Blog Update: Originally Published Aug. 28, 2010
Vitamin D is one of the most frequently recommended supplements for people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, and with good reason. But is your supplement doing enough for you?
Vitamin D is responsible for a host of functions in your body -- bone health, cellular replication, insulin production, immune function, heart heath ... the list goes on and on. Deficiencies are linked to all kinds of symptoms and illnesses, including chronic pain, muscle weakness, arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and autoimmunity. It also makes you need up to twice as much of an opiate pain killer.
Now get this -- at least one study has shown that about 25% of us with these conditions are deficient. Odds are good that many more of us aren't technically deficient, but in the lower end of the "normal" range.
For years now, I've been taking 1,250 I.U. of vitamin D every day. I also make sure to get at least a little sunlight on a regular basis and I try to eat vitamin d-rich foods. But get this -- my levels are consistently in that low end. Some researchers believe we have problems properly absorbing nutrients, and I have to think there's something to that.
A lot of doctors refuse to treat people who are on the low end, but technically not deficient, when it comes to lots of things (vitamins, hormones, etc.) Fortunately, my doctor isn't one of them. My fibromyalgia symptoms are pretty well controlled, yet while several types of pain have diminished, I still have a huge amount of muscle pain. She looked back at my test results and saw that my vitamin D tended to be barely in range and had me tested again. The nurse later called to tell me that the "acceptable" range is 30-100, and I came in at 39. The doctor had told me she's seeing muscle pain drop off in a lot of patients when she gets them up to about 60 or 70.
I've just started a prescription mega-dose of vitamin D -- 50,000 I.U. twice a week for 6 weeks, then 2,000 daily after that, along with periodic re-checks. After just 2 doses, I have to say, I'm feeling better overall. My head is clearer, I'm sleeping better, waking up easier, and yes, my muscle pain isn't nearly as bad as it was a few days ago.
Update: 5 Months Later
I wrote this blog back in August 2010, and it's now January 2011. After I finished off the prescription supplement, I had my vitamin D level checked and it was up in the 60s. I felt a lot better and started taking 5,000 I.U. a day in an over-the-counter supplement. A 3-month follow-up test revealed that my level is holding steady there.
In spite of having been on crutches for a few weeks because of a knee injury, and sleeping on the couch to keep my leg elevated, I've only been having minor muscle pain. The last time I was on crutches, I had a lot more arm, shoulder and back pain, and it stuck around for a lot longer. I have to believe it's the vitamin D. I think this is the lowest level of muscle pain I've had in 30 years.
That said, I certainly don't advocate upping your own supplementation to extreme levels! There's a reason these mega-doses are by prescription only -- too much vitamin D is potentially toxic. What I do suggest is asking your doctor to check your levels, treat a deficiency, and, if you're on the low end of normal, talk about options.
So what if you're on the lower end and your doctor won't treat you? Some people may decide to up their supplements, and if that's what you do, please be careful! Know the side effects of too much and keep a close eye on yourself. Even if your doctor doesn't agree with what you're doing, TELL HIM/HER ABOUT IT and ask to be rechecked a couple of months down the road. Decisions about your health care are yours to make, but keeping your doctor informed can help you avoid potentially serious problems.
Get more information, including dietary sources and side effects:
Do you have a vitamin D problem? Have you been treated for deficiency or being on the low end of normal? What did it do for you? Leave your comments below!
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I have been taking Vitamin D, 50,000 IU, once a week, for the last 7 weeks. So far, I have not noticed any difference in the way I feel. Although my numbers were real low, down to 7 at one point, so maybe it will take me a few months to get my numbers up to a normal range and for me to start feeling any better.
Laurie, you only have a 7? You could easily take 50K each day for 3 months. In addition, increase your magnesium intake and avoid gluten as much as possible. Best of luck.
One thing I’d like more info on is the absorption issue. What supplements and substances will increase absorption rates and which ones will decrease or interfere with absorption? Vitamin D is exciting as a potential avenue to address but as Laura’s comment suggests, it’s hard if not impossible to find the one thing that, alone or in combination, will produce reliable, measurable results. Til then, sometimes I feel like we’re just throwing spaghetti on the wall to see what sticks, you know?
When my vitamin D was finally tested, it was less than 7. It wouldn’t even register. High doses of Vitamin D along with Magnesium made a huge difference. I didn’t know about avoiding gluten though. Thanks for that tip.
what dosage of magnesium do you take?
