[Rosie33]

For the past 5 or 6 months I've been taking 4000 vit. D3 because of all the info here about helping with PN. I have osteoporosis and my vit. D blood test was 37. My doctor told me to cut the D to 2000 because it would only cause build up of calcium in places other than my bones......very confusing!

I live in New England, and now at 72 I never ever sit in the sun anymore. In my younger years I was a sun worshiper with a beautiful tan all summer long. Not anymore, in fact when I'm in the sun it brings out the psoriasis I get on my elbows and arms so i avoid it completely.

I've been reading all about the benefits of Vit. D3, and tried to explain it to my doctor. She just went on about her theory. My question is, "Should I cut back on the vit. D to 2000 because she said so, or keep it at 3000 to 4000?"

Thanks Mrs. D, and anyone else who will share his/her opinion with me.....

[Ziggy7]

Hey there,

I'm really not an expert in this at all, but I think getting levels of vitamin D might be a good idea. So many people above the sun belt are deficient in America (not that Europeans do any better!) that it's worth finding out where you're at.

That said I also think 4000 IU of D3 is a good maintainance dose and if I'm not mistaken, a dose that has been shown to have very little if any adverse effects. That said vitamin d supplementation can sometimes (not always!) raise calcium levels, but that's not something to fear as it can be easily detected by a simple blood test around 2-3 months after you start taking vitamin D.

My vitamin D level was 2 noml/L and I after about 20000 IU a day for a couple of months went up at 15 noml/L (which is still low) so now I'm at 15000 IU a day. I've had no side-effects from the D3 and normal calcium levels. My mum's level, and she spends quite a bit of time outdoors, came back at 11 noml/L so she's been on 10000 IU a day for the past 3-4 months now with absolutely no issues. That said her internist did check her calcium levels about a month ago and they were well within the normal range.

Ziggy

[mrsD]

You really have to look at the videos I posted and read the links.

Hypercalcemia is a risk, but a very very small one.
There has been a cardiologist who is recommending patients NOT take high calcium doses in supplements when using Vit D to raise their levels. His recommendation? No more than 600mg a day.

There have been studies on volunteers 10,000 units a day showing no hypercalcemia!

Later on I'll look for more on the hypercalcemia for you.

But to give you an example... I tested at 43, which is pretty good. But my doctor wants me at 70! It is when we reach 70 or so, that the anti-cancer benefits kick in.

I notice that I don't get colds or bronchitis any more since I started Vit D. And I confess I did so slowly too.
First I took, 1000 IU, then I raised to 2000 IU the next year.
Then 4,000 then 5,000, then tested at 43. I typically am outside alot in summer sunny months and get a nice tan, and feel great, then I would sink into misery by October. Now I don't sink into that misery.

Low Vit D is found in many sick people! The levels reported here on the various boards are alarming! The lowest I have seen is 3.

Why is my doctor gung ho with Vit D ? She got breast cancer!
Now when she sees the studies that Vit D prevents breast cancer she is taking it herself to prevent reoccurrance!
Ask yourself why young women are getting breast cancer today...25yr olds. A colleague in my hubby's office, his daughter who was 28 died from breast cancer.

Here is the Vit D thread: with links to new information:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread92116.html

[mrsD]

I really like AAFP websites. I often refer to the B12 one and the Hip pain one. Those are both good too.

Here is the one you should look at. You CAN have your blood calcium measured, while doing the D supplements to see if you are absorbing too much calcium from your food or any supplements.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0501/p1959.html

I personally don't think a person needs much supplemental calcium if they eat well...foods high in calcium etc. ... while taking Vit D3.

Some of the above article is complicated but I find the chart in the beginning easily understandable for most people reading here. You can give this medical site to your doctor too, since that is the real target for the link. Written by doctors for doctors.

Here is what the vitaminDcouncil says about toxicity potential:

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about...in-d-toxicity/

So I think you can appease your doctor by having testing done, at the time you test your D and other things.

