something interesting

[medicmommy]

Hiya Peoples!
I'm experiencing something interesting...A few weeks ago, I posted my disgruntlement with my endo as I was feeling he was blowing my hypothyroid symptoms off (low body temp (96.5 F), temp intolerance, fatigue, dry skin, brain fog, weight gain despite diet change and increased activity, no sex drive, etc. etc.) Anyhow, my vitamin D level was almost non-existent, so I began taking 10,000 unit/day plus 1-2 grams of calcium citrate.
In about 10 days, change was evident...My body temp went back to normal, I began to drop weight, my interest in sex came back (to the delight of my hubby!), and my energy level picked up. Now, interestingly, I seem to have low calcium level symptoms (experienced this before when I had a parathyroid tumor removed) with aching hips and joints, muscle tics, and heartburn when I skip even one dose...Weird, huh? The thyroid levels are still in range but over the last two years have been sneaking towards the hypo side...I get retested in November to see if the vitamin D has had any affect...~MM

[Mamamia30]

I'm so glad you posted this. I am definitley going to tell my dr tomorrow to test my vitamin d levels. Is D3 a prescription or is it sold at vitamin stores?

Thanks.

[artfemme]

Artfemme again.... forgot to say, Medicmommy, that I read a scientific article that said too much D would mess with your calcium levels, something to do with the exchange in the blood. I think this is kind of critical for bone strength, another dance like the T4-T3 ratio. Would you like me to see if I can find it for you? I printed it out, so don't have a link. Perhaps you could Google. Of course this is probably very individual, given everybody's different metabolic rates to begin with. I too have low body temperature that the docs don't care about...had the dreaded whooping cough, was so sick with chills and what felt like a fever but temperature never got above 97.2 and was hovering at 96.7 most of the time. Had to take 2 rounds of antibiotics. Keep me posted, good luck !

[artfemme]

Hey Stella and everybody....Haven't had those kinds of bloodtests in a while...the RBC was always fine but the WBC was low, eosinophils high, and TIBC low. The minerals at that time were ok, and I was prescribed 1500 units of sublingual liquid B's, methalcobalimine specifically, which helped with the unusual bruising I had the test for but didn't eliminate it. Bruising stopped w/ the "un-needed" thyroid meds. My calcium was a little high on thyroid meds, so instead of the 1000 units of calcium citrate with 500 units of magnesium included, I've now been taking half of that. Have taken this religiously for about 20 years, but bones still  developed osteoporosis. Doubled my dose of D3 to 2000 a day following your posts...let me know how it goes for you. does anybody have any idea why my D levels would drop even though the dose was the same?

[redheadaussie]

I have a print article (somewhere! LOL!) about a year old, stating the newest discovery of Vit D being able to lift depression, help with libido, and much more. I, certainly for one, kicked butts to get mine tested and it was abnormally low. The majority of people regardless of their latitude seem to be low in Vit D. What causes this? The research is still looking into it.

Phyllis2010 I read the sciencedaily article, and it presents some interesting ideas. I am always open minded to any research and am often a bit wary of research done without another trial done by other researchers, who then get together to compare notes.

I find taking 2000 iu per day sufficient for me. It helps with my depression, and my calcium issues, but it does not help in my hypo state, or my Hashimoto's disease. That is my experience. My biology is not the same as the next person's biology, so in my humble opinion, what works for you (in general, I mean) then stick with it.
  
  

[stella5349]

artfemme - it wouldn't hurt to have the "RBC" magnesium test done too and read about magnesium citrate as a supplement for your symptoms.

