Covering up is cause of vitamin D deficiency by: Kerri Knox, RN-The Immune Health Queen!
Hi Betty Jean,
First of all, I hope that you don't think that I am being rude... but I find it interesting that you feel that you are 'healthy' even though you have osteopenia, osteomalacia and osteoporosis!
That is NOT very healthy- even for your age. So, what that tells me is that you have probably been vitamin D deficient for many years. Even though you live in Florida, if you look like the seniors in the picture above and cover yourself up from head to toe- or you stay indoors or stay in the shade most of the time, then how would you expect to get any vitamin D?
Also, besides vitamin D, calcium and other minerals - one of the lifestyle factors that predisposes you to osteoporosis is not getting exercise- which goes along with getting vitamin D.
Most people who get plenty of weight bearing exercise do so out in the sun- running, walking, tennis, golf. All of those activities get you outside, get you sun exposure and vitamin D. So, it's likely that you've not done enough of these healthy activities to get enough vitamin D or to stress your bones in a healthy way to prevent osteoporosis.
As far as thyroid and parathyroid- these are entirely different glands. And if your calcium level is normal, as you said, then your parathyroid gland is working just fine. And no, the thyroid medication did not cause your deficiency.
As far as the pills making you ill- your doctor prescribed you vitamin D2- which researchers have said, "should not be regarded as a nutrient suitable for supplementation or fortification", so you were right to get vitamin D at the health food store. Be sure that it is Vitamin D3 or Cholecalciferol. If it is not, then go back and get one that says Vitamin D3 or Cholecalciferol. That's what you want.
But I doubt that 2000 IU's a day is going to solve your deficiency. If the vitamin d is not bothering you, try to work up to 5000 IU's a day at least, 7000 IU per day would be better.
Or even better, go take off your clothes and lay in the sun in the backyard for as long as you possibly can every day without getting burned. Protect your face, but you could quickly get your levels up in a matter of a couple of weeks if you did this every day- NO SUNSCREEN except for the face.
Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Health Queen Functional Medicine Practitioner Easy Immune Health.com
Vit D by: Anonymous
Kerri,
Thanks for enlightening me with Vit D. I'm 45 yrs old and started taking Vit D supplements on my own since I was 35. I just had my levels checked and it in the low range 28. My OB Gyn recommended to increase my Vit D to 3,000 I.U. daily for 3 months and had it rechecked.
3000 IU's is NOT enough.. by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!
Hi Anonymous,
Sorry to tell you this, but 28 ng/ml is considered DEFICIENT and NOT on the low end. Please read my page on Normal Vitamin D Levels to see why 'normal' is not 'optimal' and why you want to be 'optimal' instead.
And to get to Optimal Levels, 3000 IU's is just simply not enough. It's not even enough for a MAINTENANCE dosage let alone a dosage to bring your levels up. Please read my page on Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment page to see what the experts recommend to bring your levels up (hint: it's a LOT higher than 3000 IU's).
Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen Functional Medicine Practitioner Immune System
How much Vit. D is too much? by: Anonymous
I am 34 years old and my doctor told me today my vitamin D level was 22. She put me on 50,000 IU 3 times a week. I started haveing some health problem when I turned 28.
It start out as a back problem and turned into 5 years of going down hill. I have muscel spasms from head to toe, 100 different muscle groups per day. Is 50,000 IU 3X's a week too much for a person to be on?
vitman d levels and low calcium by: Anonymous
hi I am a 59 year old woman with osteopania. when I was first diagnosed with osteopania it was before my 50th birthday. I was examined by a endocrinologist and was diagnosed with hypoparathyriodism. Then a large benign cycst was removed along with my uterus and ovaries and I was put on a estrogen patch. Which actually helped my osteopania. Now that I have been off the patch for a year (5 years on the patch)my bone deteration is going back up and my vitamin D levels are low. (I grew up on a farm and still am an active sun worshiper with beach outings and gardening on the same farmland I grew up on.)So I am not in need of sunshine in fact I am very tan!!!all over. I live on a very back country road in northeastern ct. so I can work and lay out in the sun without the nieghbors saying or seeing anything if you get my drift.
Magnesium, vitamin d and calcium by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!
It seems as though one of the missing ingredients here is magnesium. Please read my page on Low Blood Calcium to see why low MAGNESIUM levels are often the cause of low blood calcium levels.
Then read my page on Magnesium and Vitamin D to see why people who take vitamin d but don't absorb it are probably low in magnesium. So, the ingredient for you to have low calcium levels and not be absorbing vitamin d- is magnesium...
Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen Functional Medicine Practitioner Immune System
PAIN WITH D AND DEHYDRATION by: Kombuchababy
Dear Betty Jean,
Personally, I would be concerned about your parathyroids if you had your thyroid irradiated. The parathyroids are around the thyroid and could also have been harmed. Go to google and look up RADIATION-INDUCED PARATHYROID DISEASE. Also some doctors will tell you that high normal calcium is NORMAL. Not always. It depends on your level of PTH. It is a ratio. Go to parathyroid.com and check that out too. If you have pain with taking the D or dehydration you might also be deficient in MAGNESIUM. That is my problem we think. I will be posting how it goes when I bring my magnesium levels up. I'm hoping that will help me assimilate the d without PAIN and other side effects.
Ask you doctor about: MAGNESIUM LEVEL TEST ACTUAL IONIZED CALCIUM LEVEL TEST (NOT SERUM) PARATHYROID (PTH LEVELS) Hope this helps my dear
Best wishes,
Karen
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KERRI'S NOTE:
Unfortunately, you can't rely on magnesium testing. Please see my page on Magnesium Levels. A 'normal' magnesium level does NOT mean that it is normal and symptoms of low magnesium are much more indicative of low magnesium. A normal blood test is just likely to confuse you even more...
low vitamin D by: hannie
Sorry I did not leave a way to get back with me. I have been taking 50,000 IU of Vitamin D a week now. I started taking it and stopped, I started back last week. I have a new problem and I am wondering if it is related to the vit D issue. My hair is falling out, the first spot I found was above my left ear and was about 2mm.
I went to the doctor about 3 week later and it was 3mm. This week I have found 2 more spots one the size of a nickel and one the size of a dime. The doc called it Alopecia Areata. What causes this and what can I do to get the hair to grow back? I am starting to get worried that all my hair is going to come out.
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