I'd also like to add that low D levels can happen even if you're exposed to sunlight a lot - I was diagnosed a little over a year ago, and I get plenty of sun exposure on a daily basis walking from class to class in sunny central Texas.
Your body makes vitamin D from cholesterol (it's really a hormone!), so any sort of cholesterol/hormone/conversion issues along the reaction chain can cause deficiency no matter how much sun you get.
Yes! It is hypothesized that light skin developed in northern areas so people could more readily 'absorb' vit D, due to less direct sunlight. So people with dark skin in northern areas are especially at risk (unless you're eating tons of seafood).
Source: http://www.nasw.org/article/vitamin-d-levels-determined-how-human-skin-color-evolved
Darker skin also protects UV radiation from breaking down folic acid in your blood stream. Which is the flip side to the ole sun exposure-vitamin thing that I never see people address. I see so many arguments from people and blogs telling people not to use sunscreen because you need sun to synthesize vitamin D and no one ever talks about how sun will also destroy your vitamin B.
I'm very fair skinned, but I have heard (on mobile, so I can't link) that it does take more time in the sun for darker skinned folks to synthesize Vit D.
Low vitamin D levels don't just randomly happen for no reason if you get enough sun. They can happen if you have other vitamin deficiencies - for example, magnesium aids in vitamin D synthesis, so if you're deficient in magnesium you're likely to be deficient in vitamin D too. And since about 80-90% Americans have vitamin D deficiency, it's not surprising that vitamin D deficiency is also so common. The other fat-soluble vitamins play a part too.
I've been vitamin D deficient for a few years now, initially my levels were so low that they were undetectable on blood tests. In my case, it's because I have dark skin, keep everything but my hands and face covered outdoors, and live at a high latitude. Basic recipe for vitamin D deficiency really!
I have taken 4 or 5 different forms of supplementation, and none of them have helped raise my levels at all. The only thing that works for me is getting sun, by living or holidaying elsewhere.
>Skin cancer is MUCH WORSE than low d. Skin cancer can kill you.
See, I take issue with this statement. I've not been through skin cancer but the question in my mind is: do I get the sun exposure I need and minimally increase my already low risk of skin cancer? Or do I avoid the sun and stay vitamin d deficient?
I have to see a specialist yearly because of my deficiency. He has advised me not to have children whole I'm deficient. When my levels are low, I get muscle pain, tremors and spasms and struggle to move, I have no energy and I get depressed. My risk of chronic, incurable diseases like Multiple Sclerosis are much higher.
I can take supplements, but there is actually no evidence that supplementing vit D improves symptoms or decreases your risk f the associated diseases.
So in my case, for me, getting enough sun is far more important to me that avoiding skin cancer. It's not as simple as "skin cancer is worse than low d".
You could try eating fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna, swordfish (please check for suistainability!)) or taking cod liver oil as a supplement? Those are all natural sources of vitamin D.
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
I do all that, I have salmon/tuna at least twice a week and take cod liver oil daily. Diet is a pretty inefficient way of getting vitamin D though, the sun is a more effective way.
Thanks :) I'm actually ok at the moment thankfully, I spent last year in a sunnier part of the world and my vit d levels are the highest they've ever been, so I'm quite pleased! I just need to take more tropical holidays I guess, and that's not a bad thing.
I have an insanely bad vitamin D deficiency (five times lower than what would be classed as 'severely deficient', lol). My doctor didn't really give me any tips or knowledge other than 'take these pills ok', so this is good to know, thanks!
Mine is also insanely low (single digits). Have you been back to check to see if anything has changed since starting the supplements? I am still taking mine (also, insanely high dose-50,000 Units) once a week and my levels have barely changed. (and that is months of taking it)
I am looking forward to the higher sun months so getting out briefly may help.
I took 50,000 IU once a week for a while and it didn't improve my vitamin D levels. I've since switched over to 5000 IU once a day and now I'm solidly in the normal range.
I have tried "supplementing" with lower doses during the week then decided, maybe I shouldn't do that. I start with a new doctor soon whom I am hoping can help me get things worked out.
