Vitamin D Deficiency

MelanieCN77
MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
edited December 21 in Health and Weight Loss
For about a month I was feeling various symptoms of fatigue, low mood, muscle and joint pain that I couldn't rectify by making sure I was sleeping and eating well and being careful of workout recovery. I went in to my doc earlier this week and they drew blood and found low Vit D levels. This also happened to me last year but I think we caught it incidentally as I don't remember having these signs then. I am fair complexioned and live in SoCal so am quite vigilant about my sun protection, and apparently too successful!

My question is for those of you who've had this diagnosed with blood work, were these your symptoms too and how quickly after supplementation did you notice an improvement? I am on "50,000 units" a week for 3 months which is a weekly tablet, and just took the first yesterday. I am trying to stay active in spite of the tiredness but a canker sore popped up on my tongue yesterday and a small target lesion on my torso which is usually a sign that I am depleted and run down. I am sad to be losing ground on my fitness, but also don't want to burn out. I've been shuffling through minimal cardio just so I don't have to cut my calories too much, but can't run or hike like normal. I also am less active around the house and home where I'd usually do a lot of maintenance and yard work on the weekends because I just can't summon up the energy.

Would like to hear your experiences!
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Replies

  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    Mine was tested low but I don't think it was low enough for me to notice the actual deficiency. I replied mainly to tell you to make sure you take your pill with some fat as Vit D is fat soluble. Mine are OTC and come in coconut oil and since taking them my levels are fine now.
  • leonadixon
    leonadixon Posts: 479 Member
    I also just started 50,000 units per week about 5 or 6 weeks ago. I do feel like my energy levels are a little bit better, but I also started Lexapro around the same time. I am not sure which one is the one making me feel a little better to be honest.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    @MelanieCN77 I went through the same thing (I want to say my level was 20? Not sure). I kept up the weekly 50k dosing schedule for 6ish months and my level when I was tested in December was up to 68.

    Of course, I traded the D deficiency for an iron deficiency, so I didn't really notice any improvement in fatigue :tongue: Still working on that.
  • Arkie_Ali
    Arkie_Ali Posts: 106 Member
    I have a Vitamin D deficiency, my doc has me taking 5000 IUs daily. I have issues with fatigue, but I'm also hypothyroid, so that's also a factor. I've gotten my thyroid meds regulated currently, and I can definitely tell a difference in how I feel I don't take my D supplements for a few days. Not a huge improvement, but definitely noticeable.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    @MelanieCN77 I went through the same thing (I want to say my level was 20? Not sure). I kept up the weekly 50k dosing schedule for 6ish months and my level when I was tested in December was up to 68.

    Of course, I traded the D deficiency for an iron deficiency, so I didn't really notice any improvement in fatigue :tongue: Still working on that.

    Are you an omnivore? Liverwurst is the best dietary source of iron I'm willing to eat. I also take blackstrap molasses and https://smile.amazon.com/Solgar-Gentle-Iron-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B00013Z0QA/
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    I was diagnosed with blood work and had similar symptoms, but they didn't go away until I moved out of the apartment, which had mold in the cellar below my bedroom, and into a new place with no mold and garden beds that I could play in.

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/worry-and-panic/201505/petal-power-why-is-gardening-so-good-our-mental-health
  • slbbw
    slbbw Posts: 329 Member
    Make sure you are having your other mineral levels monitored as well. I ended up with low Mag due to vit D supplementation. Dropped my Vit D a touch and added a half dose of a Magnesium supplement and my fatigue corrected itself quickly.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    edited June 2019
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    pinuplove wrote: »
    @MelanieCN77 I went through the same thing (I want to say my level was 20? Not sure). I kept up the weekly 50k dosing schedule for 6ish months and my level when I was tested in December was up to 68.

    Of course, I traded the D deficiency for an iron deficiency, so I didn't really notice any improvement in fatigue :tongue: Still working on that.

