Vitamin D deficiency: anyone had this?

Posted by EllAmster @ellamster, Sep 4, 2022

I have had bad health issues for years. I would every once in a while tell my GP who then said it was all in my head, it was stress, it was the traumas. I told them I didn't go outside and didn't live and eat healthily, but nothing was done, they have a 'next' mentality so I recently switched GP. He immediately sent me to the lab for bloodwork. Not only that: the results came in not even two hours later!

I was diagnosed with major vitamin D deficiency. There are weird and very off values concerning muscle and mass as well, which only proves what I wrote about a while ago: I have lost so much muscle due to depression and only sitting on the sofa with the laptop for work. I haven't been outside in years, living an online life that was a bit easier to manage, avoiding extra stimuli that would create flare-ups of the traumas I worked on during therapy (which is still ongoing).

My major concern is: can the damage of this deficiency be reversed? I have had so many complaints about my health for YEARS that now seem to come together. I was so depressed for so long, have tingles and strange sensations all over my body especially in my legs, I can't concentrate and focus, am very forgetful, have headaches, high blood pressure and my heart doesn't even react well to the medication anymore. I am, all things considered, quite the mess.

Does anyone here have any experience with this?
I hardly go outside, I know I should get some sun, but this is not yet possible for me (too stressed, too much happened). I am a mess! I used to be outgoing and moderately active a few years ago but something bad happened and I'm working through it with help, until that time I won't go outside, but I think I may be getting there.

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@lacy2

...have similar issues; low vit d; 3 yrs ago had c diff, glaucoma diagnosis, lost 4 of the few friends I had , and dr changed my meds.... so have spent most of last 3 plus years in my home... was busy bee before, mother, wife, worker, enjoyed cooking etc., not particularly an outdoor person per se but gardening, short walks, visiting neighbours : all gone and I just cannot seem to go for a walk even up and down my street... so yes dr recommended 2000 iu of vit c and some vit b - as do not eat well due to ibs d and fecal incontinence. I would trade a week of this life per one day of happiness and who i used to be....

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Well you can't really dwell on that you got to get up and find a different way and get happy again if you have a will they'll be away first of all I would go to another doctor and see what they can do for you and go from there if you can't find anything work it out because it's only going to get better or it's going to get worse so you got to make it better

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One note about Vitamin D is that it's a fat soluble vitamin meaning you can take too much and it can become toxic. Good to monitor with blood tests if you take a high dose supplement. Many vitamins are water soluble meaning the excess just spills into your urine.

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@raye

Suggest subscribing to ConsumerLab.com.

They have the most thorough review of Vitamin D research I have seen and are more up to date on it than most physicians.
For example, the Rx dose of 50K is D2, not D3 and there are different blood tests to monitor it than the usual Hydroxy D my (not quite up to date) physician orders.

Regarding getting outside, it’s good for mood and morale to go out in the morning light and appreciate the beauties you can find in your environment. Look for them. They are there. When you discover them, rejoice!

However, even when I did six hours per week of morning workouts in an outdoor pool my Vitamin D dropped to below normal levels. So we need to keep on top of it and ask that Hydroxy D be tested so we can find the right balance according to our bodily needs.

I sincerely believe everyone can find something useful on a regular basis in ConsumerLab.com.
Best regards.

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In severe D deficiencies, mega doses of D3 are also prescribed. You can take 50k IU D3 for short term then reduce to 30, 20 no problem for months. I'm on a maintenance dose of 10k IUs D3 and am just in the normal range per blood work under Drs orders. I take twice that much on occasion.

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My blood work shows that am Vitamin D deficient but none of my doctors mentioned this to me. It wasn't until I saw my bloodwork that I noticed it.

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@rsfcowgirl
Why do you need such large doses?
Jake

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@rsfcowgirl

In severe D deficiencies, mega doses of D3 are also prescribed. You can take 50k IU D3 for short term then reduce to 30, 20 no problem for months. I'm on a maintenance dose of 10k IUs D3 and am just in the normal range per blood work under Drs orders. I take twice that much on occasion.

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@raye

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@jakedduck1

@rsfcowgirl
Why do you need such large doses?
Jake

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This is all relative. In my world, this isn't such a large dose. It's above the 'normal' but not exceptionally large in the view of many Drs who are very knowledgeable in the broad dynamics of Vit D3. We still refer to VitD as 'vitamin' but it functions more similarly to a hormone, according to many. It's essential for many functions. My biology has high elements of allergy- aka immune response dysfunction. I also carry a cancer genetic mutation gene. I also had 2 COVID-19 viruses. Vitamin D has relationship to the prevention+ healing processes in these, and other biological specifics that makes 'me'. I'm healthiest when my levels are within the range that my Dr uses for 'normal.' There's much about VitD3 now in mainstream medical literature today. Even the top medical academic institutions we respect most will state they only *extreme* amounts of VitD taken over a very long time will cause problems. Don't take my word for this, look it up for yourself. I find medical care that is comprehensive + includes state of the art disease prevention. Prevention most often is outside of the realm of medical pharmacology. It falls within the realms of lifestyle, nutrition, mental health etc. Those Providers have different parameters for things like nutrition+ supplementation. They don't use the US Govt (low) min standards for daily intake. My last provider who was a nightmare for me, was overweight, emotionally toxic + eruptive. He knew nothing at all about nutrition or supplements + never mentioned it. And cared to learn nothing. Everything for him was pharmacology, referral to experts etc. He viewed everything within the medical disease model. My current provider (Thank you God) is academically educated in the health model and lives it herself. I'm finally recovering after 1 1/2 years of long COVID when I had little progress w her comprehensive help.
I have an advantage some others don't in that I have a medical background with continuing education for my own interest. I have a basis that enables self determination more than some people do for self-directed health care. Tho I have a heavy family history of common chronic illnesses + a genetic predisposition to another, I've managed to reach Senior age with none. I attribute this to God's Grace and the health decisions I've made over the entire course of my lifetime. To summarize, I take 10k IUs of Vit D3 bc the range of 5k-10k ius is what the experts that I follow believe is the target range for health maintenance. Since I have predispositions + risk, I go to the higher range.
I hope this sheds some light on why.
So nice to have dialog with you. Be blessed.

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@mikaylar

My blood work shows that am Vitamin D deficient but none of my doctors mentioned this to me. It wasn't until I saw my bloodwork that I noticed it.

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Heartbreaking. This is one benefit of seeing your own lab results. Please be your own Dr.
Read several reliable state of the art sources online and heal yourself. 🙏
So wonderful you found this out. It's so important.

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@lacy2

...have similar issues; low vit d; 3 yrs ago had c diff, glaucoma diagnosis, lost 4 of the few friends I had , and dr changed my meds.... so have spent most of last 3 plus years in my home... was busy bee before, mother, wife, worker, enjoyed cooking etc., not particularly an outdoor person per se but gardening, short walks, visiting neighbours : all gone and I just cannot seem to go for a walk even up and down my street... so yes dr recommended 2000 iu of vit c and some vit b - as do not eat well due to ibs d and fecal incontinence. I would trade a week of this life per one day of happiness and who i used to be....

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Just a thought: If you found GOOD doctors who can direct you so you can be restored, particularly from the C-Diff, your life could greatly improve. Medical level pre- +probiotics + other post CDiff measures may help your entire state of body + mind. You could get internet telemed therapy+ life coaching. And you could attend webinars for getting new information+ socialization with others dealing with similar challenges. Consider it. It's there for you to have recovery. ❤️

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