Vitamin D Level Way Low ~scared

[chgomom]

I have been getting bone pain, muscle spasms and dizzy for a while whie on the gluten free diet...and the big D.

But in general felt ok.

I just got my latest D level back and it was 8. When he said it I thought he was urgently calling about a level of 80 and I was like thats ok..no big deal. He said NO 8, as in singular 8. I almost dropped the phone. He said this oculd be the reason for the pains, and the dizziness, and the big d issues.

I don't know guys, he's supposed to confer with someone on what to give me....but....the last doc I saw said 50000 units a week for 12 weeks. I am really scared.

You guys..help me out here

[Mountain Mama]

It will be ok. My dr told me recently my vit d level was non existant and has me on 1,250 IU's a day. I think lots of us have extreemly low vit d. I have had the diziness and bone pain etc too. I have to say it is starting to get better since I have been taking my vit d. Fortunately, our bodies are reseliant and able to correct the deficiancies with proper supplimintation as our gut heals!

[happygirl]

What is the range for the testing? What is "normal?"

[chgomom]

He said normal is 20 to 60

[UNCHeel]

I've had a bunch of bloodwork since recently being diagnosed. May I ask which test is the one for Vit D...the CBC or something else?

[chgomom]

Oy...this is scary for me.

[chgomom]

Hey I am moving to Clayton, NC if Heel means what I think it means.

Anyway...vitamin D would be a specific lab, not grouped with the CBC

Your doctor would single out the vitamin levels.

Ask him specifically about any vitamin levels and ask what numbers they are so you can keep track of them.

[RiceGuy]

Wow. I can relate to the symptoms you listed, but they went away after I began taking magnesium. So now I'm wondering. Since magnesium is supposed to help absorb other nutrients, did it work because it helped the vitamin D level, or can low magnesium cause essentially the same thing?

[UNCHeel]

Oh very cool. I go to Dr Barrish at Wake Internal Medicine on Blue Ridge Rd in Raleigh if you need another doc. Please keep us posted.

[UNCHeel]

Doe anyone take cod liver oil as a supplement? I found some orange flavored that didn't taste any worse than Nyquil but the nurse got grossed out...kinda funny. Anyway they told me to take 200mg of Vit d a day but I don't know ift hat's overkill with the cod liver oil which honestly I trust more.

[Ursa Major]

Normal vitamin D levels are between 50 and 150, not 20 to 60. Optimal is about 125 (despite what some doctors and labs tell you).

My vitamin D level was 24 in the fall of 2005. I've been supplementing with cod liver oil ever since (I use the Carlson brand, which is lemon flavoured and the best brand on the market), and when tested last, my level had gone up to 150. You don't want it to go past that, so I've been taking less now (I was taking two tablespoons a day before).

Not only will a lack of vitamin D (which isn't really a vitamin or a nutrient but a hormone precursor) cause all the aforementioned symptoms, but cancer, stunted growth in children, rickets (soft bones), osteoporosis (because calcium and magnesium need vitamin D to be absorbed) and a host of other problems.

I've read that nobody who lives farther north than the 30th parallel (or south, same thing) from the equator gets enough sunshine to make an adequate amount of vitamin D from September to May (or during our summer south of the equator). And the summer months can't make up for it without supplementation. Nearly everybody is vitamin D deficient, but especially dark skinned people.

[UNCHeel]

Ursa M

Thanks so much for mentioning the Cod Liver Oil. Did you take supplements too or does that end up being way too much?

[Ursa Major]

I was taking a multivitamin after I could actually absorb it (after about six months on the gluten-free diet) which has some vitamin D, and calcium/magnesium with vitamin D as well. I still take those, too. But I was not taking specifically vitamin D supplements.

[mouse]

My rheumy told me I was just barely on the charts and put me on 50,000 units twice weekly for several weeks ( I don't remember how many weeks it was). When he retested me and I was in the normal range, he then put me on 1000 units every day, which I still take. And I live in Arizona, where sunshine is plentiful.

[chgomom]

I'm betting...I get that vitamin D horse pill in my and it should help with alot of these things going on.

CAN YOU BELEIVE...

postive blood work

Osteopenia and Porosis,

deficiencies in zinc, A, D and E

Teeth issues - soft enamel

and DH

6 months gluten free....and the blood work is back to normal, and all my levels that indicated inflamation are normal but all I have is this lingering Zinc and D issue.

That to me says, supplement me and see how that works.

Why the biopsy still.....why do they NEED that.

And...wow...if my D ,level is 8 they better get me something fast,,,,he says he needs to see how much he can put me on.....

ugggggggghhhhhhhhhh

[chgomom]

Sooo this doc I decided to go to...because it was closer....says...He doesn't know what to give me.

I called my original gastro docs and said Please let me come back, this guy doesn't know what hes dealing with.

I want to start the script you gave me the 50,000 IU a week. for 8 weeks.

Ugggghhhh I have the pills here now...don't know if I should take the one

its once a week....for 8 weeks...

[Janeti]

when i was at my sickest, my vit d level was the same way. the dr had given me massive doses of vit d for 2 months. the first month i took it, but the second month after being gluten free for several weeks, i decided to start taking viactiv. but i also had the bone aches, muscle spasms, and dizziness. you are right, it is scary... hang in there.

I have been getting bone pain, muscle spasms and dizzy for a while whie on the gluten free diet...and the big D.

But in general felt ok.

I just got my latest D level back and it was 8. When he said it I thought he was urgently calling about a level of 80 and I was like thats ok..no big deal. He said NO 8, as in singular 8. I almost dropped the phone. He said this oculd be the reason for the pains, and the dizziness, and the big d issues.

I don't know guys, he's supposed to confer with someone on what to give me....but....the last doc I saw said 50000 units a week for 12 weeks. I am really scared.

You guys..help me out here

[chgomom]

It's official, 50,000 IU once a week for 12 weeks.

Eeehhhh, that scares me....

Anybody have experience?

[loraleena]

What is normal is not the same as optimal. Optimal is 45-50 ng/ml or 115-128/nmol/l. Not sure why are two different ways to measure.

[loraleena]

The test you should get is 25 (OH) D.

[chgomom]

Well they said mine is barely there at 7.9 something, they are calling it 8 and said I HAVE to rigidly do 50,000 IU a week for 12 weeks...

Anybody ever do this??

[Jestgar]

I've been taking almost 5000 units a day for about 6 weeks. My muscle cramps have almost gone and I've not experienced any adverse events.

You could always get rechecked after a few weeks if your nervous.

[chgomom]

Jestgar....good idea....

[Jestgar]

Hey! Make those doctors work for you!

[chgomom]

Yeah I'm paying for it anyway right??

I NEVER CONNECTED THE Muscle cramping to the D.....

I get the alot too....but I just thought it was being tired...