Vitamin D Deficiency

imho

My surgery doesn't do Vitamin D blood tests as costs too much! In the winter I take the Vitamin D tablet as think we should all take them then. Now it's summer I am not taking them but will start again in the Autumn.

adindas

I always take in A-Z Multivitamin & Minerals supplement. This tablets is very cheap nowadays equivalent to 2-3p per tablet. Side effect is negligible (if any) if you take it based on recommended daily prescription. SO generally you have almost nothing to loose but something to gain.

If you take it regularly at least you will never have Vitamin or Mineral deficiency again.

Also it might be useful in case you do not have enough of particular mineral and vitamin coming from your diet.

peachyprice

Skint_yet_Again wrote: »

I'm not giving any medical advice but you might find this interesting



http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/related_conditions/vitamin-D-deficiency.html

Thank you, very interesting.

My GP wanted all the blood tests because I broke my wrist back in Feb

I have a bone density scan the same days as I see the endocrinologist

donnac2558

peachyprice wrote: »

Thank you, very interesting.

My GP wanted all the blood tests because I broke my wrist back in Feb

I have a bone density scan the same days as I see the endocrinologist

Yes, I had a bone density scan after a x ray, doctor decided to send me to the former after looking at the latter. I left the scan feeling like Tut's granny!:rotfl: Be careful of this and this and this and this.

peachyprice

So it's just under 2 weeks since I started my vit D (and folic acid) and I seem to have had a bit of a breakthrough today, my ankles were less stiff when I got up this morning than they have been for months and my hips and thighs are a lot less stiff this evening.

just_trying

Peachyprice, we're you prescribed a strong dose. I've been on them weeks and just the same.

I'll go back to doctors in a few weeks as tested calcium and magnesium. Said calcium just in normal but didn't say about magnesium. You're vitamin d can be low due to parathyroid problems which I'll get them to check next, but last bloods I had my first massive haematoma which has just recovered 3 weeks later.

I read a thing that said think about vitamin d more as a hormone as it affects so many things and bone and muscle pain can be due to osteomalacia. It's also said 10 minutes sun is good enough, though theres more to that also. Mines was basically zero also.

peachyprice

I have been prescribe 20,000iu twice a week for 8 weeks, I then have to go back for another blood test, I have also been prescribed 5mg folic acid daily, that was low too. Calcium was fine.

just_trying

Thank you, I've been prescribed 800 once a day, though was speaking to pharmacist about it and she said my dose is really a maintenance dose and isn't high enough, though when doctor phoned about prescription she was saying I was dark skinned and what will she prescribe, no I'm light skinned and saw you not even a week ago.

I've only had calcium and magnesium tested with vitamin d,though had a small procedure before going to doctor about tiredness etc the doctor didn't like the way my blood was oozing and asked if I was on asprin. The doctor who I saw never did full bloods etc.

[Deleted User]

Thanks so much for everyone's replies!

imho wrote: »

My surgery doesn't do Vitamin D blood tests as costs too much! In the winter I take the Vitamin D tablet as think we should all take them then. Now it's summer I am not taking them but will start again in the Autumn.

Yes, I was told about the expense of these tests the other day. I had to get my blood forms reprinted because I forgot mine and the nurse that did it had to give a specific reason for why I needed my Vit D tested again because otherwise they sometimes refuse to do it! She didn't have to put a reason for any of the others!

adindas wrote: »

I always take in A-Z Multivitamin & Minerals supplement. This tablets is very cheap nowadays equivalent to 2-3p per tablet. Side effect is negligible (if any) if you take it based on recommended daily prescription. SO generally you have almost nothing to loose but something to gain.

If you take it regularly at least you will never have Vitamin or Mineral deficiency again.

Also it might be useful in case you do not have enough of particular mineral and vitamin coming from your diet.

I think I will definitely carry on with a supplement long-term like I have done with B Vitamins since having folate deficiency anaemia. I don't want to risk feeling like that again!

[Deleted User]

peachyprice wrote: »

I have been prescribe 20,000iu twice a week for 8 weeks, I then have to go back for another blood test, I have also been prescribed 5mg folic acid daily, that was low too. Calcium was fine.

Vit D deficiency and folic acid at the same time? Poor you! I've had folate deficiency anaemia before and I felt like a zombie; I had it at the same time as iron deficiency anaemia. I take a B Vitamin complex everyday to prevent it happening again.

just_trying wrote: »

Thank you, I've been prescribed 800 once a day, though was speaking to pharmacist about it and she said my dose is really a maintenance dose and isn't high enough, though when doctor phoned about prescription she was saying I was dark skinned and what will she prescribe, no I'm light skinned and saw you not even a week ago.

I've only had calcium and magnesium tested with vitamin d,though had a small procedure before going to doctor about tiredness etc the doctor didn't like the way my blood was oozing and asked if I was on asprin. The doctor who I saw never did full bloods etc.

The dosage thing is interesting. I've been given 800iu as well but I take it twice daily. I think it's because 800 is the recommended daily allowance of Vit D. However, I was looking at supplements and they come in anything up to 5000iu daily and it's not harmful. So I might start taking those instead of the prescribed ones.

I am feeling some improvement. I had been basically collapsing on the sofa every evening after work. I would always lay on the sofa because even sitting up felt like an effort but I realised the other day I haven't done that in a while so there must be some improvement. I've also seen a big improvement in my mood - apparently there's a big link between Vit D and depression. I wonder if this makes sense for people with SAD? No sun = less Vit D = shift in mood.
I had definitely been at a low ebb for a while and not able to cope very well with things in general. Then I had a bit of a woe-is-me reaction to being diagnosed with osteoarthritis at 28. I have OA due to having had Osgood-Schlatter;s as a teenager and I was initially very resentful at the fact that I didn't bring this on myself, and thinking 'this isn't fair!'
But I think I've stopped just wallowing and feeling sorry for myself and now feel positive about the fact that while I can't reverse it, I can certainly stop it getting any worse by looking after myself. As my rheumatology consultant said, it's down to me how soon I need to see a specialist again. If I look after myself, there's no reason for the OA to progress but if I don't, it'll get worse and if I end up needing a knee replacement in my 30s because I put on weight and did no exercise, that's on me.

I generally feel much more able to cope with everything than I did 6 weeks ago and while some of that may just be that I've rationalised it all over time, I think some of it must be down to the Vit D. Here's hoping we all get sorted soon!!