[artfemme]

Wow, girls, I'm so glad I read this post. I had to force my primary doctor to test for Vit D on the advice of my acupuncturist. Was she ever right...in July 2009 the test came back showing D was 29.8, way below the range low norm of 32. My doctor put me on 1000 units of D3 and the level went to 37.5 by October 2009, I felt a bit better and noticed a difference in my hair. The high range norm is 100.  I've kept on the 1000 unit dose because no one suggested differently. Just now, I checked a blood test from this past March 2010 and the Vit D  was 25.9 !!! No one commented, and I hadn't noticed. It's not something that's routinely tested for. I've been having trouble w/ symptoms that, having made a chart of ALL my blood tests going back to 2004 and plugging in the changes in meds I now identify as dating to when I was changed from brand Cytomel to generic.I wonder if that affected the D level as well. My calcium levels have remained ok, though, and my bone density test got a little better once I went on the "un-needed " thyroid meds. Thanks for reminding everyone that Calcium CITRATE is the only effective form. And thanks for bringing up this topic. I am now going to take a lot more Vit D3 and see if it helps my aching muscles and foot cramps.

[stella5349]

I am on 18000 ius and that works for me.

Yeah! I am happy to hear your responding well.

[medicmommy]

Hi everybody!
Thanks for the feedback -especially about the vitamin D. I'm taking 10,000 units/day of D-3 and 1+ gram of calcium citrate as well. The Vitamin D seems to be correcting the  parathyroid hormone levels/calcium levels along with the thyroid. I think this because I seem to be experiencing the "hungry bone" symptoms that I had post parathryoid surgery when my elevated calcium levels suddenly dropped off and the high PTH stopped ripping calcium out of my bones to feed those high levels. My poor bones began to reclaim the calcium from my bloodstream, making it necessary to supplement with huge doses for a while.
It's been almost a month now, and I have began to lose weight (6 lbs in 3 weeks!) and the joint aching has diminished considerably. My body temp is normal (98.3-98.6) -a huge change from 96.5-97.3F ! I think I may up the dose to 15,000 units (my GP told me to take 2,000) to see if it makes much more of a difference. Puh, with as low as I was, it would've taken forever for my poor body to catch up if I'd remained at 2000! Thanks again for your insight and advice! ~MM

[stella5349]

Thanks for the link.

I just feel that there are skeptics about everything and so far the benefits seem to be very good for many people looking at Vit D deficiency as an option to getting better.

[Phyllis2010]

This is an interesting article that raises questions about vitamin D supplementation. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080125223302.htm

[stella5349]

Not weird at all.. There is LOTS of research out there on the benefits of Vit D and the lack found in MANY hypos as a problem.

I have been "express" reading on all of it lately and the research now coming forward is exciting.

Many low Vit D sufferers are hypo's - especially autoimmune diseased ones and the Vit D ( which really IS a "hormone"  ) seems to be linked to our needs to maintain wellness.

A little tid-bit medic, The D's as supplementing ARE different.... Don't just go for the D9s in OTC common brands.... Its the "pure" - Vit D-3 that is the network base for us - AND the parathyroid deficiency patients too.

Actually there is new information lately I ran across on the elimination of calcium supplements ( for parathyroid issues) and totally going to only supplementing with the Vit D-3 as a better option for health. I haven't dabbled much into it alot yet - but the calcium is almost backfiring osteo and cardio areas with calcium supplements and its not totally to "cure" for depleted calcium levels in the blood stream - almost damaging from what I see right now.

I started taking 20000 ius almost daily. The "stress" levels for me are nearly non-exsistant. The "happy" levels in emotion are great and the little things that used to get under my skin are not even there anymore. The neuro response to "adequent" levels of D-3 are excellent and it even assists the pre-menopausal and PMS issues for so many patients too.

It seems like the magic "missing link" in many health cases on many levels.

[ChitChatNine]

Hi,

Mine was severely low at 9 and I had so many symptoms that I thought were hypo symptoms but my TSH was okay ... Now my Vit D is 36 (<32 is normal) ... so I keep taking it 1X a week in scripted dose of 50,000iu's

Great to see you online!!!

C~

[gimel]

That is very interesting.  Thanks.  I only wish I had seen your post before everyone else.  All the local pharmacies are sold out of Vitamin D now.  LOL