Hi...I'm looking for advice from anyone who can help. I have had tons of issues this past year and half and have been to several doctors with no answers. I had asked for my doc to check my vitamin D about 6 months ago but she declined. I took it upon myself to have some blood tests done because I can't live like this anymore. My vitamin D came back at 8.3. I know this is pretty low and can be causing some of my problems. My question is how do I go about correcting this? Is it okay to start taking an oral supplement? If so how much? What do you all think?

The only caveat in not using Vit D3 supplements is for people with sarcoidosis... but that is not 100% yet, just a suggestion.

The general rule of thumb is to use 1000IU for every 10 pts you need to raise. In your case, that would be about 4000 to 5000IU a day. Use OTC D3 any brand, you want. This tends to be inexpensive so if you see high prices on something move on.

I use Puritan's Pride D3, gel caps, myself.

Single digit lows in Vit D level are pretty common on these boards where people have chronic pain and serious illness.

While using the D3, you won't need high dose calcium supplements either, as D3 greatly enhances absorption of calcium (and magnesium too). Some doctors recommend not using more than 600mg a day calcium.

Okay well I don't think I have that condition. I will take your advice. I did leave a message with my doctor about this because it is highly irritating to me that I asked her to check this 6 months ago and she didn't. I just wanted her to know what she missed and I was told they will possibly want to do injections?! Is that necessary? Also is it likely this deficiency has been the source of some of my PN and other pains and problems? Given that I have been tested for a number of things I am hopeful this is the real issue.

my neuro had mine checked and my came back at 9 since then i have been taking 2000 i.u per day after i finishes the ones the Dr perscribed and i spend a little more time sitting outside reading.Living in the south makes the possible most of the year in the summer i stayed in the pool almost everyday. I had a recheck and my Vit -D was up to 32 not bad but still take everyday.Hope this is helpful
Gail

Injections are not necessary!

Sun exposure is best for some people, but the D3 supplements are quite effective.

The D2 doctors continue to give does not work, as new studies show it is not active in mammals except a little bit.

D3 is over the counter and very inexpensive.

What were your symptoms? I have PN and some other weird things going on. For example it is so difficult for me to walk in the morning my ankles feel like they are so weak. I'm just curious being in the same range as me what you were feeling when you had the deficiency?

mrsD - thanks for all your advice. I will decline the injections. I have D3 which is 400IU so I would have to take like 10 of these a day!

Yep... 400IU not mixed with anything else?

That is such a tiny amount! Even the 5,000 IU is tiny.
1000IU is 25MICROgrams, or .025milligrams.
So 5,000 IU is 5 x 25mcg or 125micrograms.

D3 is so inexpensive you can get a new bottle for $5.00 or less.
Here is one example:
A YEAR's supply, for $14.95, less than 5 cents a day.

Thanks again mrsD you are the best!!! No it is not mixed with anything else. It says take with food preferably. Should I just take 10 a day until I run out of these will that be okay? Then I can buy the right one. Also I have read on your vitamin posts that D3 is best in gel capsule. Mine are the tablet form.

Look at the other ingredients. Some tablets have additives that may be laxative or irritating in large amounts.

I can't say you can take 10 of yours safely therefore because of the other ingredients.

Okay now I get it. Here they are: Dicalcium Phosphate, Vegetable Cellelose, Vegetable Stearic Acid, Silica, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate and the D3 is (as D3 Cholecalciferol 400IU)