To ask about low vitamin D recovery

[Spareincoming]

Having struggled with exhaustion over the last 3 months I finally persuaded my GP to do some tests.
My Vitamin D level was 20. I’ve been prescribed 6 weeks of twice weekly high dosage supplements (20000) then a daily dose after that.

Anyone else had this and how long until you felt better? I’m really struggling with not feeling any better 3 doses in… my GP said don’t expect miracles but…

Thanks.

I would say I started to feel a little better after about 2 weeks and significantly better after a month.

Just continue to take them once you get to the maintenance stage as you will likely always be prone to a deficiency.

Mine was alot higher. 2 years later I'm still struggling.

mine was 9.5, it took around a year for me.

Hi @Tdcp .. need some advice.. my Vitamin D is 14 and I am on 20,000 a week IUD… Iv been on them for 5 weeks now and I see no difference at all.. I’m constantly tired… my skin looks like shit I’m having bad breakouts and I can’t get enough sleep… how long did it take u and what was ur symptoms? Help :(

I'd say it took around 3 months to fall completely better. Noticed a marked improvement after 6 weeks. It does take time.

I’m on week 5… I have my vitamin once a week.. so Iv had 5 basically .. no difference at all… :(

I'm on week 3 and feel no different at all, if anything even worse.
I was never told what level I am, but I'm taking one 20,000 tablet a week. I was never given any information or what to keep an eye out for, just told a prescription would be given to me (couldn't ask as it was the receptionist just saying that the prescription would be through soon).
So following out of interest.

Around three months for me.

I've taken it year-round for some years now.

My vit D level was 18. I'm just about to take my 5th dose (once a week) of 50,000 iu. I do feel better generally but I'm still sleepy and muscles still ache.

It can take months. DS1 (was just turned 15 when he started) has been on them for a year and has normal levels now, but it took him four or five months to feel better i.e. not be affected by the prolonged headaches he was getting and the fatigue.
To be honest its hard to tell as he was into the summer holidays and had the chance to rest loads which working folk don't get.
I can't remember specifically but I think he started on 5000UI daily and then it dropped after 3 months to about 3000UI

@minimadgirl it must be very low to be on that.. I’m on 20,000 a week and mine is 14…. I feel absolutely awful.. I’m exhausted… like I don’t sleep but I sleep all night and wake up tired I never wake up feeling refreshed…

@nokidshere I’m on 14 and they given me 20,000 a week and I took week 5 yesterday! I feel hopeful I’m not the only one..

It took me a good few weeks to feel a bit better, but after a couple of months I was like a different person.

if you can afford to pay for the injections they work much better and much faster. I can only get them on NHS when my vitamin D drops below 10.

I'm on drops permanently, but also an underactive thyroid. vitD is needed for proper thyroid function, so no wonder people are tired with muscle aches as these are hypothyroid symptoms.

@thesugarbumfairy I can't remember specifically but I think he started on 5000UI daily and then it dropped after 3 months to about 3000UI

50000 is a once a week for 6 weeks booster then drop to a level of up to 4000 a day for upkeep.

Taking vitamin K2 ( spray ) helps absorb the Vitamin D3 supplements.

@justteanbiscuits where can u get these from il pay any price to feel anywhere near normal :(

No idea how low mine was but I had a daily dose of 20,000 for two weeks. Then I went onto a daily spray version of 3,000 with added ks2. I felt 50% better after the two weeks then its been a slow slog upwards.

Some pharmacists recommend taking magnesium at the same time to help with absorption.

Do sunbeds help with this? Obviously cover up any vulnerable parts of you before someone jumps on me about skin cancer.

@nokidshere 5000UI not 50000UI. He took them daily.

I was on 20,000 a day for two months now taking 1000 daily and have to give it two months before getting bloods redone. My level was 14, not really felt much difference hair is still very thin and falling out and I still want a siesta most days plus a full 9 hours sleep at night. Trying to get some sun but I don't actually like sitting out in the sun !

A local private GP practice does them - but I do get them on NHS when level drops under 10. When I was first diagnosed 15 years ago, injections were the standard for levels under 25. Private they're around £100, but once injection would double my levels!

Oh dear that is not the quick recovery I was hoping for; I also complicate matters by being early stage pregnant.
I have some big days coming up in about 2 months with my guides - activities and walking days - so really hoping I turn a corner as if I can’t go, neither can my guides.

You shouldn't be feeling that disabled with a level of 20 though - so I would ask for further investigation. Some fatigue and aches, but not the level of not being able to manage normal life.