vitamin D deficiency?

JBoneke

Member
Vitamin D deficiency?
I just found out i was deficient. I'm at 15.2 on a scale of 30-100. I've been struggling for months with fatigue, weakness, depression, ed, elevate BP, etc...
I never would have thought of that. Was thinking it was E2 for sure. Had that test too but my number on the standard test is at 39 on a scale of like 5-65.
I kind of knew it wasn't estradiol because I've had those issues before and this really didn't feel the same plus they were relatively easy to get rid of. I wasn't getting better with vitamin d deficiency and actually getting worse.
Anyway, I just started recovery with 50,000 D3 a week. Apparently it can take months to recover. Oh well.
This is apparently a common problem that I never would have looked at. I requested a Lymes test and my dr said he wanted to check D levels as well. Some similar symptoms and he said he's seeing many deficient people.
Even if you don't have symptoms you may still be low and then it can get worse.
Just wanted to bring this up for either discussion or for people to be aware. It is common and if you aren't feeling right for no reason, this very well likely could be the reason.
Thanks
 
I get mine checked every 6 months with routine TRT bloodwork and i'm also chronically low. I'm usually in the high teens to low twenties. It's become epidemic in that just about everyone is deficient or sub optimal.
 
thegodfather said:
I get mine checked every 6 months with routine TRT bloodwork and i'm also chronically low. I'm usually in the high teens to low twenties. It's become epidemic in that just about everyone is deficient or sub optimal.
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Do you have symptoms when you get low?
 
JBoneke said:
Do you have symptoms when you get low?
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Typical fatigue related stuff. I also attribute that to a high stress career (i carry guns for a living) so that doesn't help with dealing with other chronic issues like low T and low D.
 
I was deficient in vitamin D as well. Here is my graph from MyBloodTracker app showing progress at 10,000 IU a day:
Invalid Link Removed
 
kenpoengineer said:
I was deficient in vitamin D as well. Here is my graph from MyBloodTracker app showing progress at 10,000 IU a day:
Invalid Link Removed
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Cool.
If I'm reading that right, you went from 21 to about 50 in three months?
What were your symptoms at 21 and what did you notice when you rose up to 50 or whatever that level is?
 
JBoneke said:
Cool.
If I'm reading that right, you went from 21 to about 50 in three months?
What were your symptoms at 21 and what did you notice when you rose up to 50 or whatever that level is?
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On my chart you see the green/red bar on the right? The green area is my target. I want to be between 80 and 100 per my reading what is optimal.

At low D I always felt run down. At these higher levels I feel more energized. But! I'm on TRT and other hormone supplements like DHEA and Pregnenolone. This all affects how you feel.

BTW, that graph is from an IOS app I developed called MyBloodTracker. I use it to track all my bloodwork levels. I show and review the graphs with my doctor and we change things up based on if I'm trending up or down. This allows me to correct levels before they become a big problem.
 
JBoneke said:
Vitamin D deficiency?
I just found out i was deficient. I'm at 15.2 on a scale of 30-100. I've been struggling for months with fatigue, weakness, depression, ed, elevate BP, etc...
I never would have thought of that. Was thinking it was E2 for sure. Had that test too but my number on the standard test is at 39 on a scale of like 5-65.
I kind of knew it wasn't estradiol because I've had those issues before and this really didn't feel the same plus they were relatively easy to get rid of. I wasn't getting better with vitamin d deficiency and actually getting worse.
Anyway, I just started recovery with 50,000 D3 a week. Apparently it can take months to recover. Oh well.
This is apparently a common problem that I never would have looked at. I requested a Lymes test and my dr said he wanted to check D levels as well. Some similar symptoms and he said he's seeing many deficient people.
Even if you don't have symptoms you may still be low and then it can get worse.
Just wanted to bring this up for either discussion or for people to be aware. It is common and if you aren't feeling right for no reason, this very well likely could be the reason.
Thanks
Click to expand...

I take 5,000 a day..didn’t realize 50,000 was even a thing..wow..maybe I’d better get mine checked
 
cobri66 said:
I take 5,000 a day..didn’t realize 50,000 was even a thing..wow..maybe I’d better get mine checked
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You only take 50,000 if you are deficient. If you're not and depending on your level you probably shouldn't take any or much less.
 
I wonder for recovery purposes if it would be better to take like 10,000 d3 a day from Walmart or just do the 50,000 once a week prescription? Any thoughts on this?
 
I take 50,000 iu 2x a week to maintain normal D levels. You have to get a script to go that high but I fought D deficiency all my life till now
 
FRITZBLITZ said:
I take 50,000 iu 2x a week to maintain normal D levels. You have to get a script to go that high but I fought D deficiency all my life till now
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This is unbelievable. Never would have even thought this was that important or a potential problem.
How long you been doing 50k twice a week? How low were you level wise? Symptoms?
 
