Question about multivitamin, Vitamin D, magnesium, etc help!
 

Hey there
I am 40 and I want to get the right supplementation going on in regard to vitamins. In regard to my heath, I have Pudendal Neuralgia ( nerve pain in the vaginal/pelvic area), and now FHL Tendonitis( maybe tendinosis at this point). My PN is doing better due to physical therapy and I have been going to PT for the FHL tendonitis for about 5 weeks, DR said 6 -7 months. It is a tendon that goes from your calf to the side of your ankles and then down your foot to the big toe. Hurts to walk long periods, unless I take nsaids or opiods. I have it in both feet. :-(
I had some bloodwork done, and next week will be getting all B levels checked and magnesium. Is there a good multi that I can get to get good , effective levels? I remembered I had one from target that was crap, was like 17% of daily calcium levels.. I only ask as I already take enough drugs for the nerve and tendons, do I need to supplement with all seperately? Is there a good B vitamin complex supplement? I will report back with the levels of B later when I get results. Now, I know I have to take ferritin and am questioning Vitamin D.
My lab levels are 26, and it is not extremely low but DR wants me on 50,000 IU once a week for a month. i am wavering. It could explain why my tendonitis pain is lingering ( or perhaps it isnt lingering due to foot and ankle spec saying 6 months), but I do have pain if I press in on my lower legs ( I know dont press in !). makes me think about the D though and bones. I dont know if I should take 1,000 IU a day of the D or go with Dr's plan. I hate when they just give you the results and then a prescription and say that dosage is the "norm" for anyone low. No other explanation. Not like I have a level of 4 or something. WHat would you do? And if someone could answer me about the multivitamin or if I would have to supplement sepretely with magnesium, B vitamins, d, c .... just trying to minimize the pills. and what are good levels for those?
Thank you :)jess

You are not going to find something that is all in one!
I've never seen one myself.

This article explains Vit D and the testing:
http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/d3andos.html

The 50,000 IU your doctor gave you is D2, which is less effective than D3. Your level is pretty low.

You can try 4000IU of D3 daily for 2 to 3 months, and see if you test better.
This is what they are doing in Australia now:
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2514231.htm
watch the video!

Calcium is best taken separately. The increased D3 will improve its absorption. It is too large a dose to fit well into a mixed product. I use Maalox instant dissolve tablets from WalMart...very inexpensive and easy. One Maalox Multisymptom is 1000mg. And about $5.00 for a 100.

You can eat almonds, and beans to get your magnesium or take a supplement separately. Most mixtures have oxide in them and this is basically useless.
Find a magnesium you can afford, that is a chelate:
glycinate
gluconate
malate
taurate
lactate
citrate
or whatever. There is also SlowMag, and one of those twice a day would be the dose for it. They are delayed release.

There are some silica products made for tendons. Some of them have some magnesium in them, but it might be oxide.
example:
http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Silic...blets/799?at=0
Silica is found in some foods, beer, green beans and bananas are high.

Multivitamins are for RDA maintenance only. It is difficult to fix anything with a multivit.

The Iron is best taken after you have your testing. It should be monitored by the doctor.
Shelley here, has been thru some complex anemia situations and has good information to share about that.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...hlight=Repliva
(Repliva was involved in the huge drug recall and may not be available right now).

If the Vit D does not improve your tendon issues, you will have to explore those. Why you are having this specific problem?
One cause is taking antibiotics from the fluoroquinolone family...Cipro or Levaquin or Avelox. Tendon issues can occur up to 1 YEAR after discontinuing them. The mechanism that weakens the tendons has not been discovered yet.

Have you had a bone density and bone scan done?My mom had low d and did the rx dosage and now her d levels are much better. She also has osteoporosis. As for the magnesium what I kearned here from Mrs D of course is make sure you don't get the oxide and you use a well absorbed kind. I use the glycinate and when constipated the oxide to just get moving but the glycinate I have read is what is absorbed.I take all my supplement seperate. I understand the pill overload but I am getting used to it and if it helps I will really adjust. I split mine up too through the day. I would call your doc and ask your ?'s about the d or speak to the nurse.

