Anybody had Vitamin D deficiency?

[Freebird]

OK folks, I know that vitamins are important to us all but....

 

I haven't felt good for a while now. My wife is always on me to go see the doctor and find out what is wrong but I am pretty stubborn. Basically I just have no energy, severe insomnia, a list of other things. To be honest, I have been feeling really bad for a long time and my wife claims that I have been struggling for about 3 years now.

 

So, she called me when I was away on one of my business trips a couple of weeks ago and told me that she had made me a doctors appointment and that I was expected to keep it. Don't you just hate pushy women.

 

Went to the doc last week and they ran a lot of blood tests and etc. They concluded that my problem is a severe lack of Vitamin D. According to them, it is in the dangerous level. I know that vitamins are important but I don't think I realized that there was a "dangerous" level of a deficiency.

 

I guess a usual daily dosage of vitamin D is around 1000 UI. They actually have me on prescription vitamin D for the next 8 weeds of 100,000 UI per week. I am taking one 50,000 UI prescription only vitamin D twice per week. After that they will check it again and then I will be on a typical over the counter strength.

 

So my question is, have any of you ever had a problem with a severe vitamin D deficiency? Did you get it treated and did you feel much different afterwards? According to my online research over the past couple of days, it can lead to fatigue, insomnia, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, impaired vision and a long list of other ailments.

 

I have already "googled" it but I have found that "ventureridering" it can often lead to better search results.

[RandyR]

editted. It was the acid blockers that my Dr. suggested might be causing vitamin deficiency, not my taking of statins which had other negative effects. I've cut back on both of them.

Edited December 23, 2011 by RandyR

[Patrolman46]

Thank God for our dear wives!! Don you are really lucky to have a wife that cares & is worried about your health. It's a great wake up for all the guys on this site to heed. You need to have a complete blood workup every year. Most insurances will help pay for it & it's really important to keep up with our health issues. Some of us even have some bad habits that contribute to our health problems. If you have a vitamin D deficit you probably also have a bone density problem. Not a bad idea to talk to the doc about that.

Good luck & keep us up to date on your "D" progress.

I'm married to a nurse so she has had me on a complete vitamin regimen for years.

[JD10-8fire]

Was in the same boat that you are a few years back. They first started me out on 50,000 units a week for 6 weeks, tested, then put me on 100,000 units a week. I've tested every 3 months for the past few years and the last test finally got me on the high end of normal (take that as you want.....) so now we are building that up and then try to figure out a maintenance level. It takes some time but it does make a difference. Not near as tired & just all around feel better. I know there are a lot of different opinions out there, but it made a difference for me. Venture riding is always a feel better cure!! Hope things work out for you and my only advice is to stick with it.

[reddevilmedic]

here in florida, we dont really worry about it. experts say, that 15-20 minutes a day of sunshine helps produce vit D.

[SilvrT]

Thanks for posting this Don! I doubt I have a serious deficiency of vitamin D; however, considering that my energy levels just aren't what they used to be, that I don't get a good nights sleep on a regular basis, etc, etc ... it could well be that I need to start taking some vitamins, especially vitamin D.

 

 

Gonna start today!

[Brake Pad]

Not to mention all the Oranges we eat down here............

I take no vitamins what so ever, not even aspirin, I allow my body to fend off all possible attacks, but I also eat a lot of Veggies & fresh fruits & Nuts

and I stay away from junk foods and soda's

[SilvrT]

here in florida, we dont really worry about it. experts say, that 15-20 minutes a day of sunshine helps produce vit D.

 

heh ... on the rare occasions that we see the sun around here, especially at this time of year, I'm generally sitting in my office and only know the sun is shining by the reflection on the building across the street LOL. I arrive at work in the dark and when I leave, it's dark ... this time of year. Thankfully we are going downhill now as the days are now starting to get longer. (or would that be uphill?)

[mbrood]

Although a good diet, proper exercise and a good dose of good ole sunshine is the typical first regimine any doctor is going to prescribe, it's real important to have the doctor run the tests to determine just WHAT vitamins and minerals you are in need of for a balanced sysem. Look at your blood like the electrolyte in a battery, it has to be properly balanced to deliver energy, you shouldn't "guess" at requirements, checks are easy.

[SilvrT]

Although a good diet, proper exercise and a good dose of good ole sunshine is the typical first regimine any doctor is going to prescribe, it's real important to have the doctor run the tests to determine just WHAT vitamins and minerals you are in need of for a balanced sysem. Look at your blood like the electrolyte in a battery, it has to be properly balanced to deliver energy, you shouldn't "guess" at requirements, checks are easy.

 

Good point... I'm long overdue for a checkup ... adding this to my New Year's resolution(s)!

[GAWildKat]

Getting sun only works if you aren't wearing sunblock. I'm a fair skin redhead and I stay indoors most of the day. However when I leave to go shopping or run errands I get my sun in the car. I don't wear sunblock unless I'm going to be in the sun for a prolonged amount of time. Mike and I have a joke that I'm the only person we know who gets sunburned riding in the car. One way to get Vitamin D is drink milk that is fortified with it. Don I hope you recover soon. I think I might get Mike started on a Vitamin D regimen as well, he's been complaining about feeling run down all month.

