If you are concerned about vitamin D deficiency, you will want to watch this great free video presentation by Dr. Michael Holick, PhD, MD – “The Vitamin D Pandemic and Its Health Consequences”. Dr. Holick is the author of the book, The UV Advantage: The Medical Breakthrough that Shows How to Harness the Power of the Sun for Your Health. He also the directs Boston University’s General Clinical Research Center. He is a Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics.
In this video, Dr. Holick discusses the little known facts about vitamin D deficiency and all of the health problems it causes and its role in several chronic illnesses. Dr. Holick also offers advice on how to avoid vitamin D deficiency.
After watching this video you will probably find that you want to forward the link to others, but here are some references from the presentation:
Who is at risk for Vitamin D deficiency?
According to Dr. Holick, everyone is.
How do we get Vitamin D?
From the sun, artificial light sources, foods and supplements. It is hard to get enough vitamin D strictly through diet alone.
How is Vitamin D deficiency defined?
The level of 25(OH)D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) measured in blood (serum) should be at least 50nmol/L, and Dr. Holick advocates 60 to 75. Insufficient/deficient is under 50, and to be conservative, toxic upper levels might start at about 150 to 200nmol/L.
Is Vitamin D deficiency common?
Yes – approximately 50% of all Americans and even higher numbers of darker skinned people and older age groups fall below the normal levels.
Why is Vitamin D deficiency a big deal?
In children, vitamin D deficiency can cause a condition known as rickets. This causes bowed, soft bones, muscle weakness, stunted growth, and high risk of low bone density later in life.
In adults, this condition is osteomalacia (a defect in the bone building process, by contrast with osteoporosis, which is breakdown of existing bone structures). Osteoporosis is silent, but osteomalacia involves aches and pains in the bones & joints, and muscle aches/weakness that can be generalized or isolated. As Dr. Holick explains it, the defective bone matrix absorbs water and expands, causing pain in the bones fibrous outer membrane (the periosteum), which contains the blood vessels and nerves providing nourishment and sensation in the bones. He diagnoses this condition by pressing to test for pain in certain places such as the breastbone and shin.
Dr. Holicksays that patients withthese symptoms are often diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. In Dr. Holick’s practice, 40% to 60% of patients presenting with these symptoms are vitamin D deficient, and of 150 patients presenting with these symptoms in a Mayo Clinic study, 139 were deficient.
What is even scarier are all of the other chronic illnesses and diseases linked to vitamin D deficiency: common cancers, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, TB, psoriasis, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and even infections.
How much does sun block reduce the body’s ability to make D from sunshine?
SPF 15 reduces it by 99%.
What is the recommended amount of sun exposure one should get?
Except in winter in areas above the 35th latitude (only a bit north of even such southern cities as Atlanta, Georgia, which is at 33 north), Dr. Holickadvocates at least 10 minutes on 10% of the body surface (e.g., arms or legs) followed by good sun protection, two to three times a week. This balances the need for vitamin D with need to minimize skin cancer risk. Click on this link to check the latitude where you live.
Are obese people more likely to be deficient than normal weight people?
Vitamin D levels averaged 55% lower in a study group of obese people who had the same amount of UV exposure as normal weight participants.
Can you make any vitamin D in winter?
Little or none, even in sunny areas, if it’s above the 35th latitude north or south of the equator.
Does taking supplemental calcium and vitamin D work to counter osteoporosis and osteomalacia?
Yes.
Thanks to Fit Buff for including this post as part of their Total Mind & Body Fitness Carnival 63.
I didn’t make a note of where I found this, so please verify everything before acting on it!! But a while ago, I found this description of vit D deficiency symptoms, which were sounding awfully familiar…
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Vitamin D deficiency symptoms
Vitamin D deficiency may be characterized by muscle pain, weak bones/fractures, low energy and fatigue, lowered immunity, depression and mood swings, and sleep irregularities. Women with renal problems or intestinal concerns (such as IBS or Crohns disease) may be vitamin D deficient because they can neither absorb nor adequately convert the nutrient.
Symptoms of vitamin D overdose or toxicity
Vitamin D is fat soluble, meaning it is stored in your fat cells. It is not excreted daily like many other essential nutrients and can build up to unhealthy levels. And once you overdo it on vitamin D, its not an easy situation to rectify. Thats why its absolutely vital that you approach vitamin D supplementation only under the care of a medical professional.