Vitamin D does so much more for our bodies than previously known. The RDA’s range between 200 IU-600 IU depending on age. Yet the studies are coming in that we need more than that to receive it’s full benefits. Higher doses show improvements in Immune Function, Multiple Sclerosis, Type 1 Diabetes, the Flu, the Common C…old and more…
According to Dr Wentz Vitamin D is perhaps the most important weapon in our body to fight disease-causing free radicals. We should be getting 2000 IU or more daily depending on your levels in your blood. Testing should be done several times a year to check your levels. Don’t forget to get 20-30 minutes of bright sunshine per day without sunscreen.
Annie wrote: “One thing I’d like more info on is the absorption issue. What supplements and substances will increase absorption rates and which ones will decrease or interfere with absorption? ”
You might want to view Dr. Ray Strand’s website at http://www.raystrand.com His Bio: “I have been involved in a private family practice for over 30 years. For the past 12 years, I have focused my practice on preventive and nutritional medicine”
He has been using nutritionals with his patients for many years with great results noticed from most of his patients. He has Fibromyalgia as his featured topic. He recommends High quality and bio-available products that are manufactured with strict pharmaceutical GMP guidelines.
You can also click on my name to view what company & why he chose this company for his patients nutritional needs.
I have fibromyalgia. When tested last winter I tested on the low side of normal as well, despite drinking lots of milk, eating yogurt daily, taking 650 ius a day and driving a convertible. I’ve added 2000 ius of D3 to what I was already taking and after 6 months, I was in the middle of the normal range. My doc wants to me keep taking 2000 ius indefinitely. I do feel better, less muscle pain especially, but is it the D3 or the Cymbalta and Neurontin I started at the same time?
I did try to take those megadoses of Vitamin D and after about a week, they rendered me rather sick. I still take them but intermittently. I also get the Vitamin D milk (red) and don’t worry about the fat calories. Vegetables and superfood products seem more appropriate to me. When I take those sickening pills, it is because I could not afford to eat enough of the foods I know contain most of the Vitamin D in my diet.
Daniel,
I used to think that the red cap had more Vit. D, it doesn’t!
After reading EVERY available document, abstract, research paper, commentary, opinion and tangential research even remotely touching on vitamin D in the last 3 years I can relate the following information:
It is critical to raise one’s circulating vitamin D (25 OH) to the optimal range of 50-80 ng/ml and keep it there for life. This applies to people in good health and not clinically diagnosed with a chronic condition.
For those with a confirmed condition the high end of the optimal range, around 80 ng/ml, is ideal.
30 ng/ml, 25 OH D, is not acceptable despite many references to it being “sufficient”.
It is not sufficient and will not provide the maximum benefit of vitamin D repletion.
Any doctor or physician arguing otherwise does so out of ignorance and is well behind current research findings.
Physician ignorance of vitamin D health is the norm. Therefore do your own research and make your own choices about this most critical health issue.
Vitamin D is a secosteroid and prohormone. It has nothing in common with vitamins except a misapplied name.
Prescription vitamin D is almost always D2 and is to be avoided. ALL over the counter D3 supplements are superior in every measureable aspect to prescription vitamin D2. D2 is only 50% as bioavaliable to the human body. D2 is an artificial form of vitamin D3 and is a remnant of a drug company monopoly from more than 70 years prior.
To repeat, maximum health benefit and alleviation of fibro symptoms will be supported at circulating vitamin D levels above 50 ng/ml, 25 OH, and preferably at 80 ng/ml, 25 OH.
when i first had mine tested it was 12 (while normal is 30-100)..
The most efficient way to produce Vitamin D is the sun exposure. And FMS/CFS patient don’t get out often to produce enough Vitamin D. No wonder they are deficient. You can’t conclude/infer much from these observational studies.
You may be right about the sun exposure being best, but don’t assume Fibromites stay in all day. I have young kids and spent nearly every day at the pool before the 1st time I had a Vt D level ran and it still came back at 20!
I had hyperparathyroidism (and UCTD) with high serum Calcium levels and low Vit. D. (The bone pain led me to believe I had bone cancer and no one was finding it!) Long story short, it was 2 years after I had parathyroid surgery, and started on Vit. D3 that I developed fibromyalgia. Today, 2 years after being diagnosed with FMS, I still take Vit.D3 and Calcium supplement. Can’t say I’ve had much relief, but my serum Vit D level is normal.