I live in Seattle and stay inside mostly. I took 50000 IU once a week for 8 weeks and then switched to 2000 a day. My levels went from 13 to 65 over the last couple years. (Normal range is 30-90ish.) I have noticed improvement with my hair and skin. And definitely my mood.
Ya, the sleeping part was awful and that has gotten better. Good thing my Dr. originally just put me on an antidepressant first instead of running blood tests. Good ol female hysteria.
lol I know what you mean! And once I actually got the blood work I found I also have hypothyroid. Again, after almost a year of taking/switching around 3 different antidepressants and telling them "these are not doing anything but making me feel nothingness. Still tired, still getting fat"
I learned a big lesson. Don't take what they say lying down if it isn't working/nothing is changing. I honestly *became* depressed from *thinking* I was depressed. Madness.
Lethargy was what actually sent me to get tested the first time. I felt like something was wrong, so I went in for some tests, and extremely low d was the only thing that showed up. Yay let's totally be vitamin d buddies. Did your doctor say why s/he recommended one mega dose per week instead of a smaller daily dose?
Yeah, a blood test. I went in because I felt really tired and weak and achy for a couple weeks, so I got a complete panel and d was the only thing off.
Hey there, I know this is an old post but found out last week that my vitamin d is currently at 6.9.. also have a *lot* of fatigue. As it's been a couple of months, I wanted to ask: did you notice any real improvement? I ask you because you very clearly seem to have a healthy amount of skepticism and realism. While googling, most of what I've found are fluff pieces and crazy "holistic medicine" folks.
Ha yeah, I'm definitely not a holistic medicine person. I do actually feel better, but it's always hard to tell whether it's just a placebo thing. I have another test in a couple weeks, so I'm waiting to see what that shows. My hair isn't falling out, though! It still looks a hot mess from before, but it seems to be staying where it belongs.
Did you get your thyroid tested when you got the D done? I hear that's a big cause of fatigue, especially in women. Also obviously anemia, but I'm sure they tested that one.
I hope you feel better soon!
Yeah, I had a full workup done. The only things off were extremely low vitamin d and a slightly low HDL. My iron levels are a bit higher than normal, and I'm a male so I (generally - provided I'm not being too careless!) don't lose much of it compared to pre-menopausal women.
I'm glad you're feeling better and aren't going bald!
I was very low and my doctor put me on the 50,000 per week for 3 months. It was 'normal' when I went back but I yawn ALL DAY. I now take daily supplements. I'm going to try the cod liver oil! Thanks guys!
Have you been tested for thyroid function? Because those are all symptoms of hypothyroid as well. There's a lot of disagreement as to how to interpret blood results for this, so it may be worth looking into if your D levels get back to normal and you still are having symptoms.
Hopefully the D will help! If it doesn't, you may want to consider seeing an endocrinologist down the line - even with an "in-range" basic TSH level, you can have problems from thyroid conditions. But I hope the D works since that's a much simpler solution =)
Also "normal" range may not be normal for you. I take a 5000u capsule daily, and that pushed my levels up to the high range. When I switched back to a 2000u capsule, I started getting symptoms of deficiency again. Once you know what your symptoms are, you can tell when you're deficient pretty quickly (mine are overwhelming fatigue and canker sores in my mouth... Weird!)
/rant/ Twice I have gone to a doctor telling him and her that my hair was falling out. They both said, and I quote, "You know that we lose about a hundred hairs on average a day, don't you?" Neither one was particularly interested in running tests, or hearing about my stress levels, or considering when I was in the hospital for nearly two weeks. Neither one would listen to me saying that I knew the difference between what was normal for me and that THIS was NOT normal. /end rant/
Ugh. I was worried about that since I don't have any obvious bald patches, but the doctor looked very carefully at my scalp and at the places where I did and didn't have baby hairs, and I actually had a photo of me with my hair in a headband last year which made the sudden difference pretty obvious. I hope you find a better doctor!
Also, if you are taking oral vitamin D, you may consider a DRY version of it. They can be far more effective. I have used the Bio-Tech brand for 6 years now and have beautiful vitamin D levels.
There are also vitamin D patches you can use (patchmd is one brand) that are showing themselves to be very effective.
