careful about sitting in the sun for vit D though as some medications prescribed for Vasculitis make you much more susceptible to burning and skin cancer.

All the best

That_mountain_girl profile image
That_mountain_girl in reply toNell

will keep that in mind. Thanks

Correen196 profile image
Correen196

have a read

magnesium.ca

That_mountain_girl profile image
That_mountain_girl in reply toCorreen196

Thanks :)

dianamarie profile image
dianamarie

Ahhh, I forget people are in different locations here! I'm in sunny Minnesota USA, and I can just sit in a sunny window for 5 minutes! I have found that just 5 minutes doesn't affect my lupus or my vasculitis in anyway. But I do understand everybody is different and you have to trial and error to find what works best for you! I do also take 5000 mg vitamin D, and a multivitamin that has trace minerals, and I have a magnesium spray that I use if I get a charlie horse in the middle of the night, which has been rare since the dietary changes I'm happy to say. I also again want to say I believe eating a banana everyday helps. Avocados are my second go to.

Wishing you good health and best of luck in finding your perfect balance!

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