Vit D deficiency & improvement of symptoms

[FrayedHem]

I was diagnosed with low vitamin D (16) and prescribed bio-vitamin D3 20000u, 1 a week for 6 months. I'm 3 months in and if anything I actually feel worse. Is this a normal enough experience? Don't want to faff with GP appointment if it's expected.

[RockMeMomma]

Would you book a sun holiday? It might speed the process up.

[cloudysun]

Hi frayed

I'm same situation after a vit d diagnosis of 17.5. Are you taking other vitamins too? I improved no end after taking magnesium and calcium (boots have a combined sup).

Go back to the doctors and push for more tests. I finally have been diagnosed with post viral after they found I had glandular fever at some point last year.

Good luck .

[Smellyrose]

Apparently you also need to take K2

articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/10/12/vitamin-k2-benefits.aspx

[FrayedHem]

Thanks for the replies.
RockMeMomma - Unfortunately a sun holiday is out of the question this year. I do spend a fair amount of time outside with 2 preschoolers, but I'll make a concerted effort to ditch my cardigan.

cloudysun - thanks for the supplement info, I'll definitely give them a try. I think my expectations were a bit high and thought it would be similar to when I was anaemic as I responded quickly to the iron treatment for that.
Are you still taking D3? My GP seemed quite confident a 6 month course would sort it, but I've been developing new aches (the tops of my feet and the ends of my fingers) and all my other aches are the same, if not worse. I'll give the supplements a try then book to see GP if no better.

Smellyrose - thanks for the link, I've had a quick scan but will read properly tonight when I'm not covered in toddlers (!). I could do with overhauling my diet as a whole tbh. Which probably isn't helping!

Thank again.

[cloudysun]

I took high strength vit d after my prescription ran out from Amazon. As part of my numerous blood tests my doc retested my vit d. 4 months after diagnosis it was 100. So I went from one extreme to another but was taking about 35000 a week. Oops.

I only really improved when I took the other vitamins and read up on the subject.

The issue I have with vit d deficiency (not sure how the glandular fever affected me) is that's it's so bloody tiring. Tiring from the point of view it sounds a ridiculous reason to not be able to do things. Tiring from explaining it and seeing those blank looks and tiring from nobody able to say "take that in X weeks you will be fine".

I feel for you. I wanted a quick fix but our bodies are so complex. I have amended my diet but that could be better. You will feel better, it just takes a long bloody time

[FrayedHem]

Thanks Cloudysun, I'll see if the GP will do a re-test next month. I've had a couple of "oh vitamin d is quite The Thing" comments which left me a bit . Obviously I just like to be on trend!

I got away quite lightly with glandular fever as a teenager, but a friend ended up with the post viral illness and was really unwell for some time after. I hope you see some improvement soon.

[Moomoomonkey]

I pretty much came on to post the same thing. My levels were 14, but I've only been on vitamin D 20,000 twice a week for two weeks. Yesterday and today I am in absolute agony. My arms are killing me. I am taking so many painkillers and nothing is helping.

[MigGril]

I think it's how you've been treated. Agree with others that you need to be taking magnesium and K2, you only need to eat calcium not take a supplement as taking supplement with these vitamin can lead to excess calcium in your arteries.

Mine was 12.8 I was prescribe a booster dose of D3 of 40,000iu a DAY for 4 weeks then told to take Vitamin D3 myself. I chose to take 10,000iu a day after that. One year on my vitamin D levels are now 198 yay this is fantastic as although minimum level is 50 optimum is actually more like 200-250 if we look at people who spend a lot of time outside like we would have done.

[MigGril]

The pain is possibly lack of magnesium, without vitamin D you can't process it as soon as you start talking it you start processing what magnesium you have and become different quickly which causes the pain. Painkillers won't help, try Epson salt baths or soaks three or four times a week very quick way to absorb magnesium. Should help with the pain.

[Moomoomonkey]

Thanks, I have ordered some magnesium. Unfortunately we only have a shower in the house! I am seeing the doctor on Thursday for some more test results

[MigGril]

Sorry when I said soak in missed a word. I meant foot soak, you can just soak your feet. I often don't get time for a bath anyway, so do that instead. I do take supplements as well but just find this helps top it up if I'm feeling achy, especially helped to start with.

[FrayedHem]

Sympathies moomoomonkey, hopefully we'll both be feeling better soon.

Thanks MigGril, I'll add Epsom salts to my list. It's interesting what you say about minimum levels vs optimum; a few other of my results were just out of range but my GP said I needed no treatment for them. I might revisit them and see what I can do for myself.

[wallywobbles]

I'm in France and we get given ZYMAD 200 000 UI/ml every autumn by the doctor for everyone in the family.

We also have 10 000 maintenance doses. Maybe I've misunderstood the dosing here but the UK doses always seems low to me.

It seems you need to add in other vitamins to make this work properly. B, K, Calcium and Magnesium.

There was a really good thread a few weeks ago but I can't seem to find it (as I only seem to have about 5 threads in "I'm on" tonight).

[wallywobbles]

Found it: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2634541-Im-at-a-dead-end-with-diagnosis-before-Ive-even-started-advice-please-re-fatigue?msgid=61042879

[IDismyname]

You can pick up Magnesium creams from Holland and Barratt which I use instead of taking a bath - worth a shot as an additional source of Magnesium.

H&B Oil

[AdoraKiora]

My Vit D was tested at 19 approx 7 weeks ago now.

I was prescribed 20,000 iu a DAY (not week) for 30 days, then 2000 iu every day for the foreseeable future (I've actually been taking 3000iu, after reading a bit about Vit D).

I started feeling considerably better about 2 weeks ago. I am less achy, less exhausted, less anxious and depressed. iIs been real amazing.

I'd go back to the GP if I were you.

[Exhaustednorthernlass]

I don't want to worry you unecessarily but have you considered there may be more to it than Vit D deficiency. Do you have lots of pain, fatigue, difficulty concentrating? Low Vit D can be linked to Fibromyalgia. I hope I'm way off the mark!!

[FrayedHem]

Thanks for the replies.
I did some advanced googling last night after I read your posts wallywobbles and AdoraKiora, and it would seem my GP is treating me as non-symptomatic. Possibly my fault as I did delay going back to get my results. Also I'm ashamed to admit I have piled on weight and that would also stop the Vitamin D working properly.
ishouldcocoa thanks I'll add that to my list of stuff I could buy.
Exhaustednorthernlass - you haven't worried me at all, it's good for me to consider other things rather than expecting the Vitamin D to fix everything. I primarily went to the GP over excessive aches, weird palpitations and excessive sweating(!) The latter 2 have actually resolved but the pain and fatigue remain.

There's a strong family history of Thyroid issues so I was expecting it to be that, but my thyroid result was actually one of the few that came back completely normal.

I think I'm going to double up my dose, get some magnesium and really sort out my eating and weight. If I'm still rough after a month then I'll push for looking into causes other than just my vitamin D.