Vitamins D deficiency experiences/symptoms

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Hey, 4 weeks ago I was told I have a vitamin d deficiency after a few months of feeling absolutely awful. I could barely carry myself I was that tired, tingling and feel like my limbs were asleep/aching. I’ve also been very anxious and depressed. I have anxiety and depression anyway but it’s made it unmanageable and I’m currently off work.

Since taking the loading doses 4 weeks ago I have felt a bit better but no where near my usual self. I still feel terrible in the mornings and it’s starting to really get me down.

All my other bloods, iron, b12 thyroid etc were all fine.

Can anyone tell me some positive stories or what their symptoms were. I’m honestly so low with this.

I find I need to take 10000 IU a day all year round of vitamin D to keep feeling OK. If I stop or lower the dose the pains and stiffness come back. I had my level tested a few years ago. I work outside most of the day and my level, in summer, in the middle of an extended heatwave (so I was in shorts and strappy tops) was 60 which is "normal" I think I should have been off the scale! I buy my 5000 IU capsules off the internet. I also take vitamin b12. No tingling any more!

My my b12 was 342 and I know that’s on the lower end of the scale but still within range. I also know vitamins d is needed for the absorbing of other vitamins in the body, maybe I need to switch to a daily dose instead of the two a week. At one point I was at work and my legs didn’t even feel there, and nothing looked real to me...(thankfully this feeling has subsided) I kinda worry about taking stuff when the gp has advised otherwise I guess. I have also noticed the symptoms are worse around the time of my period. But thankfully the most recent was better than the last two.

I found the doctors were no help at all really so had to take to the internet for help and work it out for myself. The nerve conduction tests shows mild carpal tunnel, there was tennis elbow and ?golfers elbow, the tingling/pins and needles - all sorts of bad stuff going on and ultimately whilst they did the tests, they kept telling me nothing was really wrong that would explain why I was in the trouble I was, heading for the scrap heap in my mid 40's...

Blimey that was awfu! I had been going to my docs with symptoms for a good few months and each time they said it’s anxiety. But I genuinely felt poorly. To the extent I couldn’t carry on. Even when I asked my dr for the bloods tests he said “we can do them but I don’t think it’s that” hence why I switched to a different GP. Not to mention my hairloss. I’ve been waiting for the nerve test for about a month and a bit.

Oh lots of interesting information about calcium.

My diagnosis was 4 years ago and magnesium and calcium was recommended and as soon as I started taking it my health improved. I'm going to read up further on k2 and get some ordered.

Agree the doctors can be useless, i remember crying to the nurse on a telephone appointment, I couldn't believe my symptoms were caused by vitamin d, got told to just get on with it. I'm always amazed at the difference in treatment from doctors.

My layman's understanding of calcium was that vit D helps you absorb it so if you take additional calcium you're at risk of having too much. The k2 helps the calcium reach the bones, where it's needed, rather than calcify in blood vessels and kidneys. Can't remember exactly what the magnesium does but it's involved in the process somewhere 😅

My level was much lower than yours. I had one loading dose injection then took tablets (1000iu) and oral spray (3000iu) daily. I felt better within weeks and felt normal within months - can’t remember exactly but it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders!

Within a year I raised my levels to a very high amount - I wasn’t taking the prescription tablets though, I bought higher dose products from H&B.

I also took a magnesium supplement daily too - in my blood test a year later, my magnesium & calcium levels were still normal and not high.

I wouldn’t recommend taking 10000iu daily long-term without medical guidance, as you run the risk of vitamin d toxicity which is just as bad as deficiency

Bless you I sympathise its horrendous. I had spasms and seizures speech and cognitive problems, vertigo severe fatigue muscle aches to name a few symptoms and it lasted months. April to June this year was horrendous never felt so ill. I couldnt believe that the lack of a vitamin would do all this and thought I would recover quickly but it takes time and its such a worry and so frustrating. Even 2 weeks ago when I had tonsilitis the spasms came back showing still not 100% but after about 7-8 weeks of being prescribed high dose of Vit D everything became much more manageable and my count was higher than yours at 30, 22 is very low so it may take a bit longer but you will get better. Sending lots of love and healing to you but there is light and the end of the tunnel. Hope you are better soon.

