Vitamin D deficiency
 

Hello all,

In December of last year, I went to a rheumatologist because my GP felt I had symptoms of an autoimmune disorder (chronic low grade temp, high sed rate and crp) and when I went to him he ran a bunch of blood tests including vitamin D - everything came out basically normal except that my Vitamin D was 14 ng/mL so they put me on 50,000 iU D2 once per week for 12 weeks. I just had my levels rechecked and they are now 12 ng/mL, so my gp's solution (I am not set to see the rheumatologist again until mid June) was to prescribe me 5 more weeks worth of D2. I don't understand why my levels are so low considering that I spend several hours a day outside and am fair skinned and fairly forgetful about using sunblock as judiciously as it should be used. Should I try a D3 supplement, or am I just...I don't know, broken in some way? =P

D2 (RX ergocalciferol 50,000 units) doesn't work. It is not active in humans. (research shows this). Doctors continue to prescribe it, and sadly that is just
useless, and time consuming.:rolleyes:


It is best to use D3 OTC... 1000IU for every 10 pts you need to raise,daily. This is very inexpensive.

Use a goal of 50 total.

This is explained on this thread, and many others here on
this forum, if you use the search function.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...holecalciferol

I have read that D2 doesn't work, but everything I read also indicated that if you spent some time outside it would also fix the problem, which doesn't seem to be the case for me. Is that unusual, or have I just been reading the wrong info?

There are people who fail at outdoor sun exposure and formation of Vit D. The basic building block to this sequence is based on cholesterol. If you have a genetic lack (low cholesterol) or take statins to artificially lower it, you might not convert sunlight very well.

Some of the research implies that the older people become, this chemistry may fail. So it may fail also for some genetic reason.

You need Vitamin D3 from the sun, 20 min a day with 40% skin exposure will give you about 10,000 IU depending on weight and other factors. Take a look at this *edit*, I have posted from several different sources about D3. Do your research on the deficiency of Vitamin D3 and B12. Most Doctors are not up to date on the new study's about Vitamin D3

Many foods are fortified with Vitamin D3. You can read it on the labels.

Thanks, I am going to grab some D3 and try that. I do spend a lot of time outside - I would say 30% exposure for at least an hour a day right now, and my levels are still low. The docs also think I may have Crohn's disease on top of everything else so I wonder if I can even absorb vitamin D if I do take it, but I will give the D3 a shot and see if it works.

Have you been thoroughly tested for celiac disease?
and your sun exposure, try not to was any of that exposed skin for a few hours after.....no real proof on this, but one study of surfers, who obviously had the sun exposure, should them low in D.....good luck

Not everyone is able to be exposed to the sun for 20 min a day due to health conditions.

I was D3 deficient (16 ng/ml) and cannot tolerate nor for medical reasons be in the sun/heat for very long.

I used an over-the-counter D3 to increase my D level. Works great for me :)

pabb - I have not been tested for celiac, but I did go on a gluten free diet for 6 months with no improvement of my symptoms. Also, thus far, it has been fairly overcast here in NH this year, so though I have been outside for long periods of time, I have only had enough sun exposure to get a slight burn on my face so far this year, and not much on the rest of my body. Once we have enough sun that I am worried about burning, I will start putting on sunblock =)

Also, I don't know if it is less expensive in other areas, but D3 5000iU tablets here are $20 for 100, which does not seem terribly inexpensive to me. Is there anywhere that sells greater than 5000 iU's? I was unable to find anything that seemed legitimate, even online.

Puritan's has good prices. Today is the last day of free shipping.
I use Puritans for many things...they work and are good quality.

This is the one both of us use, and it is also 70% off until tomorrow as well. Can't beat this price! Iknow it works because I have been tested after using it. (I did not pay this little when I bought my year's supply before! )

http://www.puritan.com/vitamin-d-326...5000-iu-019377

Not trying to beat a dead horse...but....how strict were you on gluten free diet, and did you have any reaction when you stopped?
gluten free encompasses more than purely the food, also medications, and toiletries/makeup.

I was very strict with my food/drink - I don't use makeup, don't taek any medication (or didn't at the time) - I guess if there was gluten in my soap or shampoo I would not have known about it.

I did not have any reaction when I stopped doing the gluten free diet. Nothing changes at all when I stopped eating gluten, while I was not eating it, or when I started again.

I have started on the D3 - I am also headed to Mexico to the Sonoran desert for a week, so that should (in theory) boost my levels. Instead of waiting 3 months to recheck my levels this time I plan to ask my doc to do it no later than 6 weeks to see if it is having any effect at all.

Dr started me on Replesta vitd 50,000 iu twice aweek in Jan and today results are in was 3 now 47 yippeeeeee

That is great ! Good for you!

So, I have been on 5000 IU's of D3 1x/day for 4 weeks now, plus I spent a week in the Sonoran desert and while I did use sunblock, I got enough break through sun to get a nice tan without burning. I had my level rechecked this week and it has only gone from 12 to 18. Is there any danger in taking 2x5000IU D3 pills a day? Should I try it? I am frustrated by the slow rise and a bit concerned I won't get it up to where it need to be before I have to have surgery in August. Since I am having a cervical spine fusion, I feel like the vitamin D would be important to get up before trying to make new bone.

Yes not sure why they gave you D2...thats found in foods....its D3 they shoulda gave you...

you can read many articles Dr mercola wrote about vitamin D3 below...

http://search.mercola.com/search/pag...k=vitamin%20d3

vitd
 

One word 'REPLESTA" Fabulous for Vit D supplement

50, 000 ius twice a week . they are a orange flavored wafer you chew .

no prescription needed , you can get at any Pharmacy....