My son has taken 5000 IU a day and plays baseball out in the son for 3-5 hours a day for 5 months out of the year, but his Vit D level hasn’t gone above 30.
My husband jokingly suggested I needed my Vitamin D levels testing, as – being awake overnight – I very seldom see sunlight. My doctor was surprised, but agreed….& even more surprised to find it was “at rock bottom”! She has prescribed Vit D3 1.25mg, 1 tablet to be taken once a month(??), but more than a year later my level is still way below the desired minimum.
I have a problem being in sunlight since taking St John’s Wort, which left me photosensitive – acute sunburn after minimal exposure even when the sun is not hot.
I was interested in the comment that we may have difficulty in absorbing nutrients. I had reached this conclusion several years ago, & tried out my theory on the specialist I was consulting at the time. (He later told me he didn’t even believe in M.E./CFS, which after many years of travelling 4 hours weekly to see him was a real slap in the face!)
I am learning a lot from these articles & the comments posted, not feeling so alone after 35 years ME & more recently Fibromyalgia, & no-one to talk to (who know anything about it…)
Twice in the last 2 yrs. my dr. tested my Vit. D levels and they were in the “low normal” range. Both times he prescribed 50,000 IU Vit D, which I took as directed and felt better temporarily each time. I have not had the prescription Vit d for more than 6 months. About 5 wks ago I started using a Vit D3 supplement of 1000 IU twice per day, and altho’ summer heat/humidity make me feel worse than any other time of year, in the last several weeks I have been surprised to discover that my overall pain levels are much better. I still have “hot spots”, and the Vit D3 has not improved “fibro fog” and fatigue, but I’ll take what I can get! I’m hoping that lower overall pain levels will eventually lead to get better quality of sleep, and better sleep quality will have positive effects on other symptoms. One step at a time, remembering that everything is connected.
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia over 3 years ago and today I have absolutely no symptoms. About 2 years ago a doctor finally tested my Vitamin D levels and I was at an 11! He put my on 50,000 IU twice a week for about 2 months. I was able to get off my my antidepressants and stop my twice a week massages. I was functioning again, but still never felt great. I started taking a fermented cod liver oil/butter oil combo with natural Vitamin D (many companies process cod liver oil in such a way as to strip it of natural vitamins and then replace them with synthetic) about a year ago and now feel amazing! My body just doesn’t do well on synthetic Vitamin D. I need the real stuff. I now drink whole raw milk, eat lots of butter, take my Green Pastures cod liver, and use coconut oil as a sunscreen (it doesn’t block Vitamin D absorption). Three years ago I could barely walk at 23 years old, now I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been.
I was really encouraged to read you have gotten better. I too just started last week taking the Green Pastures fermented cod liver oil and the high vitamin butter oil and I seem to be improving after suffering for two years from an amazing array of diverse, all intermittent symptoms: extreme fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, muscle aches and pains, excessive urination at night, fatigue, heart palpitations, ringing in my ears, and tingling/prickly feelings in my feet, hands and sometimes in my tongue. At the same time as the above symptoms emerged I started to have another serious problem, sleep apnea (breathing ceased causing multiple wakings). No doctor gave me a definite diagnosis except for the sleep apnea.
Can you tell me your symptoms previous to taking the oil supplements? Have you had the urination and ear ringing problems too? I am so hoping the cod liver oil/butter oil regimen will help me too. Any thoughts?
In the past taking 50,000 units of prescription D 3 for several weeks did NOT seem to help– if anything I felt more anxious and less able to sleep.
Hoping for a Cure
I too was tested recently for Vit D and my level was at 17. My doc prescribed the 50,000 IU supplement once a week for 1
I was also super low, like a 4, back in November….did the 50,000 once a week for 3 months, retested in the normal range. I felt really great in January then I crashed again in Feb.
I started taking Vit D last winter. Living in New Hampshire, we don’t get lots of sun in the winter, and winter is my worst time of the year. I have to say, I have been feeling better since taking the Vit D. However, I have also been taking sleeping pills and using my sleep apnea machine (more than ever before) and I think it has added to my feeling better. I still get very low tired times, and then I get good times. I am still not in balance. But I would highly recommend the Vit D.
