Vitamin D deficiency
Posted , 124 users are following.
I've been unwell for on and off now for almost a year. I remember phoning off sick a couple of times before feeling tired and 'achy'. I thought I was just being lazy and this was psychosomatic. Then I started getting really ill when I developed a sudden onset of neck/shoulder pain which is still an on going problem now although the pain has turned into discomfort/ache which I have learned to manage doing exercise and stretches. I also feel sensitivity on other parts of my body (like invisible bruises.For 6 months I was coping with my neck/shoulder problem (symptoms are crawling/tingling sensation in the arm, sensitivity to touch like its bruised and cold feeling and dull ache on my shoulder blade).
Then gradually I started developing 'flu like symptoms' without cough or cold but with tiredness/fatigue and dizzy headache which are intermittent throughout the day, until 2 weeks later I started getting throbbing ache in my legs and eventually I couldn't sit all day without getting restless legs and crawling/tingling sensation in my legs which caused weakness in my legs and worse when I'm going upstairs - and my knees keeps clicking. I went to my doctors who prescribed me with naproxen. And told me that I had something called Reactive Arthritis, which i thought was a misdiagnosis. Overall I though that it could be viral related
This time I've been off work for a week when I started to feel better after a week on naproxen. I came back to work for a week feeling like i thought I recovered. Then boom 2 weeks later gradually the flu like symptom came back with extreme tiredness / fatigue and I've been in bed since. I'm still achy all the time regardless. I have no energy to do anything, even showering is a struggle. Ive been in bed most of the time, sometimes I try to go out with my husband for a few hours but I come back home absolutely exhausted and the soreness/headache i get is a different level. Most of the time I feel like my body is inflamed.
So i decided to get a second opinion and i went to see another GP who referred me for a blood test. A few days later, my results came through and I have Vitamin D deficiency. Everything else they tested seem fine.I have a better outlook now though after the diagnosis, apparently it will take months for the treatment to take effect. I guess now they found something they will stop investigating further (which worries me a little bit) but i guess its process of elimination so treat one thing at a time. Would be great to hear from others who also has this deficiency and whether the treatment was effective?
13 likes, 304 replies
lindsey80295 helenab
Posted
Hi - realise this was posted a year ago but stumbled across your post whilst researching vitamin D deficiency. I have just been given the news that I am from my rheumatologist. I have been having doctors appointments and blood tests for 2 years and finally saw a rheumatologist who sent me for X-Ray's and more blood tests as I have feeling exactly the same way as you have described (I felt like I could have written your post myself it was so similar)! Can you please tell me - did you feel better after taking vitamin D?
helenemiles lindsey80295
Posted
Sorry to hear that you have felt so a awful 😕
I think that it was a combined success of 6 week course of vit d ad well as steroids.
I was unfortunate, as had 3 diagnoses at the same time.....
Certainly my low mood improved but but have had a roller coaster of a year...
Have felt about 90 some days, and have had to accept that I can no longer run around like I used too.
Hoping that you gradually feel much stronger.
Take care
Helene
Skatardrummer helenab
Posted
I realize this is really late, but some of your description hit home. I have 2 forms of anemia and Vitamin D deficiency. I have B12 and Iron anemia. I have also experienced the clicky knees. I am on an RX vitamin D and it seems to help a lot. I am also on B12 injections. I was 7 days late on my injection this month and I could tell. I got home today and had to lay down, and I did that once 4 days ago. I never do this no matter how tired. I just couldn't help it. When I woke up, my whole body felt heavy for an hour like I had sleep paralysis. Every joint hurt. I know once the b12 kicks in I will feel well again. This is going to be for life for me, but it's hell. It's like CFS/MS/Fibro all together. I suffer from chronic migraines and vertigo. After treatments, headaches are greatly reduced, pain is greatly reduced, and I look forward to excersise. About a week before injections are due, I start feeling horrible. It's up to what your doctor and you work out, but I do find treatments for people with severe deficiencies really helpful. People who are healthy and don't have immune deficiencies or malabsorption conditions often can just change their diet or add otc supplements.
