Vitamin D testing

There has been a lot about vit D deficiency in this forum.  My neuro is completely uninterested in this, at my visit with her in January I asked about it and she just muttered about "nothing being proved".

I have decided to get my own test, not so easy here in the UK. With our healthcare being free you can't just demand tests.

My question is - has anyone heard of Grassroots Health and their " D*action project to help eliminate the vitamin D deficiency epidemic". I am thinking about sending for a self test kit and these people offer one at a very reasonable rate if you sign up for their project.

I wondered if anyone has come across them.

Many thanks
Mand

[HVAC]

My other MS Specialist put everyone with MS on 2000 IU regardless of levels. My current MS Specialist checks levels. He says otherwise you are urinating it out so it is useless. I have high levels of D so I am not on supplements.

Alex

[Mand125]

Thanks for your comments Alex. It sounds like testing and monitoring are important. I see my MS nurse in a couple of months so I will ask her about it. If I am at my GP for any reason before that I will check with him.

Mand

[twopack]

Just a caution about vitamin D.  It isn't as rapidly excreted as other vitamins.  Excess vitamin D doesn't just pour through the kidneys like many other unnecessary supplements will.  

Like vitamin A (another fat-soluable vitamin) vitamin D can reach toxic levels in the body, especially when you supplement.  That's why it is necessary to have regular blood draws to check your levels and adjust dosage.

Just because so many people are deficient, doesn't mean we can supplement at will without consequence.  The doctors scare me sometimes the way they prescribe or recommend things without thorough consideration.  They do know this stuff, right???

Mary

[Sarahsmom46]

Mary makes a very good point here.  Vitamin D is  not like Vitamin B12 where large amounts won't adversly affect you.  I think that is why doctor's don't all jump on the bandwagon when or if they even check the levels and see they are just a little low.

We all need to treat vitamins like we do any prescribed drug, with caution.  That is why whenever you are giving your medication history to a doctor that they are now asking what non-scrpt medications we are taking like vitamis and herbs.  These are necessary questions now that many of us are going out on our own and taking various supplements.  

Just be cautioius when taking high doses of vitamins and by all means do this in partnership with your doctor.

Julie

[Phyllis2010]

If you have low Vitamin D and take mega doses, it is essential for you to be monitored by a doctor every month. The cautions above are on-target, you shouldn't just do this on your own. My levels are <20, I just took my first dose and believe I might be having symptoms due to side effects/response. I've put in a call to  my doctor. So, definitely take Julie's advice and work with your doctor on this. Phyllis

[Mand125]

Thank you all so much for your input.

I will definitely see my doctor about testing, I hadn't realised the harm in taking mega doses as I thought (wrongly!) that you "peed" the excess out.

I take it that I am ok to continue with the 400 iu daily supplement that I am taking meanwhile?

Mand

[Phyllis2010]

You should be fine with 400 iu daily. I'm d deficient and the mega dose I was prescribed is 50,000 IU twice weekly (I think I should cut down to once weekly). So you see why you need to work with a doctor when you're taking doses of this magnitude.

Phyllis

[Mand125]

Thank you!

Mand