Vitamin D overdose leads to calcium toxicity, which can cause nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss. It raises levels of blood calcium and can create a confused mental state and heart arrhythmia. Too much calcium and phosphorous can cluster in your bodys soft tissues and disrupt kidney function (remember, calcium and vitamin D work together). It can also cause kidney stones and hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis.
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And in case you were interested – yes, in fact, I was vit D deficient. And, yes, I do feel better (not healthy yet, but better!) with my levels back in the normal ranges!
I have fibromyalgia and was also down to 25 in vitamin D , I have also been diagnosed with a white blood count of 14,000 . On a hunch I looked up a medication I was put on a while ago named cymbalta ,it seems this drug affects both vitamin D and white blood cells . Do you have any opinion on this ? I’ve started taking liquid vit D it says one drop daily but I do exactly as the directions say but always 2 drops come out ( 1,000 per drop) and I’m afraid I’m getting way to much.
ok so by taking the supplements by the time we will feel better? ..
and Jenna what was ur level in Vitamin D ?
well mine is 6 and its severly low so i have to do a blood test to see which level am i on
.. hope u get better ..
so jenna for heart arrthraimas it is caused for VD defeciency or what i didnt understand it properly =]
I would love to have read this artical because I have cronic pain and am low on D also but it is so small I can’t read it with out a magnafifing glass. I’m sure I am not the only one..
Ginny
I was diagnosed a few weeks with a Vitamin D deficiency. My level was 15. For several years I’ve had severe pain. Since I am only 33 I went to the doctor because it didn’t seem normal. I wasn’t tested for any vitamin deficiencies. I am however 30 lbs overweight so he suggested that I lose weight. Last year I fell and broke my elbow and have been having extreme pain for over a year now with no help from the pain meds. I’ve taken so many drugs I felt like a guinea pig. I finally thought to go to a rheumatologist and after my blood work was done his office called to tell me that I was deficient and prescribed me 50,000 iu of D to take once a week for 8 weeks. I’m 3 weeks into the meds and I don’t see any significant changes in my pain level. I still need pain meds to function. I should state that I also found out that I have arthritis in both of my hips and possibly in my spine. Could this be caused from the D deficiency that has gone untreated for the past few years? Is there anyone else going through the same thing?
Ericka
ya well probably but urs isnt too too low.
i havent experience any pain maybe cuz of my young age although my level was severely low 6.
umm u can discuss this issue on the blog of the dangers ofVDD
I am at 16 and experiencing all kind of symptoms. Movement on the actions of my Doctors is very slow and frustrating to me. It seem as if they know what can happen, but, just waiting to see if they can “pull me out of the ditch” to pursue any other health issues at the present time. I am taking 50,000 IU of Vitamin d weekly in a gel cap–it makes my stomach hurt, I am nauseated, and very very tired all the time. Any suggestions?
yes i was diagnoised a 2 months ago with low vit d my level was 18 my doctor said it was the lowest he had ever seen but apparently I could be worse. my doctor gave me 5000 mg d morning and night. i am also taking a vitamin to boost my adrenal glad which is moderately low. i am tired and i am gaining weight. i cannot leave the sweets alone. maybe i eat the sweets to stay awake or is there some other reason i am craving these foods
I have Crohn’s disease and IBS, and chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, and I too was recently sent to a rheumotologist, and found Vitamin D defiency. I hope the Vitamin D helps!
Just found out today that my level was 9. I am on supplements of D for weeks and also caltrate plus D forever. I am going for bone density soon – concerned about osterporosis. (family hisory) symptoms – extremely tired -low energy – depressed,
Also have symptoms of facing thoughts, shaking, insomnia – not sure if any of these are symptoms of Vit D def – wish I had asked. For those that state they have Fibromyalgia – Crohns IBS are these caused by Low Vit D or you already have these and just aggrevated more w. Vit D Defic. ?
I just got diagnosed my level was 10 I have been sick for 3yrs.
I am so confused Im not sure if vit d is related to my sickness.
My symptoms are gastro probs., insomnia, hair loss, fatigue, weakness and I have always had high blood pressure. I will start taking 50,000 IU of vit d this wk.
