Anyone else Vit D deficient?

[daisychains]

I had blood work before my MRI, and before MS was ever thought of. It showed I had a vit D deficincy, maybe a 14? It was pretty low.

And now, after a preliminary dx, I see that Vit D can play a role in MS. I actually started laughing when I read that because it just seems so ironic.

So, did anyone else have low D levels, or have them now? If you have taken supplements, do you think it raised your levels and subsequently helped you in some way?

[BigA]

Mine was 13. My Neuro told me to take 5000IUs of D3 every day. It's actually supposed to help with symptoms.

[Jeannean]

daisychains

I've known for a while that living with ms you should take vitamin d along with calcium because the calcium helps absorb the vitamin d. I had blood work done and found that my vitamin d level was low. I was taking a supplement with vitamin d, but my doctor said it should be more. I now take caltrate 600+D, 1 tablet twice a day. I'll see what my level is in 2 months when I have blood work again.

[Lanabanana]

Low D

Mine level was 10 and I was having pain in my legs. I was also on a statin drug so I went off that immediately and started on the Vit. D. I ate the Viativ chews and now I have switch to Caltrate but maybe I will try them all just for variety. I take 1000 a day sometime I sneak in an extra 500 mgs. Feel better - leg pain was the worst. I also have taken Magnesium for the pain too. That I take after I have used antibiotics. Electrolytes get messed up on Anti B's so a wise pharmacist whose father has MS once told me Mg help him.

I hope I helped someone today.

Lana

[daisychains]

Lana, you did help someone today Thank you, it really helps to have community support here.

[ErinElizabethC]

More D for me!

I just got a D deficiency diagnosis last week. So I have a prescription for mega-dose D for a little while, then a daily regimine after that. I'll get it filled as soon as I finish this course of steroids. I hope it makes me feel better. I'll try anything! Thanks for bringing it up.. glad to know I'm not alone!

[Citrine]

I had an appointment to see my neuro yesterday, and he suggested 2,000 units of vitamin D3 each day. It seems that most of us with MS are low.

It can be found at Wal-mart.

[roo613]

I am not normally a negative person, but after dealing with neuro I'm dealing with, I have to be!!

When he gave me my MS diagnosis, he said that I was on the lower end of the good Vit. D range. I wasn't deficient, but I could take a supplement. So I left his office and researched, but I wasn't sure how much or what kind, etc.

So when I went back last week, he asked me if I was taking any supplements, and I replied, "No, I need to know how much Vit. D to take, etc." He then launches into this whole specialized vitamin thing. It only costs $179 for the urine test, and then they create a vitamin specifically for your needs, etc. And the vitamins are ONLY $70 per month.

My dh and I said, well, that's fine, but we can't afford that, so how much D do I need to take. He NEVER answered me...just went back into the specialized vitamin stuff.

I researched what he wanted me to take, and it is some pyramid scheme to which I am assuming he makes money off of!

Oh, I can't wait to go to a competent dr.

[getoutside]

One thing that we all need to remember about taking vitamin D is that it is a fat soluble vitamin. Meaning, your body won't absorb it unless fat is present.

I was on a very low fat diet before I was diagnosed with MS. Because I drank fat free milk, I probably wasn't absorbing the vit d in the milk. Living in the NW, I didn't get outside in the sunshine much either. I often wonder if that contributed to my getting MS. ???

So, now I drink 1% milk and make sure I am taking either flax oil or fish oil when I take my supplement. Hope I'm getting enough to absorb it now.

The articles I've read and our doctors never seem to mention that. I've only read one article that points that out. Maybe it is because most of us usually have plenty of fat in our diets, but, for me I wonder if I just wasn't getting enough.

[ShawnC]

I have had MS for 17 years. No neuro or reg dr has ever asked me to take a vit d test. Only after reading these boards for the past 8+ months I thought maybe I should bring it up to my reg dr. It's a simple blood test, and mine was 17. I waited for my dr. to call me back because I left a msg with the nurse about how I should treat it. After a couple days of no call back I started my own treatment. I take 2000 iu's of vit d, 300mg of calcium, and I threw in a cheap cod liver oil gel tab. Plus I try to get 15 to 30 mins of sunshine every day and when I cannot I take an extra 400 iu's of vit d. It's been 30 days now and I'm getting ready to go get retested after day 50. Maybe I'm over doing, but I will lower dosages if needed after 50 days.


Sorry roo you had to deal with that doc, yes totally sounded like he was going to make money on that deal. And what a horrible deal it would have been. I got 2000 iu's of vit d at a health food store for less that 12 bucks.


I have not noticed any difference, but I will give it a chance, at least 3 more months. Why not nothing else works. good luck to you in what ever you choose.

[elmo2010]

After blood work, but before MS was suspected, I was told to take 1000iu of vit D, after MRI showing inflammatory lesions on brain & spine he told me to increase to 4000iu daily. I do not know what my vit d levels were to start. but i'll ask at my appointment tomorrow.
so now taking my vit d, awaiting 2nd MRI & ms specialist appointment 1 1/2 months away.

[Maggie1234]

My doctor first told me to take 2000 iu a day of Vitamin D and then he heard something about if you take a high dose it can reverse some damage so he told me to take 4000 iu a day.

[talar]

Vit D, 10.9 even after 4,000 daily for 2 years.

My Vit D was 10.9 even after taking 4000 IU every day for 2 years. The ARNP (which I think is wonderful) at the neurologist office decided to do a 50,000 IU dose once a week for three months followed by a new blood test then figure out where to go from there. The 50,000 was supposed to be a script but when I got to the pharmacy to pick it up they filled it but it was really still over the counter. Amazed how small the pill was still. I guess we will wait and see. I'm concerned that even after being on 4,000 it was still so low.

[MS TOO]

Statin drugs and Vit D

Lanabanana mentioned stopping the use of statins and increasing Vit D. I have not heard of any interaction problems with these before, does anyone have any more info? I have been on a statin for over 7 years, officially DX'd with MS for 3 years and taking Vit D for the last few months only after I asked my Neuro if I should have my D levels checked and of course my D levels were low, 31.

[scooterbuddy]

Low Vit D

It seems that we all have had low Vit D.apparently it's really common these days for most people to have low Vit D - we're not working outside, or always eating our D rich foods, etc. Mine was 8 before I started doing supplements and making sure that I go outside during lunch at work for at least 15 minutes to sit in the sun. Have increased my Vit D vitamin intake to at least 1400 IUs a day and the sun, and eating better. It was at 42 the last time.