Without knowing my level, is there any harm to taking vit D???

I need to go back and read old posts but every time I do it's in my mind that I should start taking it, I don't remember why now.

thanks

The basic suggestion from those in the research area is that up to 2000IU of D3 daily is safe for those who do not test.

You can start there. Anything you provide will help I suspect.

Thanks, I will check out some of the old posts!

Sure! I'm guessing 2000IU from October to May, and then hopefully get it from the sun in the rest of the months.

I think I read somewhere that the sun has to be at an angle > 45° to be effective in vit. D creation. My GP agrees that, where we live, most of her patients who don't supplement have depleted vit D. levels by December/Januari.

I say 2000IU, but I think the proper answer would be: whatever it takes to not drop below 60.

One thing to remember about numbers...

When Vit D was discovered, the researcher chose to use IUs for
the doses. Those numbers appear big... like the doses for B12 are large, when taken orally.

But in reality the amount of D3 you are taking is very minute.

1000IU of D3= 25 MICROGRAMS.

So in reality D3 is a very small amount taken daily. 4000IU would be 100 MICROgrams.

As a comparison, some MS treatments today keep the patients at testing levels of 100! This is THEIR goal... because the thinking for MS is that low D factors into that disease some way.

For us, a goal of 50 (or at least 40 which I keep) is acceptable.

I can really feel my D levels drop around late Sept and Oct from all the sun I get in summer. So I take about 10,000 IU every other day in winter. (sometimes less). I use Puritan's brand...very inexpensive.

The 1000IU rule is an approximation. Some people may need more, and some a little less. At 5000 IU daily I tested at 43...so I am one of those who need a little more.

I follow this doctor as I really like him and his research. Today I found this link where he talks about the danger and controversy of vitamin D and the test ranges for it.

You can click on the link and if you dont want to watch the video, I dont, I prefer to read, scroll on down and you can read.

Its very long and he presents a lot of info, some of which I need to reread, but for those supplementing with vit D its worth the read.


http://chriskresser.com/surprising-n...ing-our-brains

my D levels agree with mrsD rule of 1000IU for every 10 points needed

after I was dxd with cidp (peripheral nerve version of MS) my integrative med md advised me to take 10,000IU vit D3 daily

my initial vit D level was below 30 b4 I supplemented

after 120 days, which = time for your entire RBC to "replicate", my level was 117 (anything >100 = potentially toxic)

dropped to 5000IU WEEKDAYS only, then level was 54.3

advised to add an additional 3000IU daily, so I take 5000IU one day, and 10000IU the next

will test again in another 120 days to see where I am

bottom line

1. get initial test b4 you supplement
2. use mrsD rule of 1000IU for every 10 points needed
3. get retested in 120 days and see where you are at

ideally, my integrative MD wants me to get to 90...within 10% of upper range for my condition

but your mileage may vary...follow your physicians instructions

Very interesting what you said - first neurologist said PN, second opinion said, he wouldn't have ruled out MS so fast. I went back to first doc, thinking "I'd rather believe that."

Thank you for your notes on vitamin D, my problem is that with my insurance, I don't think they will pay for a Vitamin D test every 120 days - after reaching a 'normal' level, I read they only pay for one a year. I reached a 41, which on the test said was in the normal range - 40-100. thank you, Karen

PS I am hoping I can use some type of at home Vitamin D test.

Mrs. D:

Just a reminder, I started with a Vitamin D level of 16.2. In March after speaking to you, I raised my Vitamin D to 4600iu. I was better within a week. I kept it there about eight weeks and had another test. It went to a 41. The normal range on the test was 40-100, my insurance says, once I reach 'normal,' they only pay for a test a year.

I dropped it down to 2800iu. Calf nerve pain came back, just a dull ache. Spoke to you on this thread, raised it back up to previous level. Joyfully, the ache went away again.

I just fear keeping it that high will bring up to toxic level in say four to six months or so. And then I won't know about the level. I read about a home vitamin D test on line I'm going to try it in about 2 months, see if it works. It's 50 dollars or so.

Are my fears irrational with vitamin D scores so low? I know you said let your leg be your guide, which sounded like a great idea to me - What do you think, if you don't mind me asking. Thank you again, Karen Sharp

PS I really appreciate the invaluable help I received here : Main Items: The Vitamin D help - took away my 'ball and chain' endless calf cramp/nerve pain, the Benfiotamine - took away nerve pain, the Alpha Lipoic Acid, took away more nerve pain...