    Are you an omnivore? Liverwurst is the best dietary source of iron I'm willing to eat. I also take blackstrap molasses and https://smile.amazon.com/Solgar-Gentle-Iron-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B00013Z0QA/

    I tried the Solgar one but it constipated me horribly still. I found out I can take Feosol complete, even in the double dose my doctor has me on, with minimal side effects :smile:

    I am omnivorous but have never tried liverwurst. Not even sure I've ever seen it! I knew about molasses but haven't tried it.
  • gottswald
    gottswald Posts: 122 Member
    I was diagnosed as vitamin D deficient, told to take 2000iu daily. When I asked about checking the levels, I was told the test for it is expensive and basically everyone in the north is deficient to some degree. Idk. I take the 2000iu, despite the fact it was clearly designed to try and escape by rolling away from me. I didn't know it affected other levels.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    Thanks everyone. The test had me at 18.7 with the normal range stated as 30-100. I'm feeling less emotional now I know what is going on but I'm ready to get some energy back. I'll have some rebuilding to do.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    WholeFoods4Lyfe wrote: »
    A supplement is great, and sounds like it is definitely needed for you to get your levels back up, but once you are sufficient again, the best Vitamin D is what your body makes naturally. Even just 20 minutes a day of sun, which isn't enough to cause skin damage, can help. Also make sure that you are taking a K2 supplement as well. If you are taking mass amount of D3 and not supplementing with K2 as well that can have adverse effects. I tested low Vit D last year, but not super low like you. I take a Vit D3/D2 supplement now that is a liquid (oil) as Vit d & K are both fat soluable.

    My fair Irish skin does get damaged in 20 minutes of summer sun.

    Same. I've got some of the worst burns of my life in that length of time, it's what made me so vigilant in the first place.

    Also I had a full blood panel and everything else was normal, I'm not gonna add anything else for the sake of it.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    pinuplove wrote: »
    @MelanieCN77 I went through the same thing (I want to say my level was 20? Not sure). I kept up the weekly 50k dosing schedule for 6ish months and my level when I was tested in December was up to 68.

    Of course, I traded the D deficiency for an iron deficiency, so I didn't really notice any improvement in fatigue :tongue: Still working on that.

    Are you an omnivore? Liverwurst is the best dietary source of iron I'm willing to eat. I also take blackstrap molasses and https://smile.amazon.com/Solgar-Gentle-Iron-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B00013Z0QA/

    I tried the Solgar one but it constipated me horribly still. I found out I can take Feosol complete, even in the double dose my doctor has me on, with minimal side effects :smile:

    I am omnivorous but have never tried liverwurst. Not even sure I've ever seen it! I knew about molasses but haven't tried it.

    @pinuplove I feel the need to emphasize that it is blackstrap molasses with all the iron, not regular. 1 T of https://smile.amazon.com/Wholesome-Sweeteners-Organic-Molasses-Pack/dp/B001M0G2PO/ has 20% of the RDA.

    https://smile.amazon.com/Golden-Barrel-Unsulfured-Black-molasses/dp/B00M1ZYF9E/ said it was 25% but when the bottle arrived I found it was actually only 11% >.<

    I got a brand from Whole Foods that was also unsatisfyingly low in iron. Caveat emptor!
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    It's been many years ago now, but as I recall I was on the 50K for 6 weeks and was feeling better by the end of that high dose period. I've continued taking 1000 mg Vit D daily ever since.
  • alohajls
    alohajls Posts: 55 Member
    According to my recent bloodwork, I had a severe Vitamin D deficiency (I can't remember how it was worded, it sounded dire!), but I had no symptoms. I got the same (huge!) 50,000 unit pills to take once a week. I didn't feel bad before, and didn't feel any different after taking the pills.

    This article on Vitamin D was in the New York Times not long ago--about the recent large increase in testing for Vitamin D levels:
    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/health/vitamin-d-deficiency-supplements.html

    OP, is there anything else that could be contributing to your feelings of fatigue? Have you been eating enough to sustain your activity level?
  • generallyme2
    generallyme2 Posts: 403 Member
    I had bad symptoms and ended up having a severe D deficiency at a level of 7 ng/mL and they wanted me closer to 70. I was on high dose D for a while and now I take a daily 2,000. It took a while to notice a difference BUT I have historically tested low on iron and B12 as well (I mostly have them under control but not always) so it was an uphill battle. Now, most symptoms are lessened but when I don't take my stuff for a while, it is noticeably worse.