[SapperMedic]

Don,

 

Most of my patients that have a major vitamin D deficiency have the same symptoms as you. As kids, we USED to be out in the sunshine all the time, The sun is the major source of Vit D. As we grow a LITTLE older we lose the ability to absorb as much. You will probably not feel the change for about 4-6 weeks, but all of my patients that go on high dose Drisdol (Vit D) have said that it made a difference for them. After about a year on prescription Vit D switch to an over the counter dose of Calcium + D like Caltrate or Citrical.

 

Brian

[gunkylump]

Hi Don and Merry Christmas!

 

I have endured GERD for some 35 years....taking various kinds of acid suppressants over the years. When I had my physical done for the salt mine 5 years ago, the doctor asked me if I was taking Vitamin D daily to supplement for the bone calcium loss created by taking Nexiuum. At that time, I had no idea what the ant-acids were doing. They actually have been proven to create bone density loss...I take 40mg to 80 mg's a day of Nexiuum.

 

Since then, I try to take 1000 units of vitamin D daily, and hopefully it will make a difference. I will say that it does seem to help "mood" wise on the dark days of winter, seems to help pick up the spirits if you will.

 

There have been a lot of studies....both pro and con on the effects of vitamin D and how much to take on a daily basis.....I hope that it works for you!

 

gunk

[bongobobny]

I have very low testostrone levels which make me very fatigued. The earliest I can see a specialist is January...

[Freebird]

Yea, I didn't know why at the time but the doc kept asking me if I was feeling depressed. That is another of the symptoms listed for vitamin D deficiency. I don't think I'm depressed at all but maybe I am a bit and just blame it on being on the road all the time.

 

I also didn't know that cholesterol medications could contribute to the problem. I think it has been about 3 years that they put me on a low dose, 20 mg per day, of Pravastatin for borderline high cholesterol.

 

I guess I'll see how it goes. Thanks as usual for all the great input.

[Freebird]

I have very low testostrone levels which make me very fatigued. The earliest I can see a specialist is January...

 

That's another thing they checked. Don't know yet what the results were. I have another appointment next Tuesday to go over everything with the doc. They were concerned enough about the vitamin D that they actually called me the day after my tests and told me that they had called in a prescription for me.

[Monty]

I am also fatigued, and don't sleep well. I also work swing shifts, and thought maybe that's all it was.

 

Since I take both cholesterol-lowering medication and acid reducers, I think I will have my blood tested here soon, when I go in for my lipid profile.

 

Thanks Don, for bringing this to my attention, and I hope it works for you.

[Yammer Dan]

Thats what got me on the C-Pap machine. I wanted to go with vitamins but they would't listen to me.

[SilvrT]

I think it has been about 3 years that they put me on a low dose, 20 mg per day, of Pravastatin for borderline high cholesterol.

 

I'm sure there will be varying opinions on this one but .... I'm very skeptical about these cholesterol tests and even more so as to the implications on a per-patient basis. I had a test done about 7 or 8 years ago and at that time the doc told me I should either start on some meds or go on a very strict diet otherwise if I didn't get my "bad" cholesterol count down, I was an extremely high-risk heart attack. I didn't do either although I do tend to eat better today than I did then but I still smoke, still drink my R&Cs, still eat red meat (probably not quite as much), etc, etc... Two years ago I was tested again and .... the cholesterol count is a bit better but not much .... but I ain't dead and although my energy and stamina isn't what it was 7-8 years ago I feel fine so I chalk that up to the ageing ... heck, I'm 65 come May, ... I'm not overweight, I can still do a full day's work in the yard, I have no obvious health problems .... could it be that most people have high cholesterol but those who are in danger are the one's with other health issues.... overweight, heart problems, etc, etc ...???

[Woody]

keep us informed very interested, like Monty I also work swing shift and some time I sleep and some time I don't but I seem to be tired all the time.

[friesman]

but I ain't dead, I can still do a full day's work in the yard, QUOTE]

 

 

Yeah, but whens the last time you did a full days work AT work?

 

Brian

[CaptainJoe]

I'd have to say "listen to your Dr. and get all the vitamin D you can."

 

Thinking the most natural way "thru the sun" is probably the best.

 

Ever tried snorkeling? Charter boat fishing? or just lazily walking/laying on a beach:confused24:

 

A group of us are heading down to the Keys in March and work our way down the chain eventually winding up in Key West, Fl.

 

Bring your wife along, heck, by the time we get done with ya, you'll have forgotten all about the whole vitamin D thing.

Edited December 24, 2011 by CaptainJoe

[SilvrT]

but I ain't dead, I can still do a full day's work in the yard, QUOTE]

 

 

Yeah, but whens the last time you did a full days work AT work?

 

Brian

 

somehow I just KNEW somebody would have a comeback and it doesn't surprise me it was YOU!

[Yammer Dan]

but I ain't dead, I can still do a full day's work in the yard, QUOTE]

 

 

Yeah, but whens the last time you did a full days work AT work?

 

Brian

 

 

I did 12&1/2 hrs last day I was at work.

[RandyR]

 

 

I did 12&1/2 hrs last day I was at work.

 

when dat ?