Vitamin D Deficiency

I've been taking 2000 IU daily for about a year now, I think, and I'm testing in the normal levels. I've noticed no change at all since I started taking Vitamin D supplements, but apparently my blood is healthier! I have noticed that being out in the sun makes me feel better, either because of the warmth or the naturally-produced Vitamin D. Laying out is no good, but if I'm outside gardening or something, it's easier for me on a sunny day than on a overcast one.

Libby, I didn't have a clue that my vitamin D level was low.  I just ached, had a lot more pain, etc., and knew it was fibro.  Then my doctor checked my vitamin D levels because I was complaining the the pain was getting worse.  I was quite low, even though I had been taking 1,000 IU for over a year!  He had me take 2,500 IU and checked the blood three months later.  I was still low.  Then he bumped me up to 3,500 IU...still low again.  When he bumped me up to 4,500 IU I noticed a difference in my pain levels in a couple of days!  I'm now just barely normal.  The scale at the lab is 32-100 is normal and I'm 33.  I want to take another 1,000 IU but want to talk to him first. 

 

My pain is not as intense and I'm not as tired either.  We are getting into the summer season and that usually is my worst time with fibro.  So far, I've been really good.  Also, in the winter, I suffer from bad pain in my feet.  This has been going on for years but it didn't happen this winter.  I started the extra vitamin D in January.  Hope this helps.

 

Sherrine

Sherrine,

I wanted to pop this post back up because recently, I was in alot of pain and haven't had this much pain since starting Savella. I thought that maybe it had stopped working. Anyway, I was prescribed 50,000IU of vitamin D and haven't taken it in over a month. My vitamin D was extremely low. I took a pill yesterday and about 3 hours later, I felt so much better. I wasn't hurting as much and I felt better overall. Thanks for posting this because it reminded me to take my vitamin D.

I am a big believer in the importance of vitamin D in a persons health. Most people are deficient because we do not spend time in the sun. Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin and you will have a hard time getting enough from your food. I was eating salmon and taking cod liver oil thinking my vitamin D was Ok. When I had the test done I found out it was 19 ng/ml. My doctor prescribed 5,000 units of D2 a day for 12 weeks then 2000 units of D3 for 12 weeks. Everything I have read suggest that D3 is the better form of vitamin D. I started taking 5000 IU of D3 everyday and spending 10 minutes a day in front of a sunscreen. After 3 months my level was 72.2 ng/ml. The healthy range given to me by the doctor was 30-96 ng/ml. If the units are nmol/L you have to multiply by 2.5 to get the numbers. People who are sick need more vitamin D because the body uses it up. Read as much as you can about the benefits of vitamin D because it could make a difference in your health.


http://www.naturalnews.com/027345_Vitamin_D_exposure_sun.html

I'm in the sun all of the time since I live in Florida so I was surprised that my D levels were low. But I always wear sunscreen and vitamin D cannot be absorbed through sunscreen. This is another reason I take the supplement.

Sherrine

The best way to get vitamin D is from the sun but the sun has to be at a certain angle in order to get the vitamin D. In the northern hemisphere this can be a problem. If your shadow is longer than your height you are not going to get vitamin D from the sun. You cannot overdose vitamin D from the sun. There are people in the tropics who spend time in the sun and have levels of 80-100 ng/ml. Problem is as we get older our bodies are not as efficient in converting the vitamin D into the useful form. The process also require cholesterol so if you do not have enough cholesterol that could be a problem. Everything I have read suggest sick people need more vitamin D than healthy people. Last year when I had mine checked it was 78.2 ng/ml. and I feel fine. If you are taking a supplement make sure it is oil based vitamin D3. Vitamin D is a fat soluble and needs fat to be absorb by the body. There is evidence that vitamin D works better than the flu shot in prevention of the flu.

It does seem to be a common thread. I think our bodies are just wired and powered oddly, so I cannot really buy into the supplement/food/pain med route for maximum management.

I think supplements do help, but are a part of the whole regimen. Vitamin D got 'hot' in doctor's offices 3-4 years ago, and everyone was on the kick of testing/talking about it. My vitamin D was low. I take supplements, which is helpful.

What a trip you guys are talking about this again. I just had blood test yesterday and got a call from the doctors office today. Everything came back normal except my vitamin D!

I've been taking vitamin D3 5,000 IU from Puritan Pride for about a month. They said to take 8,000 a day. I have 3 bottles of the 5,000 though. I'm just going to double the dose and call the doctor Monday and make sure it's ok. And to find out what my levels are.

I'm really hopeful this will eventually help me somehow. All I know is something has to change because I am beyond my breaking point!

Thanks for having the topic of vitamin D in Fribro 101. The doctor wouldn't have checked my levels if I hadn't have asked him to. I am very thankful for this forum. I feel like I know you guys and I really relate to alot of you.

Dawn