Low Vitamin D

Low Vitamin D is an epidemic and it doesn't affect just ostomates; it affects the general population. I was low last year and was prescribed a month of the 50,000IU (1 per week) was retested 6 weeks later and was fine but when I went back for my annual this year I was low again! I live in sunny Calif. am outdoors all the time yet I can't get adequate D. My Dr. now has me on 2,000IU per day.

For those ostomates who had their ileum compromised, B-12 injections may become necessary. My ileum is fine and my B-12 stores are way over the top.

Sue

It is a worldwide problem. We spend less time out of doors in the daylight and also tend to slap high factor sunscreen on and cover up with longer clothes. The trouble is the high factor sunscreen and long clothes means the body cannot absorb the sun rays to convert it into vit D, one study I read said we should have 20 mins per day in sun without sunscreen at all between 11-2. Then you have the other reports about sun causing skin cancer and that we must all wear high factor and wear long sleeved tops and long shorts.

So what do you do, I must admit I don't wear sunscreen on a daily basis unless I know I'm going to be outside a lot like gardening or day out somewhere. If I am popping in and out I won't bother and I drink 2 pints milk minimum per day and take calcium and vit D supplements as well. No idea of what my vit D levels are though.

It's where you get white patches on the skin where pigment fails and they can appear anywhere and can gradually increase in size and number. Like supposedly Michael Jackson had. Means if you tan it shows up really badly. Think that's right but happy to be corrected if not. My old boss had it and she was really pale.