Could I be on the wrong dosage for Vit D deficiency?

[FairyLightFiend]

I have ME / CFS and have done for years. I’m debilitating, but I can still get out and I’m not (usually) bedbound. Over the past few months it’s like someone has sucked all of the energy out of me. I can hardly go out (and when I do it’s with my DH) and spend hours just lying on the bed hugely achey and exhausted.

I finally went to the GP before Christmas because I couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t just my “usual” tiredness. After multiple visits for MANY different blood tests I’ve been told that I have low vitamin D levels. The GP wasn’t actually the one who ordered the tests (someone I saw in his absence was) and he was pretty dismissive of it when I saw him.

I’ve been prescribed a seven week course of D3 20,000 IU once a week. My current vitamin D level is 20.

I’ve been doing a bit of research and this seems to be a really low treatment dosage considering how low my levels are? Should I be on something higher? Considering just how terrible I’ve been feeling, I’m really keen to crack on and get my levels (and hopefully my energy / sanity) up as soon as I can.

Does anyone know what they were prescribed for these levels? Or if this is ok?

Thanks!

This is so interesting. Personally my level was recently measured at 21. However I really would not have known! I feel fine and only really tested as I'm concerned about family history of osteoporosis. I suppose I feel a bit tired but I have a very busy life and don't sleep as much as I should. I've noticed my nails flaking a little and my skin is a bit dry (it's always been dry). Joints are a little stiff sometimes but nothing that stops me exercising. How can my vit D be so low with no worse symptoms? I've been prescribed 50,000 a week for 6 weeks and then will buy my own supplement. Doctor was not too concerned. Looking forward to feeling amazing Sorry I don't mean to make anyone with more serious problems feel bad, it's just fascinating how we are all so different I guess.

Hi , fruit ,

a level of 21 nmol/L with no significant symptoms is a very fortuitous place to be ! You are lucky. Some people do get even lower , but now you have found this deficiency problem, you have made a discovery which can guide you to better health throughout life.

                    Think of vitamin D  as oil in your engine  ( your body ).    If you don't keep it topped up ,   then   today,  or even tomorrow,  the engine will seem to run well , with no apparent problems,   but it is required for practically all your cells to run well.   Over the long term problems will  accumulate , until they will show up as a malady of one kind or another.      Your natural level is somewhere around  120 -140  nmo/L( i.e. your measured blood level of vitamin D ,   that is 25hydroxyD3)

     Assuming you are relatively young ...  20's  or  30's  maybe ?  then you can do something about it before significant problems arise. Have a look at that long thread I posted about  above  ,        
           <a class="break-all" href="//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2421492-Vitimin-D-can-it-have-this-effect" target="_blank">www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2421492-Vitimin-D-can-it-have-this-effect</a>     ,      where many people describe the effect of low Vit D ,  particularly some of the older people. 

      A  loading dose  of  about  300,000   IU ,    then regular daily supplementation with sufficient to keep your level    around   120 - 140 ,   will be the best for you.       Check  your level,     at least yearly.        It seems that for one reason or another ,  you have a propensity to a low vit D level, which  maybe caused by malabsorption , maybe insufficient sunlight , etc. etc. 
                  A good diet ,  containing all of the other essential micro nutrients ,   such as Vitamin B12 , folate  etc ,   will also be of tremendous benefit.   IF  you are vegetarian ,    then   B12   and     Vit D  can be of particular significance, they are not common in veggie foods.     Watch out  for  low   Vit D   in combination with low calcium diets,   that is not a good combination ,    because you need  Vit D  to extract calcium from your food. 

     best of luck,      and good health .....

BTBH.

.

Thanks I'll check it out. Am in 40s, my diet is ok and spend a reasonable amount of time outdoors so goes to show you never can tell. Hope it's not had an adverse effect on my bones. I'm going to start dosing up the kids, especially the fussy veggie one.