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Anyone else been treated for vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency?

Posted: Dec 16, 2014

I went to the doctor recently and literally had to demand that she check blood work on me. Ridiculous!

A little background: Over the past few months, I've been feeling more depressed, more anxious, more hormonal (I'm perimenopausal) and just overall not feeling well at all. She immediately wanted to put me on an SSRI without even bothering to look for reasons I've been feeling poorly. I told her I would like to see if there is an actual cause for these symptoms I'm having, so I wrote out a list of labs I wanted checked, one of which was vitamin D and lo and behold my level was 20 (normal according to my clinic being 30+, although many online sources say upwards of 50 is more the normal). I was told to take 50,000 units of vitamin D once weekly for 8 weeks and then have my level retested.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar situation with low vitamin D, and if so, did you feel better once your level normalized?

;

Yes I did and no I didn't feel any better. I was also peri- SM - IMO

[ In Reply To ..]
menopausal and I'm sure your symptoms are due to that. You may want to try the SSRI--if you're having any hot flashes they work for that too.

As we age the majority of us have vitamin D deficiency. Unless you live in the Arctic where there is very little sun in the winter, go outside for 1/2 hour every day in the sun.

I did try an SSRI on 2 occasions in my life.... - Stella

[ In Reply To ..]
and both times I felt 100% worse. I tried Zoloft first, then Celexa. I felt much more depressed. I know there are other meds to try, but the trial and error can be just awful. I know much if not all of my symptoms are hormonal related to the perimenopause, excessive fatigue, insomnia, depression/anxiety, foggy thinking. I would just prefer not to try the SSRI route again.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

BW - BW

[ In Reply To ..]
A couple of years ago I asked my doc to check my Vitamin D level and it was only 10. He put me on prescription dose (can't remember how much) and I took that for about 2 months and did feel better. He said I didn't have to supplement anymore so I didn't. Recently I was having symptoms again (depression, fatigue, etc.) and asked him to check it. Sure enough, it was low and am now on supplemental again. Am now taking Zoloft too, but have tried probably 6 other antidepressants and they all made me feel horrible. So far, this one is working. Good luck to you!

VITAMIN D - radmt

[ In Reply To ..]
i live in sunny south florida and in the sun often. my D level is 17. shocking. i've read some things can cause a blockage of vitamin D being absorbed (cannot recall). when i started to take 5000 units daily, leg cramps. dropped to every other day with a lower dose. i can tolerate it now. would love to get the vit D checked again soon. Depression..try treated with a low dose of valium. has always worked for me. brain fog, a naturopath suggested coconut oil. body needs fat. avocados...etc.
I do feel better when in a routine of taking vitamins. Choose a quality pharmaceutical vitamin such as Xymogen.

Mine was tested, very low so I started Vitamin D3 - and almost immediate improvement

[ In Reply To ..]
I noticed specifically by the next day and take it every day. Already menopausal when mine found.

Vit D deficiency - anonie

[ In Reply To ..]
I have it and I have to take 2000 IU of D3 which is better than what the prescription stuff does, nothing.

When I went for a bone density, that had improved from osteopenia to better. So I would be sure to take it if doctor tells you too but take D3. I only take it once a day but calcium 600 mg plain a day.

Right now I think I wish my doctor had done another D3 level on me. There is one particular test that insurance will pay for and one that it won't pay for. Can't remember which is which. They are very skeptical about VitD, but hey if my bones are better by my bone scan, I am happy. No osteoporosis yet and I have no ovaries to produce anything so I have to take hormones as well.

I hope you get some help. Stick with it and get your doctor to do something in this regard or find someone else.

It was me who asked if doctor would test me and good thing he did. I am exhausted, but not sure what it is now. They are testing me for anemia now. I doubt that is it. Maybe next time I will ask for another Vit D3 level.

It can really make you extremely exhausted. It was my understanding that I had to take this all my life. I can't imagine anyone telling you you could quit. Your level might be therapeutic, but it will go down again, I am quite sure.

Mine is very low and I'm on 50,000 units - once a week

[ In Reply To ..]
My level was 15 when last checked. I'm on 50,000 units vitamin D once a week for 4 weeks. This is my 4th week. Then I go to 4,000 units every day. I was on the same regimen about a year ago (winter in the midwest means less sun) and my level improved but still didn't get to the 50 range. Even my doctor has low vitamin D. He says it's impossible for anyone to get enough D in food and from the sun, unless you're in the sun every day all year.

I'm on Cymbalta and Wellbutrin for depression and anxiety, which is worse in the winter.

Very low level - anonie

[ In Reply To ..]
Mine was low too. However, despite my taking 50,000 units of Vit D, it didn't really help. Then I had read where the prescription vit D is not as good as D3 and since then I have heard D3 is what you should take.

I am wondering if possibly mine is low again. I think I will ask my doctor to check the level to make sure that it is not going lower for some reason.

I agree with the doctor. You can't get enough in the winter and I hardly get out in the summer much for long periods of time. I also can't drink milk because of lactose intolerance, so I have to depend on Vit D3. I have a bowel problem that keeps me from eating green leafy things. I do still try though.

I hope you get yours under control soon.

I take an antidepressant and have since probably the 90s or maybe late 80s. I inherited that from a grandfather. Lots in my family have it.

Good luck to you.

Having mine checked - Christine

[ In Reply To ..]
I have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism, so my doctor just gave me a slip to have my vitamin D checked. I read in research online that those with fibromyalgia (myself included), can often be helped greatly when given the correct medication for hypothyroid. They suggest, however, not to take levothyroxine. I believe the website suggested T4 meds only. . if memory serves.

Have hypothyroidism, take the levothyroxine and never - been to physician suggesting only T4

[ In Reply To ..]
Have had 2 endocrinologists, both had me on thyroid medication and frankly don't think either suggested the T4 ever. I was bothered with fibro for some time and knock on wood, no body pain now for probably 2 years. I did have body pain prior to my starting Vitamin D3, bad, and then the pain went away about 2 days later after starting that. I really think the body pain was all about lack of Vitamin D (which had been checked and was extremely low) and then poof, gone with the Vitamin D3.

Really glad for you - Christine

[ In Reply To ..]
I am hoping for a good result if, indeed, my vitamin D is low and she puts me on medication for hypothyroidism. The websites I was on suggested that many doctors are not "on board" with prescribing T4. I just remember it said that levothyroxine may not be beneficial in some patients. I am really glad you had such good results with vitamin D3.

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