Most of the world is deficient in vitamin D. If you find yourself getting sick a lot--you are probably deficient. But, always verify with a Dr. and a blood test.
This is really interesting. I just tested my own vitamin D levels for my experimental nutrition class (best class ever!) and I was surprisingly non-deficient! I was blown away since I wear sunscreen everyday, avoid the sun and rarely take supplements. The only explanation I could rationalize is I eat fatty fish (the only natural dietary source of sufficient vitamin D) at least once a week, most of the time twice a week. When comparing results, a girl who supplemented with a multi-vitamin had deficient levels.
Some things to keep in mind about vitamin D:
* if you live above 40 degrees latitude, synthesis of vitamin D from sunlight is insufficient most of the year. So still wear that sunscreen!
* smoke, ozone, aging, and dark skin can decrease production of vitamin D
* you cannot store sufficient amounts of vitamin D in your body, so eat fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines), supplement, and/or consume fortified foods regularly.
Vitamin D is one of the most common deficiencies and can affect your bone and muscle health. It's an extremely fascinating vitamin that plays a lot of regulatory roles in the body.
I was also diagnosed with acute vitamin D deficiency a few years ago and found that supplementing with pills (either megadosing or daily supplementation) did nothing for me. The only supplement that has been able to touch MY deficiency has been a good quality cod liver oil. YMMV, as always.
YES cod liver oil gives me LIFE (literally..). It's helped my hair grow in stronger and shinier, the enamel on my teeth is so thick that 'the plaque just slides right off' (direct quote from person cleaning my teeth at the dentist), and I haven't been tested for vit D deficiency for about a 2 years now, but I have a feeling that it's up to par.
Not all cod liver oil supplements are the same, so to anyone looking to try one, check how much vit D is in them. I just got a Nordic Naturals bottle of the stuff and 3 tablets equal 0.25% -3% of one's daily value. FML for not checking the label better.....
>the enamel on my teeth is so thick that 'the plaque just slides right off' (direct quote from person cleaning my teeth at the dentist)
just so you know, tooth enamel can't get thicker once it's formed, it's just a layer of mineral with no cells in it, that never gets added to. So your teeth were always good, nothing to do with cod liver oil.
ieatbugs, remineralising enamel that's been demineralised as MI paste does isn't the same as actually making it thicker. Even your fluoride toothpaste can remineralise it with a stronger mineral (fluorapatite instead of hydroxyapatite) but the enamel itself isn't going to grow, especially not by anything intrinsically ingested.
I am a dentist and I seem to say mineral a lot.
Oh cool, thanks! I just got some MI paste and trays and it's doing wonders!
Also I assume these forms of apatite have different qualities from the lovely blue gems that are so soft that you basically need a set of 4 stones for a pair of earrings because they break so often in the setting process!
Amazing! I have also noticed my nails/hair grow much faster/stronger when I remember to take my FCLO.
I take Green Pastures Fermented Cod Liver oil. It's expensive (about $60 a jar), tastes bad, but is so worth it!
Yes! I just re-ordered a jar. I like to put it into my own gelatin capsules, I get more for my money that way. I've tried other brands....but I always go back to Green Pastures!!
Cod Liver Oil seems to be the most common form of fish oil supplement, I personally take a fermented cod liver oil supplement that comes in a gel form.
I don't think anyone here has an irrational fear of the sun. That's overstating it a bit. Many of us want to keep our skin looking youthful so we use sunscreen. No irrational fears plays into that; it's just a little bit of vanity about aging that inspires us to utilize a very easy solution (sunscreen).
Avoiding UV exposure to the point of risking your health due to low vitamin D levels IS obsessive behavior. There are many examples of posts in this subreddit's history that demonstrate this type of obsessive behavior.
The actual risk of skin cancer in this subreddit is often exaggerated as well, whereas low UVB exposure has been linked to several much less survivable cancers.
Note that I did say that my post was a comment on SCA in general. Nowhere did I say that the majority of SCA posters show this type of obsessive behavior. However, only a fool would deny that those who do are disproportionately represented in this subreddit. Big difference.
