Vitamin D Deficiency

[minmtn]

For anyone wishing to learn about the multitude of conditions that happen as a result of Vit D deficiency, you can read the New England  Journal of Medicine article by Dr. Michael F. Holick, noted as the world's renown expert on Vitamin D by the Vitamin D Council (www.vitamindcouncil.com) by going to www.vitamindhealth.org and clicking on "original journal articles".  There is also an external link to a presentation made by Dr. Holick to the European Calcified Tissue Council that is very entertaining to watch and includes the most incredible information.  It is a live stream and if your computer screen goes black, just click any key to watch the rest of the slides.  Your doc can't help it if s/he doesn't know about the current Vit D levels.  30 used to be the bottom acceptable number, but now it is 50 -- and that is just to maintain minimum Vit D.  If your level is 32, don't let someone tell you it is "normal."  You'll see from the NEJM article that every cell in your body has vit D receptors.  Low Vit D can cause everything from osteomalacia (adult form rickets) that produces bone pain and muscle pain to cancers, MS, etc.  If your Vit D is low, your body cannot absorb calcium no matter how much you take or get in your food.  Then your calcium is low which leads to heart conditions and everything else listed in the article or on the ECTS video.  When your doc checks your blood, however, your calcium will look normal.  That is because your body is busy robbing calcium from your bones and teeth to meet the needs of your vital organs.  Your doc has to measure ionized calcium, not serum calcium, to obtain an accurate calcium level for a person with a vit D deficiency.  Most docs did not learn about this in medical school.  Dr. Holick has been doing this research for at least 30 years.  I know a hospital administrator who explained to me that it takes new medical information a minimum of 20 years to make it into mainstream medical practice.  Some of you are frustrated that you cannot find out what "causes" the deficiency.  There is not enough Vit D in food or today's multivitamins.  (see video/read NEJM article).  Most of us MUST take a supplement.  And most of us are not in the sun 10 minutes each day with 25% of our skin uncovered.  Most docs are skeptical of new information until it is proven, proven, proven again.  They want to make sure they don't make their patients sick.  Educate yourself.  You can also read a newsletter and articles about current Vit D info on the vitamindcouncil website.  Amazing stuff.  One of my docs suggested I try an antidepressant for my symptoms of numbness, tingling, cramping in my feet, chronic infection, deteriorating teeth, terrible joint, muscle, bone pain.  Maybe I should go back and ask that doc which antidepressant he would recomment for the Vit D deficiency he missed?  I believe the current treatment is 50,000 iu/week for 8 weeks, then perhaps every other week if the level is still low.  I now take 4,000 iu a day (from wholesale food store or drugstore).  The American Academy of Pediatrics just raised their recommended limits and even newborns should be getting supplements.  10 minutes of sunlight every day can help unless you live above Atlanta, Ga and then you can only make D a few short months of the year.  Otherwise, take a supplement!  This condition is considered epidemic by many doctors.  And more and more of them are learning about this problem every day.  You can search on any medical condition i.e. "Parkinson's and Vit D deficiency", "asthma and Vit D deficiency" and you will be amazed at what you find.  I would also recommend sending a question to a MedHelp Expert.  It is a very reasonable fee and you will get a specific answer emailed back to you that can also benefit your online friends.  It worked for me.  I have about 5 friends who recently found out they are deficient.  Good luck, everyone! Don't be D-ficient!!! minmtn


This discussion is related to Vitamin D Deficiency ?.

[minmtn]

Sorry you aren't feeling well.  If the doctor you have been going to over and over is not a specialist in endocrinology or gastroenterology, perhaps someone in that specialty could help you.  My mom had thyroid problems and I believe she was told it may have started with Vit D deficiency.  But that may not be the situation for you.  Dr. Holick's website discusses how Vit D deficiency and resulting low calcium can trigger a condition called secondary hyperthyroidism or hypoparathyroidism -- I can't remember which.  You can watch the video that talks about this condition (among other conditions) at www.vitamindhealth.org and click on External Link "ECTS Presentation".  Wait for it to load, maybe 3-5 minutes.  Or read the New England Journal of Medicine article (Original Journal Articles) from the website.  The link is near the top task bar on the main web page.  Good luck and hope you feel better!