Vitamin D has not been able to help me at all. I’ve been on it since early last spring. It is an oil soluable vitamin thus can lead to a high build up in the body.
I am the same Carol who commented on excessive sweating. I saw a show on PBS that said that most of us don’t get Vitamin D. Also, I have been taking Calicuim with Vitamin D for at least 10 years. When I had the blood test for the M Spike I was referred to an oncologist and he had me take a full body CT scan and there were minute holes in some of my bones and swollen lymph nodes. So, I was referred to a surgeon for a lymph node biopsy and it was found that I also have Sarcodosis. The doctor took me off Calicuim with Vitamin D and I am not to stay out in the sun because the extra Vitamin D will make my Sarcoidosis worse. So, people should make sure that they are tested first and if their Vitamin D level is normal, they should not take extra Vitamin D. I keep hearing on TV , you need more, you need more, but not every body does.
I have been taking the prescription vit d 50,000 U per weeks since 2006. None of my doctors indicated that it was too much, until this week when I mentioned it to my pcp. He said, it seemed excessive!!!!! So, I suggested we test my blood.
I did not take my dose this week, waiting on the results from my doctor.
Clinical Study results are in. “Of course, these amounts of vitamin D were based on one of our clinical studies (PDF)click here for study. showing we needed at least 4000 IU in the winter and at least 2000 IU in the summer.”
More information about the study here..
Vitamin D has been a blessing for my health. Don’t talk bad about it unless you have been tested yourself. One interesting aspect of raising your vitamin D via sunlight is to NOT take too many showers, baths or even go swimming. The reason is that vitamin D forms on your skin and your skin gradually absorbs it over 48 hours. Too much water or whatever and it literally washes off! Personally I still recommend to wash the “important areas!” lol
My vitamin D level is 15 and my doctor is treating it vigorously with D3 supplements.
I’ve been on prescription vitamin D (50,000 iu) twice in the last few years, despite my also taking a vitamin D supplement and usually being outside at least the 15 min. a day recommended to get your vitamin D.
Both times when I was on the vitamin D prescription strength dose I didn’t feel any difference. But, that being said, I do think that benefits can occur in our bodies that might not necessarily be felt, which is why I take digestive enzymes and a multivitamin, for example.
I also agree that nutrient absorption could play a part, and I have IBS too, so I take both a digestive enzyme capsule and also a probiotic every day to hopefully help alleviate any absorption issues. However, doing this still hasn’t kept me from drifting in the abnormally low vitamin D levels occasionally.
I’d like to find a doctor who would help me bring my growth hormone up, as I’ve tested borderline on the low end twice, and I think that might help me.
Margo
I don’t have fibromyalgia, but do have chronic pain from a car crash years ago. Both my bioidentical hormone physician and my pain management physician agreed that I need to be on 5000 IUs daily—and it’s important to use a good quality supplement (Integrative Theraputics is the one my doctor uses) as the drugstore brands can be way, way off. I am sure the elevated Vitamin D levels, along with my hormone balance, have made a huge difference in my quality of life.
Adrienne,
Do some research into vitamin D. The prescription D2 is falling out of favor now and more and more doctors are leaning toward taking the over the counter D3 as it is better absorbed and more useful for the body. If you really want lots of info about D google Dr. Mercola–he had been advocating vitamin D for a long, long time and he has lots of info and research on it on his website.
You can get vitamin D3 in doses of 5000 and 10,000 quite easily and some doctors are now recommending that everyone in northern latitudes take 5000 a day throughout the winter or all year if they work inside and never get sun exposure. The key when you are supplementing D in high doses is getting blood levels checked frequently.
Mercola recommends an optimal 25 hydroxy D test between 50-70 ng/ml. He cautions that when you get the test, make sure it is sent to Lab Corp for analysis because the Quest Labs use a different assay that artificially inflates the number.
Summertime sun exposure of an hour=10,000 IU units of vitamin D made by our skin from cholesterol. Doesn’t that make the recommendation of 400 IU seem ridiculous?
All these dermatologists and sunscreen manufacturers who are recommending all this sunscreen don’t realize three important things. One: sunburns cause skin cancer, not moderate sun exposure. Two: skin cancer often shows up where the sun doesn’t shine (I had seven displastic nevi removed from just such a place–these are pre-melanomas that I luckily caught in time.) Three: Skin cancer from burns takes 20-30 years to show up. 20 to 30 years ago, people worshipped the sun and thought of sunburns as a nuisance but did not realize the danger and got burned year after year religiously in pursuit of a tan.
