D3

I am pre-op for duodenal switch. Starting out my vit D level was 10. I have been on Vit D at least 6 weeks prior to my stage 1 surgery of the VSG (10/23/12). Recently I was rechecked (8/23/13), and I am currently at 29.  So I started taking my D daily, then for 1 week twice a day, and currently back to daily. I am on 50,000 ui. However, about a week ago I switched to D3. I am hoping that when I am rechecked on 9/9/13, I will be at least 40 as my surgeon for DS won't do my surgery until I am at 40. I have insurance approval and everything.... Anything else I can do??

Sarah

it is not unusual to be vit d deficient. not sure when your surgery is scheduled for... i will assume you have a normal GI....depeding on how much time you have you can take oral vit d, pre op ds, you can take d2 rx, 50K IU or d3 otc, 50K either one you will absorb, post op ds you will not absorb d2 rx as it is oil based so stay away from that one.  if you need a fast increase in vit d for you to have surgery request a vit d3 compounded rx IM, any dr can call in a compounded rx to a compounding pharmacy... I would suggest 600,000 IU....you will be all set....good luck with your surgery

I know you're reading that we are taking this much and more of D, however I want to caution you to be very careful.  D can be toxic if levels get too high, and you'll be in a far worse state than not being able to have surgery.  

29 is still low, though certainly better than where you started. Are you using the "dry" D, which is what you will need for sure with the DS? Most of us take 50,000 units dry D daily, and some people need 100,000 units daily to maintain good levels. It sounds like you need to go back to twice a day until you get your level up where it belongs. As Val said, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, so get your level checked often enough to make sure you don't overshoot. But it's easier to correct a too high level than to catch up with a too low level, and easier for you to do it now than with a DS.

Larra

Not sure if it helps, but I'm a VSGer who has had low D issues (and elevated PTH).  What worked for me was 50,000 IU dry D3 2x/week for about 6 weeks.  That brought me up from the 20s to the 50s.  My nut told me 2000 IU/day....and I had to reply, but I'm already taking 5,000 IU. :)    I maintain with 50,000 IU/week.

I live in FL too.  One would think the sun would help, but in my case, it doesn't really seem to make much difference.