NOTE ALSO: Spoke to a chineese urologist I've known forever, mentioned all this to him, he told me to get progesterone cream from a health store - He's focusing exclusively on bioidentical hormones now.. I'm entering menopause same time came down with PN - that took away the rest of the nerve pain in my lower back.

BACK TO THANKFULLNESS OF THIS SITE: Went to see neurologist last week (before lowering vitamin d level when everything was hunky dory) Gave him GLOWING REPORT along with my list of supplements and such... No more nerve pain, no more calf ache, no more strings of nerve pain in rear end... it also 'doesn't get worse as night approaches' anymore... zero tingling in feet -just gone. Gone so long I almost forgot to add it to the 'gone' list... Very rarely do I take my bipolar medicine early to deal with pain. I told him I go for days forgetting I have it and for most days, great hours of time forgetting I have this. I rarely have to limit physical activity - no more deciding whether to wash to car or go on bike ride as too much brings on nerve pain.

(Note - had my Vitamin D listed as 2800IU- just an error - I asked him about the Vitamin D level, he said it was ok with my score at 41 and could even go up a bit - I realized later that he was looking at the 2800IU number)

He looked at my long list of supplements and said, "Well gee, it's quite a bit but I have to say it's working."

I will post my long list of supplements but have mentioned The Big Guns above, some of it is for arthitis and menopause, although I've seen mention of most of it working also for PN. (You will not see fish oil in my list - despite taking scads of it before PN, I still can't take fish oil - causes nerve pain all over- neurologist could give me no reason for this

As promised - here's my "LIST"

As of June 3rd, 2013


Over the Counter

Generic Claritin, Loratadine 10mg per day, morning – spring allergies
Trying to sleep despite menopausal insomnia: Diphenhydramine 100 mg per night (Generic Sleep Pill - Diphenhydramine 50mg and two Generic Benedryl- Diphenhydramine 25mg each Just now realized these were the same thing)

Vitamins

Vitamin D 4600IU per day (had reduced to 2600IU, per day, calf nerve pain in right leg came back, increased back to 4600IU per day, calf pain disappeared again in a week ) Recommended Mrs. D
B Complex same as before-B12 6mcg,Folic Acid 400mcg, B6 2mg,Vitamin A 750 IU (recommended orthopedic doc –PN – he had it too)
B6 100 mg. (recommended Neurologist, the ONLY thing)
Benfotiamine 2 and a half 250mg capsules per day, 625mg per day- recommended Stacy of Neurotalk
(Increased to stop nerve burning in upper thighs, rear end)
Calcium 600mg- arthritis
Glucosamine 1500mg Arthritis
Alpha Lipoic Acid 200mg -3 per day or 600mg total per day)
(Further reduced nerve pain in upper thighs- recommended Neurotalk)
Cinnamon 500 mg per day- me, controls blood sugar
Progesterone Crème – over the counter, Femgest, ¼ teaspoon (Recommended by Dr. Yu – Annapolis; stopped the nerve pain in my lower to mid back- 92%- that had started the day of my last appointment- recommended Dr. Yu)
Flaxseed Oil. 2 or 3-1000mg softgels per day. Recommended both menopause and Neurotalk for PN

OTHER

3 tablespoons Flaxseeds per day- sometimes more – have to eat this early in the day or it keeps me up at night. Recommended both Neurotalk for PN and for menopause

Well, that is great that you are better.

If you eat calcium containing foods, you might drop that calcium supplement. Taking Vit D may be a conflict. Some cardiologists now suggest dropping calcium (esp for women in new studies), as the D increases GI absorption quite a bit.

100mg of Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a huge dose! As we age this drug has anti-cholinergic effects, that are not good for your eyes, or cognition. 25mg at bedtime should be enough for most people.

Google "risk of hypercalcemia with Vit D" and see what you find.
Your dose of 4800 IU is not really that high, IMO.

It might be that your calf pain, will permanently resolve with proper levels higher for a while. Really Vit D levels take months to resolve IMO. It is not a fast acting supplement.

I'll try to look around the net for you about "high" and what is really high etc when it comes to D.
The Vitamin Council and Grassroots.net seem to have the newest research:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
http://www.grassrootshealth.net/

These two sources have alot of research that they report.