Hope you got the help you needed!
christine57660 helenab
Posted
I am vitamin d deficient and have been for a while vitamin d is so important for your health and well being first of all vitamin d comes from the sun we get and because we are all worried about skin cancer we use sun block so we will run short of vitamin d in our system which will cause big problems health wise for bones and a lot of other things we can't get enough vitamin d from our regular food because of the volumes we need to bring the levels back up I currently take 40000 units weekly as mine is really bad according to my endocronologist (thyroid) he says that even young children should take it as we don't get enough sunlight and long term could be very bad for long term health I had been complaining for years about my bones hurting and not feeling well I researched vitamin d and in America they realise how much we need this vitamin it is only just getting recognised here in the U.K. When you look up all the symptoms of vit d deficiency you will find all your symptoms are related but you cannot get enough out of vitamins or food alone you have to take high dosage and regular blood tests to see how your vitamin d levels are my bones now they realise that I now have osteopenia which is one stage off osteoporosis and am sure that vit d or lack of it has been why all my bones are now affected hands shoulder back all of these joints have been affected
rosemary48300 helenab
Posted
I stumbled across this page looking for vitamin d defficency. So glad I did. Had bloods taken last week after stating all my symptoms. Have received a letter from gp something has come up in the results and go is phoning tomorrow, classified as mine urgent.
I have been suffering with major anxiety and depression. Anxiety attacks became so severe, I felt raging hot, faint, everything became so bright. I was shopping at the time and went to customer services and asked if I could sit down. Then severe pain shot into my thighs and sweet was pouring off me. They really took care of me and wanted to call an ambulance. I said no thanks, I wish I had let them now in retrospect. When I tried to stand my legs were SO weak i couldn't stand up. Eventually after half an hour they took me to my brothers car in a wheelchair. I have since found out this was caused by adrenaline a major anxiety attack. I was misdiagnosed for three months by two GP's. I continued to go out and had two more major anxiety attacks and differing anxiety, sometimes the pavements were like walking on waves.I became sensitive to light, sounds, smells. I could not stand the television on loud,listen to the radio or even someone cutting the grass.
Eventually I could take no more and did not go out for three months.I was totally exhausted and could not eat. Half of my hair fell out. I lost two and a half stones in weight.
My husband had now become so upset by my situation he visited the medical centre and demanded immediate help, which thankfully I received. However I did not know this was just the beginning to recovery. I found out I was sensitive to most medication and some antidepressants had dreadful reactions. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression.
With great help from professionals I am slowly, slowly recovering. However this has taken two years.
My symptoms now are aching shoulders, hands, knees which crack, tender ribs. Sometimes it passes then returns. Yesterday I stood ironing, after I had finished my elbows were so sore.This morning elbow joints painful and ribs. A hot shower seems to ease it A bit. I cannot tolerate cold drafts and will get a chill very easily. Sometimes I feel so weak i just feel I could collapse. I have hardly any stamina and feel that I am trapped in a body of a very elderly person.
So I wait for tomorrow when I receive the blood test results to see if it is lack of vitamin D. Thanks to you and everyone who replied to your post for all the info x
gaurav99505 helenab
Posted
Hi,
I was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency.My level was 13. My doc prescribed me 60,000 twice a week for 2 weeks and then once a week for four weeks. After first 3 caps i felt bit better. My main issue is dizziness. Weakness and other symptoms are very minor.
But after the fourth tablet i feel the dizziness has increased n worse. Could it be cause of the high dosage. I am worried if i have other side effects. Plus he also gave a vitamin B12 capsule daily.
