I take two 5,000 IU D3 tablets a day. I'm having a thyroid blood test tomorrow and will also ask that my D levels be checked.

So what you are trying to say without saying it is D2 is ergocalciferol?

In short:

D2 is ergocalciferol-- Only RX version-- of plant origin less active

D3 is cholecalciferol-- OTC only..no RX--biologically active in humans

Insurances will cover D2...but it is in essence covering "nothing"

I started out at 14 almost 3 1/2 years ago. I took the prescription D2 and it didn't help much. I had to add D3 for quite awhile--I think I was only taking 2,000. I finally got it up to 46. They wanted it between 60-80 at least. I get tested every 6 months now and have been playing with doses to see what is best for me. I was taking 8,000 a day for many months. I got it up to 100 by last Nov. However, I dropped down to 4,000 a day and just got tested in April and am now at 63. I have gone back to 6,000 a day. I'm sure, though, in the summer I won't need as much but the next time I'll see where I am. My recommendation is to get it tested every 6 months so you can see how quickly you raise it and what basic dose you need to take to keep the number steady.

In the meantime, I have found I am back to being iron deficient again!!

Yep, had my level tested and it was 11.
Doc put me on super high dose for awhile and then I supplement everyday with high doses I buy over the counter....6,000 per day. I am more religious about it during the gray, winter months. I am outdoors a lot in the summer and get more natural exposure.

They have also found the low D3 levels common in many other diseases as well.
Can't say I feel any better having brought my D level up, but I think it is not a "feel good" thing......its a health issue. Ignore all the Fed's recommendation of 400 iu a day, thats just plain stupid. Don't go less than 2000 iu's.

Dr Oz had a show on Vitamin D3 today and how low levels in the human body is showing up in many bad health issues.

Watch him dvr'd as I eat dinner every night except weekends. See how he acted when people had levels only in the 20's? Wish my sister would listen to me.
I was told yrs ago to take D by professor that has MS. He takes 10,000/day, I took 8,000/day till I tested a bit high - 120. I stopped taking it for a few months & since restarted taking 2000iu/day for past yr or so. My level's staying around 88. I'm also in the south & exercise daily in the sun.
Sadly i'm still going downhill but when my level was 120, I felt the best & MS progressed slower. 120 might be safe but i'll reserve my liver & kidneys for the handfull of other meds I take..for now.

My Vit D level was tested two months ago. I knew it was going to come back low, it seems by what I have read every MS patient has low vit d levels. So when the doc called saying my level was 22 and ideal is 80-100 I was not shocked, even though she was.

I work at a tanning salon and am VERY heat sensitive, so I do not tan.

But my manager read some stuff on vit D, MS, and tanning beds and did some calculations...

It says that in one week you should expose yourself to 14000 units of Vit D. She calculated 3 ten minute tans would get me where I need to be weekly, but it gets too hot. I have found 5 minutes is okay (the bed shuts off right when it starts getting warm), so I am going to try 5 minutes 6 days a week and see how that helps. She said what she read and researched is that out of the MS patients they tested doing this, 41% of them had fewer relapses because of the raise in their vit d. When she told me that, I hopped in the level 2 bed for five minutes (that was yesterday) and I kid you not I felt good when my tan was over so I am thinking there is a direct connection here, especially if the tested MS patients had a proven reduction in relapses.

I still haven't got on the Vit D supplements. That needs to be done immediately. Mayb that's why I get out of a flare and am back in another one within 3-4 weeks

When they took mine a year ago, it was 4.5. Never had it checked before. I take 2000 units a day now, not sure what it is running now. Seems like it gives me indigestion problems and worse IBS symptoms. So not sure what to do.

Puritan's Pride is having their "Buy 1 Get 2 Free" sale. I just restocked on D3 and Astaxanthin. This sale is really good plus it's only $4.95 for shipping regardless of the size of your order.

www.puritan.com