Is this pretty low? (Vitamin D labs)

Hi Trish, my latest vitamin D3 levels were sitting at 50 and that is after 2 years of supplementing with 10,000iu's of dry D3 a day plus whatever is in my multi and calcium...so probably closer to 12,000iu's total.  I decided to add one 50,000iu pill once a week in addition to see if I can get things moving up.  I started out at 39 back 2 years ago and haven't made much headway.  I buy mine from Vitalady online.

Laura

Wow Laura, it sounds like it was alot of time and work to get to 50, but 50 is sure a good number!  I'll take it!  I bet you were happy to get that number up!  I'm looking into 50,000 a day.  I've heard people have good results with this dosage.  I'm going to ask my Doc friend if it is a safe dose.  I am def. feeling the affects of low D, and want to fix it.

I've been under the care of an Endocrinologist for the past 16 months because of a parathyroid tumor I had.  The parathyroid tumor whacked out my calcium and Vitamin D level.  After the tumor was removed, she put me on 1600 - 1800 mg calcium citrate daily and a dose of vitamin D.  

I started out with 50,000 iu vitamin D (D3) once weekly for 14 weeks.  After testing my level, she had me take 4000 iu daily which kept my level in the high 50s.  That is where she wanted it, so I continue to take 4000 iu daily.  Once I took a higher amount for a couple of months and my vitamin D went up to 72, she wanted it a little lower.  So, I keep taking 4000 iu daily and now she checks my level every 6 months.  

One thing she did tell me is that maintaining vitamin D level is an individual thing because everybody does not process vitamin D the same.  She always has to monitor people more closely until they get to a maintenance level.  

So, even though we keep reading that Vitalady and people who have had DS or RNY suggest we keep our levels closer to 100, I'm sticking with my the level that my Endocrinologist has prescribed.  I think that more info about Vitamin D is coming out these days, so we're getting more articles about it.  I'll have to ask my doctor what she thinks about the higher levels and why she was worried when mine got to 72 and wanted it lower.  

Please do ask why she was worried about a 72 lab.  This is a very interesting subject.  I would love to know since I was basing my thoughts on Vitalady.  I'm also going to ask my Naturopathic doc friend what she thinks.

Let me know what she says.  I will have to go back and see what my labs were.  I'll yell at you when I am back in town.

A lot of people aren't educated about the new research on Vitamin D and the current lab ranges go way too low. For optimal health, you want it to be much higher than 35. There is some noise being made about changing the lab range from 30-100 to 55-150. I like mine to be around 75 to 85 but it's been as high as 100 and I still felt great.

You want to take Vitamin D3 though, not D2.

And, yes, low vitamin D causes fatigue. It also contributes to osteoporosis because you need to your Vitamin D levels up in order to process your calcium well. And having a higher level is associated with a lower risk of certain cancers.

(((((((hugs)))))))  Thank you for this.  I do believe that I need a higher lab value than 35, and am hoping that it helps with the fatigue I am experiencing. 

Here's what my Naturopathic doctor friend told me concerning taking 50,000 Vitamin D3 a day;

"You don't need that much D3.  10,000 IU daily of vitamin D3 will be perfect.  50,000 IU is based on D2, which is the prescription form and the wrong kind for your body."

She's pretty darn smart, and usually if not always right, so I'll listen to her advice.

Hi Trish,
I'm 2 years post op and my last labs showed I was low in Vit D also. My doctor prescribed me Vit D which came in the form of a Colecalciferol pill that I take once a month for 3 months. I was feeling all of the 'deficiency' symptoms and feel much better now.

Obviously living in different countries we would probably do things differently but I will also look out for a good supplement when I take my last pill.

With summer just around the corner for me I am also planning on doing a little 'safe' sunbathing!!

Cheers
Fleur

You must have a great doc.  How low was your D lab?  Do you know the numbers? 

How long have you been taking the D supplements?  I've been taking them for around 2 weeks now and just yesterday I noticed I was perking up. 

What were your defiency symptoms?  Mine have been extreme fatigue and forgetfulness.  Both have gotten better in the last 2 days.

Also, I live in the southern hemisphere, so to absorb vitamin D from the sun, I go outside and sunbathe for an hour between 10 am-2 pm.  It says that the more skin is exposed, the more D you absorb.  Then you are not suppose to shower for at least an hour after.  Magnesium is also needed to assist the body with the vitamin D.  I've read that the best way to get magnesium is to take epsom salt baths.  So I've been doing that as well.

How about you?

We're sleeve sisters, but your a year ahead of me