I think these are all related to Vit. d def. somehow. I was just diagnosed yesterday. I went to the rhemutologist suffering from chronic muscle pain and fatigue. I am always tired and cold. She tested my thyroid and vit. d levels. The vit. d came back extremely low so I have to take a prescription 3x a week for a month and 1,000 mil. everyday of over the counter supplement (Caltrate?). Anyway, I hate milk and I rarely go out into the sun since I am fair and burn easily. I don’t do tanning beds so I probably have been getting NO vit. d. You don’t realize how necessary it is until you realize that you are def. I am wondering now what other vitamins I am lacking. I am not a fruit lover so I rarely eat fruit, but I am going to start making myself now. If vit. d causes me to feel this bad then I can’t imagine what other vitamin def. may cause. I feel silly for never taking it seriously before. I am only 26, but I am glad that they caught it early. I had to stay on my reg. doctor though. She told me that “some people just get achy earlier than others.” At first, I accepted it, but the more I thought about it and asked around, the more I didn’t think I should be this achy and tired at 26. Because of my relentlessness, she finally referred me to a rhemutologist. It sort of scares me to think of how much longer this would have went undetected if she wouldn’t have. Anyway, any info or advice would be appreciated. I know NOTHING about this problem, and am trying to research it.
This is a neat website by the way. I am so glad I found it. I got the sense that my doctor thought I was a hypochondriac because of my complaints of chronic fatigue and muscle pain. The funny thing is is that I take Adderall bc I am ADHD. The Adderall gives me energy because it is a stimulant, but I am still tired in the afternoons and when I get up in the mornings. Sometimes, I feel like I could sleep all day long. I have always been like this since I was a little girl. The whole reason I started seeing my internist is bc I thought the ADHD was wearing me out. The Adderall does help me to focus and gives me more stamina, but it still wasn’t enough, and I felt completely washed out by about 2:30 every afternoon ( I am a teacher). I would feel like I could not function without a nap. She made me feel like I was crazy, and I got the sense that she thought I just wanted more medicine. That was not the case. I did not want to be taking more ADHD medicine than I needed if my fatigue was caused from a different problem. I am glad there is a website on this bc a lot of times I feel lazy, and I don’t want to be. I don’t think my friends and family quite understand. And I get the whole, you are too young to be tired all the time. You need to walk on the treadmill more (which is true!), but I also know that I am still fatigued after I start an excercise program. I hate doing things after school because I am so tired, and the winter time is HORRIBLE. I hate winter. I am cold and achy and tired, and depressed ( I take meds for that). I don’t have arthritis, and the rhemutologist said that the pain was not in my joints but in my muscles. So anyway, I am just glad that they finally have taken me serioulsy. I am wondering what other vitamins I could be low in. I guess I am going to hit up Publix and buy some raw fruits and veggies (gag!), but hey, it beats developing something 10 years down the road. So down the hatch!
Hey Erica…it’s what you need for the vit D requirements too 🙂
In June 2007, I was sent to a RA doctor by my orthopedic doctor. I had had surgery for one knee and my other knee plus shoulder were hurting. The RA doctor found that I was slightly Vitamin D deficient, told me to take an extra 500 MG once a week and to continue treatment with my family doctor. Today, I went to my family doctor for my yearly checkup. Normally, a vitamin D test isn’t ordered, but I explained my slight deficiency. My doctor informed my that my vitamin D was extremely low, less that four. I have to start taking a prescription vitamin D once a week. How long before I might feel the effect of the vitamin D? I have arthritis and hate the winter. I live in the north and we don’t see much sun during the winter. Any recommendations would be appreciated. How often do I have to have a repeat vitamin D test?
Hi everyone. My mom told me to look up Vitamin D deficiency, because she thought it may have something to do with how I’ve been feeling. Oh boy, after reading some stories on here, she may be right ! It began with hand pain and stiffness, which brought me to my GP, who then told me that my ANA levels were slightly raised. I went to a rheumatologist, and the Dr. told me I had rheumatoid arthritis and fibro. They have since retracted the arthritis diagnosis, and have changed it to “unspecified connective tissue disorder”. I am also missing the cartilage in both knees and will begin injections of man made cartilage on Friday. I am also missing cartilage in my left hip. They have also told me that I have loose ligaments. I’ve had difficulty sleeping since 2001 after a hysterectomy for uterine cancer. My muscles ache, my bones hurt and I’m tired alot. Also some depression, but I assumed that was from not feeling well. I will ask the doctor on Friday, to test my Vitamin D levels. Can this all just be a coincidence? I’ll let you know when I get the results. Meanwhile, I’ll keep reading posts !
Hello All,
This is a book but I just want to share my story and try and inspire everyone to hang in there a little longer.
