Vitamin D deficiency.

I have AMD but have never been told to beware of the sun, thankyou for that bit of wisdom.

Like you Hannahlouisluke, my biggest problem is juggling the different medications. Some cannot be taken within two hours of each other and if I'm late or forget, it gets even more complicated?
I'm going to have to make a timetable! ?

Same here Marydoll. I too became intolerant of Alendronic Acid for osteoporosis, developed a terrible croaky voice which was eventually diagnosed as silent reflux so now on Cimitidene and waiting for appointment for infusion. At the same time I was also prescribed Adcal for Vit D deficiency. I didn't know that sunshine might not cure the problem, so probably on it for life. Also got macular degeneration so have to be careful in the sun. Have injections and take Macushield for that.
Aloe Vera is soothing for reflux but doesn't cure it for me unfortunately. Isn't it a pain having to juggle various medications and supplements as you get older? Cheesed off with it!

It is interesting that your GP won't retest. Mine won't either.
He said if I was taking the supplements I would be OK.

I was diagnosed with severe vit d deficiency 2 years ago (the NHS says the normal range is 50 and I was 14) and I take the Better You spray with vit K2 and use a magnesium spray too, all from Holland and Barrett. all the tablets and capsules I've tried, including the tabs my gp prescribed, seem to irritate my digestive system. please don't make me go into symptons, truly awful. but this vit d3/k2 spray doesn't affect me in that way, you just squirt it into your mouth/under the tongue. I take about 12,000 ius of the vit d a day in the morning just after my breakfast which always includes some fat (eg eggs or full-fat plain yog). its made a tremendous difference to my health, I feel so much better. the psoriasis has radically improved, I rarely fall over now and am much less tired.
My gp won't retest so I don't know what my level is, I believe the optimal range starts at 125 but you should aim for higher. there's a facebook page for vit d3 deficiency that I've found very informative. hope this is helpful winterwhite and Marydoll.

I have vit d on repeat prescription after a blood test showed deficiency ..doc said to stay on it forever!

I take 2 Vitamin D capsules daily (one morning and one night) and they help with my immune system and also help with arthritis symptoms. Just look up Dr Google.

Yes thank goodness for the NHS.

Iam, it took six weeks, before the side effects subsided. I was about to give up. I agree, it is an awful drug.
I'm on the maximum dose, as no alternative for me and methotrexate is out of the question.
However, I'm tolerating it much better, so no complaints.
Onward and upwards l
Here's to all those on GN, dealing with chronic illness. GN is a great place to find support.

Marydoll,Sulfasalzine is a drug I just couldn't manage, nausea, head aches, exhaustion, generally feeling like I'd been run over by a truck. It sounds as though it's working for you though, good.
Without the NHS, we'd have had to sell our house to pay for my medication. Alternatively, we'd have had to by a wheelchair I expect.

I've never had my Vitamin D levels checked (perhaps I shold) but I do take Vit D tablets sometimes, not daily, and I just went out and bought some cod liver oil. It doesn't seem to have such high levels of Vit D as the tablets but perhaps is easier to absorb; I bought the one with orange as the plain cod liver oil seems to repeat constantly .

Jalima, I already get liver checked because of my Sulfasalazine. Thanks goodness for the good old NHS, otherwise I would be bankrupt.
I'm amazed at the number of people who have responded to this and do appreciate all the good wishes.

Thanks marydoll, I didn't know that AdCal can affect kidney function. I've been on it for 5 years or more. My kidney function is monitored because of other medication and the fact I've had stage 3 kidney disease since I was in my 30's. There has been a recent decline in function,next time I see the GP I'll discuss the pro's and cons. Old age, not for softies but better than the alternatives

link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S0006297916120117

It is thought, but not necessarily proven, that vitamin D deficiency might have played a part in the extinction of the Vikings of Greenland.

I think that vitamin D deficiency can lead to many serious conditions.

It's good that your kidney function will be checked from now on Marydoll - and hope they will check your liver function at the same time as they do mine.

