Anyone know about Vitamin D levels?

[gower4]

I was told yesterday by receptionist that my levels have come back as too low (29). Everything else normal.

Does anyone medical know whether this level can be boosted by over the counter supplements alone, or would it require a boost from a prescribed dose? Doctor not available to discuss until next week.

Wow! So much experience here. Is it plausible that a level of 29 could be causing aches and pains?

Yes 29 is very likely to be causing aches and pains.. you need to supplement, and at a decent level.

Do an advanced search for posts by bettertobehealthy, who has much to say on this topic.

For now I would take at least 1000 units a day, ideally more to get your levels back up to a more healthy level.

Hope you feel better soon.

Meant to add, I take 10,000 units a day, and also supplement vit K2.

Yes low Vitamin D can cause aches, pains, fatigue etc. 29 is really low, it shouldn't be lower than 50 but much higher than 50 really.

Mine was 33 last time so I was prescribed high dose vit d which brought it up to 48. You need 25micrograms per day to get levels up to normal then it's recommended that everyone in UK takes a daily 10ug all year

I took 10000iu daily too, got my level up to 210 within a few months. Now take it when I remember every other day to hopefully maintain high levels

I was prescribed Vit D by my Dr, but i had to go for a review of my medication last week, and as my own Dr is off after having an operation, i had to see another young woman Dr, she has stopped my Vit D saying i dont need that high a dose and i can buy some ,
I am very annoyed as i dont think my own Dr would have given them to me if i didnt need them,
As i dont pay for prescriptions [pensioner] it could cost me more to keep that strength of dose up
I wouldnt mind if my own Dr had told me, but this one wanted to stop a few of my meds and she doesnt know my history,

The aches and pains caused by very low vitamin D levels are not just related your muscles, they relate to bones as well. So prolonged low levels can be a contributory factor for osteoporosis and resultant fractures

This is surely something a doctor should be concerned about for pensioners and others at risk.

I had a struggle to get my vitamin D levels tested as the doctor was brushing it off in saying we all are low in vitamin D and should probably supplement!! After my insistence my levels came back at 25 and my doctor wasn't interested at all, she said again we are all low and just pick up a cheap vitamin D supplement in Boots!!
I saw a dietician shortly after and she told me to pick up a vitamin D supplement and take a 1000ug a day so I've been doing that since November. She told me to stop in May until October but I think I will continue, I presume it's safe to? There has been no mention of retesting my levels to see if it's helping and I'd be scared to ask after the hassle to get tested in the first place!!

I had aches, pain and exhaustion. Blood test showed Vit d levels were low. I was given a 3 month prescription of tablets and told to take standard tablets after that.
I was also told in a letter from GP to expose arms and legs to sunlight three times a week for 20 minutes. I have sunbathed a little since then, I always used to use a lot of sunscreen.

All my symptoms had gone two months in thank goodness.

My levels 15 so supplement here too

In my experience the GP isn't interested in retesting to see if you've got your levels up.

Dd had her first low level blood test years ago and it was low, was just told to take supplements. Then about 3 years later she was really poorly and I insisted they checked them again while they were doing other bloods. Still low. Turns out she has coeliac disease so struggles to absorb supplements.

I've just broken my leg and don't know how I've done it so had to have a bone density profile and had my vit d level checked. It's low so told to take supplements and when I asked about a retest to see if my levels increased got told they don't recheck, as long as I've taken supplements it will now be fine!

I had my levels tested when I thought I may have been anaemic; my iron levels were okay, but vit d was terrible (13, I think). I took a loading dose of 5,000u daily for 6 months or so, then down to 1,000u daily. Now I take a tablet when I remember.

After a fortnight on the highest dose my energy levels shot up, and my mood also became much healthier. I have no doubt from all the advice I have seen on here and elsewhere that without the vit d tablets I would have stayed moody, irritable, and sluggish. My anecdotal advice to all my friends and family is now to get tested and take a low dose daily.

This is all really helpful. Sounds like I'll definitely need a prescription then.

Does anyone have a view on roughly how long it takes for aches and pains to ease when levels rise?

You won't need a prescription, you can buy it online. Just take more tablets to get a higher dose. Your GP might do you a prescription as it'll save you money for high doses but here they refuse to prescribe it to save themselves money.

Meant over the counter not online. Though you can get it onlline as well!

Apparently you can't get the right amount over the counter if your levels are so low?

Yes you can, if you want to take 5000 a day just take 5x 1000 strength tablets. You can take what dose you want. I could take 20,000 a day if I wanted.

Or get the 5000 spray from holland and Barret. 2 squirts will give you 10,000. There's theoretically no limit.

It does depend on lab values but our lab values are that anything below 50 is deficient and 75 is needed for optimum bone protection.

I was quite severely deficient. Recommended to take a supplement. I buy Boots strongest daily does and have moved my count significantly in 3 months, still some way to go though.

Simply supplements do a super strength which was alot higher that what I was prescribed. Doctors don't give mega strength so I just went online

I was refused a Vit D test by one GP in my practice. He got quite angry with me and told me I should expect to have aches and pains. Great

I went back a bit later, saw a different GP who ordered blood tests for other things and immediately said without prompting 'oh, we'll get your vitamin D tested as well'!

It wasn't dangerously low but was certainly not very high, and I now use the Holland & Barrett spray to keep it topped up.

I take 2x 2.5ug a day - is that the same as the 5000 dosage you're taking about?

Recently diagnosed as pretty low here too... doc prescribed high dose D3 ... I've been on them a month and I'm already less bone achey than I was...I felt like I was permanently on the edge of coming down with the flu.
Apparently after 6 months on the prescribed ones I can take otc ones..but for life!