Why are my vitamin D levels so low?

[kinseymilhone]

I've been feeling more hideous than ever lately. Will fall asleep practically any time I sit down (yesterday fell asleep in car for ten mins while parked waiting to pick up from school). It's not just tiredness. It's utter exhaustion. I HAVE to sleep when this feeling comes over me. A 10-20 minute nap is enough to give me a boost for a few hours, however I could sleep all day if I had the opportunity.

Anyway, last week I sent off blood to Medichecks for a full "Well Woman" work up. The results are back and I've made an appointment with GP for next week to discuss a few anomalies (eg. Increased Haematocrit in red blood cells and increased neutrophils in white cells usually seen in Bacterial infection, except I don't have any infection that I'm aware of).

Aside from the above, my Vit D levels came back as being rock bottom. I just can't understand how. I have a dog and horses and spend at least a couple of hours outside every day even In the winter. Also had a winter sun holiday back in March. How on earth are my levels so low? I've started on a high level Vit D supplement today. Just wondered if anyone else has experienced this or has any explanation? Folate levels also came back very low but B12 and Iron were fine.

Are you white? Most non-white people have lower vitamin D blood levels.

Alternatively calcium and vitamin c intake is also linked with serum vitamin d levels. Or it could he an illness but that tends to cause other symptoms.

Mine and DS’s fit D were also low. I think in the UK it’s rare to get enough sunshine naturally to boost levels sufficiently and most people could do with a supplement.

Also it depends where on your body you’re exposed to the sun I believe. You shouldn’t wear sunglasses as the eyes absorb it well, and also keep wrists uncovered. But if you take a supplement hopefully that will help and along with boosting folate you should be feeling less exhausted soon.

My B12 was also low so I’ve started taking Floradix after seeing recommendations on here and it’s great. Tastes a bit metallic (like blood!) but I already feel more energetic after a couple of weeks. I’m sure they have different formulations so there may be one with folate and/or vit D?

Its actually very common in autoimmune diseases to have rock bottom levels of vit d. I think there have been some studies done on it.

Oh and my neutrophils rise when my diseases aren't under control or I'm in a flare.

Thanks Duchy. I am white and very pale skinned. I am usually careful to keep neck and shoulders covered due to burning easily, however I usually leave my lower arms exposed and assumed this would be enough.

I have a vague diagnosis of fibromyalgia from GP a couple of years ago. Many of the symptoms fit but I have never followed it up due to being rubbish at advocating for myself and following up appointments. It takes me months to pluck up courage to make a GP appt when I'm feeling awful and then when I eventually get there I completely play down my symptoms! I'm hoping if I go armed with my blood tests it will help me be more forthcoming about how bad things really are.

It sounds like your Gp needs to do a full blood panel including thyroid and antibodies.

A Gp can't really diagnose fibro, that's a rheumatologists job once they've ruled absolutely everything else out.

Anyone in your family with any autoimmune diseases?

Thank you My Relationship. I didn't realise that about sunglasses! I always wear them even on cloudy days as my eyes are very sensitive so that's really interesting.

Slutty I am having a particularly bad patch at the moment so that is very interesting to know about the possible neutrophil connection to flare ups.

Slutty the blood tests included full thyroid and they all came back absolutely fine. I had actually hoped it might be thyroid so that I would have a definitive answer to feeling so rubbish! There is no family autoimmune issue that I am aware of, however I do have very bad PTSD (diagnosis and EMDR therapy a few years ago by consultant psychiatrist) and GP suggested that there is a strong connection between PTSD and Fibromyalgia.

Go to your GP for full blood tests and tell him what you have told us? In the meantime, he/she would have made you fill in a short questionnaire about your sleep and you will be referred for a sleep study. It sounds to me like you have obstructive sleep apnoea. Whilst waiting for the study ask for a therapeutic course of B12 injections because even normal B12 readings can be low for that individual.

I also strongly suspect I have Avoidant Personality Disorder which means I am utterly, utterly rubbish about making and attending appointments and follow ups pretty much just never happen. Own worst enemy is the perfect description of my relationship with myself!

Dragon thank you! sleep apnoea is something that has crossed my mind thank you for reminding me. I will mention it to GP next week.

The vitamin d deficiency in itself when very low is enough to make you feel beyond shit. I felt utterly dire when my levels were rock bottom. I hurt, I couldn't even make a cuppa without needing a long rest after.

Severe deficiency requires prescription strength therapy though so it's very important to make a Gp appointment as soon as possible to get started on supplements.

I should add the low folate and B12 production are linked. Start taking folic acid daily

I know some AI conditions are linked to low absorption of nutrients from the gut so now for supplementation I’m using the sprays that are mainly absorbed through the membranes inside your mouth.
betteryou.com/intraoral-sprays
I read on the hypothyroidism forum to take the one with vitamin K in as well. Although I expect you need oral supplements for your loading dose.
What was your ferritin?

Ferritin is 80 ug/L (with healthy range being 27-150 for a woman)

However, transferrin saturation (whatever that is!!) was only 15 (range should be 20-55).

Another thing is might have you developed any intolerances to food? I have been through fairly similar to you and also realised that I’m intolerant of some grains like wheat. Cutting them out makes me feel much closer to normal although still tired!

Do you feel better or worse after a meal? I felt much worse which I think was the clue a naturopath used to them test me for reactions to various different foods

kinsey, do you have the results of the thyroid tests they did for you? The UK medical profession do not understand or treat thyroid disorders well in this country, so what they consider 'normal' may be anything but.

Sorry, meant to add that low levels of Vits & Mins are often associated with hypothyroidism due to the autoimmune condition Hashimoto's disease.

However, as the ranges in the UK for acceptable levels of thyroid hormones are so wide, people often don't get caught in the early stages and go on to become really unwell before they are ever treated.

Fibromyalgia is often given as a diagnosis, without any investigation as to the reason. There WILL be a reason. For instance, the pain from low vitamin D is debilitating (been there and done that). Low B12? Just being in range isn’t enough. And thyroid disease is very often associated. Was your ferritin? Are you anaemic?

Which thyroid tests were done? Antibodies? The UK is notoriously bad at saying results are “normal” when they may well not be. Just testing your TSH will not be enough.

If you are that deficient in vitamin D, you will need a very high strength product to increase your levels. It also needs to be D3, not D2, and should be taken with vitamin K2 and magnesium. I become severely deficient if I don’t heavily supplement (I have Hashimoto’s) even if I am out in the sun, so being outside may not be enough.

Thanks everyone, it's really useful to hear everyone's thoughts as I haven't a clue what half these things mean! My thyroid results were as follows with the optimum range in brackets:
TSH 1.16. (0.27-4.2)
Free Thyroxine 15.6 (12-20)
Free T3 5.1 (3.1-6.8)

So all were within the normal boundaries. Do they look ok?

Active B12 result was 79 (in a 25.1 - 165 range) so I'm thinking maybe this could be low "for me" if not officially?

You need to change your diet (oily fish and eggs) and take more advantage of the good weather.
And ask your pharmacist or GP for a good vit D supplement.
You may be surprised at how much better you will feel once your vit D levels are normal again.