Vitamin D deficiency as a result of long-term severe depression?
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I have Bipolar 1, and my depressions are very severe, sometimes with psychosis, and can last up to two years at a time, during which i am pretty much bedridden and housebound. I only go out when I absolutely have to, and hide inside long, baggy clothes, hoods, scarves and dark glasses summer and winter (ie I hide).
Over the past 5 years I have been diagnosed with bone pain and osteoarthritis. Bone pain is a primry presenting symptom of Vitamin D deficiency.
Ive made an appointment to see my GP and in the meantime have started taking Vit D supplements, but I'd love to hear if anybody out there has had a similar problem?
I would also be interested to know if anybody is aware if GPs are alive to this potential problem, because it seems to me that it could be a very common problem in people with long-term severe depression.
Any thoughts?
0 likes, 19 replies
jo44371 Hildegard
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Hildegard jo44371
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helenab jo44371
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I've been doing a lot of reading about vitamin d deficiency as I have been diagnosed with this a couple of days ago. I stumbled upon this discussion and noticed in your post that you're a retired doctor. I understand that you may not want to receive random queries like this and please don't feel obliged to reply to this, I respect that.
i just feel that I have received inadequate support from my doctor since being diagnosed and I feel that my GP lacks expertise in this condition . I have been feeling depressed about this and that's why I have been eager to find out more and it would be great to get some input from a medical professional such as yourself.
ive been ill for about 8 months now, firstly developed a neck pain and gradually my health deteriorated. I have leg pain, muscle weakness, fatigue and constant dizziness which varies throughout the day. It took a while before I found out that I have a deficiency, this due to my previous doctors refusing to refer me for blood tests as they didn't think i had anything serious....
after I got diagnosed, my GP has prescribed me 1000iu of vitamin d to be taken daily. I don't know if this dosage is enough ? I feel this is too low to start with it. My vit d level is 30. And also, as I have been having pain in my legs, should an xray be taken? To check for any cracks/fractures? And does this mean that I have osteomalacia or is this for more severe cases?
I'm so sorry to have to ask as this is out of desperation as I feel that vit d is not commonly known and any response would be greatly appreciated. I hope more doctors will include this in their tests as I think its really important as its widely undiagnosed. Thank you very much.
Hildegard helenab
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Hildegard helenab
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- a very interesting overview of metadata including lots of major studies of vit D supplementation concludes that correction of deficiency probably requires approx 2000 - 3000 iu per day. And that the vast majority of doctors dont prescribe anything like enough given the potential benefits (vit D sufficiency leads to better health and longer life expectancy).
Hildegard helenab
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jo44371 helenab
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Hope that's helpful.
Hildegard jo44371
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helenab jo44371
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helenab Hildegard
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Hildegard helenab
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I posted the original question because it occurred to me its sort of a failure of imagination, or empathy for the realities of living with longtime severe depression - it doesnt occur to doctors the knock-on effects of basically, being bed- or house-bound for months and months on end!
I have been taking the 5000iu pd dose for about 3 weeks now, and before that a standard multivitamin. I have already noticed a reduction in pain from my knees and spine, though of course that may well be psychsomatic or the placebo effect this early on! (but Im not complaining even if it is - even a 1% pain reduction is welcome!) I have an appointment with my GP in a fortnight and will be asking him for regular vit D levels testing - I have to have monthly blood tests for lithium, thyroid, kidney function, cholesterol, etc etc.... they may as well fill up another syringe whilst they're at it! (tho' because my bipolar led to drug addiction in my twenties, its not easy for them to find a vein so that makes me kind of unpopular with the nurses and makes me feel terribly guilty since its self-inflicted).
I have done yet more reading and sounds to me that 2000iu is a perfectly safe, yet sufficiently high amount for long-term supplementation. I highly recommend the Vitamin D Council website - its really informative, data-led, and sensible. I think Vit D is a silent epidemic and could be a really big factor in why we have so many people with arthritis, osteoporosis, as well as being implicated in all sorts of other health problems like cardiovascular function, mental health, one study even suggested things like dementia and parkinsons disease could have Vit D as a contributory factor (ie, why they are so high in the West).
Good luck with the new supplement and lets keep plugging away at the medical profession to get them Vit D Aware! Im thinking of starting a new vit d thread in 'deficiencies' which ive just noticed has a discussion forum of its own on here. patient.info really is a very helpful website, I think! there's nothing else as well-designed or informative and British, as far as I can see?
helenab Hildegard
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Hildegard helenab
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My experiences with fighting for a psychiatric assesment (20 years) and my current battles about my thyroid levels tell me that you have to be assertive to get proper treatment, GPs are so busy, so bombarding with info and updates, that you have to take responsibility for your own health. And always remember that GPs arent psychic!! - they wont know if a med is working or not unless you tell them
- (which I wish I had realised all the years I was on antidepressants and never told my Doc properly about the manic episodes - because I didnt realise they were manic episodes, I just thought I was stupid and feckless and dumb! - so thats not the doctors fault, just an observation about educating oneself.)
lattifa7777 jo44371
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I'm just at point of despair.
jo44371 Hildegard
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Hildegard jo44371
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