I wouldn't have never believe it

[debhun]

Will most of you know I have had this uper rightand side pain from He!! for some time now. I went to the Dr last friday and he took some blood for test and he told me to get citracal + D and take 2 a day. well I got it and started takeing it last sat. Well this week I have felt the best in months. got alot of things done to the house. Talked to my sister in law and told her how I felt this week. Joking told her it must be the Citracal. Well low behold I get a note from my dr today. my body don't didn't have or hold Vitamin D. And I have a Vitamin D Deficiency. He has me on 5000iu every day for 3 months then 2000iu for 3 months then 1000 everyday on out. I wish I had know this and would have took it a long time ago.
So I would like to know if that is also what has put my weight on too. If you only knew just how much I have put on.
If someone could let me know about this Vitamin D Deficiency.

Deb

PS
I did have the left side of my thyroid taken out in Aug.

[Kathi49]

Deb,

That's great! I take the Citracal with D as well. :) It DOES help! I can tell a difference in the aches and pains although I am not taking that much. I should go ahead and be checked myself but I have taken the same amount for awhile now. Anyway, I am sooo glad that you feel much better and found out about it. :)

[Diandra]

Hey Deb,
Don't have info on D deficiency...just wanted to say I'm thrilled for your success. I hope you continue to feel better and better. Great news.
Diandra
:)

[houghchrst]

Deb I am so glad that you are feeling better. I just started taking Vit D, 4000IU daily and due to all the other rotten things going on in my body I can't see any benefit yet. Hopefully things will mellow and maybe once I see the neurologist and get some testing done I can see if I should even bother.
I hope things continue to get better for you and stay that way.

[Lil E]

Most people with our problems have vitamin deficencies, mostly the B-complex ones. It is just now being noticed that we also lack vitamin D and magnesium. Magnesium makes the others and hormones work properly. You have to ask for the blood tests or they won't do them.

[Mark N]

Deb, It is so good to hear your good news. I hope that you continue to get the same good results from now on.

[suede]

Deb,
I just recently went through the same thing.

However it was myself that suggested the Rheumy run the test for, silly me I thought surely one of my many Dr's that have had my blood checked so many times over the years would have checked this out.

Come to find out I also was critically deficient in Vit. D, now Ive been getting treated for possible Lupus now for a couple of years and can not be in the sun, don't you think he would have checked this out before.

He put me on 50,000 iu twice a week for one month then once a week for two months. I've been on it now for about 6 weeks I think and I do feel some difference but surely not as good as you are.

If you check out the vitamin and supplement forum here you will find some good info on the topic, mrs doubtfire as always has some great post about it.

Good luck and hope you continue to feel as good, maybe it will rub off on me soon..

Linda

[Ted Hutchinson]

He put me on 50,000 iu twice a week for one month then once a week for two months. I've been on it now for about 6 weeks I think and I do feel some difference but surely not as good as you are.

It is possible the Vitamin D your doctor prescribed is D2 Ergocalciferol.

The case against ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) as a vitamin supplement (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/84/4/694) sets out the evidence showing Vitamin D2 may not be utilised by many individuals and those who are able to metabolise it find it produces only 30% the effect that the cheaper more effective D3 Cholecalciferol (http://www.bio-tech-pharm.com/products/d35.html)produces.

See Vitamin D2 rip-offs (http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/vitamin-d2-rip-offs.html) It is likely that when you swap to an effective form of vitamin D you will feel the benefit in a couple of months.

You could also try SHORT but REGULAR sessions of UVB sun lamps. You need to find high uvb output tubes (they may be called natural or low pressure and use them for HALF the time necessary to tan but preferably 3 times a week. The uvb output of tubes is only guaranteed for a certain number of hours 500 -800 so do make sure the tubes you are using are fairly new.

