what really causes low vitamin d

I just found out that I have really low Vitamin D so I was put on 5000 IU a day for 4 weeks then 2000 IU a day afterward plus 3 calcium 500mg a day. Now, I do have an chronic inflammatory disease and was taking 8 pills of methotrexate but was bumped down to 6 pills because of my blood work and 1 pill of arthrotec.

My question is that is the low vitamin d caused by my illness or the pills that I'm on or was it from my poor diet. I have IBS so some days I don't eat very much but I still eat.

My DR. didn't explain much to me about what may of caused it other than saying something about dieting. So I was just hoping that you could maybe explain what might of caused it.

I look forward to hearing from. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter I really appreciate it.

Sincerely Yours;


Carrie-Ann Sherwood

Why Is My Vitamin D Level So Low..

by Imagine
(Kennesaw, GA)

I'M TOTALLY CONFUSED, MY VITAMIN D LEVEL IS "7." My Rheumatologist took a ton of blood from me to test for every possible disease known to mankind. My symptoms are severe body aches/pain, fatigue, and weakening of my joints ie... elbows/knees/ankles etc.

Also I have a history of DVT'S (I have a VENA CAVA FILTER & I have taken Coumadin in the past.) Some Doctors say I have Lupus and others say I don't. Before all my results came back from the blood work my Rheumy put me on 50K of Vitamin D. I just got the results and he said my Vitamin D was severely low at a level of "7."

He was the first Doctor to even measure my level. I want to understand how my level got so low and what the low level is/has done to my body. I wonder if I have LUPUS or was a suffering from Low Vitamin D Levels. How bad is a level of "7" and just how long does it take to get that low? What would cause my Vitamin D Level to be so low?

Will my symptoms of severe body aches/pain, fatigue, and weakening of my joints ie... elbows/knees ever go away? Currently my pain is so severe that I am in a pain management clinic. Sometimes I think I am going crazy because my pain is so severe all over my body and communicating my feelings effectively to Doctors just seems to become overwhelming!

PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND ME BETTER!

Thanks in advance,
IMAGINE

Causes of Low Vitamin D Level

by BettyJean
(Florida)

Living in Florida all my life and being basically healthy at age 70, I wonder why I am low in Vit D (tested, it measures 20). My calcium level is normal but I have osteopenia and osteomalacia and nearing osteoporosis. My endocrinologist had me take 50,000 IU and I had a toxic reaction of extreme dry mouth for a week. I understand that Vit D has a half-life of 20 to 29 days. I was supposed to take another one after 30 days but I refused to do that to myself again.

Pharmacy told me that there is not a smaller Vit D pill available. So I went to a health food store and found some capsules that were 1,000 IU each and take 2 daily. After three months of this, they will test again.

How does the Parathyroid play into this? Should it be tested? Many years ago I had hyperthyroidism and the doctors destroyed my thyroid with radiation. I was put on Synthroid and later, Levoxyl for many years. I have serious hair loss (female) which I think is due to this medication. Could this medication affect Vit D?

Photo by Shawn Chin

How to Determine the Underlying Cause
of Vitamin D Deficiency

by Caroline
(South Africa)

I have been diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency and would like to know how to go about determining the underlying Cause of the Vitamin D Deficiency.

I have a history of a multinodular goiter (a thyroid problem) which I have consulted an Endocrinologist for.

My blood test results for thyroid are all normal.