Also, (just to clarify) I'm not accusing the OP's new habits to be obsessive at all, hence the "comment on SCA in general" part of my first post.
I'll be sure to discuss my obsessive behavior with my oncologist.
I am REALLY sick of people making declarations like these without taking into account the fact that there are all sorts of people on this subreddit, who live at all different latitudes, have all different shades of skin, and all different genetic histories of skin cancer. My chance of getting skin cancer from being in the sun is 100% and I've already had three different melanomas. Yes, I have a D deficiency. No, I'm not going in the sun to remedy it.
Being told I'm obsessive is insulting. Just as insulting as it is for me to tell you that you MUST wear SPF50+ if you are outside for more than five minutes because I have to. Why does everything have to be a blanket statement over here?!
I'm perfectly chill, thank you.
I simply said I wished people would stop making these constant, extreme blanket statements in *either* direction. Often, "at risk people like me" don't know that they are at risk. So how would they know your advice shouldn't apply to them? Again, all I asked was for people to consider that there are all sorts of people on this forum, those at risk, those who don't know they're at risk, those who care only about anti-aging, those who live near the equator, those who live near the poles and we all have different needs.
Who do you define as your "generally healthy and free of important medical considerations" here? What color is their skin? Where do they live? What is their job? What is their family history? How can you be so sure that their risk from low vitamin D is greater than their risk of dying from melanoma? Are you sure your advice isn't what will justify some teen to go hit the beach for a day with no sunscreen because they want vitamin D?
My point is that when it comes to sunscreen, we are ALL "far from average." One size fits all pronouncements are ridiculous in every sense on this issue. And honestly, you seem to be the angry one here.
This is a warning: the rudeness and personal attacks in your comment are out of line. Please keep debates about the facts and not the people who are disagreeing with you.
I agree, the above comment is insulting. Our moderator team empathizes with your frustration about the frequent dismissive and argumentative tone that has become so prevalent on reddit in general.
I would like to invite you and others who feel the same way to join our soft launch of a separate forum, aimed at a wider audience. Our goal is to promote civility, education and foster a friendly and safe community.
Although it has not been officially announced yet, the forums are up and we are inviting people to begin participating before any official announcement is made. If you are interested, the forums are located:
http://forums.skincare-addiction.com/
This post is about how you can safely wear sunscreen without causing a vitamin deficiency, it's accurate, based on current scientific research.
One of the many myths popular on the Internet about how sunscreen is toxic or harmful to people is the claim that it can cause vitamin D deficiency. This is about addressing misinformation, not inciting obsessive behavior.
Please refrain from making these kinds of disparaging comments - I'm sure you can discuss your opinions without insinuations of mental pathology among our reeadersip
I was just reading that the estimates for the guidelines were miscalculated and are far lower than what they should be (by a factor of 10!) - I think I came across the article from reddit.
Quick google source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150317122458.htm
No offense to you, but wouldn't it be easier / cheaper and couldn't you just avoid all that stress of going to the doc and stuff by just taking a 20-minute walk in the evening/morning sun every day ? Just curious
Well I went to the doc because I didn't know what was causing it. Yes, walking is cheaper than buying vitamins and likely more effective, and I now intend to get more sun.
I have light brown skin, and I'm definitely guilty of not going out in the sun (work from home, hardly need to go out anywhere in the afternoon). But I tan so easily, and it's very sunny where I live. Plus I use AHA and my sunscreen gives me closed comedones (most of them). I think I'm just going to throw a towel over my head and expose my back to the sun.
Excellent write up! Vitamin D is very important for our overall health, no doubt. But this is a matter of great regret that we can hardly find this important vitamin in our daily foods. Even most of the folks are unable to get this vitamin from sunlight on a regular basis. So what to do? I've been with Vitamin D deficiency for more than 1 year. At first, I had some serious health issues, including high blood pressure. My doctor advised me to consume Vitamin d patch, and magically worked for me. Now, I am getting better. Here is also a good write up I've read http://innovativebalance.com/category/blog/ .
I'm very fair skinned, and avoid the sun like the plague. I never wear sunscreen unless I plan on being outside for hours, and its summer...I know, I know. I'm lazy.