We have to use common sense and not overreact. Clearly, God or Evolution or Mother Nature intended us to spend time outside–otherwise why would we make vitamin D this way? Moderate daily sun exposure is healthy. Its good to be out in nature exercising and having fun–not cooped up inside all day, 24/7/365! As long as you cover up, go inside or put on sunscreen after you start to get the slightest pink, you will be ok.
Also, eating enough beta carotene and other antioxidants in your diet make it far less likely that you will ever burn. It has been scientifically documented that these important dietary compounds protect you in so many ways!
I was the first one to comment on this post and have had an ongoing battle with my Vitamin D levels. Managed to get it up into the 30’s. My doctor wanted me to get it up to at least 50 so kept on taking 50,000 IU, once a week for several months. I ran out about a month before my check-up and just never thought to call to get it refilled….well, now I’m back down to 21 so starting all over again!
I don’t get sun this time of year as I live in Minnesota and besides being way too cold this year there has been very few days with sunshine. Between my problems with my Vitamin D levels and my problems with S.A.D. I think I should seriously consider moving to Arizona or anyplace warmer than here!
My Vitamin D level is 24 which was back in October 2010, at first my Dr. put me on prescription Vitamin D 50,000 IU once a week. But after a few weeks I started feeling sick, heart palpitations , nausea. I talked to my Dr. and now I take over the counter Vitamin D3 5,000 IU once a day, I just had more blood work done and will find out next week when I go back to my Dr. what my levels are now. I have Fibromyalgia, CFS,Osteoarthritis and migraines, in general a lot of pain and fatigue.
I haven’t noticed an improvement in my pain level yet.
I had originally commented on this post in early September….I had been tested in late August and my Vit D level was 17. I did a 12 week course of 50,000 IU once a week and it brought my level up to 23 – still below the minimum level. So now I’m taking 5,000 IU daily per doctor’s instruction. I also take Citrical Maximum twice a day which adds another 1200 IU of Vit D. I live in Texas and take my dogs out at least 3 times a day for 10 – 15 minutes at a time, so I am getting direct sunlight exposure. I still have not noticed any difference with muscle pain since starting with the Vit D supplementation, but I imagine that is because my levels are still so low….
My level was at 30 and my doctor became alarmed. She states that the old toxicity concerns are way overblown. She knows of only one case of toxicity – a man who took 100,00 units a day for 8 years. I started on 8,000 units of over the counter D3 and in a month had my levels up to 80. No side effect and great improvement in pain and general outlook.
I read a paper a couple of months ago about Vit D and Post Exersonal Malaise. I’ve suffed with mild CFS now for 4 years and the thing I hate most is not being able to do any exercise. I started taking a Vit D, Magnesium and Calcium supplement and with in 5 days my head felt a lot clearer. I did a weight session and had very little Malaise over the next few days. Since then I have done a weights session and a rowing session each week and have felt ok. Not only that but I feel like I’m getting endorphin highs off exercise again. Its been 2 months now and I feel so much better.
Had my vitamin D tested was at a 14. Did the mega doses of 50,000IU a week. After completing it I did have a bit less pain and a bit more energy. I have continued to supplement D and my numbers are now in the normal range. I was suprised that no one had tested D for the 14 years of having Fibro.
just wondering what is everyone calicum level if vitamin d is low.my cal has been high.has anyone had this problem too much calicum?
I was put on 50,000 IU one time a week for 8 weeks. This was a rx for D3. The first two doses seemed to help but then I thought I was having a bad fibro attack with terrible burning and joint pain every where. I knew this was not normal. I spent three months of my life nauseated, sleepy and in severe pain. After doing some research I found that this is a sign of toxicity. I was not tested untill I had already started taking it and it was summer and I was a strong swimmer and got plenty of sun. I also live in Florida and drive a convertable. I told my Dr. and she just said dont take any more!!!! Never tested me again. So now I am afraid to take any Vitamin D at all. I’m sure if I had taken the correct dose it would have helped me but I never want to feel that bad again!
