Vitamin D Deficiency

just_trying

Thanks Deleted_User, my level is nearly zero. I am under orthopedic, though after last lot of jags not again (si joint injections)Operation to nervous.

The second last time, he noticed a fracture and showed me though said it was healing, it at the back pelvis area, wonder if related.

Edit yes read a thing about vitamin d and depression low mood to, seems there's mainly American sites with good information when you Google about it.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I take 10,000 IU weekly on top of the 400 IU in the daily multivitamin I was told to take. The hospital said I needed injections, the GP denied all knowledge of them and told me to go to Holland and Barrett. I went to the chemist and they looked at the printout and note from the hospital and sold me the megadose one, which I had to take three times a week for the first four weeks, as I had been diagnosed with osteomalacia.

Not quite better yet, but it could be worse; if I slack off on the vitamins, I get the pain back in my hip quickly enough to remind me not to be so daft again. I've also been briefly braving the horrors of direct sunlight on my arms and face daily since the big burning ball of pain in the sky finally showed up a few weeks ago.

Going by the shinsplints type pain I've still got most days and the RA & psoriasis flaring, I've still got a long way to go to get my levels up, but at least I can sleep now, which I couldn't due to the pain in my hip until recently. Except for the flaming psoriasis. Grr.


PS; I do understand, but 'woe is me' times are a complete waste of time and mental energy. Stuff happens. The important thing is do work out ways to get on with enjoying life.

peachyprice

Deleted_User wrote: »

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.

My iron was pretty low too:o But she said I should try to increase that with diet.

TBH, I haven't felt unwell. The aches I put down to maybe onset of menopause, the afternoon tiredness I just thought was getting older and getting up for work at 4am once or twice a week.

I only went to the doctor because SHE asked me to go in after I broke my wrist, I never would have gone otherwise, just thought it was normal.

milasavesmoney

I take a maintance dose of D-3 2000 IU and I live in a desert in the US, so I would think 800 IU in the UK would be at the very low end of maintance.

Feral_Moon

Deleted_User wrote: »

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.


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!!

I find this very interesting as you could almost describe me apart from the fact I'm 20 years older. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few months ago. Exactly the same symptoms as you - sore muscles/aching bones in ankles/hips/neck/shoulders plus the sheer exhaustion and feeling at a very low ebb. I developed chronic IBS which I believe is a common symptom too. I also had Osgood-Schlatters as a teenager but no significant osteoarthritis has developed yet.

I originally put most of my symptoms down to onset of menopause so started on HRT but after 6mths I was still experiencing the same symptoms. I was prescribed Gabapentin and I must say I feel so much better with less pain, more energy and elevated mood. But what interests me more is that I've suffered low vitamin D previously and was prescribed vit D/calcium tablets. So now I'm wondering why my GP didn't think to explore this and do a blood test rather than immediately diagnosing fibromyalgia.

I only saw him a couple of days ago, telling him how much better I feel so I'm hesitant to make another appt to ask about vit D deficiency. I'm just wondering whether I should look into buying some supplements anyway.

Oh, I was also confirmed deficient in vit B12 a few years ago and I'm supposed to have injections every 3 months but I've been forgetting to make appts so I've only had two injections in the past 18mths.

Were you originally prescribed any medication when you were first diagnosed with fibromyalgia or just the vit D supplements?

Skint_yet_Again

Skint_yet_Again wrote: »

I have all these symptoms too and had put them down to my diabetes and repeated thyroiditis and back/neck problems - however tests have shown that I am Vit D deficient almost zero according to my GP.


I have been on Fultium D 3200IU 80 micrograms since 12 May - this will be for 12 weeks then I will take a lesser maintenance dose for life.


I haven't noticed any difference in my symptoms and still feel exhausted all the time especially in the afternoons. I would be interested to know how long before others have noticed any improvement

peachyprice wrote: »

That's interesting, I also have a referral for an over active thyroid.

peachyprice wrote: »

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.

