doctors and vitamin toxicity

 Kelly, 
I did want to mention that in the world of healthcare normal is normal.  If a range is 30- 80 (numbers just pulled out of the air) of a lab there is no benefit to being on the high end in especially the fat soluable vitamins.  It of course depends on the specifics, some people are sensitive are at both ends of the spectrum.  I would not ,however, encourage 50,000 IU of D3.  That should be patient specific and also dependent on where you live.  Generally, when  prescribing calciferol in large doses it is for an 8 week  peroid of time and then recheck the levels.    I have seen Vit D toxicity but it is only in people taking huge amount of Vit D.  It is rarely if ever seen in unsupplemented people.    I do treat a vary large population of folks who are Vit D deficient either because of the weather ( not enough sunshine) or they are in a population that rarely gets out ( think nursing homes).  
Again, just my 2 cents worth.
Kat

I think there is a benefit to being at the high end of normal in many cases.  The benefit that I see, at least for myself, is that vitamin levels can drop pretty rapidly sometimes.  I like to have a "cushion" there.  I like to know that if, for instance, I have a particularly heavy period or for some reason miss taking my iron for a few days my iron level will still be in the normal range.

As far as the 50,000 IU D3, I would not suggest everyone should take that much either.  I agree it should be patient specific.  As far as I am aware there have been no studies on the amount RNY patients need in order to maintain a good vitamin D level, but from reading posts here from many people about their vitamin D levels and how much they take, I have noticed that many of us do take 50,000 IU several times a week in order to maintain a good vitamin D level.

Now, when I say "a good vitamin D level," I am talking about a level above 80.  I know most labs list the normal range as something like 30-80.  The reason I say a "good level" is above 80 is because the Linus Pauling Institute at the Oregon State University says that below 80 we are increased risk for things like osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease.  I think reducing our risk of those things is a good idea.

When you've seen vitamin D toxicity, how high a level are you talking about?  How much had they been taking?  What kinds of symptoms did they have?

I think it would be interesting to know what TYPE of D they were taking....was it D3... I've heard it said that D3 it's almost impossible to get your level too high. But regular D or D2 that is a different thing entirely.

I think it's important to be clear on what a person with vitamin D toxicity was takign... .what type, what amounts, what frequency, over what length of time, and what permanent or temporary setbacks they had as a result specifically of the Vitamin D aside from any other medical complaints they might have had which could maybe make what seemed like a causal relationship actually be incidental in reality.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/rny/4447831/vitamin-D-plea se-help/#36796448

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/what-is-vitam in-d/vitamin-d-toxicity/

Yeah, I would like to know those things too.

It's been my experience also. Really do not know why, the NP freaked out when I told her what I take too and I'm not above any ranges except B-12 which she mentioned nothing about, LOL.

I do know Tue fat soluble Vits are more apt to cause toxicity on Tue research I have done.

 I'm curious about when MDs are concerned on specific issues of vitamin toxicity too.....  I wonder of any are concerned on metal toxicity?? I know it's very rare but given my medical mystery about too-high copper level, I get kinda curious about that potential danger. BTW, I've queried yet another nutritionist about causes of high copper and she'd never heard of the supposed connection between birth control pills and high copper. So, I've heard reasons for my high level as: 1) you're on birth control, 2) you're losing weight and 3) " I don't know"...... 

I agree with you Kelly.  I was suffering from severe fatigue for a while and started self medicating, I doubled my B12, Iron, and stated taking 50K IU of Vitamin D three times a week.  It took several weeks but I finally felt back to normal.  When I had my labs done everything came back great except my Vitamin D came out around 70 and my doc was concerned and asked what I had been doing.  I told him I started self medicating to start feeling better and he was floored, like why would I do that?  Well I did it because I knew something was wrong, when a healthy woman wants to sleep all day clearly something is wrong.  I agree with you in that they don't know enough and can't give good recommendations on certain things.  When I had a problem with a loud gurgling stomach he just shrugged it off as if it was normal and just part of my surgery and something I would have to deal with.  Low and behold once I started taken probiotics daily I got that under control too.  I am so grateful for this board and all the great advice.  Until someone walks a mile in our shoes I just don't think they get it.

 This is very interesting to me because being tired all the time has been my number one complaint. I don't know if vit. D is the answer, but I am sure gonna increase mine. My level was 50 on my last blood draw, so I am gonna see if a higher level will increase my energy level. I sure hope so.

I love these post which continue to help us learn about our new bodys.

Here's my 2 cents on the Vit D.  I live in KY, work outside 4 days a week, get plenty of sun and was deficient before I ever had surgery.  I asked my PCP how that could be since I was getting all that sun that they say will keep your D level where they need to be.  She said she didn't know the answer to that, but that they were seeing a lot more of it.  So I guess where you live and the amount of sun you get doesn't have as much to do with it as they say.  Just my humble opinion.