Mega doses of vitamins caused me to develop another symptom…kidney stones. Gotta be really careful with large quantities of supplements because they put a strain on your organs which will cause additional harm. Just be smart and ask a lot of questions when the doc tells you what he’s intending to do.
Check out Mercola.com also, 20 minutes of sunlight a day on chest, arms, face is the best to absorb what you need, but if you live in Northern hemispere, 40 latitude, I believe you cannot get it in the winter, so you have to take a supplement.
I did try an initial dose of D3 to begin to get my levels up, but just the first prescription gelcap made me sick as a dog. For some reason my system can’t seem to assimilate it. I do consume a fair amount of D enriched foods and will check levels the next time I have labs done.
Yes, vitamin D does greatly reduce pain of CFS and Fibromyalgia – see why
http://vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=383
I started a prescription dose of Vitamin D, 50,000 units a week for three weeks also in August 2010 and I brought my levels up from 25 to 39 in December. My symptoms improved so I am maintaining at 2,000 to 5,000 units a day and will keep monitoring this going forward. My symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia coincided with my acute Epsterin Barr diagnosis. I also am trying to get a bit more sunas I would avoid it and so i am carefully trying to get at least 10 min a day in nice weather although my dermatologist does not agree with this. .Susan
My Vitamin D level is 12, so my gp has put me on 20000units 3x daily for 5 days. So I am hopeful that this will help, with pain, seratonin levels etcetc.
I shall leave a comment in a week or so to tell you if it has helped!! Fingers crossed.
I was amazed to find my Vitamin D level was 30 when tested. I try to eat well, get sunshine etc.. I am now on a mega dose to try to bring it up to normal levels. This will take some months and my doctor seems to wait to treat my other symptoms until this is resolved. I might print out this article and show him that Vitamin D is probably not responsible for all my troubles, just some of them.
I have been suffering really bad pains and fatigue and other issues for about 18 months now and after having countless blood tests my GP and I finally concluded it may be fibromyalgia. I have been taking tramadol for the pain which I have to take at night. If I don’t take at night I get really bad pains the next day and struggle to even get out of bed.
About 3 weeks ago I went to see another GP as an emergency as I was in a bad way and he sent me for a blood test for vitamin D and it came back deficient – around the 25 mark. He immediately started me on 2×400ui a day.
I think my normal GP was a bit angry at herself for not testing the D earlier months ago but I dont blame her, GPs aren’t computers that can pull out a quick answer every day of the week.
But anyway, I have been on the vitamin d now for about 3-4 weeks and while I am seeing some improvement in the way my pain is, I still don’t think the effort is as it should be. I still cannot go without my painkillers at night and still wake up crap if I do not take them. I would have expected to see some kind of proper improvement by now. With that said, when I used to have more bad days than good days I think I am now having more good than bad so that is some progress.
Whats the likely timespan of being cured? Will I ever be cured? Or will I be on these tablets forever? I wish they weren’t so chalky
Bless your heart, Becky. I suffered with fibromyalgia pain, and severe exhaust to point of dizzy ‘white outs’ when bending over and standing up quickly, and about literally falling asleep on my feet, things fell from my hands…. My Vitamin D was 19. It took 2 years.. till I got the right doctor in the practice and told him “I have [this, this, this, this and this[.” And he said, “Oh, well then I know what is wrong with you, but first I will test to confirm. When the results came back he asked me how I got there. I looked at him like he was 1/2 crazy and I told him “I drove.” He said, “You drove?! from your home town?!… 45 minutes?!… don’t you get dizzy when your round corners??” I said, “Well, yes, sometimes.” He asked me, “..open your mouth.. let me see in your mouth.” Again I looked at him like he was 1/2 crazy. Then he said, “I thought so. All but 2 of your molars have fillings… You suffer with severe Vitamin D deficiency, likely since a young child.”.
Becky, ‘crushable’, ‘chalky’ tablets your system likely cannot absorb. You need softgels [saflower/sunflower oil ‘liqui-gels’. You can take up to 10,000 IU a day without toxicity (ask your doctor). I started taking 5,000 IU/day and two months later I noted a huge difference. After a year, I no longer experienced these symptoms… and continue to take 3,000 IU/day. Often, people who eat largely vegetarian, little meat/fat, are Vitamin D deficient.
A word of advice… be careful with the psychological world. If you were to go to them, they would diagnose you severe depression to bi-polar, when WHAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE IS A MEDICAL CONDITION.