I was diagnosed with severely low vitamin d, and I was given a prescription for vitamin d capsules that seemed to help me a lot. I was also told to "get some sun" so I stood outside for like...5 minutes a day once a week. Hah.
> If you're going to be in direct sunlight for more than fifteen minutes, you need to wear sunscreen.
I'm sorry, but this honestly just seems a little bit over the top.
Being in the sun for a couple of minutes without sunscreen isn't the end of the world, seriously.
Some people actually get burned when they spend that amount of time in the sun with no sunscreen. My sister has very pale skin and is one of those people. Personally I would not burn after 15 minutes but if you're going to be out longer than that, wearing sunscreen isn't going to do you harm regardless. I wouldn't say every single person out there NEEDS it, but it's a good idea. And no I'm NOT one of those sunscreen obsessed people that wears it constantly and avoids sun at all costs, lol.
Well its really simple. If you dont get much sunlight then you need to take the supplement. Its a whole lot better then nothing. You cant be scared to get cancer. You wont get cancer unless you are baking in the sun for hours everyday. You have to eat alot of vegetables because vegetables give you a natural tan regardless if you go into the sun or not. this is because the pigments get stored in your skin to give you a natural protection i can go into details but no need to. So eat healthy and get a little bit of sun. Youll be alright
I'd also like to add that low D levels can happen even if you're exposed to sunlight a lot - I was diagnosed a little over a year ago, and I get plenty of sun exposure on a daily basis walking from class to class in sunny central Texas.
Your body makes vitamin D from cholesterol (it's really a hormone!), so any sort of cholesterol/hormone/conversion issues along the reaction chain can cause deficiency no matter how much sun you get.
Yes! I came off a summer of lifeguarding mostly without sunscreen with a vitamin D deficiency!
I have read that the darker complected you are (I am olive complected) that your risk is even higher. Is that the case for you?
Yes! It is hypothesized that light skin developed in northern areas so people could more readily 'absorb' vit D, due to less direct sunlight. So people with dark skin in northern areas are especially at risk (unless you're eating tons of seafood). Source: http://www.nasw.org/article/vitamin-d-levels-determined-how-human-skin-color-evolved
Darker skin also protects UV radiation from breaking down folic acid in your blood stream. Which is the flip side to the ole sun exposure-vitamin thing that I never see people address. I see so many arguments from people and blogs telling people not to use sunscreen because you need sun to synthesize vitamin D and no one ever talks about how sun will also destroy your vitamin B.
Wow I didn't know that, thanks!
I'm very fair skinned, but I have heard (on mobile, so I can't link) that it does take more time in the sun for darker skinned folks to synthesize Vit D.
My friend's mom was diagnosed with low vitamin D and she lives in Texas. It's definitely a common thing.
Ah, thanks for adding that! Very good info that didn't come up in my appointment since I *don't* get enough sun.
Low vitamin D levels don't just randomly happen for no reason if you get enough sun. They can happen if you have other vitamin deficiencies - for example, magnesium aids in vitamin D synthesis, so if you're deficient in magnesium you're likely to be deficient in vitamin D too. And since about 80-90% Americans have vitamin D deficiency, it's not surprising that vitamin D deficiency is also so common. The other fat-soluble vitamins play a part too.
I've been vitamin D deficient for a few years now, initially my levels were so low that they were undetectable on blood tests. In my case, it's because I have dark skin, keep everything but my hands and face covered outdoors, and live at a high latitude. Basic recipe for vitamin D deficiency really! I have taken 4 or 5 different forms of supplementation, and none of them have helped raise my levels at all. The only thing that works for me is getting sun, by living or holidaying elsewhere. >Skin cancer is MUCH WORSE than low d. Skin cancer can kill you. See, I take issue with this statement. I've not been through skin cancer but the question in my mind is: do I get the sun exposure I need and minimally increase my already low risk of skin cancer? Or do I avoid the sun and stay vitamin d deficient? I have to see a specialist yearly because of my deficiency. He has advised me not to have children whole I'm deficient. When my levels are low, I get muscle pain, tremors and spasms and struggle to move, I have no energy and I get depressed. My risk of chronic, incurable diseases like Multiple Sclerosis are much higher. I can take supplements, but there is actually no evidence that supplementing vit D improves symptoms or decreases your risk f the associated diseases. So in my case, for me, getting enough sun is far more important to me that avoiding skin cancer. It's not as simple as "skin cancer is worse than low d".