For over a year I had been dismissed, ignored and looked at like I was a nut job. I had committed the sin of turning 35 and overnight had high BP, diabetes, edema, migraines, joint pain, exhausted, no sex drive, abnormal periods … you name it and was told I was just “getting older” and “we are all tired.”
I gave up for awhile but then decided that I would try a new doctor (endocrinologist) and one more visit and then that was it until I was on my death bed.
Do not go the doctor hopeful, go mad. We are too passive in our own care. I was always the dutiful patient agreeing with whatever they said and walking out feeling like an idiot for even trying. I sat in his office and said since you are all pilling me to death anyway why don’t you put me on that one and pointed to a poster, among the myriad of other pharmaceutical company propaganda in his office, for thyroid medicine that listed all of these same symptoms.
He said I will test you for that and Vitamin D deficiency – which causes those same things. Inside I thought whatever quack-o, D is for bones why don’t you just call me a squirrel and save me the lab bill?
A week or so later his office called, said I was deficient and called in a prescription for D and set a date for a bone density scan. I do not know what my level was.
At week 3 of this cheap, once-a-week, little green pill I felt like I was waking up inside from a 10 year hibernation. My energy is up, my thinking is clearer, libido is back, I have lost around 10 pounds, my sleep is better and my sugar is down.
Of all the blood tests and pills they have thrown at us, this blood test could be the one that is worth all of the other to you. It really has made a difference for me and if you are thinking about getting checked please do it, you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.
I believe what you are going through if no one else does and hope everyone here feels better. We get so used to feeling poorly that when we feel better we look back and think my God, how was I doing it?
Holy vitamin D, everything I’m reading is exactly the way I’ve been feeling. I’ve gone to a new doctor and she is putting me on V-D 50,000 twice a week, I hope and pray that I can feel better soon, it’s been so long since I’ve felt good inside, always drag’n my ars around…I hope this works…thanks for the inspiration blogs…it sure helps to know I’m not the only one.
Yeah! I just got my little blue pill and I am hoping and praying I will feel better soon. Mother is deficient, sister is deficient and most likely my other sister is.So tired of being overweight…even when exercising, tired and feeling like a bum. Thank you for all the insight.
I went to the doctor and mentioned tenderness on my inner thighs. He asked if I had any burning when urinating or diarrhea. I told him on occasion diarrhea. I’ve have severe unexplained headaches for years. He did blood work. Everything came back normal onthe preliminary tests. Then his office called me and told me another test for calcium had come back from Mayo clinic and was well below normal 13. I picked up the 50000 iu green gel tab that others have mentioned. I would love to be back to my old self, lively, laughing and able to focus and remember things. Wouldn’t it be great if I could get off of the meds for depression!
I was diagnosed with a level of 9 and i have same symptoms. i am on 50k units per week for 12 weeks. i dont’ see significant change yet. i am into my 3rd week.
I was told in March that I am vit d deficient. I had gotten bloodwork done at my request from my family physician. Idiot doesn’t give a hoot whether you live or die. Anyway, after I requested it, it came back high ana’s which is a positive for lupus. I was diagnosed with fibro and chronic fatigue in 2001. He referred me to rheumatologist who then told me I was vit d deficient. He put me on 50000 units for 2 weeks. My family dr (the idiot) never did any follow up blood work. I had been looking for another dr because my pain levels were getting so bad, I stayed in bed very still in order not to hurt so much. I found a pain management dr who was new in town and he was very concerned about the vit d and also said I was b12 deficient. After I told him about my family dr, he referred me to a new one. I love my new one. He actually sits down and talks to me and acts like I’m a human being instead of a crazy person. Anyway, he gave me a b12 shot and started me on 1000 units of vit d per day. But when I went back after a month, my vit d was even lower, so now he has me on 1600 units a day. After reading this, I’m wondering if I need to get him to boost me again with the 50000 units twice a week. This is really making me wonder if I have been suffering for 8 years and it was vit d. I have had to quit work and go on disability because of the bodywide pain and extreme fatigue. And, I broke my foot in Nov. and am really having a hard time getting past that. I am so frustrated to think that every dr I have tried to see has pretty much acted horribly and has humiliated me to the point of suicidal thoughts and all this time, it could’ve been solved! I am finally blessed with a dr who is both understanding, concerned and committed to solving my issues. I’ll keep checking to see all of your results, but I am so happy to have found this site!