Vitamin D is really a hormone and not a vitamin. Agree, 50,000 IU is via prescription.
 
cobri66 said:
I take 5,000 a day..didn’t realize 50,000 was even a thing..wow..maybe I’d better get mine checked
Click to expand...

Don’t get this mixed up... 50000 is once per WEEK. There really is no reason to go over 10,000 per day (70000 per week)....yes some will take more to get their levels to like 120 for some reason but for me personally I feel worse over 80. I can maintain 45-55 with just 2,000 daily.

And re vitamin D hormone vs vitamin. D3 is a vitamin. That molecule is then converted to the active vitamin D hormone. No one takes direct hormone vit D.. unless you are so deficient that you are dying basically... and the dr has to monitor your labs very closely so you don’t go too high. It’s very difficult to take too much D3. It is very possible to take too much active D.
 
FRITZBLITZ said:
I take 50,000 iu 2x a week to maintain normal D levels. You have to get a script to go that high but I fought D deficiency all my life till now
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Or just take 5 10,000 iu mini capsules twice per week? Does your insurance really pay for Rx D3?? Mine won’t pay for anything that you can get dosed OTC with Just extra pills (example...won’t fill 800 mg ibuprofen. I simply just take 4 200 mg strength instead of the “Rx” strength)
 
bigdavid said:
Or just take 5 10,000 iu mini capsules twice per week? Does your insurance really pay for Rx D3?? Mine won’t pay for anything that you can get dosed OTC with Just extra pills (example...won’t fill 800 mg ibuprofen. I simply just take 4 200 mg strength instead of the “Rx” strength)
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Since technically it's pharma but it can be = in OTC I get a deal 12 pills for $2
 
Anyway, I actually have some dopamine receptor snp mutations that high dose D3 makes me very moody, irritable, and makes my ADHD worse. So I don’t overdo it. Even when I took no D3 my levels were 35. I guess I’m lucky in that regard but unlucky in other vitamins (I have both major folate mutations)
 
Also OP I don’t mean to derail your thread with my post above. Just wanted to point out that in some instances high vitamin D can cause side effects. In most this is not true. But there is always a few that respond differently. So I’d say lesson is go by how you FEEL more than what the lab number is
 
bigdavid said:
Also OP I don’t mean to derail your thread with my post above. Just wanted to point out that in some instances high vitamin D can cause side effects. In most this is not true. But there is always a few that respond differently. So I’d say lesson is go by how you FEEL more than what the lab number is
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No problem. I appreciate the knowledge. I've been living this hell for 7 months and am now hopefully in recovery. I would like to get through recovery as fast as possible and hopefully maintain from there.
My symptoms have been terrible and never would have guessed this.
I'm just curious to hear other people's stories and recovery ideas.
 
JBoneke said:
No problem. I appreciate the knowledge. I've been living this hell for 7 months and am now hopefully in recovery. I would like to get through recovery as fast as possible and hopefully maintain from there.
My symptoms have been terrible and never would have guessed this.
I'm just curious to hear other people's stories and recovery ideas.
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Well let me ask you this: you and your dr have established that your vit D deficiency is causing your symptoms. However, have other avenues been checked such as thyroid, RBC/iron status, folate and B12 levels. Also have you done any genetic testing to see if you have any mutations in your enzymes that convert B vitamins to their active form?

A lot of the time when we analyze our problems, we tend to go through a list, find 1 cause, and then attribute all the symptoms to that 1 cause. But there could be other issues also like listed above. Because if you are anemic it doesn’t matter how high your vitamin D gets you will feel crappy. Also have you seen a GI doctor? Do you have any intestinal symptoms? Malnutrition through lack of absorption can be a problem for those with celiac, Inflammatory bowel disease, etc.
 
bigdavid said:
Well let me ask you this: you and your dr have established that your vit D deficiency is causing your symptoms. However, have other avenues been checked such as thyroid, RBC/iron status, folate and B12 levels. Also have you done any genetic testing to see if you have any mutations in your enzymes that convert B vitamins to their active form?

A lot of the time when we analyze our problems, we tend to go through a list, find 1 cause, and then attribute all the symptoms to that 1 cause. But there could be other issues also like listed above. Because if you are anemic it doesn’t matter how high your vitamin D gets you will feel crappy. Also have you seen a GI doctor? Do you have any intestinal symptoms? Malnutrition through lack of absorption can be a problem for those with celiac, Inflammatory bowel disease, etc.
Click to expand...
I had a full blood panel done and thyroid as well. RBC is good and so is thyroid according to drs which I asked about right away. I don't have any info on vitamin B conversion I don't believe. As far as Celiacs, I have none of those symptoms. Actually kind of the opposite(weight gain, some constipation).
 