    As for the sunlight. I see a dermotologist regularly as I'm higher risk of skin cancer and he specifically told me not to try to get it from the sun- that even 20-30 min of exposure without sunscreen isn't 'safe'. As a long distance runner, I knew I was getting quite a bit of sunlight on a regular basis and my D levels were still very low. My B12 problem is with how it's processed in my body so it's likely D is the same issue.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    alohajls wrote: »
    According to my recent bloodwork, I had a severe Vitamin D deficiency (I can't remember how it was worded, it sounded dire!), but I had no symptoms. I got the same (huge!) 50,000 unit pills to take once a week. I didn't feel bad before, and didn't feel any different after taking the pills.

    This article on Vitamin D was in the New York Times not long ago--about the recent large increase in testing for Vitamin D levels:
    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/health/vitamin-d-deficiency-supplements.html

    OP, is there anything else that could be contributing to your feelings of fatigue? Have you been eating enough to sustain your activity level?

    I wasn't tested specifically for D, it was a full panel. At first he said he was looking for something thyroid but this came back.

    I've been in maintenance for a couple of years and did some week long cuts this year just to shave off a little creep here and there, but nothing drastic.
    ShayCarver89 wrote: »
    You need to get into the sun, at least once or twice a week. Sun will give you instant vitamin d. I was diagnosed with low vitamin D about 2 years ago and have struggled with it. During the warmer months my vitamin d is okish, during the winter it can get as low as a 2. At one point it was so bad my doctors thought I had RA. You can wear sunblock when you go outside. Just take a walk around the block with a short sleeve shirt on and that'll do it.

    I'm afraid sunscreen makes the exercise pointless, the literature says broad spectrum sunscreen blocks the UV absorption that is the point, and I am proof haha! I am always covered if possible and wear sunscreen on areas that are not, such as arms and neck/chest if I'm hiking or running or doing whatever outside. I am outside a lot generally too, I have animals and a big property I work on a fair bit. The first 20 mins of my walk today I wore just a tanktop on top and got some rays. I'll be more thoughtful about how black and white I am about it and hopefully that and these meds, and probably a OTC supplement after that and I won't have to revisit this.
  • liz0269
    liz0269 Posts: 139 Member
    WholeFoods4Lyfe wrote: »
    A supplement is great, and sounds like it is definitely needed for you to get your levels back up, but once you are sufficient again, the best Vitamin D is what your body makes naturally. Even just 20 minutes a day of sun, which isn't enough to cause skin damage, can help. Also make sure that you are taking a K2 supplement as well. If you are taking mass amount of D3 and not supplementing with K2 as well that can have adverse effects. I tested low Vit D last year, but not super low like you. I take a Vit D3/D2 supplement now that is a liquid (oil) as Vit d & K are both fat soluable.

    Vitamin k gives me heart palpitations. It is a common side effect. OTC supplements are not always safe. It is best for the OP to continue to follow the doctor's recommendations.
  • liz0269
    liz0269 Posts: 139 Member
    I will also add that I was tested for vitamin d when I was diagnosed with RA in 2009 and I was severely deficient. I was fatigued, I had balance issues, severe depression, concentration problems. Some of that was the RA but some of it improved as soon as I started taking D. I have taken 5,000iu a day ever since. This spring I tried stopping because my current rheumatologist said there isn't enough benefit to help my RA and my depression and concentration issues came back with a vengeance.
    Deficiency is nothing to mess with. It is a proven risk factor for autoimmune diseases.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    liz0269 wrote: »
    I will also add that I was tested for vitamin d when I was diagnosed with RA in 2009 and I was severely deficient. I was fatigued, I had balance issues, severe depression, concentration problems. Some of that was the RA but some of it improved as soon as I started taking D. I have taken 5,000iu a day ever since. This spring I tried stopping because my current rheumatologist said there isn't enough benefit to help my RA and my depression and concentration issues came back with a vengeance.
    Deficiency is nothing to mess with. It is a proven risk factor for autoimmune diseases.