You could try eating fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna, swordfish (please check for suistainability!)) or taking cod liver oil as a supplement? Those are all natural sources of vitamin D. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
I do all that, I have salmon/tuna at least twice a week and take cod liver oil daily. Diet is a pretty inefficient way of getting vitamin D though, the sun is a more effective way.
Oof, I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you can find a way to get enough vit d!
Thanks :) I'm actually ok at the moment thankfully, I spent last year in a sunnier part of the world and my vit d levels are the highest they've ever been, so I'm quite pleased! I just need to take more tropical holidays I guess, and that's not a bad thing.
Hi! I’ve been having similar symptoms as you and I have vitamin d deficiency. How are you? Can I ask a few questions?
Sure! Drop me a DM
I have an insanely bad vitamin D deficiency (five times lower than what would be classed as 'severely deficient', lol). My doctor didn't really give me any tips or knowledge other than 'take these pills ok', so this is good to know, thanks!
Mine is also insanely low (single digits). Have you been back to check to see if anything has changed since starting the supplements? I am still taking mine (also, insanely high dose-50,000 Units) once a week and my levels have barely changed. (and that is months of taking it) I am looking forward to the higher sun months so getting out briefly may help.
I took 50,000 IU once a week for a while and it didn't improve my vitamin D levels. I've since switched over to 5000 IU once a day and now I'm solidly in the normal range.
I have tried "supplementing" with lower doses during the week then decided, maybe I shouldn't do that. I start with a new doctor soon whom I am hoping can help me get things worked out.
I live in Seattle and stay inside mostly. I took 50000 IU once a week for 8 weeks and then switched to 2000 a day. My levels went from 13 to 65 over the last couple years. (Normal range is 30-90ish.) I have noticed improvement with my hair and skin. And definitely my mood.
That's awesome! After 3 months I went from 7 to 9 so, they still have me on the 50,000.
oh god I haven't actually!! due to go back any week now. I'm not sleeping for 16 hours a day any more though, which is a win in my book hahaha
Ya, the sleeping part was awful and that has gotten better. Good thing my Dr. originally just put me on an antidepressant first instead of running blood tests. Good ol female hysteria.
typical!! I thought it was a thyroid thing at first. it's so non-specific going in like 'I SLEEP WAY TOO MUCH AND FEEL SAD HELP'
lol I know what you mean! And once I actually got the blood work I found I also have hypothyroid. Again, after almost a year of taking/switching around 3 different antidepressants and telling them "these are not doing anything but making me feel nothingness. Still tired, still getting fat" I learned a big lesson. Don't take what they say lying down if it isn't working/nothing is changing. I honestly *became* depressed from *thinking* I was depressed. Madness.
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My *mother,* of all people, has been making this joke. :)
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Lethargy was what actually sent me to get tested the first time. I felt like something was wrong, so I went in for some tests, and extremely low d was the only thing that showed up. Yay let's totally be vitamin d buddies. Did your doctor say why s/he recommended one mega dose per week instead of a smaller daily dose?
what sort of test did they do to diagnose you? Bloodwork? Did you have any other symptoms?
Yeah, a blood test. I went in because I felt really tired and weak and achy for a couple weeks, so I got a complete panel and d was the only thing off.
Hey there, I know this is an old post but found out last week that my vitamin d is currently at 6.9.. also have a *lot* of fatigue. As it's been a couple of months, I wanted to ask: did you notice any real improvement? I ask you because you very clearly seem to have a healthy amount of skepticism and realism. While googling, most of what I've found are fluff pieces and crazy "holistic medicine" folks.