UV hardening therapy: a novel intervention in patients with photosensitive cutaneous lupus erythematosus. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16488300?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum) Exposure to the UVB source was performed year-round, 3 times weekly, with increasing doses to a maximum of 10 minutes per session

[Ted Hutchinson]

And I have a Vitamin D Deficiency. He has me on 5000iu every day for 3 months then 200iu for 3 months then 1000 everyday on out. I wish I had know this and would have took it a long time ago.
So I would like to know if that is also what has put my weight on too. If you only knew just how much I have put on.
If someone could let me know about this Vitamin D Deficiency.
.Vitamin d deficiency is implicated in metabolic syndrome (http://www.vitamindcouncil.com/researchObesity.shtml). When people correct their vitamin D deficiency they find they are better able to control their diet and weight.
See previous thread
Vitamin D Inadequacy May Exacerbate Chronic Pain (http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showthread.php?t=22357)

1000iu can only raise status about 17.5nmol/l - 7ng this will not be sufficient to make maintain optimal vitamin D status. I keep my status as near to 150nmol/l 60ng as possible. I use 5000iu/daily except on those days I am able to get 20minutes full body sun exposure at midday or when my shadow is shorter than my height.
Do be sure you are using the EFFECTIVE form of vitamin D. (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/84/4/694)
Risk assessment for vitamin D (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/85/1/6) shows up to 10,000iu/daily is a safe upper limit so I stay under half that amount because that is all that is necessary the actual level at which adverse events have been recorded is 40,000iu/daily for over 150 days so in fact the safety margin is huge.

[ejskennedy]

My psych (God bless him!) ordered vitamin level bloodwork for me a couple of months ago. Vit D came back at "17" so he sent me to my pcp who told me to take 2 oscal a day. What? So, I have been taking that and 800 iu of d3 a day for a couple of months. I've not noticed any change in anything. I see those recommended levels in the 10's of thousands and am very confused and apprehensive about taking so much. I just don't know....My brain just doesn't work like it used to.

Erin

[debhun]

My psych (God bless him!) ordered vitamin level bloodwork for me a couple of months ago. Vit D came back at "17" so he sent me to my pcp who told me to take 2 oscal a day. What? So, I have been taking that and 800 iu of d3 a day for a couple of months. I've not noticed any change in anything. I see those recommended levels in the 10's of thousands and am very confused and apprehensive about taking so much. I just don't know....My brain just doesn't work like it used to.

Erin

I don't know much about this it is very new to me. This week is the first time I have felt normal. I started taking 2 citracal at a time when I first got it last Sat. Now I may have to back up a little here. This is only for my pain in my ribs or upper right torso. But I have been using my patches (Lidoderm)too this week. My Dr told me it could be nerves. That is why I have been trying the patch's there. But I do think the Vin D had something to do with it. I also had my thyroid taken out on the left side in Aug so that may have something to do with the Vitamin D Deficiency and all the weight gain that has taken place. My dear God I pray it will come off now. Nothing to wear or money to buy any. Any ways My Dr gave me the orders on how to take the Vitamin D. I hope that you get what you need from someone here. I will call Monday and see what my level are and tell them the Benicar is not working on my swelling.

Deb*cg18 *cg18

[gizmogirl]

what great people here. I remember reading more than 40 years ago about a dentist who was a health nut, so he would tell people jokes to check their blood calcium levels, since that's the first to fall and without enough, you lose your sense of humor.
Really looking forward to hearing how subtly yet profoundly your life changes!

[Ted Hutchinson]

So, I have been taking that and 800 iu of d3 a day for a couple of months. I've not noticed any change in anything.Each 400iu/daily/D3 raises status by 7-12nmol/l. (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/85/3/649) Who would think that taking such a trivial amount would do any good?
It may raise your current status a further 14-24nmol/l 5-10ng but if you are 17 now will being 24ng make a big difference?
You need to be 32 to achieve optimal control of calcium intake/excretion.
Ideally 40 to start building your bodies stores of D3. If you lived naked in the tropics as our bodies evolved you'd have a natural status of 60.

It depends also on your skin colour and the latitude you live at but it's really basic maths. Not enough vitamin D Health consequences for Canadians (http://www.cfp.ca/cgi/content/full/53/5/841?searchid=1)
explains the oral dose of vitamin D3 to attain and maintain 25(OH)D levels >80 nmol/L is 2200 IU/d if baseline levels are 20 to 40 nmol/L, 1800 IU/d if levels are 40 to 60 nmol/L, and 1160 IU/d if levels are between 60 and 80 nmol/L So if it take that much to reach first base you need to double those quantities to achieve optimal status.

