vitamin d deficiency

[sunnyset]

i'm vitamin d deficient. how important is this for recovery? with my surgery being scheduled for 2/8/12, how likely would it be that any vitamin d supplements i take would help me in my recovery?

[linnielou232]

I never relized how important these Vit's were neither.  I'm 16 mths post op and after listening to every one my medicine cabinet look's like the shelves at a vit store LOL.... When I went through a 3rd surgery I had a serious problem with my sodium level was at a dangerous low.  So it is important to get these checked out b/4 surgery.   I want to compliment Red-Star on how you explain the Vit issue.  It was interesting.  We learn something new from each other every day.   Thanks so much.  We wish you the best sunnyset.  Get that body ready for surgery b/4 hand.  Your recovery will go a lot better I'm sure.  I wasn't aware of this.  This forum help's so much and it is so nice to share each other's suggestion.s

[selmaS]

  That is best and I know u can not take certain types of meds for at least 12 days prior to surgery so I am sure they will give u all that info.

Let me know what u find out.

[sunnyset]

thanks for the article clip red star. it makes sense that vitamin d might help in recovery.

i should have started on the vitamins back when i was told i was deficient.... i just hate taking pills.

[sunnyset]

meeting with a nurse practioner for something else tomorrow but will bring up the question. hopefully she'll order labs for me to get a full blood workup!

[selmaS]

  It may depend on the Dr u r seeing...mine did all sorts of testing b4 my surgery...I had chest Xrays, and  a ultra sound of my carotid arteries .....I would ask what they expect to do prior..this is a major surgery and it could be age and ur current health that may dictate what ur Dr wants I was 49 when I went in for mine,....  

[sunnyset]

i'm wondering if it's because of my age (25) that they don't think it's necessary to have blood panels taken for testing.. oh well. i can't sit here and wait for them to ask me! i'll bring it up at during my full spinal mri/cine mri (does that count as the pre-op meeting?). Or do they do pre-op stuff right before the actual surgery?

[selmaS]

  My NS did them pre op as a surgery readiness thing as well as a chest xray...I was having heart palps.....

My PCP does regular testing on my labs.......

A pharmacist knows more about med interaction and even all natural supplement interactions with meds...so a good source to go to.

[sunnyset]

do they usually do these blood panels pre-op? or do i need to request it from my regular doctor? i think my dr was hesitant when i even asked about the vitamin d panel!... i have pharmacist friends, so maybe i will ask her! thanks.

[selmaS]

  

Talk to ur Dr...they should be doing regular blood labs to see what issues u have and from meds u r on what u may need....that is ur best bet or a pharmacist can tell u which meds u r on and what they may deplete from ur system...that way u can ask about those specifically to ur Dr.

   "selma"

[sunnyset]

wow. i actually don't take any vitamins at all. i don't know which vitamins i am deficient in.. just the vitamin d.

do you all take a multivitamin or take each vitamin separately?

[selmaS]

  Hi...u need to be up on all ur vitamins so if u r low on one it will not allow ur body to process the others properly either.....

Do take ur vitamins and it is important for u on how u feel and how u heal!!

For those of us with chiari the vitamins we must look at r B12 and D...then magnesium and potassium,.....these all will affect us and as mentioned above if u r low in one it may hamper u from absorbing others u need....

It is almost like a domino affect.,.....

Also certain meds will deplete natural absorption and may not allow supplements to help....do talk to ur Dr about what meds can deplete and what is best to take pre and post op,.

[Red_Star]

Vitamin D deficiency is shown to delay recovery in spinal surgery. One article entitled "Medicine in Plain Words: Can You Speed Healing After Surgery?" by Dr Berry states:

"It seems a very wise idea to recommend Vitamin D supplementation both before and after any surgical procedure to improve recovery time and repair.  Getting your Vitamin D level checked as part of the pre-op lab work-up also seems a wise decision.

This study does not prove that having a good Vitamin D level promotes healing, but it sure does seem to suggest it.  Supplementing Vitamin D in yourself or a loved one about to undergo any type of surgery, or after an injury, sounds like a very cheap and safe way to protect and heal tissue, with virtually no down-side."

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have found that vitamin D is crucial to the immune system. T-cells will lie dormant unless they can find vitamin D. T-cells start out inactive, but once triggered they become killer cells that seek out and destroy viruses and bacteria. If you develop an infection after surgery for instance, you want plenty of vitamin D at the ready!

Any physical forms of stress, such as surgery, can lead to magnesium deficiency. Early signs of magnesium deficiency can include chronic constipation, headaches and migraines, insulin resistance, PMS, leg cramps, muscle twitches. As the deficiency worsens symptoms can include muscle pain (can be misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia), heart rhythm problems, tremors, seizures, high blood pressure to name a few of the numerous deficiency symptoms.  Keep your magnesium levels up!  And to add to all that, magnesium is the most important co-factor for vitamin D absorption.

Good luck with surgery. :)