Vitamin D deficiency

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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?

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  • Posted

    hI Helenab,

    I wanted to know how are you feeling now that it has been a dew months? I was just diagnosed with vit d deficiency, level at 10. I've been feeling awful for the last months and lately the dizzyness, lightheaded and foggy brain have been the worst. Dr said it will take a few months to see a difference, guess Im just looking for some reassurance.Would love to get an update from you!

    • Posted

      Hi lizzy luv 

      Just checking how you are feeling now after two months of vit d treatment? I started to feel a lot better after 6 months although I remember having really bad days every now and then but mostly stress aggraviated. 

      I was only prescribed 1000iu a day but i took 2000iu instead, I seriously thought 1000 was a low dosage considering other people with vit d def take 10,000!! . At first i started feeling side effects such as mild nausea, diarrhea and sweating so I had to lower my dosage. I took this every other day until I got used to it. When i felt rubbish I would takr a higher dosage. This worked for me but i personally do not advise it as it depends what works for you. 

      Hopefully you will start feeling better soon. I think i started picking up 3 months later and it was summer time so i was sun bathing as much as I could. 

      Its now winter again and ive been staying a lot indoors and im starting to feel restless legs again. Hoping to God its not vit d again!! 

    • Posted

      Hi Helenab

      Thanks for replying! I have been in treatment for vitamin D deficiency for now 13 weeks, I took prescription vit d3 50,000iu a week for 8 weeks and have been taking a maintenance dose. I just had a checkup and my vit d is still low at 25 but it has improved and so have my symptoms.

       Im feeling a lot better but I still have several symptoms linguering like muscle weakness, tired, horrible pressure headaches and on and off dizziness. The headaches and dizzy spells are by far my worst symptom, I know you mention you had these two did they get better?

    • Posted

      Its good to hear that you have improved. Yes my dizziness and headaches improved after 3 weeks. I was given anti sickness tablets (i think its called prochloperazine?) and the symptom slowly faded away. But at that time I was also wearing new glasses so couldnt even tell anymore what was causing the headaches! 

      You will slowly get your energy back once your level is at a normal range. What dosage is your maintenance dose? If you can go on holiday i highly suggest it as it is soo helpful!! 

  • Posted

    I was diagnosed with PMR in January but asked to be checked for Vit D defficiency as the symptoms can be similar. Shoulder pain, extreme tiredness, flu like symptoms etc. In fact I was Vit D deficient about 25 if I remember rightly, but did have PMR too. My GP gave me Vit D and calcium and also I sat out in the sun every day if it wasn't raining! My last test I was on the lower limit of Vit D OK. It seems the sun is a lot faster at improving vit D defficiency than supplements. Food alone cannot give us our full amount of vit D apparently.
  • Posted

    Highest source of vitamin D are fish and fish oil.
  • Posted

    HI Helen, Just read this blog as I take Vit D for two reasons. I keep out of the sun as I am prone to rodent Ulcers on my skin (BCC's or Basa Cell Carcinoma) and also live in Scotland where there can be a paucity of sunshine, especially in the Winter months. This site gives a very full explanation of the need for Vit D and although it mentions a number of serious health conditions I have been assured that they are quite rare unless you are seriously depleted of Vit D. For many years it has been added to staples like cornflakes and margarine, so it's increasingly unlikely that people fall into that category. However, this site explains that 90% of our requirement comes from sunlight, so your diet is a top-up. So the absense of sunlight seems to be the most crucial factor, hence my taking a supplement. I also get SAD syndrome too which adds to the problem. Before taking the supplement I too had lethargy and aches and pains of no known origin. I have since noted a general improvement. I take a very rational approach to self-care and look for what I might be contributing to the problem. So, I watch my diet but don't avoid treats. Exercise is a must despite the aches and pains. Having a dog helps, at least for me.

    Kind regards, Ben

     

  • Posted

    I was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency today when my lab results showed my levels <3 and not measure able...i had earlier on complains of tiredness ,pain in tail bone and of late flu like symptoms...last month i was diagnosed as hypertensive...i read that hypertension is one complication of vitamin d deficiency..let's wait and watch how my treatment works...50,000iu vitamin d3 weekly for 8 to 12 weeks... and="" not="" measure="" able...i="" had="" earlier="" on="" complains="" of="" tiredness="" ,pain="" in="" tail="" bone="" and="" of="" late="" flu="" like="" symptoms...last="" month="" i="" was="" diagnosed="" as="" hypertensive...i="" read="" that="" hypertension="" is="" one="" complication="" of="" vitamin="" d="" deficiency..let's="" wait="" and="" watch="" how="" my="" treatment="" works...50,000iu="" vitamin="" d3="" weekly="" for="" 8="" to="" 12="">
    • Posted

      Dear Drasadaf,

      Any update of your situation?...What is the level of Vitamin D now?...What symptoms are still continuing?..What relief you have seen so far?...

    • Posted

      hi...I am much better now...though I have not checked my levels again but I feel lesser pain on exercising and also psychologically I have improved ..I mean I am more happier now compared to being more depressed earlier ..my BP is also in 130/ 90 reduced by 10 mmhg...less pain overall...I can definitely feel the difference after treatment....I grab in as much sunshine as I can......
    • Posted

      Hi Drasadaf,

      Thanks for your feedback...What is the level of supplementation you take now?...What is the target D3 level for you?

    • Posted

      Just be easy on yourself when exercising. Dont strain yourself. I found that stress and tension made me ache so bad and i had to rest for a few days after. 

      I wouldnt exercise until im fully recovered. Your muscles/bones are still recovering so give it time. 

      You should feel better as your treatment progresses

  • Posted

    Hi for those who have been asking how I have been since my Vit d treatment, from my last blood test few months ago, my level was already normal. I started to feel better a few months later but I still had a bad day every now and theb. I definitely felt AMAZING when I went on holiday to a very sunny place for two weeks in october and I can honestly say I had to stop taking vit d during this time as I was constantly under the sun for most of the time. Felt 100% aches and pain free! 

    Im also now almost 8 weeks pregnant so im still taking vit d but a lower dose although im very careful not to relapse as again Im mostly indoors so i dont get much sun. But yeah to those of you currently on treatment... There is lighy at the end of the tunnel. Vit d treatment does work and you will start to feel better from 6 months onwards... But try and get as much sun as possible as that is the best treatment. Sucks as we dont get much sun in the UK so keep taking supplements. 

    • Posted

      Congratulations on the bun, Helen! I have been following your vit D journey in the last few days as desperate for some good news for my own deficiency. So good of you to feed back every once in a while - it really does give the rest of us hope! Do hope all going well with the pregnancy. Good ol' vitamin D! All best wishes. 
  • Posted

    Hi Helen

    I recognise your story.  I too had very low vit d (14) and have what is known as sero-negative arthritis.  Ask your Dr to refer you for a formal rheumatoid evaluation, to ensure that an auto-immune disease has not been missed.

    • Posted

      Hi everyone,

      Did any one had sleeplessness as main symptom of Vitamin D3 deficiency?..If yes,did it improve after supplementation?

    • Posted

      YES YES YES, im 28 and my sleep just went to total hell. that was the symptom that improved the quickest. because my anxiety went down and immediately, i felt calm enough to sleep!!! so yes yes...take the vitamins

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