Peachy - I am folic acid deficient also was diagnosed a few months ago. Vit D is only recent following more tests. I take 5mg folic acid a day - but my iron & B12 levels were fine and they said I am not menopausal (age 48). Still feeling exhausted !

[Deleted User]

Feral_Moon wrote: »

I find this very interesting as you could almost describe me apart from the fact I'm 20 years older. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few months ago. Exactly the same symptoms as you - sore muscles/aching bones in ankles/hips/neck/shoulders plus the sheer exhaustion and feeling at a very low ebb. I developed chronic IBS which I believe is a common symptom too. I also had Osgood-Schlatters as a teenager but no significant osteoarthritis has developed yet.

I originally put most of my symptoms down to onset of menopause so started on HRT but after 6mths I was still experiencing the same symptoms. I was prescribed Gabapentin and I must say I feel so much better with less pain, more energy and elevated mood. But what interests me more is that I've suffered low vitamin D previously and was prescribed vit D/calcium tablets. So now I'm wondering why my GP didn't think to explore this and do a blood test rather than immediately diagnosing fibromyalgia.

I only saw him a couple of days ago, telling him how much better I feel so I'm hesitant to make another appt to ask about vit D deficiency. I'm just wondering whether I should look into buying some supplements anyway.

Oh, I was also confirmed deficient in vit B12 a few years ago and I'm supposed to have injections every 3 months but I've been forgetting to make appts so I've only had two injections in the past 18mths.

Were you originally prescribed any medication when you were first diagnosed with fibromyalgia or just the vit D supplements?

Hi Feral Moon!
I was never actually diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The rheumatologist basically said "if the bazillion blood tests come back normal it's probably fibromyalgia" but then the vit d was almost zero and he said that explains the fibromyalgia-like symptoms. Luckily my calcium was ok so despite the bone pain I'm unlikely to have had any bone damage. He said the medication he would prescribe if it were fibromyalgia is pregabalin which is actually an anti seizure drug I believe but it changes your brain's response to pain. I don't think I would have taken it even if I had fibromyalgia. It's a very strong drug and too many likely side effects for me.

It sounds like it's definitely worth asking for a vit d test especially if you've been deficient before. Or just go straight for supplements. You've got nothing to lose. I just ordered 2000iu dosage d3 tablets from simply supplements and I think it was £6.99.
I would also maybe look into whether it's worth taking a b12 vitamin in tablet form if you can't get to appointments.
Personally if I thought I could improve my symptoms through supplements rather than a heavy duty drug I would definitely do it. Or even if it just gives some added relief on top of a prescription drug I think it's worthwhile. I'm definitely improving on the vit d in terms of pain, mood and tiredness. I still struggle some days but much less than before.
I hope you find something that works for you!!

Mamanannis

Its seems everyone you speak to these days have vit d deficiency! British summers eh? I have it and have to keep taking it because i am housebound but my daughter also has to take it. She has also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia but every so often has to have large doses of vit d cos it gets dangerously low and she feels much better after it. So like they say....keep taking the tablets! Lol.

.j.e.j

milasavesmoney wrote: »

I take a maintance dose of D-3 2000 IU and I live in a desert in the US, so I would think 800 IU in the UK would be at the very low end of maintance.

It's important to note that vitamin D is fat soluble and is stored in the liver. Exposure to sunlight during the summer months will give most people enough vitamin D to last through the winter.

Vitamin D, taken in excess, can damage the kidneys, so unless there is a proven medical need (deficiency) it is unwise to take supplements.

Mojisola

.j.e.j wrote: »

It's important to note that vitamin D is fat soluble and is stored in the liver. Exposure to sunlight during the summer months will give most people enough vitamin D to last through the winter.

Vitamin D, taken in excess, can damage the kidneys, so unless there is a proven medical need (deficiency) it is unwise to take supplements.

You have to have taken extreme amounts as a supplement to get kidney problems.