IMO the difference between 1000 IU and 2000 IU is tiny in the scheme of things. 2000IU is what is now recommended for people NOT tested yet, in fact.

[Rosie33]

Thank you both for all the great info. I will be getting my blood calcium checked, and in the meantime I will continue Vit. D at about 3000.

Mrs. D, I also sent for the red laser pen to try for my neuropathy pain and hubby's sciatic. If anything it will be fun to play with......thanks again!

[mrsD]

Yes, I am quite surprised how it is working for my ankle.

When my cat is outside I can do it more efficiently.. as she has some proprietary ownership of it! LOL She knows the "click" it makes and will come running if she is within earshot!

I do where my pain and swelling appear. That is the front of the ankle and my scar where some of the birthmark hemangioma remain. I also do my ball of the foot and big toe where I had my gout attack years ago.

Doesn't take long either, but must be refreshed each day. I went 5 days without and the swelling returned. Now it is back down, even when I did a SuperWalMart yesterday in the terrible heat. So walking and heat do not negate the improvements.
The little toy laser pointer for animals to play with is not as strong and only gave minor improvements. The strong one is much much better. (and not really expensive).

Some day I will find out WHY it works, but so far nada.

[mrsD]

Look at this!

http://www.zeropointhealthstore.com/...-laser-pointer

Same size etc....but totally different PRICE!

[Rosie33]

Originally Posted by mrsD

Look at this!

http://www.zeropointhealthstore.com/...-laser-pointer

Same size etc....but totally different PRICE!

That link was a very interesting read. I ordered the Red Laser Pointer by Executive for $1.99 (+2.95 s/h) from Amazon. It has 100 ft. range, and uses AAA batteries. Now I'm wondering which one you have when you say the stronger one is much better. Would you please let me know what it is, and where you bought it. I can always give the cheaper one to my daughter so she can play with her puppy. Thanks Mrs. D, as the kids today say, "YOU ROCK!"

[mrsD]

I went on Amazon and the black one looks exactly like mine.

I only compared my new cheap one to the small cat toy one.
The little cat toy one is similar to others I've seen on key rings, and also for children to play with. I don't think it has much power because it takes a little button battery, and may be accidentally misused more often.

I think these black 5mw ones can be compared to that lame site that sells the same thing for $159 was AMAZING.

When I showed my son this pointer, he remarked that when laser pointers came out, they DID cost around $150 and they were large with a large attached power source. The pointer was on a long cord attached.

I did a laser treatment twice yesterday, while watching a little TV, morning and afternoon. I think it is amazing that I went from pain in that ankle all day and night driving me nuts, to no pain at all! It is obviously helping with circulation, because my pain seemed linked to the swelling around that incision site.
Why it is hurting so much now, decades after that surgery is a mystery to me. I was worried the tumor was growing back.

[Rosie33]

Originally Posted by mrsD

I went on Amazon and the black one looks exactly like mine.

I only compared my new cheap one to the small cat toy one.
The little cat toy one is similar to others I've seen on key rings, and also for children to play with. I don't think it has much power because it takes a little button battery, and may be accidentally misused more often.

I think these black 5mw ones can be compared to that lame site that sells the same thing for $159 was AMAZING.

When I showed my son this pointer, he remarked that when laser pointers came out, they DID cost around $150 and they were large with a large attached power source. The pointer was on a long cord attached.

I did a laser treatment twice yesterday, while watching a little TV, morning and afternoon. I think it is amazing that I went from pain in that ankle all day and night driving me nuts, to no pain at all! It is obviously helping with circulation, because my pain seemed linked to the swelling around that incision site.
Why it is hurting so much now, decades after that surgery is a mystery to me. I was worried the tumor was growing back.

I received my red laser pen today. Would you please tell me about how many minutes you leave it on for a laser treatment. Would leaving it too long cause more harm than good. I'm anxious to see if it helps.