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.

3 months in on daily tablets and beginning to feel much better.

I would give yourself a break on the two bug days with the guides, pregnancy makes you tired anyway and better to put some plans in place now.

I'm in my first week of 40,000 units per week. Unsurprisingly I'm still knackered and everything hurts.

@Thingamebobwotsit i wish I could! But if I can’t go, there really is no one else and they’ve all worked to fundraise to take part - we’ve hired a minibus etc - so they’d really miss out. This combined with the knowledge that when I have maternity leave my unit may well close as we’re hanging on by a thread as it is.

Are you all dosing with vitamin C to aid absorption?

So sorry to hear this. Can you rope in extra volunteers? As someone who was very anaemic and kept fainting during pregnancy I would hate for it to happen to someone else.

You're thinking of iron that binds better with vitamin c.

Vitamin D actually works better when taken with something fatty. I always take mine with a glass of milk! And zinc supplement can help too.

My level is 22, but as I’m breastfeeding, they’ll only prescribe 1,600 units a day. I am three months in, and I do not feel better.

There is a link between deficiency in vitamin d and vitamin b12, so get that checked out too if you haven't already. The symptoms you describe are more common with b12 deficiency and b12 deficiency is far more common than realised in women around middle age. B12 deficiency can also cause permanent damage if not treated in time, so definitely get it checked out.

@Thingamebobwotsit
My iron levels seem to balance out quite well during pregnancy so hoping the same happens this time too.

There is a real shortage of volunteers in our county and division. It’s a hard one as our county seem to do a lot of recruiting but we don’t see it. We are a very rural unit and volunteers are even harder to find- everyone has commitments. We have a parent rota across all sections but none ever sign up as leaders and local leaders doing all the recruitment takes time away from the activities. The Scouts closed a number of years ago for the same reasons.

Mine was 12 it took me 2 years and a lot of supplements to get it sorted. I had two courses of the twice weekly, very high dose followed by high dose daily supplement. It also then dropped again very quickly when I was ill for 8 weeks last year and I’ve since had to do another course of high dosing. Once you’ve had the problem ime you need to then keep on top Of supplements.

If you can also spend some time in the sun each day that will also help the vit D to be absorbed better.

Not if you are in the UK during the winter months. Plus you need your arms exposed to benefit from it the most.

See that’s the strange thing I am always outdoors. It’s a fundamental of my job. So I have no idea why my levels are so low.
GP said these things happen.

I saw a consultant about it at one point, and he said having at least ten minutes outside a day with no glasses on - either specs or sunglasses or contact lenses even - is one of the best things weirdly.

@thesugarbumfairy oops sorry misread ☺️

Have you had tests for Vit B as well? Not just B12 although that is the one usually tested. I find that D makes me sleepy and B complex makes me feel better.
Excess B is not stored in the body like D.

I like this thread. It's nice not to be the only one dealing with this crappy feeling

My level 22. Wiped out. Feeling improved now. Around one month on it. It can utterly exhaust you. Hrt patch too.

It took me about 3 months, although my hair improved almost overnight! I think my joints actually got worse before they got better. Combining with vitamin K and magnesium (if you can tolerate it) does help as well. It

I had a better day yesterday; managed a full day without a nap and had two big site visits to do at work. Today however, I’m on my knees with tiredness and the dizzy head and have had an hours nap this evening, despite having had a lie in and quiet day.
So very frustrating!

I went to volunteer at a community farm and helped plant 2 rows of potatoes. By the time I got home, my whole body ached too much to move.

You need a protocol, there are co factors that aid vitamin D uptake. If you look up the Facebook page vitamin D and co factors UK you'll get advice. Gel capsules are a must, tablets are not great. 20 is very low, NHS baseline is too low but even this is below it. I'm not sure what the pregnancy advice is. Also if you get the app d-minder you'll be able to see when you can get vitamin D outdoors

Ten years ago I had undetectable levels. I felt better after a month or two of treatment, but that was mainly just compared to how awful I felt. It took maybe four months to feel properly better. Every time I've cut down to a typical maintenance dose it falls stupidly low. I take 4000iu every day now and am now only insufficient (that seems to be the best I can achieve).

Glad to read this thread as I have been feeling god damn awful for ages now. Had bloods done this week and had a phone call from GP to say Vit D levels very low and they had prescribed me supplements. I have a face to face appointment with them next week to discuss. I feel like I have the body of an 85 year old when I am only 45. A recent city break to Spain was exhausting and I was aching all over, I am glad to have a reason why as I thought it was just me getting older! Will follow with interest 😊

Mine was 23 to begin with, and 36 after 2 months of 2000ui/day. Don't worry! It's not that low!