Thanks. I got the foot fhl tendonitis, by overstretching/overdoing a couple of pt exercises. The ankle and tendons took the brunt of the overstretching and inflammation I believe insued. As I mentioned, the ankle/foot specialist said it will take about 6-7 months of rehab, home exercises, and I am swimming too for cardio and healing health. I have not had a bone scan done, but think I will request one.
I actually just decided to ask my GP dr at the last visit for bloodwork on vitamins. I asked for B vitamin check up and the lab screwed up by not reading the drs form. So, I go back for the B vitamin and Magnesium check tomorrow.
As far as the D goes, do you know what your mom's level was? I checked and it is a 27 and the low end is 32. They say optimal 40-50/
I did order some D3 from iherb 2000iu, and was debating taking that daily and seeing what my levels were like in 3 months. I can do that or take the megadose. I am always afraid to do things like that as I don't want a relapse or making things worse if I am making some baby steps with my fhl tendonitis. i am just not sure. also, if i do take the megadose once a week for 4 weeks as prescribed, would I continue with 2,000iu of D3 every day or every other day to maintain good levels?

thanks:)

The megadose given by the doctor is D2... and not as effective as D3. I think daily D3 is a better choice. But you would need about 4000IU to get up to where you need to be, then once you test normal you can drop down to 2000IU.

The magnesium blood test is not very useful unless you are very very low or very very high. Look at my magnesium thread...the last post, at the article that explains why. Typically anything in the rest of the range does not predict anything for usefullness medically. Magnesium is an intracellular electrolyte, and there are Cell tests some labs do. Most doctors don't know about them.

Lara provided this wonderful link about Vit D treatment in
Australia...

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2514231.htm

Please watch the video. They are using 4000IU daily for D3 to raise levels, rather than what the US is doing with D2 at 50,000 IU.

The reason US doctors are doing the 50,000IU is that D2 (ergocalciferol) was the only form we had for decades to treat rickets. It is the only RX form of Vit D we have, so doctors naturally look in their therapeutic references (you know this is where treatments are decided) and bingo, that is what you get.

Very few doctors (except those who make the extra effort to learn) know about the differences in D products.
It is not unlike the cyanocobalamin/methylcobalamin issues.
And similar to folic acid/methylfolate and pyridoxine/P5P.
As the past 10 yrs have unfolded, the researchers in nutrition have outpaced the doctors quite a bit.
That is why D3 is OTC, and we are seeing more attention to the other activated forms of other vitamins.
And I might add that there are many pharmacists too who don't know the difference so don't expect a good answer to this question in many pharmacies either.

Is there a reason Magnesium Oxide is not as good as the other kinds? I don't think I ever checked to see which type it was before...

doesnt result in the same amount of elemental magnesium being absorbed

I can relate to your pain.
PLEASE do not hesitate to try Magnesium Malate and D3 (gel type). I take Centrum Silver and have heard through the grapevine that if you are that even folks who are not "older" can take this...but perhaps this would be best to double check w/ a doctor. I feel vitamins have reallly helped me. I take 2 Mag. Malate's daily from Source Naturals, but also eat yogurt daily (Fage 0%). I take 2 1000 tablets of the D3 in the morning and another 2 in the evening (a total of 4 daily). I also take a B50 tablet and extra B12, but have not had concerns about brands. Mrs. D told me about the D2 vs the D3 and she was right on the money about that. D3 is BETTER! Don't hesitate to listen. You could experiment with lowering the D3 dosage in a month or two. Also, I do NOT take extra Vitamin C, unless I feel I have a cold coming on. I have some chewable tablets and just pop a few at that time. It seems to work! I feel my multi tablet takes care of my vitamin C needs and don't really think about it. Hang in there...move forward...think positive...it can get better. Best wishes.

I have only seen D3... which is a good thing, because that means that is all I am buying/taking. :)
You are taking 4000 units of Vit. D a day? isn't that excessive?
I might have to look into the other kinds of Magnesium.