Vitamin D deficiency.

A few years ago my GP did a blood test and eventually dicscovered I had high blood calcium. It turned out I had a parathyroid adenoma which was when one of the parathroid glands was over active and leaching the calcium out of my bones.

The surgeon's words were that if you don't get this sorted ASAP you will be peeing your bones down the toilet .

I was put on very particularly high vitamin D dosage and went on to Alendronate (Fosamax) . I had a couple of Dexa scans over time and my bone density had gone back out of the "osteopenia" range to nearer normal . I am a bit
paranoid now,
It seems dreadful so many people are not aware of this . I am so glad this is being aired. on here

Actually different bits of me started dropping off after then. I had to have my shoulder tendons reatached to a metal anchor in my shoulder because the arthritic bits of bone spurs growing out had frayed the tendons like an old rope. Getting old is a not much fun.
Keep giving out this Vitamin D message.

I saw my GP yesterday for a medication review and asked him about the Vitamin D tablets as I was worried because someone on here said it cannot be absorbed unless combined with calcium. He said that is true only if your body is deficient in calcium . Otherwise it is perfectly OK to take it on its own.
I do not see the need for doctors to prescribe Vit D when it is so widely available and relatively cheap.

Like Nelliemoser, I too was recently diagnosed with a parathyroid adenoma, following blood tests ŵhich showed very low levels of Vitamin D and extremely high levels of calcium. It is a very serious condition if left, so please be aware and follow up with your GP.

Greenfinch, I do agree that vitamin D and medication like paracetamol shouldn't need a prescription for most people.
However, for those of us with specific medical conditions, it is essential that a doctor prescribes and monitors. Otherwise, how can we know what dosage is required to rectify matters and if kidney and liver function becomes affected.

I agree Marydoll.It was just that you said you were surprised GPs did not prescribe it and I was surprised that some did as I have not heard of that. I take medication for other medical conditions and so have my kidney and liver functions annually.
I wasn't aware it could be affected by vitamin Thanks for the info.

Sorry for errors and lack of punctuation

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I have learned a lot on this thread and I hope others have too. Who would have thought a simple question about a vitamin would result in so many postings?
It is so good to see everyone contributing and supporting one another.?

Maybe the docs should give out a leaflet about it or something, seems a lot of us have a vague diagnosis and then it's up to us. !!!

Re prescriptions not being given it can be due to budget strain as our surgery's was seriously over budget and so everything has been severely trimmed including tests for vitamin d deficiency. Anyway that is why I get tests done privately as my gp friend recommended. It is hard to know what is making you feel so unwell isn't it and it often means a very long process of trying out different things. Good to talk on GN about such things.
A diagnosis from testing is helpful but clearly very expensive if everyone wants to be tested. Glad I am not one of the 'bean counters' anyway as restrictions are not popular with Drs or patients.

I'm very fortunate that most of my medical needs are managed by hospital consultants. My GP issues prescriptions on their advice. This thread has been an eye opener of how difficult it is to get help.
Only once did my practice refuse to prescribe the recommended medication and used an alternative, as it was deemed too expensive.
However, it was ineffective and they agreed to prescribe the original one.

This has been an interesting thread. I take calcium & Vit D tablets so hopefully I'm ok. I've never thought to ask for a blood test.

Marydoll, I'm slightly concerned that you and Juggernaut could get arrested for sunbathing in the nude in Dubai!

SueDonim?

PS it's taken me ages to realise how clever your user name is.?

Thank you, Marydoll. I'd like to lay claim to having invented it myself, but I nicked it from a novel, years ago.

We had a health screen recently and were both told we had vit D deficiency but don't feel ill at all. It was at the end of the bad winter we've just endured but perhaps I'd better get some tablets

Magrithea whoever did the screen should have prescribed drugs rather than leave you to fend for yourselves.

It is worth remembering, not everyone experiences obvious symptoms when suffering vitamin D deficiency.
Mine is practically non existent, which MAY be the reason for my low mood and chronic fatigue. I'm just not sure.
The fact that I need biophosphates ASAP is the reason for the urgency to deliver high doses of D3 and do blood tests to monitor vitamin levels and kidney function.
No two people are likely to be the same.
Obviously one's GP or consultant knows what is the best treatment for each individual.

It is good that people wish to save the NHS money by just buying vitamins over the counter but you need the diagnosis from a GP who will give you the correct dosage. Over the counter drugs are not prescription strength.

Saw this thread the other day and wondered so consulted Google and this is what the NHS website says about vitamin D - www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

Some people think that the ranges for Vitamin D suggested by the Department of Health are too low

You may have to take a larger amount

Here is an interesting commentary about:
How Much Vitamin D Do I Need ?

It includes a self-test, where you press some bones to see if it hurts

Interesting MagicBubble

I had noticed that my shins had been hurting when I touched them lately - and I had upped my Vitamin D intake.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I think your GP might be wrong Marydoll

Worried about DH today. He's on some new medication (not sleeping pills) for really bad insomnia caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It's given him really intensely itchy weeping patches on his skin (the consultant knows about it). The consultant reckons it's Vitamin D deficiency, not a drug reaction although he hasn't had a blood test yet to confirm this.

He got really upset about it today, not helped by his lack of sleep but he can't just stop taking the medication as that's really dangerous and he could have seizures if he did.

At first his sleep was really transformed and he slept better than he has for his whole life until the dosage was changed. Now his says his quality of life is far worse. It's the intense itching that's stopping him sleeping.

Has anyone else had severe eczema type symptoms because of a lack of vitamin D? I'm not medically trained beyond a first aid certificate but I'm sceptical especially as it is listed as a side effect and correlates exactly with the increased dosage. I know correlation is not the same as causation. I just can't bear to see him so miserable.

If you're diagnosed via a blood test with a Vitamin D deficiency, the GP will prescribe a very high loading dose. I've just had this done.

I have to take a high dose for six weeks with a blood test for calcium after four weeks. I've been prescribed a lower maintenance dose to take after six weeks, but I'm expecting that to stop when my level has stabilised.

The trust's policy is not to prescribe Vitamin D supplements, unless a deficiency has been officially diagnosed or a patient is in a high risk group.