Vitamin D Level

[Marcia K]

Good afternoon. The PA I am seeing for osteoporosis recommended that I lower my Vitamin D supplement from 5,000 to 1,000 because she said I have a high level. The range is 30-99, my level is 82.3. With winter coming I'm not sure that I want to do that. I spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer and I won't be doing that in the coming months (cold PA). Prior to my diagnosis I was deficient in Vitamin D, but the PCP at the time never told me! He liked to order bloodwork but then never told me the results. I only noticed it sometime ago when I was online looking at my reports. What are your thoughts, Wayne? Thanks again for all of your help.

[Gabes-Apg]

Did you stop the supplement for a week prior to the test?

If it was me, I would reduce to 2000 iu for now and moderate the dose based on if you have outings and there are sick people there / how you feel.

they will always suggest 1000iu as that is the 'main stream medicine' recommended guideline.


I always tell mainstream medical practitioners that I am only taking 1000iu (tell them what they want to hear!)
I moderate my dose from 2000iu to 4-5000 iu depending on what is happening in my life

[Marcia K]

Hi, Gabes. No, I didn't stop taking it prior to testing. The instructions didn't say to do so and the staff person at the lab didn't mention it, either. I will cut back to 2000 iu, thank you.
I was sorry to read on a previous thread that you had cancer. I hope you're doing well now.

[Gabes-Apg]

I always stop or reduce my dosage for the week prior to the test for Vit D3, zinc and my active B's
that way I am getting a reasonably accurate result.


I wish I could say I am doing ok
I am 'all clear' on the treated breast but we are monitoring an anomaly in the other breast
radiation treatment has caused damage to my lungs which has taken a bit to get the right puffer that works etc
I have had way too much contact with various aspects of main stream medicine in the past 12 months!
Being an advocate for my combo of health issues is exhausting, as each silo only cares about their silo.
Then last Friday at my 6 monthly skin check I have small melanoma (my second in 4 years).
Sigh.
cie la vie.
Having reasonably control on the MC has been crucial this past 12 months, as my body deals with all the other challenges.

[tex]

Hi Marcia,

I agree with Gabes. Since I live in sunny Central Texas, I take 5000 IU per day during the cold months of the year, and during the warm months, when I get more sun exposure, I take a 5000 IU capsule every other day. I try to keep my hydroxy vitamin D level at least in the 50 to 60 ng/mL range, and if it gets higher than that, I don't consider that a problem unless it goes over 100 ng/mL.

That happened to me only one time, when I had a magnesium deficiency, causing my vitamin D to remain in my blood, rather than being transported to the cells where it was needed, and as the vitamin D continued to build up, I started developing kidney stones from the excess calcium, even though I wasn't taking any calcium supplements(and never have). Just another reason why taking a magnesium supplement is so important (another thing that most clinicians don't understand).

What's the PA afraid of? — That you might absorb some additional calcium from your diet and strengthen your bones so that he (or she) wouldn't have any reason to prescribe a bisphosphonate? In my opinion, that hydroxy D level shouldn't cause any problems unless you're not taking an adequate amount of a good magnesium supplement. At least, that's my opinion.

Tex

[Marcia K]

Ah, Gabes. You certainly have had a time of it. I hope things are on the upswing for you soon! Thank goodness you haven't had a flare with everything else going on.

Thanks, Tex. I haven't met with her since my initial appointment after the DEXA. Her office called me to tell me about cutting back on the D. It will be interesting when I meet with her at the end of the month & I tell her that I'm not starting the medication. My GI knew so little about LC, I really don't expect her to know very much about supplements and treatment other than medication.