Vitamin D deficiency??
 

I know that from what I have read many many people have vitamin D deficiency, but my Dr tested my vitamin D levels and thinks that they are to blame for my fatigue, muscle and joint pain, possibly even my anxiety. I was wondering if anyone had any advice regarding this or any of the same issues?
He said that my levels are at 17 and he says they should be around 70...

I read an article that I can't find anymore that had an alarming number of fibromyalgia cases misdiagnosed- when they were actually vitamin D deficiency. If this is actually whats wrong with me I can certainly see why.

That said he has prescribed 50000iu of vitamin D3 once a week for 4 weeks then I will move on to 2000 iu a day... this seems so high to me and taking too much of a good thing sometimes isn't good(at least thats what mom always said about vitamins ;0))

Anyone have any input on this?

There have been several Canadian studies done on Vitamin D deficiencies. My doc has me on 1000 iu D3 per day just as prevention. 50,000 seems really high even for therapeutic treatment. Are you sure there isn't an extra 0 in there? I have no idea how you'd manage to swallow 50,000 units. That's be a lot of tablets!

Hi, Rikki. I don't think that's too high! I had the same issue not long ago and my doctor prescribed 50000iu 3 x a week for 8 weeks. It sounds like a lot, but the vitamins are not huge and there's just one of them. At the end of 8 weeks, she tested again and it was right at normal levels (46); it was undetectable before. I take 2500iu a day now to maintain that level.

That's the medically accepted therapeutic dose for Vit D deficiency.

Basically, think about Vit D in your body as a tank - if you're deficient, your tank is empty. So high levels of supplementation for a short time fill that tank up. Then you go to a smaller dose (what you actually need in a week) to maintain that level in your tank.

Ruth- the pills are about 1/3 the size of my multivitamin its actually only 1.25mg so not that big :) and its definitely 50,000. I believe he said after that he wants me on 2000 daily. I will be tested in 8 weeks to see where the levels are then...I took one tonight so we'll see how I feel!

ohmai- Did the D work to lessen or get rid of the symptoms you were having?

Hi! I am also deficient for Vitamin D, my levels were 16, so close to yours. My Dr put me on 50,000 IUs once a week for 6 months and then 5,000 IUs a day until my levels are normal. So, I don't think 50,000 IUs are high, I went through 6 months of it and never od-ed or had ill effects. I was also really tired, which is why I went to the Dr in the first place, I think the Vitamin D has helped a lot!

The most recent recommendations are for adults to take 2,000 mg per day just for maintenance, so what your dr. recommends sounds appropriate.

Two winters ago, I was prescribed vitamin D for a deficiency. It was prescription and I don't remember the dose, but the endocrinologist told me that otc supplements weren't strong enough.

I do have fibromyalgia. The vitamin D didn't cure me, but it did help tremendously with many of the symptoms.

Now I take a daily vitamin D supplement, and increase my dose in the winter.

My Vit D was at 23, and my Dr prescribed a regiment similar to those who have already posted. A 50,000 IU once a week for 3 mos, then once monthly for a year.
She also told me that getting outside in the sun as little as 20 minutes daily would satisfy my body's Vit D requirement.

Yes, 50000 IU is the correct dosage if you're deficient in it. I believe, 1000 IU to 2000 IU is the recommended adequate intake to maintain it every day. If you wear a lot of sun block outside it can be decreasing your absorption of vitamin D from the sun. If you wear long sleeves a lot etc. It is very common during the winter with less sun too.

I hope you start feeling better. :)

Well, I learned something new since yesterday. I had no idea they used mega-doses but it makes sense if your "tank is running low".

Depending on where you live, this may not be true. People who live in northern climates in the winter time may not be able to get enough of the proper wavelength of the sun's rays to make adequate D. Where I live, sunlight is not adequate to get enough D during certain times of the year.

"While most of our vitamin D comes from ultraviolet solar radiation, in northern latitudes the winter sunlight is so indirect that the body cannot produce vitamin D from sunlight. In latitudes 40 degrees or more either way from the equator (a northern parallel around Philadelphia or Lisbon), the slant of the sun is such that during winter months we produce very little, if any, vitamin D, even with sunlight exposure. In the winter, those in northern climates depend on vitamin D stores accumulated in the summer and on supplemental vitamin D. If such stores are inadequate because of lack of exposure, northern residents will be deficient — and many are."

I believe I am feeling a bit better already- BUT, this is probably due to 3 different things, 1. the vitamin D mega dose ;0) 2. I cut out gluten as of night before last and man does that ever show a difference quickly! 3. I have been taking my Alive! multivitamin 3x a day and its loaded with B vitamins .

Thanks all for your input! I sure hope I keep feeling better and better! :)

Glad you're feeling better :) To answer your question: The Vitamin D made a HUGE difference in the way I felt after the first dose :) and it continued to get better each week.

Awesome that's very encouraging!