Please can someone help? Vitamin D deficiency

Sorry about the random full stops... stupid phone puts them wherever it likes
X

I'm not a fan of the massive-dose injections. Not only is it just excessive, it's not in a form that the body can readily use (unless this has changed recently). I, too, am chronically low, and even with daily supplementation of 5,000IU am still considered low. Supplementation has brought me from the 30-35 range up to about 55-60. (Should be more like 70-80.)

The fact that your doctor is categorizing vitamin D into a "faddy deficiency" tells me you need another doctor. Vitamin D is also a protohormone, and serves a variety of functions beyond simply being a "vitamin."

For anyone else reading this thread, it's important not to supplement vitamin D in substantial dosages without being tested regularly to monitor serum levels.

Bruce

We really can't give medical advice here. This is something you should pass by your doctor. I don't take Lyrica so I have no experience with it.

Your rib and sternum pain could be costochondritis. There is a link in Fibro 101 about that too. You can see if this sounds like what you are experiencing. I get that and use ibuprofen with food and Tylenol to help with the discomfort.

If you haven't read Fibro 101 yet...the first thread on the forum...do so. There are things in there that might help you.

Sherrine

It doesn have to be either or. Quite a few of us with fibro also have costochondritis too. I also take a muscle relaxer called Robaxin...less than half of what was prescribed...and it made a significant difference in my pain. When you are in intense pain your muscles tighten up which causes more pain. Just something to think about. Please try to relax. Worrying causes stress which causes more pain.

Sherrine

Hi, Jelly. I am a Fibro patient with almost non-existent Vit D levels. I take 10,000 iu's of D3 daily for the rest of my life. Since I first started it, I have never had any of the symptoms you are describing. However, I did try Lyrica at one time and had horrible side effects right away. Two weeks of that and I was done! Sounds like you need to speak to your doctor about the Lyrica. I had the nausea, dizzy, upset stomach, etc. A lot of what you described.

Costochondritis (aka slipped rib, stuck rib) is something else we have in common. I had a severe case of bronchitis turned pneumonia back in '07 that kept me in the hospital for 7 days and with cough-variant asthma. This began the rib pain that took me 9 years to have properly diagnosed. If you so much as gently poke my ribs, they burn and sting for a while. Coughing and sneezing are torturous most times. And some days I don't even want to wear my bra. I have had cortisone injections in my ribs (and yes, that too was awful) and it helped for a very short bit. However, I have realized after numerous cortisone injections in my body that they don't work for me other than a 2-4 weeks, but hopefully you are different. I have researched treatment, and most say it goes away. However, as I stated earlier, it has been almost 10 years and I still deal with it daily. I have spoken to my chiropractor about treatment as well. Best of luck with that one.

Lastly, if my doctor said those words to me (the ones you spoke of in your original post) I would be looking for a new doctor. You know your body better than any person so be a strong advocate for yourself. Best of luck

I do not have any of those symptoms with my ribs. It can cause sharp pain, burning/stinging sensations, very tender to touch, and I get muscle cramps very easily. If you are having heart palpitations, you should see your doctor and get a referral to a cardiologist. I have had a pacemaker since I was 24. My issues started as what they thought was a simple heart murmur. However, the Vit D nor the rib problem have ever affected my heart. Hope you see your doc soon!

Each fall I remind folks here to up their d for the winter..mine got too low and felt horrible.

Last winter I took 6,000 a day over winter, and by accident did not get rechecked til august..my d level was only 30, which is not high enough for me..so this winter I am taking d3 at 10,000 a day , so will see if that level keeps me higher than 30..

Get in the sun 15 to 20 minutes when you can..

Lj

Karen, I'm going to add my input. I'm sure LJM will too. Your D levels I think are a little too high. I take 5,500 IU of D3 to maintain my level of 50. This includes D in my calcium supplements and also my multiple vitamin. I have my D levels checked too just to make sure they don't go too high. I have trouble absorbing things so I'm probably not absorbing all that I take. I dont want to go above 50. I think that's the high end of the safe amount.

I'm no expert but that seems reasonable. Some think 30 is considered normal range and I've read 30-100 is fine. But vitamin D is fat soluble so it stays in your body longer. You can take too much D so it's important to be checked by your doctor regularly. If your doctor thinks you are taking too much then listen to him. I think 4,000 IU is considered the highest safe amount for women but, in my case, I have absorption problems.

Sherrine

Karen,

Just saw your question

My dr told me up to 10,000 a day is fine..esp over the winter when my tends to get too low.

Since 6,000 did not keep me in a good range, I took 9,000 because of what is in other pills..

I am about due to be tested again..he would have given me the 50,000 once a week but taking it daily made more sense to me