Low Vitamin D?

[wendyoh]

Have any of you tried vitamin D injection for  low blood levels of vitamin d and or ostepenia/osteoporosis? If so what would you say about that experience? have many of you noticed that you tend to have low vitamin D and heard or wondered if there is any connection to sjogrens if so?

[SunshineDaydream]

My vitamin D level was low and I raised it by taking vitamin D3 from the drug store (not prescription). I have osteopenia and take calcium orotate for that. Vitamin D aids absorption of calcium, so I take them together. It is my understanding that people do not absorb more than 500 mg of calcium at a time, so I take one dose of each in the morning and another dose in the evening.

A lot of research has shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with some autoimmune diseases. A lot of people in the general population are also have vitamin D deficiency.

[Navigator]

Injections are needlessly invasive.  Your doctor can arrange for you to get mega doses of Vit D.  (50,000 IU or so) for a short term to get your levels up and then you just use over the counter 2000IU per day (I use) supplements of Vit D.

[SunshineDaydream]

If you're not photosensitive, you can also boost your vitamin D level by getting 15-30 minutes of exposure to the sun each day. Good opportunity to get in a walk or just relax somewhere and enjoy nature.

[Jasper]

Vitamin D deficiency is very common in Sjogren's Disease.

In addition, having low Vitamin D makes us more susceptible to developing Lymphoma. We already have an increased risk for Lymphoma by having Sjogren's Disease, so having Vitamin D deficiency just adds to that risk.

My Rheumatologist said that the Vit D level should be at least 40.

You can get prescription Vit D 2 (50,000 IU per week orally) and many Rheumatologist do order that to get the Vit D level up.

Then you can go on a maintenance dose of OTC Vit D 3 to keep the level up. Vitamin D 3 is actually better utilized by the body and lasts longer in the body.

It may take some dose adjustments to figure out what dose you actually need to keep the level up. I take 9,000 IU per day. Anything less and my Vit D level starts to drop.

I have been taking Vit D for years and was first put on it (1987) by my Endocrinologist for Osteopenia (Citracal Plus D). He also put me on Estrogen patches and Fosamax. This combo did the trick and got my bone density back up to normal. It took several years, but it worked. Now I maintain on Estrogen, Citracal PlusD, and Vit D 3. I am 71 years old and have normal bone density, thanks to my Endocrinologist.

[irish]

I think the whole world is vitamin D deficient. My grandkids are even low and they play outside. The theory I have heard that applies to this is the pollution in the sky that changes the sun light that shines down on us. Not as able to increase the vitamin D.

Also, our diet has changed so much over the past 30 years and we consume more chemicals and foods than we used to and this probably affects our absorption of the sun rays. The injections are not necessary and they are invasive. I was vit D deficient and I have finally gotten my vit D level up into a good range. I have no idea if it has helped my autoimmune issues as I have 5 autoimmune diseases and they all have some overlapping issues.

The studies have shown that the Vit D helps in a whole lot of areas and I think it is just a good idea to take them. It is supposed to help prevent cancer for one thing and that is a plus. Irish

[wendyoh]

thanks everyone---I was curious about those injections--so they are worse than a typical shot? curious what is so  bad about them? appreciate the headsup.

I have problem tho with supplement--feel very bad--could be related to my problems metabolizing stuff, but I just can't stay on oral D, because get such bad insomnia and bad mood and more pain etc---could be  because some liver probs so I wonder if an injection would bypass some of the detox problems of it working thru my system.............

but my last D blood level last week was a 7--so not good!

[SjoGirl]

I did not have an injection, instead when I became very Vit D deficient several years ago I took very large doses, about 5,000 IU a day (I can't recall precisely how long may a couple of weeks or a month). FYI the Vit D was ordered by my doc and came from the pharmacy, versus her telling me to take an OTC version.

I do now take an OTC version for maintenance, using Caltrate (combines D, Magnesium, and Calcium). My doc recommended this version this time. She also suggested that I take B12 daily because the Nexium that I am on leaches it from your system.

[wendyoh]

yea my doc called in a huge dose too earlier this year sjogirl to the pharmacy........I  told her I agree I need it but I said given I feel terrible from just 400iu there is no way I am going to take a megaodose---unless I took a leave of absence from work so I could go crazy for awhile.........its very odd how bad it makes me feel
but that is why I wonder if an injection I might tolerate better

[jazzlover]

I understand what you are saying, Wendy, but I would be even more concerned about taking it in the form of a shot if I reacted that way to the oral.

[Navigator]

An injection into your bloodstream is waaayyyy worse than taking it by mouth.   When it goes through your gut it is assimilated slowly and some doesn?t pass into the blood.   There is some moderation in how fast the dose enters your bloodstream,  With an injection it is 100% at time zero.  If your liver is having issues with it coming in over time through the gut it will not react well at all to a bolus in the blood hitting it all at once.

You need to talk with your doctor.   I had thought that Vit D helped alleviate joint pain so I am surprised that you say yours got worse.   Hmmm....I have been trying to get my levels up in the 50s and it takes daily doses of 2000IU and I live in FLORIDA!!!!!! Go figure.

[Navigator]

You know...just as an aside.  I have read that cholesterol fixes the Vit D made from sunlight in the body.  I don?t know about you folks but I take a statin to lower my cholesterol significantly. I have always wondered if that is not counter productive.

Our bodies are very complicated chemical reactions with trade offs.  And we do not really understand all the ins and outs.

Someday the medical establishment will have it figured out.

[wendyoh]

thanks Jazzlover and Navigator........you guys make sense....I think I will try one of those sunlamps then and see how that goes......

Navigator you have probably read about how some folks have bad reactions to statins, I once saw Dr Paul Cheney a famous CFS doctor and he had written about why he discouraged them....a friend of mine where I live who is in her 70s was really sad too because her husband, a scientist, had gotten the negative brain effect and perhaps the muscle problems too from statins, and he was scientist, mad at him self that he had trusted doc's rec and not do his own research.....but another friend on them feels fine so its very individual....be careful, you must feel ok or you wouldn't stay on it I assume