Vitamin d deficiency urghhhh

[tomatopuree]

I had a call from my GP telling me that I'm vitamin d deficient. My number is 7. For months I have been exhausted, teary, struggling for words and my bones ache.

I went to her as I thought I might have arthritis (I have a child with arthritis so I believe I knew the signs)

I have been put on cholocalciferol (sp) 20,000 iu x 2 per week.

I have just started them and I have 7 weeks supply then a gp appointment.

Some people have said get a SAD lamp. Has anyone any good stories of using SAD lamps for this?

Totally outing myself. I'm a mum of a toddler so expect to be tired and also a student nurse. Working on placement has been particularly difficult.

My pain levels are huge. It's not muscle it's my actual bones that hurt. So manual handling and also things like drawing up meds using fine dexterity is very uncomfortable and I don't feel as though I can tell anyone for fear it makes me look like I'm wanting it easier....

A few years ago I had some blood tests which, according to my dr, didn't even register a score for vitamin d. But I honestly don't remember feeling anywhere near as bad as you describe. I diid start to feel better with supplements and I also recognised the signs of vitamin d deficiency this winter.

My gp's advice was 10 minutes in the sun each day to maintain vitamin d levels. If you're doing that and the supplements aren't helping, sounds like you need to go back to your gp.

My drive to placement is 30 mins 3x a week. 4 days a week I drive my husband to work (he doesn't drive grrrr and works at a hospital 2 towns over) I then take toddler to park, out and about.

I'm currently psyching myself up to do a 2 hour drive to my job today (not placement) I will spend my lunch hour reading a book outside if I can

I'm definitely going to speak to her and see what other tests she can do.

I don't think 5-10 minutes in the sun is enough. I have been reading lots of review papers this week and they all recommend 20-30 min with your arms and legs exposed (and no sunscreen). Your body is much more effective at making vitamin D than it is at absorbing it.

Posted too soon. Sorry. All that driving is early
Morning. So I am getting a lot of light and sunshine. I was trying to explain that I'm not hiding in the dark

Can you afford to get a vitamin d injection privately?

I would go for the injection if you can and continue with the tablets too, and then get re-tested.

In the car the rays can't be absorbed through the windshield. Maybe a bit on your arm if you hang it out the window .
I've had a vit d deficiency and totally sympathise with you.
I was initially on a 1/7 high dose, I'd feel better after a couple of days, then after 3/4 days etc until I was ok for the week.
The sun's rays aren't strong enough for a good portion of the year, and some people aren't as capable of storing the vit d as others, ie redheads like myself.
Eggs, oily fish, chestnut mushrooms are a good source, and some cereals and breads are fortified with it.

I don't think driving is going to help (even with windows open). I would spend as much time outside as possible (covering with a hat in hottest part of the day maybe).

Vitamin D from the sun made by your body is far more effective than the tablets.

Hope you feel better soon.

littletwofeet I don't believe that that's true that the tablets are not as effective as the sun.

make sure that you take the vit d tablet while eating a meal that has fat. If you don't, then your body won't be able to absorb it and most of it will just flush straight through.

tomato you won't make much vitamin D when driving.

You need to expose as much of your body as possible between 11 and 2 for a good 15/20 minutes and good few times a week.

If you have psoriasis in your family at all you could have psoriatic arthritis - it's tricky to diagnosis and goes hand in hand with having a low Vit D level but the symptoms are too severe to be just the Vit D IYSWIM?

If it doesn't vastly improve please insist on a referral if arthritis blood test comes back negative.

hope you feel better soon.

@RandomMess my daughter has psoriatic arthritis and enthesitis related arthritis. She's severely affected. I have eczema and not psoriasis.

If I suggest arthritis to my GP she will listen as I fought for my daughter and her diagnosis and treatment. They really were amazing towards her care needs

My score was 4 and I've been on a daily dose of 10,000 for just over a year.

I'm a classic redhead so I can't spend the recommended time sunscreen free in the sun as I burn very quickly. It took about 6 months for me to notice a difference and I still have off days but the supplements do work so keep at them.

You can have psoriatic arthritis without ever having a lesion!

@RandomMess yup. My daughter hasn't a single lesion. I'm not convinced I do have arthritis. Although I'm keeping an eye on a knuckle.

I do think that bone pain is the correct description and it's a symptom of vit d deficiency.

I don't have joint pain. I just ache all over. I'm used to checking joints for inflammation and swelling. My daughter is 21. She was diagnosed at 7 but took 2 years of me fighting for a diagnosis.

I will get her to test me for it. My daughters form of arthritis is mainly Enthesitis related arthritis. And the main symptom is pain across enthesitic points.

I am going to ask for some NSAIDs to see if they help me. Brexidol or naproxen is my debate and will be up to her ultimately if she agrees. But I can do some light reading and she will listen to my views

It's just with their being the genetic link with psoriasis it's not beyond the realms of doubt.

Hopefully just the Vit D

Get well soon

SofiaAmes I've read quite a lot about this, the studies are limited but the way the body makes vitamin d from the sun is completely different from the vitamin d in supplement form.

The best way to get vitamin d is from its natural source; the sun. Obviously some people who are vitamin d deficient won't be able to do this and supplements will be necessary but it will never be as effective as sunlight.

There is a very knowledgeable poster who'll probably arrive soon. One of her/his main bits of advice is that in the UK the sun is only strong enough to help us make vitamin D between April and Sept/ Oct , I forget which.

Thanks @Footle Fingers crossed

Dd had a level of 20. Muscle pains, bone pain, feeling so unwell.

She's been on meds for a bit over six months now and is a lot better. Took about six weeks to notice a difference and then longer until she felt a lot better/near normal.

She took 5000iu for three months, then 3000iu a day which she still takes.

The tablets work quickly. Beware though, you'll soon feel like superwoman!

I'm in your boat having had a very low result ,but about 5 weeks on. The difference is staggering. Lots of energy, not tired at all, my partner is calling me a Duracell bunny. The brain fog that is put down to Peri menopause has gone. My body feels healthy once more.

My weight is reducing now, apparently Vit D is important with the feedback loop telling your brain you are full.

Best wishes :D

OP, search for the previous thread - I don't think it was more than a month or 6 weeks ago. It was full of useful info.

I've found my people! I had a level of 33 so not too bad and was put on a high dose for a month (3700 I think) then a maintenance dose of 1000. My levels are back to 75.

I've also tested positive for HLA-B27 antigen, which runs in my family and is the cause of seborrhoeic eczema, spinal deformities and arthritis (yay!).

I put on 2 stone over a year with no change in diet and am only now starting to lose it gradually.