Vitamin d deficiency
Posted , 6 users are following.
9 weeks ago I was fit and active went to the gym 3 times a week weight training and do lots of walking healthy lifestyle etc. then I started with a cold virus and my arms and legs were very weak. I have got progressively worse and now can't walk far at all or do anything as the muscles in my arms and legs are so weak and stiff plus I have fatigue. I am unable to go to work. I was diagnosed with d deficiency and started 50000 iu per week 3 weeks ago. When will the treatment start working? Do you consider these symtoms to fit with d deficiency? Is it possible that the virus suddenly depleted my d levels? Look forward to your reply.
1 like, 14 replies
clivealive jane0077
Posted
You sound like you are normally a very healthy person who looks after yourself.
What kind of diet are you on?
Do you eat plenty of animal products, red meat, fish, eggs, poultry, dairy produce?
The reason I ask is that Vitamin D is sourced naturally from the above foods - and/or from exposure to sunlight which enables the skin to make it.
If you are not eating those foods (or sunbathing in winter) that may be why you became deficient. As to when you will feel better - how long is a piece of string?
The symptoms you decribe fit Vitamin D deficiency and they also describe a Vitamin B12 deficiency which again can only naturally obtained by eating those same foods from which we derive Vitamin D.
So, if you have become deficient in one you may also be deficient in the other.
If, having finished the Vitamin D supplement you have been prescribed you haven't recovered completely I suggest you go back to your doctor and ask for your serum B12 and serum Folate levels to be checked.
I am not a medically qualified person but one who has had Pernicious Anaemia (a form of B12 deficiency) for 45 years and am also Vitamin D deficient.
I wish you well.
Beverley_01 jane0077
Posted
Hi Jane,
D deficiency can give these symptoms but, I'm looking at you having the cold/virus first and then suddenly getting these symptoms. There's a condition called PVF/PVS (post viral fatigue/syndrome) this can also give these symptoms. Have a look on line to see if you feel this fits. Most people recover from this but some go onto have CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) which is longer lasting. Gp's cannot investigate for CFS until you have PVF/PVS for at least 6 months I believe. Many people recover within that period.
Rest is the main thing for both conditions I believe and I cannot stress how important it is in the later. As Clive states, d deficiency in winter is more apparent. From what I've read it can take a little while to start to feel the benefit of the medication and many top up with some sunshine in the warmer weather.
Hope this helps
Beverley
EileenH jane0077
Posted
I think it is very unlikely the virus depleted your vit D levels suddenly. Low vit D is also associated with autoimmune disorders as well as causing these sort of symptoms itself. However - it is perfectly possible to be severely depleted but have no symptoms at all - my husband doesn't and his vit D level was 7!!!! And you were presumbably depleted 9 weeks ago when you were happily working out at the gym.
I suspect it is more likely you have some form of post-viral syndrome, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, and if your symptoms persist after a couple of months of vit D I think that should be considered by your doctor.
https://patient.info/health/myalgic-encephalomyelitischronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs-leaflet
I'd like to comment on a couple of Clive's statements. Whoever you are and whatever you eat, you get only about 10% of the amount of vit D you need from diet since most foods do not contain vit D - unless you live in the USA where many foods including milk and fruit juice are fortified. They are NOT fortified in Europe so that doesn't help there. I don't know where you live, but you also cannot make vit D in the skin in winter unless you live south of Turin in Europe and Boston in the USA and you have to be out in the sun without sunscreen at midday for at least 15mins. Some people simply don't make vit D in their skin for all sorts of reasons - including dark skin colour.
GeorgiaS EileenH
Posted
There's a therapy called solar gazing in which in the summer months you can look at the sun during the first hour of sunrise and the last hour before sunset starting with seconds and gradually increasing the dose.
You can do this in the winter more when the sun isn't so bright. There are some great youtube videos on it and it's best to find out more before doing it. There have been scientific studies. I can substantiate that there are health benefits because when I've done it I've felt so much more energetic and better and we can get vitamin d through the thin skin around our eyes and other health benefits through sunlight in our eyes.
EileenH GeorgiaS
Posted
Given the risks of looking directly at the sun and the fact that sunlight must strike the skin at a high angle to trigger the vit D manufacturing process I don't think looking towards the sun before breakfast will help vit D levels! The sun is only high enough between 11am and 3pm. Don't believe everything you read that says it has been proven in "scientific studies"!!!!
GeorgiaS EileenH
Posted
That's why I said it's best to learn about it first in order to do it safely. I didn't say anything about vitamin d and studies, the studies were on solar gazing.
I've never heard that the sun has to be a particular height to gain vitamin d from it; it makes more sense that we can get certain amounts at different heights but none most of the time? Doesn't sound right to me.
By the way I don't believe everything I read in scientific studies; I also tried it out for myself.
ptolemy EileenH
Posted
I think the thing that would worry me about sungazers is that one guy says that he has not eaten for eight years but lived on the sun's rays.
GeorgiaS ptolemy
Posted
Yes, I saw a video about him; that's the scientific research I mentioned, it was on him!
I wouldn't go that far though, I like my food!
EileenH GeorgiaS
Posted
There are scientific studies and scientific studies - you have to be able to tell the difference. You did mention vit D being absorbed through the skin around the eyes - except you don't "absorb" vit D, it is made from cholesterol as the starting point.
The sun's rays must strike the skin at above a certain angle to switch on the process - when the sun is low in the sky that doesn't happen so early mornings, late in the day and during the winter the process isn't switched on. Nor does it work well if you use sunscreen (Factor 8 reduces the amount of vit D made by over 90% for example, a slight suntan is equivalent to factor 12). Lots of things affect it.
jane0077
Posted
fom jane0077
Beverley_01 jane0077
Posted
EileenH jane0077
Posted
Like Beverley I'm sorry you feel that way.
However - these forums aren't here not to say what you may not want to here. It isn't negative or depressing - it is called being realistic and really - if you were fine 10 weeks ago and not fine 7 weeks ago it is very unlikely to be solely due to vit D deficiency which was why I answered your question "could the virus have depleted vit D suddenly" with no, it isn't likely - and this much more likely.
clivealive jane0077
Posted
Be well soon and back down the gymn
ptolemy jane0077
Posted