I was recently diagnosed with a vit. B12 deficiency and have been on shots twice a week and sublingual tablets(under the tongue) one, three times a day. My doctor finally received my vit. D results back and I am deficient in that as well. I am now on the 50,000iu once a week for 12 weeks. But I think it changes from a D3 to a D2 pill after the second month. Can’t remember, which is one of the symptoms I’ve been exeriencing besides all the others that go along with what has been mentioned here. I also have a problem with keeping my balance if I move too quickly. I’m glad to have found this site. Now I am starting to feel better just from the B12 shots. I just took my second vit. D pill so we will see how that works over the next few weeks. I am also gluten sensitive and I have to stay off of wheat, dairy, eggs,and I tend to have low blood sugar so I have to eat about every three to four hours to keep my blood sugar level up. I take blood pressure medicine but maybe that’s due to the low vit. D level. Maybe eventually I can get off the BP med. I understand what you are saying about Doctors these days who don’t think anything is wrong with you. And, yes we have to police our own health. Sooner or later you run across a Doctor who is more in-tuned to listening to what we are saying and looking for the cause of the symptoms, and not just putting a bandaid on it by giving drugs for one symptom after the next. It’s not all their fault either. The insurance companies dictate how much time is allowed to spend with each patient. But it doesn’t take their time to run the right blood tests to see where you are with everything. It just takes an order from them. It’s great that all of you are on the road to recovery. As a heads-up, I would like to mention that too much vitamin D can also cause even worse problems, not easliy remedied, so ask your pharmacist and Doctor what the normal doses are and for how long. It’s good to stay under a Doctor’s care so you can be monitored on the vit D level. Good luck to you all, here’s to your ever improving health. And mine too. Thanks for all your sharing. It helps knowing I’m not alone in dealing with these issues.
Over the last year and a half I have had several issues with my health. Vit D deficiency, anemia, calcium deficiency, sweet’s syndrome and latest was prothrombin 20210 mutation (factor 2 mutation) I am always tired, my hands/fingers ache with other joint aches, mucsle aches, no libido, depression, mood swings. Seen a RA doc negative for RA thank God! Seen a psychiatrist said I was Bi Polor and A.D.D, tried lamictal for a few months, really felt like it made my depression worse. Tried Adderall which is great for energy but noticed it makes my mood swings worse when I come down from it or don’t take it. Decided that I was misdiagnosed and stopped the medications. I notice that the only way I can function is if I just don’t stop. I basically work a lot to stay in a routine. When I do have time off I notice that is when my energy level bottoms out and depression sets in more. But my family life and personal relationships with family and friends suffer a lot because of all of this. No one seems to understand what I am going through. I am seeing a lot in common with most everyone that has posted their stories here. It is refreshing to know that I am not alone.
Hello All! I wanted to tell Deb I feel like she does. I am so tired of my regular doctor not being thorough with me for the past 5 years. I think I have been suffering needlessly too. 🙁 I became hypothryroid 4 years ago. Since then my heath has bee crappy. I have just never felt well. It makes me depressed. I don’t know how I got the thyroid issue. No one in my family has it. I blame it on the moldy rental house I lived in for 3 years. But after doing some research on it. I think I could have been Vitamin D deficient for years now. I was diagnosted with low D last year at this time. My test was a 22 and should be 30 to 80 for heavens sake. Doc retested it a few months later after I had been on the 50,000 iu 2 times a week for 8 weeks. I felt a bit better but only reached a 33 this past Sept. Dummy me stopped taking my Calcium with D for a few months because I choked on the big horse pills. ugh! Now I am at a 26. I feel so bad. Tired, achy, fuzzy brain, pressure in my head, muscle twitches (which are bad today) heart palpatations etc… Not to mention I am 44 and going through perimenopause. I told my husband jokingly…just take me out back and shoot me. I feel like no one understands. I am going to make an appt. with an endocronologist and see if I can get the help I need to sort out all my problems. It is SO frustrating…this generalized unwell feeling. Autoimmune disorders are tricky are so hard to live with and deal with. Thanks for listening!
Tamera
I was just DX with Vit. D Def. at the age of 27. I was DX with Crohns disease and depression in July of 05, Fibro Feb 2008 and a thyroid mass in Spet 07 (removed a month ago Jan 2009).
No doctor listened to me in the begining, and after going doctor to doctor and founding an endocrinologist that has done everything for me. I love her for this. I have to take 50,000 IU of vitamin D for 4 weeks and then get blood drawn again to test the levels. The pain in my legs and arms have been horrindous and talk about being tired all the time. Hopefully this will help!