JBoneke said:
I had a full blood panel done and thyroid as well. RBC is good and so is thyroid according to drs which I asked about right away. I don't have any info on vitamin B conversion I don't believe.
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Well just some thoughts for down the road. I hope the vitamin D resolves all of your issues. But don’t forget that if you don’t have remission of all your symptoms don’t feel hopeless. There are a lot of solutions to any other issues you might face. For example I just take methylated folate for my folate mutations. Helps a lot with depression.
 
bigdavid said:
Well just some thoughts for down the road. I hope the vitamin D resolves all of your issues. But don’t forget that if you don’t have remission of all your symptoms don’t feel hopeless. There are a lot of solutions to any other issues you might face. For example I just take methylated folate for my folate mutations. Helps a lot with depression.
Click to expand...
Thank you much. Btw, I edited my last post. I don't have Celiacs.
Want is folate mutations.?
 
JBoneke said:
Thank you much. Btw, I edited my last post. I don't have Celiacs.
Want is folate mutations.?
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It’s basically a mutation in an enzyme that converts folate to methyl-folate. Methyl-folate is the “active” form. Various versions of the mutation can slow down the conversion and symptoms can arise if you don’t have enough of the activated form to carry out physiologic processes. But just google “mthfr mutation” and you will find a ton of sites about it. Not saying you have it. But keep it in the back of your mind in the future.
 
JBoneke said:
You only take 50,000 if you are deficient. If you're not and depending on your level you probably shouldn't take any or much less.
Click to expand...

I understand that...just didn’t realize being severely deficient results in a dose of 50,000..
 
bigdavid said:
Don’t get this mixed up... 50000 is once per WEEK. There really is no reason to go over 10,000 per day (70000 per week)....yes some will take more to get their levels to like 120 for some reason but for me personally I feel worse over 80. I can maintain 45-55 with just 2,000 daily.

And re vitamin D hormone vs vitamin. D3 is a vitamin. That molecule is then converted to the active vitamin D hormone. No one takes direct hormone vit D.. unless you are so deficient that you are dying basically... and the dr has to monitor your labs very closely so you don’t go too high. It’s very difficult to take too much D3. It is very possible to take too much active D.
Click to expand...

I thought was 50,000 per day..thanks for clarifying
 
I am pretty certain I am deficient, pale as a ghost, rarely get sun... I am starting to think it is causing my hair thinning too
 
JBoneke said:
I wonder for recovery purposes if it would be better to take like 10,000 d3 a day from Walmart or just do the 50,000 once a week prescription? Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

all know is that I was always low on BW even with 10,000 and lots of milk. When I started taking the 50,000 I was in the norm. It might just need an over saturation to get your numbers up
 
FRITZBLITZ said:
all know is that I was always low on BW even with 10,000 and lots of milk. When I started taking the 50,000 I was in the norm. It might just need an over saturation to get your numbers up
Click to expand...

what was your level when low? was that 50,000 once a week?
 
JBoneke said:
what was your level when low? was that 50,000 once a week?
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I can't remember numbers but if 50-100 is norm I was a 30. and it stayed a 30 with tons of sun, good diet, 5000 and 10k vite d. I almost wonder if the script D is maybe micronized or diff in some way.
 
FRITZBLITZ said:
I can't remember numbers but if 50-100 is norm I was a 30. and it stayed a 30 with tons of sun, good diet, 5000 and 10k vite d. I almost wonder if the script D is maybe micronized or diff in some way.
Click to expand...

this is really bothersome to me. i'm at 15.2 and spend a lot of time out side. I must have something wrong with me to not allow vitamin d to accumulate and do it's many jobs. don't know if I just came down with this or if I always was low and didn't know until symptoms hit.
I guess some people don't get symptoms. did you?
 
JBoneke said:
this is really bothersome to me. i'm at 15.2 and spend a lot of time out side. I must have something wrong with me to not allow vitamin d to accumulate and do it's many jobs. don't know if I just came down with this or if I always was low and didn't know until symptoms hit.
I guess some people don't get symptoms. did you?
Click to expand...

90% of ppl are D deficiant. its not just you. D is also hard to absorb this comes from the change where we used to get 90% of D from the sythesis via the sun and now our bodies have to ingest it.
 
FRITZBLITZ said:
90% of ppl are D deficiant. its not just you. D is also hard to absorb this comes from the change where we used to get 90% of D from the sythesis via the sun and now our bodies have to ingest it.
Click to expand...

Wonder why some people get symptoms and most don't it sound like.
 
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