[Joni686]

Kimby, I am not sure if low vit D can cause pain in that area but you never know and doctors don't know everything.  Have you started on Vit. D yet?  Did your doctor write an Rx for Vit. D or tell you how much to take?  I would suggest getting your D level up to normal and seeing if the pain goes away.
God Bless
Joni

[KimbyKepp]

I was just diagnosed with low Vitamin D and I was wondering if anyone else on here has this problem. I have had this pain/ discomfort in the front of neck for almost a year. I am wondering if it could be because of low vitamin d. I have been going to my doctor about it over and over again and still have not got any answers. It feels like a constant tightness around the area of the thyroid gland, but it doesn't stay there, the discomfort moves up to my jaw and around to my ears. I also occasionally get little spasms in my throat that I notice especially after I take medication or vitamins. I know a lot of my other symptoms can be from low vitamin d but I have know idea about this, please if somebody has had something similar can you let me know?

[minmtn]

Low Platelets & Vit D.  Here is a message I found from an RN to someone else outside this forum:  

Hate to be didactic, but have you had your Vitamin D levels checked? They should be at around 60-80 ng/dl, otherwise you will need to increase the IUs you are taking until you get above at least 50 ng/dl. This is NORMAL, not therapeutic level. Without Vit D in adequate amounts, the body can't make immune system components, blood cells, etc. as well as hormones, enzymes, and Vit D is required to maintain healthy DNA function.  Jan Grossberg, RN, BSN

[minmtn]

If you haven't had a chance to watch this entertaining video by Dr. Michael Holick, one of the world's top vitamin D scientists, just grab some popcorn and go to www.vitamindhealth.org.  The video is the 2nd item under" External Links: Presentation to ECTS".  You will learn a lot and laugh a lot during the approx 30 minute video.  Once you click on the link, it will take about 3 minutes or so to buffer, so just wait while it loads.  You don't need to do anything else except watch.  There will be a small screen with Dr. Holick at the podium and then after he introduces his topic, you will see a second screen displaying his his slides to the right side of the first screen.  While watching, your screen may go black -- just tap any key on your computer keyboard to bring the image back up.  ALSO, There are answers to just about any question you can think of related to Vit D deficiency on this website from Dr. Holick's posted Live Webinar forum:  www.vitamindhealth.org/?p=63#more-63.  You will be able to read his answers to specific questions on Vit D and a multitude of medical conditions.  His New England Journal of Medicine articles are linked near the top of the main web, www.vitamindhealth.org, under "Original Journal Articles".

[dite]

Hi all, I just read through the forum. I was prescribed the weekly vitamin D3 pills and just started yesterday. My D was at 19. I am hoping this will help me. I have had fatigue for years and was diagnosed with Idiopathic Hypersomnia after a sleep study didn't show anything wrong. My iron & B vitamins always come up normal, as does my thyroid. Still, I take iron and B6 and B12 pills daily & they help a little. I hadn't known about Vitamin D though, and it makes sense that I would be low since I never go out in the sun without sunscreen, lived in Northern latitudes most of my life, and don't eat much dairy.
I am still confused about a few things. I don't have any of the pain symptoms that everyone else seems to have, just fatigue/tiredness and weakness if I exercise. Also I had some skin problems, which my Dr diagnosed as sebhorric dermatitis. Since I started on the D yesterday my skin feels much better.
Another thing I was wondering about was that 2 times now my Drs have written on my lab results that my platelets are "low", but they said it's nothing to be concerned by. I still can't figure out what that means and whether it's something related to low D.
I am definitely going to stop avoiding the sun so much from now on, and hopefully I will be able to do all the things I used to once I get my energy back.