yup, that (D3)

I haven't taken the vit d but if it has a good affect on pn I would like to try it.what is the dosage range ?

If you do not get a blood level tested, I would do 2000IU
daily. I use a liquigel form of D3 from NOW company.

example:
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails....&pid=8229&at=0

You can see they are very inexpensive.

Some manufacturers say capsules, others say softgels.
Either is better than tablets IMO. I believe the absorption is better with the capsules forms.

I've been doing 2000IU for a year now (up from 1000IU) and
feel much better. I haven't needed my light visor (for depression yet--and I started it in Oct last year).

There are studies showing now, that up to 10,000 IU of D3 is safe in normal people. But I don't feel comfortable recommending that without a blood test.

Some people are starting to do 4000IU daily. But because I get a ton of sun in the summers, I didn't feel it was necessary for me.

Vit D is turning up very valuable for many health issues, including chronic pain.
You can read more here:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

I was told by my doctor that my Vitamin D level was very low. In fact, the word used was "ridiculously" low. I did not know much about Vitamin D. I was prescribed the 50,000 IU pills of "D2" for once a week. I took 3 of them so far, one every Monday.

However, I was told to change now to Vitamin D3, as it appears that is the type that would help me most.

My Vitamin D level was once at "9" and now boosted to "15". My question is, Is 15 a low count? If so, could it be effecting my pn pain?

I can't get vitamin D3 from my med insurance, so I bought the GNC brand of Vitamin D3. It was actually pretty cheap -- about 10 bucks.

It is only 1000 IU, but I feel taking this slowly (at least once a day) might build me up in a less painful manner, as I have noted that on the last day I took the 3rd Vitamin D2 (50,000 IU) I got very bad deep-bone types of pn pain, that has lasted since the beginning of this week. I got better, but I'm still in pain!

I'm hoping, I can elevate my level using vitamin "D3" using a 1000 IU dose per day, and do so without bombardment to my already sensitive body with such high doses at one time.

The idea here, is that I feel such high doses might be helping me, but the change is too dramatic for me and may be causing worsening pain in the process, though it is probably a temporary flare-up.

I'm still confused. I don't know if "15" is really all that low and I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this.

Would taking a daily Vit D3 be a better choice than taking a weekly mega-dose of Vit D2?

Please help, if you have any advice.

When you get blood test results you should always ask for a copy, and they should include ranges. 15 sounds low to me but the ranges would tell you more.

I started D3 2 months ago and ran out and I think I have more joint pain since stopping, but no difference with my pn.

I have been taking 1000 B12 once a week by injection. Have no trouble with the shots. One year later, I am better. Not sure of all the reasons for this, but I think the B12 played a role. ginnie

If you go to one of the excellent links
I have on the D thread there are ranges
On vitamin d council and grassroots health.net
Links.

Anything below 30 is too low to prevent
Bone loss and rickets.
To derive more normal benefit from D
the lowest norm is recommended to
Be 50.

I will bump the D thread now for the
Videos which explain more in detail
and show graphs.
It is on our vitamin forum.

Each day you delay you are losing bone
Density and other functions.

I've bumped that thread. Please look at
It and watch the videos.

People often become irrational about
High doses of nutrients because of
The IU nomenclature.

1000 IU of D3 is 25 MICROGrams.

Just to add to it: I just visited my GP and one of the topics was D3. I was wondering after having topped up to 41 if the constant sun exposure I now had was going to do the trick to keep it level during the summer

She said that it most probably wouldn't. As in 99% probability. She has patients who are in construction/road works who probably catch every available ray of sunlight available, and once they are too low (typically after age 40) they never bounce back unless they take supplements. She didn't even want to test again, she knew what the result would be.

Her recommendation to all her patients who once tested too low is 25,000 IU of D3 a week, for the rest of their life. (and obviously monitor it once every 6 months or 1 year). The other 4 doctors who work with her do exactly the same. 5,000IU a day like I do (will start again) is perfectly fine for her too (so 35,000IU a week).

I stumbled upon this subject again yesterday, while reading about the Paleo diet. In the section about supplements, Rob Wolff mentions vit D as the most important supplement we can take (that and fish oil...), and states that humans used to receive an estimate of 10,000 to 20,000 IU of vit D. a day because of more exposure and cleaner air. (obviously, depending on where they were versus the equator).

He too recommends supplementing between 2,000 and 5,000 IU/day, but warns hyperthyroidism patients that they really should closely monitor their results because they are more prone to suffer from toxicity.

Oh, and he also mentions ALA/NAC as something even perfectly healthy people should ideally supplement with - and even mentions it's benefits for some kinds of PN sufferers. He even has a few tips for people who have problems with reflux.

Note that he is not a believer at all when it comes to the promises of most supplements, but again stresses the importance of D3, omega3 and (R)ALA when it comes to nerve functions. Without adequate levels (for him, when it comes to vit D.: 50 and upwards, but 60 is better) it's very difficult to cure nerve problems.

These books are all pretty interesting, and the Paleo diet is not too far removed from the Zone diet (diet = lifestyle). As a joke you could say it's Zone minus dairy & grains (not that they play a big role in the Zone diet) but with egg yolks.

His recommendations for fish oil are almost exactly the same (3 grams/day for healthy persons, up to 20 for people with nerve damage); given that he gives Barry Sears a dig on one of the pages (about the effects of combining proteins & carbs, a minor point really) it is encouraging to see he is on the same page as Sears when it comes to importance and doses of fish oil.

I take Omega 3 regularly. But, there was an article, and there was even a long discussion over NPR on the same topic, that Omega 3 may cause prostate cancer. My hubby stopped taking Vitamin E and now the Omega 3 as he has prostate issues .