I am so tensed and frustrated with this. Dont kmow if i will ever reach normalcy again😢
cristina42849 gaurav99505
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rosemary48300 cristina42849
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Yes I am for the UK. WIl follow your advice. Many thanks.
cristina42849 rosemary48300
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I'm recently diagnosed vit d deficient and join the group and learned a lot from them. X
rosemary48300 cristina42849
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cristina42849 rosemary48300
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Hi rosemary I used to take vit d3 800iu only and experiencing the same like you then I joined the Facebook group called 'vitamin d defiency Uk ' there is a pin post there that will tell you the correct dosage to take but it's up to you if you want to follow it. Joined them and you will learn a lot and you can ask what is the best for you a lot of them was taking vit d for a long time and experience a lot of things like you. Right now I'm taking vit d3 5000iu magnesium and vit k2 and feeling much better now. Hope this will help. Try to join in Facebook
gaurav99505 cristina42849
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Thanks a lot for the inputs. I shall have a look into that
tata92410 cristina42849
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Alison1012 helenab
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Hi,
Ive only just registered with this site and read your post. The symptoms you describe are very similar to mine. I have Fibromyalgia/Chronic fatigue syndrome, which come hand in hand with each other. Doctors seem to not know a great deal about it. I was diagnosed by a professor and that was done by pressing on certain points of the body to see if I had sensitivity to touch. Maybe you could mention that to your Doctor.
My husband has done loads of research on Fibro. I've just spent the last 12 months in bed because of my fibro and cfs.
If you want to ask any questions please feel free and I'll try and answer them for you.
Jaybelle Alison1012
Posted
Hope you don't mind me butting in...I was also diagnosed with fibro by a Professor (first initial J, last initial D) in 2010, from a simple history and pressing tender spots. However, I later found that this was a misdiagnosis; I was severely vitamin D deficient, and suffering from osteomalacia. The bone softening (osteomalacia) leads to tenderness of the skeleton, particularly around the heads of the bones - JUST where physicians press to test for 'fibro' tenderness.
I am pretty cross at being left with a treatable condition for over four years, as you can imagine! I am left seriously suspicious that the mysterious, 'untreatable' FM is in most cases just undiagnosed D deficiency/osteomalacia, which will certainly leave you sore, weak, fatigued and with mind-numbing brain fog, just like FM. The difference is, it is treatable, even if it can take a long time to recover. Wishing you all the best.
rosemary48300 Jaybelle
Posted
Hi Jaybelle,
Many thanks for your response. Massive brain fog and for some reason sleepy. Taking 20 000iu
Three time's a week. I know it is D
defficency, pain shins, hands, ribs, front of top hips and muscles. Weird thing comes and goes!! Have been suffering with massive panic anxiety attacks and depression. Just seeing the day light and slowly recovering after two years. Then wham this wanted to cry but told myself come on noe know you can beat this. Thanks again for your help much appreciated xx
Alison1012 Jaybelle
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Ally x
Jaybelle rosemary48300
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There must be dozens of anecdotal reports on this site of anxiety, panic and extreme tearfulness associated with vitamin D deficiency. Funny thing is, it doesn't seem to be listed as a symptom. I think we know otherwise from the number of times it's mentioned by sufferers! Look after yourself and take it really easy, expecting lots of false starts and unexpected relapses. All best wishes.
Jaybelle Alison1012
Posted
I think that anybody reporting FM-like symptoms should be a red flag to a doctor and offered a 25-OH-D blood test as the symptoms are essentially identical. Myself, I'm pretty convinced that the majority of cases diagnosed as FM are in fact osteomalacia due to vit D deficiency, and that FM might just be a mistaken label for undiagnosed osteomalacia in the majority of cases ALL ALONG - but that's just my personal hobby horse; whether you agree with that or not, it doesn't hurt (much) to get the blood taken and have a look. Bear in mind, that if you have been supplementing with high dose D recently, your blood test could come out fine, but you could still have osteomalacia - it takes up to 15 months to resolve (rebuilding bones and wasted muscle) if it's long standing. All best wishes.
ptolemy Jaybelle
Posted