Hello I have been feeling badly for so long…….years….flu-like aches and fatigue, depression, stomach problems……..always put on antidepressants…….they made me feel no better often worse.
After a while you get “labeled” they want to blame everything on the depression. I am very frustrated all these years and finally my primary care doctor did a vitamin D test. I just got results and it is a 5………at the lowest level. I feel so sick I am ready to give up.
My concern is that my primary care doctor does not understand the complex nature of this problem and I want to be seen by a specialist. I am in a HMO…….and it is not always easy to get a referral. I am reaching out to get some suggestions where to go from here. I am feeling so badly, I am not sure where to turn. I am hoping that this is finally the cause of all of my IBS and a lot of my other problems. I have been to many many doctors and it seems the symptoms that you describe are all blamed on depression and they want to hand you another kind of antidepressant or they tell you to “get a hobby”. I am frustrated with some of the attitudes of the doctors I have encountered in trying to discover why I feel so terrible all of the time.
The only reason this doctor took the vitamin D test was that someone in the mental heath department had given another one of his patients who was having trouble with depression the test and it came back low, so he asked me if I would like to have it done so I said yes, I would like it done. I was shocked to see it come back at a 5 level!! My doctor did not call me to explain anything. All the information I have is from the internet. Ior anything He se (I haven’t picked the prescription up yet, so I don’t know exactly what it is) I feel I deserve more of an explanation and more in depth tests or at least a meeting with someone who is more knowledgeable in this field. I hope some of you will understand my frustration…….this has affected my life for so long. I ham hoping that they can do something to help me.
Does anyone have any suggestions for how I should approach this. Should I ask to see endocrinologist or a who would be better qualified to give me the right kind of care? I appreciate any info anyone could offer. I live in Northern California.
Thank you
Cami 18
I am so glad i am not the only one… i am so sick of people making feel like i’m crazy or addicted to pain pills. They make me wonder is the horrible pain really just in my head. but my back, hips and knees hurt so bad i don’t even know how to sit or laydown at night. i was diagnosed with vit. d def. a couple weeks ago. i don’t know what the number was yet, but all she said was u need to start the pills right away the numbers are so low that its basically non-existant. So now for the past 4 years i have been hurting and the pain is only getting worse and the pain medication isn’t even working as much anymore. in order for it to work i would have to double the amount prescribed. doctors kept telling me it was depression. i am not depressed. so i am happy to know i am not crazy or being lazy. i am tired all the time. some dayz i can’t even hardly get up to get kids ready for school. it takes alot to clean my house. it’s hurts to sit in this chair even. anyway i am so glad i found this site and now know that it may get better. i sure hope this works. i guess i need to look in to the pain more and see if there is a label for what or why it hurts other than the vitamin d. thank you all of you for posting what you have it has been so helpful. i made my family read it. lol
Hi all, I just got a vit. D test back from endo dr. and my level is 15. I have been diagnosed with diabetes, gained 50 lbs, treated for depression and could sleep half of the day. Intestines are always rumbling, have loose bowels and lots of gas. Don’t have energy to do much. I do something and have to rest, get back up and do it again. Reading your blogs makes me wonder…..could all of this be because of a vitamin D deficiency? Is anyone else having these symtoms? Thanks, I really have been amazed at your stories. I appreciate your sharing all your symtoms and feelings. What do you think?
Erica,
I feel exactly as you do. The information that you posted describes my life too. Please let me know if you find something that gives you relief from those terrible symptoms that you described so well.
Please email me if you have any additional information about this problem, because I too have had my friends, family, and doctors look at me like I am making this stuff up.
Thanks,
Mark mkacz@comcast.net
Hi there, I have been posting on the site listed below, and will now check this site too. The site listed below has hundreds of posts. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://fightingfatigue.org/?p=1220#comment-70603
i just found out i am d-def,i also have known i had ms since 1994.i was wondering ,can this def cause you to have weakness in your legs and trouble walking? thanks dee
My name is summer and reading everyones comments gives me such relief yet does not take away the pain.. I am 32 years old and for 2 years I have been sufforing from muscle pain / burning flareups / weakness and major fatigue… My doctor made me feel like I was a hypochonriac to the point I changed doctors. My new doctor has found that am really low in D which to me is crazy I live in the sun… But reading all of this has put a sense of peace around me yet I hope that sooner than later I can get to the bottom of this exausting road Im on. Thay have me takin 1,000 iu twice a day… I now have good days and bad days not always bad, I guess we will see!!!