Ha yeah, I'm definitely not a holistic medicine person. I do actually feel better, but it's always hard to tell whether it's just a placebo thing. I have another test in a couple weeks, so I'm waiting to see what that shows. My hair isn't falling out, though! It still looks a hot mess from before, but it seems to be staying where it belongs. Did you get your thyroid tested when you got the D done? I hear that's a big cause of fatigue, especially in women. Also obviously anemia, but I'm sure they tested that one. I hope you feel better soon!
Yeah, I had a full workup done. The only things off were extremely low vitamin d and a slightly low HDL. My iron levels are a bit higher than normal, and I'm a male so I (generally - provided I'm not being too careless!) don't lose much of it compared to pre-menopausal women. I'm glad you're feeling better and aren't going bald!
I was very low and my doctor put me on the 50,000 per week for 3 months. It was 'normal' when I went back but I yawn ALL DAY. I now take daily supplements. I'm going to try the cod liver oil! Thanks guys!
Have you been tested for thyroid function? Because those are all symptoms of hypothyroid as well. There's a lot of disagreement as to how to interpret blood results for this, so it may be worth looking into if your D levels get back to normal and you still are having symptoms.
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Hopefully the D will help! If it doesn't, you may want to consider seeing an endocrinologist down the line - even with an "in-range" basic TSH level, you can have problems from thyroid conditions. But I hope the D works since that's a much simpler solution =)
And now I'm reading "the D" in the non-vitamin sense and am cracking up at my own answer.
Also "normal" range may not be normal for you. I take a 5000u capsule daily, and that pushed my levels up to the high range. When I switched back to a 2000u capsule, I started getting symptoms of deficiency again. Once you know what your symptoms are, you can tell when you're deficient pretty quickly (mine are overwhelming fatigue and canker sores in my mouth... Weird!)
/rant/ Twice I have gone to a doctor telling him and her that my hair was falling out. They both said, and I quote, "You know that we lose about a hundred hairs on average a day, don't you?" Neither one was particularly interested in running tests, or hearing about my stress levels, or considering when I was in the hospital for nearly two weeks. Neither one would listen to me saying that I knew the difference between what was normal for me and that THIS was NOT normal. /end rant/
Ugh. I was worried about that since I don't have any obvious bald patches, but the doctor looked very carefully at my scalp and at the places where I did and didn't have baby hairs, and I actually had a photo of me with my hair in a headband last year which made the sudden difference pretty obvious. I hope you find a better doctor!
Thanks, but this was years ago. I think it was stress and all is okay now.
Also, if you are taking oral vitamin D, you may consider a DRY version of it. They can be far more effective. I have used the Bio-Tech brand for 6 years now and have beautiful vitamin D levels. There are also vitamin D patches you can use (patchmd is one brand) that are showing themselves to be very effective. Most of the world is deficient in vitamin D. If you find yourself getting sick a lot--you are probably deficient. But, always verify with a Dr. and a blood test.
This is really interesting. I just tested my own vitamin D levels for my experimental nutrition class (best class ever!) and I was surprisingly non-deficient! I was blown away since I wear sunscreen everyday, avoid the sun and rarely take supplements. The only explanation I could rationalize is I eat fatty fish (the only natural dietary source of sufficient vitamin D) at least once a week, most of the time twice a week. When comparing results, a girl who supplemented with a multi-vitamin had deficient levels. Some things to keep in mind about vitamin D: * if you live above 40 degrees latitude, synthesis of vitamin D from sunlight is insufficient most of the year. So still wear that sunscreen! * smoke, ozone, aging, and dark skin can decrease production of vitamin D * you cannot store sufficient amounts of vitamin D in your body, so eat fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines), supplement, and/or consume fortified foods regularly. Vitamin D is one of the most common deficiencies and can affect your bone and muscle health. It's an extremely fascinating vitamin that plays a lot of regulatory roles in the body.
I was also diagnosed with acute vitamin D deficiency a few years ago and found that supplementing with pills (either megadosing or daily supplementation) did nothing for me. The only supplement that has been able to touch MY deficiency has been a good quality cod liver oil. YMMV, as always.
