Vitamin D deficiency: anyone had this?

I feel badly for people who are elderly or just not capable of being their own advocate.

@rsfcowgirl
Thank you for the additional information. It sounds like you likely have illnesses that affect your vitamin D level.
My seizure medicines alter the metabolism of vitamin D and that’s why I have to take supplements for a while. I was at 6000 IU a day but now I am down to 3000. I went to two, but my vitamin D began to drop it stays pretty stable at the 3000 level.
Thank you for your message. I appreciate it.
Jake

I realize this thread is from some time ago, but it has a lot of good info. I was looking for info on very low Vitamin D levels. My mom was diagnosed with D deficiency (B12 too, though she did treat that with injections for a short time). She was instructed to take oral D, since she was so low, but she refuses. She has medication anxiety and believes everything makes her sick. (Placebos would too.) She stopped taking the B12 too. She’s had a lot of symptoms and I’m very concerned it’s due to the D deficiency. She has a doctor appointment later this week. I’m taking her, so I hope they’ll test her again. Anyone know if this can be fatal?

@celia16 "Anyone know if this can be fatal?" Short answer is yes. Here is a reference from Medical News Today:
Researchers from the University of South Australia have found a causal relationship between vitamin D deficiency and increased mortality risk.
Scientists also found a person’s risk of all-cause mortality increased by 25% if their vitamin D level was in the deficiency range.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/low-vitamin-d-linked-to-increased-risk-of-premature-death-research-shows#:~:text=Low%20vitamin%20D%20linked%20to%20increased%20risk%20of%20premature%20death,D.&text=About%201%20billion%20people%20globally,was%20in%20the%20deficiency%20range.
Will your mother eat fish? Fatty fish would be a good source of vitamin D. Hopefully her doctor would advise the best approach.

Thanks. I can suggest fish, but she will only eat it sporadically. She’s not keen on good nutrition. Sigh. I have tried to promote better heath, buying and preparing food that will help, but she just isn’t interested. Hopefully, she’ll listen to her doctor this time. She asked me about some D capsules. I bought a bottle and put it beside the bottle she already had. My dad and I take it,

celia16 You could try putting her vitamins in a one week pill container, especially the ones her Doctor is advising her to take. That way you can keep track of what she is taking or not taking. and let her Doctor know.

I would like to do that, but she isn’t interested. She doesn’t have dementia and is capable of taking her meds herself, but refuses. I will reiterate her refusal to take the vitamins to her doctor, but she tells him herself. She is open with the fact she has difficulty taking any med, including vitamins. It’s been a struggle for her for a long time. She claims she’s allergic or has a reaction….but he and everyone knows it’s not true. Last year, she pushed through her anxiety and allowed me to give her the B12 injections each week. Eventually, she got it up to over 1300. Then, she stopped the monthly dose. The last test said it was around 300. Now….it’s probably close to what it used to be….70. I’ve begged her to see a therapist. She refuses. Hopefully, her doctor can convince her to begin supplements again.

Thanks for the comment though. I do prepare my father’s med tray and we supervise as he takes it. He takes what the doctor prescribes with no issues. He has multiple medical issues and dementia.

@celia16 Does she have fatigue? Low B12 can cause a decrease in oxygen getting to the muscles. Low D3 can also cause fatigue, but it can cause anxiety, which she has.

I wish I could talk to your mother because actually I agree with her concern. Taking D3 to get the calcium to the arteries does not get most of the calcium to the bones, Most of the calcium stays in the arteries and causes calcification. It takes vitamin K2 to get it to the bones. K2 is not new. Our ancestors had plenty of K2 when animals (chickens, cows) were on pasture. Now with the mechanized agriculture, they get little to none and so do we.

When I was in my early 70's (now approaching 80), I was "wiped out" and could not get out of a chair. I asked my wife to hand me the computer and I started searching what was happening. I found a Doctor who was the same way and couldn't walk. His fellow Doc's said he had MS ( No test for MS). He was able to determine that he had a B12 deficiency. To absorb B12 is a complicated process. Having B12 shots is one approach. I researched sublingual (under the tongue) B12 and that brought me back.

Since than I have been researching health and finding the "good, bad and ugly". I share your mother's concerns for not taking something that is going to hurt me. But I do want to get the right balance and not be an invalid.

Glad you got the vitamin you needed! Do you feel better now?

She does have fatigue. I have explained the B12 is the likely cause and printed out articles about it. She also has neuropathy, that her doctor said may not be reversible. It increased when she stopped the injections. My family is beyond frustrated about the situation. She uses a rollator.

From Web MD:
Mood and memory troubles are common signs of a B12 deficiency. Like nerve problems, these may show up with or without anemia.
You may get symptoms such as:
Depression
Irritability
Anxiety
Restlessness
Insomnia
Trouble thinking clearly

More serious symptoms include:
Trouble telling what’s real
Fear someone wants to hurt you
https://www.webmd.com/diet/b12-deficiency-left-untreated
Does she have a Medical Power of Attorney document on file naming who would be responsible for her care decisions if she is uaable to do so?