I'm sure many of you know this, but vitamin D is actually a hormone produced by the kidneys. If you have severely low vitamin D levels you are unable to maintain an adequate concentration of calcium in your blood for bone growth.
However, as the role of vitamin D as a regulator of other functions throughout the body has emerged, it has been suggested that a lack of vitamin D is linked to an inability to fight infections effectively, muscle weakness, fatigue and the development of diabetes, certain cancers, multiple sclerosis, depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
Also, during long term use of this medicine levels of calcium in your blood and urine should be checked at regular intervals and your kidney function should also be checked.

I find this info a little worrying, I used to be so blasé about taking ADCAL, which I had been taking on and off for years. No-one ever suggested checking kidney function.
I am now on theiCal-D3, which seems to be a higher dose.
However, my consultant did say that I would now receive checks.
Many thanks to all who have responded to my OP.
It has been an eye opener.

This is the NHS recommendation: "since it's difficult for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone, everyone (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10mcg of vitamin D during the autumn and winter." www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

Juggernaut, that will be two beached whales in Dubai then!. We may make the news headlines.

An interesting thread. Hopefully the posts will help Marydoll and others

I have found it very difficult to get a blood test through my gp and when I eventually found one sympathetic enough to order one she told me that I was outside their prescribing limit. I found that she was not right if she was talking about the NHS guidelines but perhaps she meant her practice limit, who knows.
I decided to look after myself and I purchase my vitamind3 online, have been taking a very large dose and am gradually feeling better. I have a personal friend who is a gp and she has suggested that when I feel better I should get another test done privately to make sure that I don't overdo it although that would be difficult given where I live, my age and that I don't sit in the sun. She told me that I should be taking between 4-5000 IU daily after the initial massive input (20,000) to claw me back to normality. It is working and I am feeling better than I was but it is a long haul back.
It makes so much sense to use my own income to improve my quality of life but I really wish I had known about this simple sipplement much earlier. So much easier to stay well rather than try to get better!

After years of muscle aches and exhaustion I was diagnosed with autoimmune conditions and read about 5 years ago that but D3 should be taken. Since then (i asked for a blood test and my vit D levels were very low) I have taken between 3000 and 6000iu/day. I am now at the top of the reference range but not as high as is recommend d for hypothyroidism (see health unlocked website). Have discovered recently that you should take vit K2 wth D3 (BetterYou make an oral spray) as this directs the vit d to your bones and not your arteries. I was taking the BetterYou one but now taking a tablet one with 1000iu of vitd 3 and the relevant amount of vitK2. The improvement has been slow but huge. No horrendous colds or flu and chest infections any more either ☺️

Forgot to say each tablet contains 1250 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vit D. Also I am olive skinned and always outside.

I have Primary Bilary Cirrhosias (spelling doesn’t look right to me but brain not working well today) and Despite spending the winter months in Asia, drinking loads of milk etc my vit D was found to be non existent due to the liver problem. So I was prescribed Calceos, a vit D and calcium supplement. At first I had to chew. 4 of these tablets daily and then dropped to 2 a day. I take mine at night as they interfere with the workings of Thyoxide that I take for my under active thyroid. I feel so much better since I started taking them and my aches and pains have gone and my balance is so much better.

Brother lives in Canada and was advised to take large dose of Vit D. He is not a pill popper at all, but noticed mood definitely lower when he stopped for a while.

Marydoll
We could go to Dubai together, and really shock people!
Although in my case I'd probably have people trying to refloat me (beached whale etc)!
I'm strawberry blonde, and like you very fair skinned, so don't spend too much time in the sun.
I take a dose of Vit D3 every day and find it gives me a bit of an energy boost.
Hopefully it will do the same for you!

Juggernaut in reply to your question to me:
It did conjure up a pretty frightening image in my head, of an elderly, naked, overweight woman, lying in the sun

Elderly yes, naked yes, but why would you assume overweight?

...because I am overweight!