My vitamin D deficiency was caused by coeliac disease - have you had a blood test for that?

I've had this. Started treatment in May
and now on maintenance dose but definitely don't feel back to full health. Would be very interested in other experiences.

I’ve just started treatment for this. My result was 15 and I’m starting 20,000 units twice a week. I have been so lacking in energy and feeling really stiff and aches. I hope this helps as I feel old before my time.

I feel better than I did a month ago but I’m still having some very hard days. And the mornings are the worst. Can’t make it through the day without go back to bed 2/3 times. I’m sleeping at night but having vivid dreams lmao I just keep telling myself I am better than I was a month ago where everything felt like it was in a video game! It was so scary. My tingles have gone, and I’m not getting as much numbness either. The fatigue is unreal and when I’m tired I CRY ALOT. Reading about other people’s experiences definitely helps. I can’t believe thayba common deficiency can make you feel this bad. And my dr kept telling me my symptoms were all down to anxiety 🙄 did anyone else feel dizzy? I get dizzy sometimes off balanced. Annoying.

My daughter had this and is on mega dose prescription Vit D,. 3 months on and the difference in her is astonishing, she is happier, brighter and has a ton more energy. Her anxiety is under control too. Bear with it, I'm sure you'll reap the benefits soon

I am on the same dose as you. I’ve just finished my 4th week. 4 more to go.

Never take calcium. Taking vitamin D increases our ability to absorb calcium from our food. Vitamin D needs K2 and magnesuim ot calcium.

I’m glad your daughter feels so much better! I have always managed my anxiety but it’s really high at the moment and for no reason! Hopefully I will feel the same

No, daily vitamin D is essential because the basic form of vitamin Itamin D has a half life of 24 hours.

That is a myth promoted by pharmaceutical companies to prevent people taking vitamin D. You can make 10,000 - 20,000iu D3 from the sun on a sunny day. There has not been a single case of vitamin D toxicity anywhere in the world. itamin D toxicity (hypercalcemia) is a very high serum calcium level and a high vitamin D level. Experts in vitamin D are Dr Carnell, Hearney, Hollicks, Hollins and Veith.

I can understand your concern OP.

I struggle with my vit d level, which is quite common with my disability I take 10k international units a day and that has improved things.

Tingling, numbness, dizziness coupled with fatigue should not be ignored.

If you don’t feel better, ask your GP for a referral to a Neurologist.

I hope you are feeling much better soon.

Are you on Facebook? Recommend you join a group call Vitamin D & Co-factors UK.

The admins are very knowledgeable and there is an excellent protocol for D and vital co-factors (to ensure D gets to where it needs to go and doesn't cause a dangerous increase in your serum calcium when you're using high doses - which you definitely need!): magnesium, K2 and boron.

Are your levels ng or nmol? Both are low, if it's nmol then moreso. UK deficiency guidelines are out of date (protecting you from rickets, but you can have several health problems way before then!), as are treatment dosages. Current research suggests healthy/optimal ranges of 150-200nmol.

If you don't want to join the Facebook group let me know and I'll give you the info.

My tingles have stopped since taking the vit d, my numbness has improved also. I’ve had a lot of bloods done and everything is fine except the vit d. 22nmol. My calcium/magnesium and b12 were all fine and I asked my dr on two occasions if I should supplement anything else and she said no. I was on the Facebook group but I honestly don’t reallt use fb! I am going to be having a nerve conduction test at some point (waiting for the appointment) because I have had some little nerve issues before. I had a botched epidural 4 years ago and a spinal. I also have really bad sinuses (this weather is killing me) which maybe contributing to the dizziness. I have seen 4 different gps about my symptoms. I was a mess a month ago.

My vitamin D test results showed I am very low 6 and should be well over 25... I did a private test called Serascreen which is .more advanced than one done by the hospitals. I was adviced to up it to 2000iu . Serascreen is available to buy and Do in yr home after sending it off u get a report in a week it's excellent

I've been experiencing symptoms of seizures, brain fog, extreme fatigue. My blood test has come back as vit D deficient. Could all these symptoms be from vit d deficiency? My seizures have never been diagnosed!