What is wrong with me? Vitamin d deficiency? Help!

[Mummyofbananas]

I currently feel like I'm falling apart. Symptoms are:

• fatigue - never feel like i've slept enough and having to nap which I never normally do.
• aching bones and joints
• feel really run down, always sniffly, cold sores etc
• red dry eyes- I can't wear contacts anymore
• look like i've aged 10 years in the last few months and weight gain/can't lose weight
• dry skin and hair
• no energy or motivation to do anything
• feel low and weepy and anxiety is spiralling
• always either too hot or too cold, no temperature regulation

The last time I felt this bad it was my ferritin, levels were undetectable. I had my iron checked last year and it was 60 something so i'm not sure if it's that and it's going down again but reading up some of the symptoms seem to tie in with low vitamin d.

I also work from home and i'm not sure if it's just working from home and not being active enough.

I'm feeling really low (and a bit sorry for myself) right now. I don't know if i should ask for blood checks or just buy a high dose vit d and b and see how I get on.

have you been to gp?
had recent blood tests?

i'm not sure if it's just working from home and not being active enough.

test this theory out by beginning to incorporate a brisk daily walk at least… every day

grab your coat!

How old are you OP? Could it be perimenopause?

Following with interest, because you've basically described how I feel. I've had all sorts of worries about what it could be, from perimenopause down to some sort of cancer. (Did I mention it's making me anxious too?!)

I recently had to put in a complaint about my doctor's surgery so I'm steeling myself to go back in and get a blood test, it's a small village and it will be an awkward atmosphere for sure. Ugh. I'm not even forty yet, shouldn't be feeling this terrible. Watching answers with interest!

Everyone in the UK and further North needs vitamin D supplements from October to March. It is possible your symptoms are due to deficiency. But it is always wise to get qualified medical advice. Does your surgery offer econsults? You could write exactly what you have posted here.
My GP (sadly now retired, he was brilliant) told me that not only has there been an increase in rickets, but that vitamin D deficiency causing depression, muscle weakness, aches and pains etc is also on the increase. What with use of sunscreen all year round, people spending more and more time indoors, it should probably be tested more routinely.

I don't think so @Janetsmug i'm mid 30's and going by when I started my periods, family history etc I would think I have a few years yet- could be wrong of course.

I've not had blood tests yet, will be phoning the doctor tomorrow.

I definitely could be doing with walking more but it's difficult with how busy I am, plus the exhaustion. The tiredness has really escalated since christmas- i've always been relatively healthy, never napped etc, but now i'm needing to nap most days or i feel like I could fall asleep standing up.

First thing's first: blood tests

Sounds like me and I was diagnosed with thyroid problems. You need to ask for TSH and free t4 to be tested. Plus ferratin retested. Ideally ferratin should be about 100+ to feel great but if it’s over 60 you shouldn’t feel THAT bad.

First thought on diagnoses is thyroid disease especially with temperature sensitivity and would need a specific blood panel as not on most "usual" panels.

Another one suggesting thyroid. I felt absolutely awful when my underactive thyroid was unmedicated.

My thyroid was ok last year, but ill ask to get it rechecked again.
I had been on 3 ferrous fumarate a day the year before so i'm not sure 60 was great for my ferritin considering that i'm wondering whether it's been dropping again.
Even the thought of making a doctors appointment is making me tired just now haha- i have a horrible coldsore, my eyes are all red and I can't wear lenses so I have horrible glasses.

although I suspect it's not my ferritin because one of my symptoms when it was low was bruising a lot, and lots of little petechiae spots when I carried anything heavy or bumped myself, i'm not getting that just now.

Sounds exactly like me when peri menopause started! I was 38. Very tired - needed a nap every afternoon, low libido, anxiety, palpitations, rage. I’ve noticed my skin looks worse and aging quickly and weight is almost impossible to shift now! I had a blood test and it didn’t show any drop in hormone levels however I also had vaginal atrophy and Dr prescribed progesterone pessaries and they’ve really helped ease other symptoms. Same Dr told me she had started getting symptoms when she was 35!

Exactly what I thought. My eyes were so dry, as well as down below. I can tick most of the items on your list. Go to your G.P and suggest it to them so they can so some tests. Also ask them to test your testosterone levels, I’m in full menopause and they had hit rock bottom, I was so knackered.

You can buy a vitamin D test kit from any pharmacy but as a pp said, you would almost certainly benefit from taking a good vitamin D supplement if you live in the UK.

Possibly something like Fibromyalgia. Unfortunately there isn’t a test for it. They just go off symptoms and excluding other things they can test for.

I would start taking vitamin d. Everyone should eb taking it in UK in the winter

Sounds like an under active thyroid to me

I had the same symptoms as this and I had a blood test and I’m very low on vitamin b12 which is also making my iron low. So due another blood test soon to see if the b12 tablets are helping.

Best speaking with your GP.

Contact your GP before going down rabbit holes of which blood test to have taken and , yes , start vitamin D.

When I was 41 I had a vit D deficiency and a lot of what you describe was me then.
Get a blood test and ask for a copy of the results.

I would suggest taking Vit D3 with K2 drops and doubling the dose for a week or so.

I used to wake on a Monday and think “4 get ups and I can have a lie in.” which is no way to live. Every childhood illness DC caught, I got - but worse. I’d that sounds like you, you have my sympathy.

I feel like this. I have an underachieve thyroid but take medication. I suspect my vit D levels are very low . I also get twitching muscles in my legs and stabbing pains in the winter. No idea what that might be.

Following with interest as had these symptoms and more for at least 15 years. Seemed to come on fairly suddenly after having my first child. I did have low vit D to the point I was prescribed medication but I suspect that is higher now as I've spent more time in the sun.
I am sure that I also have some sort of magnesium deficiency as every time I take it or apply topically I feel considerably better almost instantly. I do need to do it more often but always forget.
Magnesium lotion is good if you feel like trying it.

I had all of those symptoms when my ferritin fell to 3 and I needed infusions (including the petechiae). No amount supplementing oral iron managed to raise my levels (and they greatly upset my IBS) and infusions were the only answer. I was also having horrendously heavy periods which prevented my levels from raising.

However, I’m feeling very much the same again, two years post infusions so not sure what is going on but I am 50 so in peri too.

I also have fairly low B12 levels as well but because they are within NHS acceptable levels my GP won’t do anything about it. Have you had a recent full blood panel taken? How is your B12?