I'll recap in case you don't recall - I had a vitamin D number of 18 and was told to take 1000IU of D3 a day by the doc. YOu explained how that wouldn't get me far and why, so I started taking 4800IU per day for about 8 weeks. Vitamin D was retested and it was 41. The test said 30-100 was normal.

So, not wanting to overdose on it, I cut back the vitamin D suppliment to 2800IU for two weeks, then again to 1800 IU, where it is now.

The vitamin D supplement had eliminated all the nerve pain in my calf. Now that nerve pain has come back a bit. I was wondering what is the largest amount of vitamin D I can take in a supplement per day and not wind up with too much in my system....

I looked up the medicare retesting rules and it says they won't pay for another vitamin d level test for a year after a 'normal' result has been attained.

Much thanks again, Karen

Just on a whim, I searched for a self test kit and found this... which is a lot cheaper than the two hundred and something the lab wants... wonder what you would think about this...
http://www.bionational.com/Vitamin-D-Test-Kit.html

The general rule is that 1000IU of D3 for every 10 pts you need to raise to.

The real new normal is 50 in the blood test. But your 41 is a good level... and it seemed to work for you as well. Why not stay at your dose that gave that level to you?

If you get alot of sun, enough to tan well, in summer, you can cut back then. But in winter I think most people in cold climates could use a good dose daily.

So, just so I understand, if I stay at the 4800IU per day that gave me the level of 41, is the level of 41 about where I would hold steady at? I thought that the vitamin d level would continue to rise if I continued to take 4800IU per day. At that supplement level, all of the aching/nerve pain had dissappeared. Franky, at 2800IU, I didn' t have any problem with that calf either... just about a week and a half after I dropped it to 1800IU, a dull ache returned.

I get almost no sun in summer, I am really white and wear sun block. I just quit smoking and figure that might have added some to my previously low vitamin d level. Thanks again for your response Mrs. D.

You can choose whatever dose works for you... Use your calf as your barometer.

Vit D does get consumed by the body in various biochemical reactions. So you have to have SOME daily, and if it is not via the sun, then a supplement is the only other form. Sunlight can give huge amounts to the body, 100,000IU per day for some people, but this form has to be activated, and that may remain inactive until needed. So sunlight is best IMO.

Hi, sorry to intrude on your post but may I ask what brand exactly of vit D you use?

Ive read here about vit D a lot and always think to myself maybe I should take it. I have not been tested so I was holding back on if I should take it or not. I need to go back through old posts and read more about vit D.

You know I was actually thinking along these lines. So I guess I'll go back to the 2800IU level and see if calf issue goes away... then I can stay there, maybe in a couple of months try one of those home Vit D tests, just to get an idea of where it is and to keep myself out of trouble.

THANKS MRS.D!!!

I have different types of chewables.. I'll have to get the brand for you. But you bring up a good point, I wouldn't be surprised if some brands of vitamin D and more 'quality' than others...

For what it's worth, I got my levels up from 7* to 41 using Dr. Best. I don't know if they are the best quality, but it seems to work for me. I take 2 softgel capsules containing 2000IU (so 4000 in total) a day, and have no intention of stopping them for the foreseeable future. My aim is to arrive at 60. At that point I plan to go in maintenance mode.

* I didn't feel too well back then...

Once you get to 60, what is going to be your maintenance dose if you don't mind me asking..