Know… that they say approximately 75% of individiuals Psycho/Psychia’s diagnose with major depressive disorder (and sometimes Bi-polar and schizo and/or anxiety) … actually truly suffer with Vitamin D deficiency. Approx. $5 to $6 for at least a months supply of ‘pick me up’ healing.
i`ve been tested and my vitamin d level is 15 yet i did not get a subscription so i have no clue what vitamin pills im suppose to take all the doctor told me is to go buy some vitamin pills and eat a lot of fruit and they will check my blood in 3 months i went to the chemist and got over the counter vitamin D3 1000 IU does this sound right to you guys ? im also low on iron
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia a little over a year ago at that time the doctor recommended that I take 8,000 IU a day and I have been doing that. There have been two times that I ran out and went without for two-four days and I could certainly tell a huge difference. My mind was not as clear, my mood became very irritable, I had increased swelling in my legs, feet and arms and the pain level increased tremendously. I am so thankful for the advice of my physician. So far I only am using the vitamin D, hormone supplement and some Ibuprophren on a daily basis. Of course along with taking all gluten out of my diet, adequate rest and exercise. Vitamin D has made a huge difference for me.
Been prescribed 20,000u (Vit D3) to be taken 3 times a week for 8 weeks and then one 20,000u every 2 weeks. I have chronic fatigue syndrome and the side effects of any meds are worse to live with than the illness itself….hence i do without!!! So far i have taken 5 Vit D capsules and for 14 or 15 hours i burn up and then go freezing cold, the extreme temps results in what energy i have being zapped and the pain from the neck down is unbearable (this for me is usually the symptoms to the start of a crash until im sleeping upto 20 hours a day) the next day no pain, freezing cold and it looks like i have not slept for a month, Im not really looking forward to my dose tomorrow :-/. Is this the norm or is anybody else with CFS suffering this way with Vit D3?
Does anyone wonder why their Vit D levels are so low yet they take massive amounts of the stuff? Check your D 1,25 too. Honestly, I think taking Vit D to cure your ills will help for a while (like steroids do) but it’s like giving blood to a person bleeding internally and not checking out why they are bleeding.
My vitamin D level was 17 when I was tested. My doctor told me to buy vitamin D3-5000IU over the counter and take 1 daily. I was really scared to take that level of vitamin D because you hear so many bad things so I bought it but didnt really take it. I just started taking it today because my body is so achey. Sometimes even my teeth hurt. I am hoping this will help. I have so much trouble sleeping and only sleep about 4 hrs a night and then wake up feeling like I was run over by a truck
I also have hypothyroidism and low iron which causes my blood count to go down. Ive been reading all thecomments that are posted and alot say to get sun but I cant be in the sun, I have vitiligo which prevents me from being in the sun without sunblock.
I had a blood test done and found out today my vit d is deficient…I am at 6.8
I am so excited to start my 50,000 twice a week in hopes many of my symptoms will disappear
deratizare bucuresti
I started taking 4000 IU vitamin D3 – not D – a few weeks ago with food and I AM noticing a difference in how I feel. I also take a ferrous sulfate iron tablet every OTHER day as my iron level has always been to low to donate blood. Knowing one CAN overdose on iron and I am past menopause, I feel the every other day pill of iron is probably best for me. I still hurt at times but the recovery time seems much less than before taking the D3 and iron. I am overweight and don’t eat right so for something to help me is probably something even better for others who DO eat right and are at a more normal weight.
I WAS LOOKING AT ALL THESE COMMENTS AND FEEL GLAD TO KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WONDERING IF MY VITAMINS ARE LOW. I WAS DIAGNOSED IN 2004 AND HAVE SUFFERED SINCE. MOVING TO LOUISIANA FROM WEST VIRGINIA HAS HELPED WITH HAVING SO MUCH MORE SUN TIME, BUT I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO COMMENT ON A RECENT OCCURRENCE. DIZZINESS HAS OVERTAKEN ME, ALL THE TIME. FOR ABOUT 2 AND A HALF WEEKS NOW. IT IS NOT MY EARS, HAPPENS MOSTLY AS I LAY DOWN OR GET UP, BUT IT IS WILD. I ALMOST FELL OFF BED ONCE. ANY COMMENTS PLEASE.