I have had chronic pain ever since I had my fourth back surgery 7 years ago. I see a pain specialist for my long list of medications. I also have high blood pressure and I’ve gained 50 lbs. I’m tired all the time and lately I even fall asleep standing up, I know that sounds weird. I’ve been getting shots in my hips every 3 months because of pain in my hips. Then I had a problem that my family doctor referred me to an endocronologist. Now I find out that I have been severely defient of vitamin D, my level was 8. So now I have to take one more pill a day of vit. D for 2 weeks and then vit. D 3 times a week for 12 more weeks. So will all my problems go away once my levels are up?
I just got a call from my doctor saying that my vitamin D level 8 is the lowest he has ever seen and that I have to take 50000 weekly supplements for 8 weeks and after that 1000 for the rest of my life. I was born in South America and never felt tired or depressed while living there. SInce I moved to the US WA State, I have been feeling tired and depressed. I wake up tired, I spend the day tired and when I get home from work I just think about going to bed, but than I can’t sleep… my attention is not what use to be and my period got quite irregular. After reading all your comments, I feel better that I was not just making those things up and that I can get better if I take the supplements. Thank you for sharing your experience. I will post mine as I take the pills to see how long it will take for me to improve.
Lets all get healthy with vitamin D, or move South =)
Sometime ago my doctor told me that i would have to go for yet another blood test after doing this i was told that my levels were not right and sent me off for more tests i went back and she said that everything was fine i had appt with consultant at the hospital and he has said that my doctor should have been giving me vitD since last year and asked why this has not happened me im shocked that the gp hadnt done anything about this after looking at various sites i can now see what all my problems are about and try to sort myself out and it sites like this that have sorted this out for me thank you
Thank you posters for sharing your stories, it has meant alot to me. I have a son that just tested for Vitamin D and his scores were 3.8, he has been in bed for 3 years with chronic fatigue, muscle and bone aches, depression (being tx for that) and wasting away. I have walked with him all the way and thought this is what it will be like always and we must accept it. Now knowing that he is D deficient I have hope that it can be different, hope that he can heal, hope that he can walk outside and enjoy the sun. He just started on 50,000 green gel tablet and I am wondering how long does it take to feel better? Should I find someone to give him shots instead of pills? Should I get x-rays done to see if there is bone damage? My G-d I had no idea that living without the sun could do this….Why they haven’t tested him for this before is beyond me, this should be a standard screening. I don’t what started first the depression or the Vit. D deficiency but everything we have tried thus far has not worked.
Has anyone seen a score this low? Good grief the lowest I have seen online is a 5 but on the average scores seem to be around 12-16 and catorgized as being severe. It has only been 2 days since he was diagnosed and I feel alittle freaked out.
Please if there are survivers out there that have had tx and are healed tell us how long it takes and how you did it.
I am so grateful to find this forum with people who all sound like they have the same thing going on as I do. I have been EXHAUSTED for years and most of the tests that the docs have ordered have come back normal or at least very close except the Vit. D which was 9. I have been taking 50,000iu a week and I don’t feel any different. I am sick of feeling and looking lazy. On the outside I appear very healthy and fit because I fake it when I have to. This means that I rarely go out and my house is a mess and I can’t hold a job and my kids do a lot for themselves. How long does it take to start feeling more energy and less muscle weakness? 1 flight of stairs wipes me out. Any info and stories would be appreciated. I am feeling pretty down about the whole thing — tired and cranky — the story of my life.
Oh, I forgot to add that I have been taking the prescription for 3 weeks. Thanks.
To Elisabeth, your vit. D level was at an 8, where is it now? Do you feel better?
anybody with sking problems due to vitamind d deficiency?
psiaorasis, and acne around the body area????
I notice that I get patches of really dry skin on my head, not dandruff, and patches on my body.
I was diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency four weeks ago. My level was 4. My doctor prescribed 5,000 IU daily for two months and then 5,000 every other day for another month. (three months total)
I was/am experiencing excessive hair loss and researched causes. Yep, vitamin D deficiency can cause hair loss. So, I requested to have my Vit. D and Iron (serum ferritin) checked. Yes, low iron or more specifically “serum ferritin” can cause hair loss too. Both results came back extremely low. I’m now on supplements for both.