    Huh, my OH's mother had all of these symptoms. It's too late for her now, but I wonder if she was ever tested for D deficiency. They may have just assumed it was her age.
  • Kalex1975
    Kalex1975 Posts: 427 Member
    edited June 2019
    Examine.com posted the following on their Instagram page 2 days ago...
    A big study on vitamin D came out last week.

    Here's a quick recap: If you have lower blood vitamin D levels, you're at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. But this updated meta-analysis (of 21 randomized trials) showed NO BENEFIT from vitamin D supplementation for cardiovascular events or all-cause mortality.

    That might seem contradictory, but it's not.

    Those with lower blood vitamin D levels might be sicker, or less likely to be outdoors in the sun. Popping a vitamin D pill won't magically solve those problems.

    An oft-recurring takeaway: there is no magic bullet supplement, and you can't bottle a healthy lifestyle.

    I'm unsure of which study they are referencing but thought it was pertinent to this discussion. I would be interested in hearing more about it.

    Edit: here's the referenced study... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31215980
  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Mine was tested low but I don't think it was low enough for me to notice the actual deficiency. I replied mainly to tell you to make sure you take your pill with some fat as Vit D is fat soluble. Mine are OTC and come in coconut oil and since taking them my levels are fine now.

    Pretty much the same here. My last run of blood work showed me on the low end of normal , so I've been on 2000 IU per day. I take drops suspended in coconut oil for the fat soluble uptake (got them at Sprouts I believe) and have also been spending more time outside thanks to the weather clearing up and getting back into running. I'm due for my next round of blood work next month, so we'll see how it goes. I never noticed any symptoms and haven't noticed any changes since beginning taking them, but I've also got some severe sleep problems that could mask any fatigue.
  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,460 Member
    I also remember the depression, balance problems, concentration problems. My Doctor didn’t monitor me closely. My d level went from 12 to 70+, the symptoms got a little better fairly quickly, but then I started being sick at my stomach and having headaches until I stopped taking the d. Then got over the new symptoms fairly quickly.
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,255 Member
    I have lived in California all my life (much of it in SoCal) and get plenty of year-round sun hiking, kayaking and just going about my day. I was very surprised when I was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency last year. No symptoms whatsoever. After a year of daily supplements my levela are now good. Would rather take a vitamin D supplement than risk skin cancer.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    ShayCarver89 wrote: »
    You need to get into the sun, at least once or twice a week. Sun will give you instant vitamin d. I was diagnosed with low vitamin D about 2 years ago and have struggled with it. During the warmer months my vitamin d is okish, during the winter it can get as low as a 2. At one point it was so bad my doctors thought I had RA. You can wear sunblock when you go outside. Just take a walk around the block with a short sleeve shirt on and that'll do it.

    I'm struggling to understand this - go outside to get sun...while wearing sunblock?
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    edited June 2019
    It's not quite as simple as just sun exposure. The exposure needs to be when the sun is at the correct angle which (depending on time of year and your location) can be a very narrow window. And the more skin you have exposed, the better (for Vitamin D production, anyway :lol: )
    When the sun’s rays enter the Earth’s atmosphere at too much of an angle, the atmosphere blocks the UVB part of the rays, so your skin can’t produce vitamin D. This happens during the early and later parts of the day and during most of the day during the winter season.

    The closer to midday you expose your skin, the better this angle and the more vitamin D is produced. A good rule of thumb is if your shadow is longer than you are tall, you’re not making much vitamin D. In winter, you’ll notice that your shadow is longer than you for most of the day, while in summer, your shadow is much shorter for a good part of the middle of the day.
    ...
    For example, in the southern United States, in places like Florida, your body can produce vitamin D most of the year, while in more northern places, like New York City or Boston, you can’t produce much vitamin D from November through March. If you live even further north, like in Edmonton, Canada, you can’t produce vitamin D from October through April. These times are even longer (by a month or two) if you’re skin type is darker.

    https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/how-do-i-get-the-vitamin-d-my-body-needs/
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