To change NG to nmol/l divide by .4
To change nmol/l to ng divide by 2.5

[911]

i am glad this has helped i am on vitamin therapy along with my other meds and D is one of them , i find the D helps my depresion along with my other treatments for depresion , ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Dave

[debhun]

I am having trouble with my mom. She said that I didn't need to take the Vins D all I had to do was go out side for 15-30 mins aday. I tryed to tell her that I just came back from greenevill with the sun on me for 2 hours. When I am in the car I love the sun to beat down on me it warms me up. True it may not be the same. But she needs to stop thinking she is a Dr. Oh by the way she gets off of GoodMorning TV Shows.


Deb

[BrokenBladder]

Deb,

I'm so glad that you're getting some relief. FINALLY!!

As for your mom I understand how a family member can be so certain of what we need to do and yet they have no idea of the entire picture. Hang in there and know that she's trying to talk to you out of a place of love.

[Ted Hutchinson]

I am having trouble with my mom. She said that I didn't need to take the Vins D all I had to do was go out side for 15-30 mins aday. That would be true if you were able to lay stark naked in the sun at midday. This research (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12414856) shows that men who work outdoors ALL day EVERY day only average over the year 2800iu/daily and are insufficient in winter. The regularly quoted advice about sun exposure only enables you to acquire the current recommended amounts and those are inadequate now we understand more about the role of Vitamin D3 in the body and brain.

I tryed to tell her that I just came back from greenevill with the sun on me for 2 hours. When I am in the car I love the sun to beat down on me it warms me up.
I presume you are in an open top car. UVB the rays that generate vitamin D in your skin by converting cholesterol, do not pass through glass.
I presume also you don't drive nude (that may pose hazards for other road users) therefore only 5% of your surface area is exposed. This again will limit the amount of Vitamin D you can make.
It's also sad but true that those areas most tanned are the least effective in making vitamin D. Hence the injunction to try to expose the areas least tanned.
We also have to remember that your skin is like toast, too much heat destroys the newly made vitamin D, so although your skin needs to get warm, (t is a heat driven process) further heat turns both pre-vitamin D and D3 to products the body doesn't use (otherwise we would get vitamin D toxicity from sunlight)So rather than spending 2hrs in the sun, you will make and store far more vitamin D by covering up your skin, going inside or into shade after 20minutes, allow the skin to cool down and your body absorb the vitamin D then repeat the process.
Bear in mind also UVB is only present when your shadow is shorter than your height, so early morning/late afternoon sun will not make vitamin D3.

[debhun]

Thank you all. Ted there so much info I will try and get it all in my head. I have printed it all out.
we will see how it goes. Have to call the drs to see how low it was.

Deb

[debhun]

I will take that my level of 9.4 is a little low.

[debhun]

I just started taken V-D cause my level was 9.4. When I started taken 5- 1000 iu it made me sick feeling. like a ton of brecks in my belly. It is a very bad feeling all day. so I didn't take them one day and I didn't have the feeling. Took them 2 days later and the same thing happen. So now I just take citracal +D and I seem to be fine

[Kathi49]

Deb,

Just out of curiosity I decided to take 1000 iu's of D the other day. I normally take the Citracal with D. Anyway, bad move, I had terrible constipation. And I had the same feeling you are speaking of...all day. So, I said forget it...I will just stay with the Citracal. It doesn't bother me either. But seriously, when you guys were talking about upping the D, I thought I would give it a try too. I just can't do it. But I would like to have my Vitamin D levels checked. That is just something I don't think was done even though I know my B12 was checked and it was fine.

[debhun]

Thanks Kathi for the post Mine is very low 9.4. But I too had a very bad time with constipation. I think I had that under control now. Thanks to Miralax. Like I said I stopped for a few days and was better didn't have the feeling of bricks. took them again all that day had that bad feeling. So I too will stick to Citracal + D.

Deb

[Mark N]

Deb, I know this is about vitamin D but just wanted to say I am glad the Miralax is working well for you. Other than people here, people don't understand how bad severe constipation is and how bad it makes you feel.

[debhun]

This is true Mark. You know constipation runs in my family too so with the meds on top of it is not nice. My son-inlaw put me onto Miralax. The Docs put my granson who is 3 now on it a year ago. For he too has got that bad gean from his granny. It is the best I know of. And is every mild.
Thanks Mark
Deb