I’m definitely getting more sunlight these days. I thought drinking plenty of milk would keep my levels up, but I guess not?
Wow– so many people in the same boat! I was online looking to see if anyone else ever got sick from taking 50000 units of Vit D prescribed weekly. I got very sleepy a couple hrs after taking it and then later sick to stomach and dizzy tingling feeling with rapid heart beat. Just got a vit d level back of 26. Runs in family to be low. My g-mother got colon cancer out of he blue with no history or risk factors and they told her it probably had something to do with her extremely low vit d for yrs and yrs. and she had 11 kids!
I Have been experiencing symptoms of fatigue, IBS, insomnia, irregular heart beat, inability to drink alcohol, etc.. for 12 years. I’m 32.
Hi I just found this site because my endocrynologist just called me back to give me the results of my bloodwork and said I have a serious Vitamin D def. She said I am a 2 which she said she has never seen. How much more lucky can I get! (sarcasm!) I have felt like crude for over 10 years now with no sex drive, losing my hair (I can almost count how many hairs I actually have left on my head), I have gained 40 pounds and no doctor has ever been able to figure out I had a vitamin d def. I am really happy to say that my doctor has figured this out but I can’t believe I have been feeling so bad for so many years and after all the bloodwork I have had done over the years no doctor ever figured this out until today. I can’t wait to go pick up my persrciption today.
I had really bad leg cramps, and the dr did blood tests and found out my Vit D level was 10 and started me on the 1000 units for a couple of mths and no lucky in bring it up. Increased to 5000 units no luck again, then had to send off and get the 50,000 units. Took one capsule every day for 3 weeks, and it went up to 20. Then they cut back to 50,000 every 2 weeks, then it dropped back then changed to weekly then went to 20. Now it is 2 years later and I am still between 15 to 23 and the leg cramps, fatigue, musle pain, IBS are getting worse went to ER last week and they have now prescrbed valium and Vicodan to help curb the spasams when they get so bad my fee turn out and I cannot walk. Still waiting on the dr to refer me to an endrocogilist to see what is going on. Also just found out the in the last year that my niece, sister and mother also have Vit D def. My daughter used to have a Vit D def when she was 13 (6 hrs) ago but has not been tested lately. Wonder if we have a specific illness that runs in the familty that would cause this. Any suggestions welcomed.
just read angela davis’s post,
I feel like she was writing for me.
My diabites Dr ordered the Vit-D test
he Told me my vitamin d was nonexistent
he put me on 50,000 ui 3 times a week for 3 months
I hope i’ll feel better i’m scared of the side effects.
I was diagnosed with Vit. D deficiency about a year ago with a score of 9. The Endocrinologist put me on the typical regimen of 50000 iu per week, but only 5 weeks and was told to take 1000 iu per day thereafter. At first I noticed an immediate change, probably for the first three weeks. But then the fatigue, muscle aches, depression all returned and seem to come and go thereafter. I am in the process of switching MDs (Endocrinologist) due to the fact that the one I was seeing has a waiting list that is a minimum of three months out, and has cancelled on me twice so I have only see this one once. My regular doc recently tested me and found my level was 12 is keeping me on 1000 iu per day, but I don’t feel he has the knowledge or experience with this issue to effectively treat this.
Is there anyone out there in the Seattle area that would like to discuss their treatment with me or perhaps tell me about their doctor?
Thanks and best wishes to all
I can not believe these comments!!! You mean I am not the only person in the world who has been living in hell for years? I just finally went to the Dr. 2 weeks ago to have my thyroid checked because my fatigue has gotten so bad, I can barely function (I can fake it really good). I put off going to the Dr. for so long because I knew they were going to say there was nothing wrong with me. Well, my thyroid was fine, but they discovered the Vit D deficiency. So I have been reading about it online and all of your comments and I can’t believe that I have found the reason why I feel so horrible all the time at such a young age (32). I am soooo tired, bowel problems, weight gain, depression, body pain, blah, blah, blah. I started on a Vit D supplement and I am going to try to get out in the sun for at least 30 minutes a day and start walking again. I will post if it helps, thanks for all the comments, I am so happy to find that I am not alone and not crazy!!! Who would have thought, vitamin D?
Can anyone tell me how long it took you to start feeling better after starting to take the 50,000 vita d pills? I have been taking them now for 3 weeks and I feel a bit better but not 100%. Also when will my hair start to grow thick again?