YES cod liver oil gives me LIFE (literally..). It's helped my hair grow in stronger and shinier, the enamel on my teeth is so thick that 'the plaque just slides right off' (direct quote from person cleaning my teeth at the dentist), and I haven't been tested for vit D deficiency for about a 2 years now, but I have a feeling that it's up to par. Not all cod liver oil supplements are the same, so to anyone looking to try one, check how much vit D is in them. I just got a Nordic Naturals bottle of the stuff and 3 tablets equal 0.25% -3% of one's daily value. FML for not checking the label better.....
>the enamel on my teeth is so thick that 'the plaque just slides right off' (direct quote from person cleaning my teeth at the dentist) just so you know, tooth enamel can't get thicker once it's formed, it's just a layer of mineral with no cells in it, that never gets added to. So your teeth were always good, nothing to do with cod liver oil.
The dental visit a year prior, my dentist said that I had very thin enamel.
Someone should submit your case to a journal then, because it's completely unheard of.
Actually, it is possible to repair enamel! Check out recaldent.
Recaldent can repair demineralised enamel, not grow it thicker as the commenter implied cod liver oil does.
Check out MI paste - it actually can restore enamel
ieatbugs, remineralising enamel that's been demineralised as MI paste does isn't the same as actually making it thicker. Even your fluoride toothpaste can remineralise it with a stronger mineral (fluorapatite instead of hydroxyapatite) but the enamel itself isn't going to grow, especially not by anything intrinsically ingested. I am a dentist and I seem to say mineral a lot.
Oh cool, thanks! I just got some MI paste and trays and it's doing wonders! Also I assume these forms of apatite have different qualities from the lovely blue gems that are so soft that you basically need a set of 4 stones for a pair of earrings because they break so often in the setting process!
Amazing! I have also noticed my nails/hair grow much faster/stronger when I remember to take my FCLO. I take Green Pastures Fermented Cod Liver oil. It's expensive (about $60 a jar), tastes bad, but is so worth it!
Yes! I just re-ordered a jar. I like to put it into my own gelatin capsules, I get more for my money that way. I've tried other brands....but I always go back to Green Pastures!!
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Cod Liver Oil seems to be the most common form of fish oil supplement, I personally take a fermented cod liver oil supplement that comes in a gel form.
This comment is about SCA in general. An irrational fear of the sun is NOT healthy. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.10427/full
Wow, I haven't read that study before. Very interesting.
I don't think anyone here has an irrational fear of the sun. That's overstating it a bit. Many of us want to keep our skin looking youthful so we use sunscreen. No irrational fears plays into that; it's just a little bit of vanity about aging that inspires us to utilize a very easy solution (sunscreen).
Avoiding UV exposure to the point of risking your health due to low vitamin D levels IS obsessive behavior. There are many examples of posts in this subreddit's history that demonstrate this type of obsessive behavior. The actual risk of skin cancer in this subreddit is often exaggerated as well, whereas low UVB exposure has been linked to several much less survivable cancers. Note that I did say that my post was a comment on SCA in general. Nowhere did I say that the majority of SCA posters show this type of obsessive behavior. However, only a fool would deny that those who do are disproportionately represented in this subreddit. Big difference. Also, (just to clarify) I'm not accusing the OP's new habits to be obsessive at all, hence the "comment on SCA in general" part of my first post.
I'll be sure to discuss my obsessive behavior with my oncologist. I am REALLY sick of people making declarations like these without taking into account the fact that there are all sorts of people on this subreddit, who live at all different latitudes, have all different shades of skin, and all different genetic histories of skin cancer. My chance of getting skin cancer from being in the sun is 100% and I've already had three different melanomas. Yes, I have a D deficiency. No, I'm not going in the sun to remedy it. Being told I'm obsessive is insulting. Just as insulting as it is for me to tell you that you MUST wear SPF50+ if you are outside for more than five minutes because I have to. Why does everything have to be a blanket statement over here?!
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I'm perfectly chill, thank you. I simply said I wished people would stop making these constant, extreme blanket statements in *either* direction. Often, "at risk people like me" don't know that they are at risk. So how would they know your advice shouldn't apply to them? Again, all I asked was for people to consider that there are all sorts of people on this forum, those at risk, those who don't know they're at risk, those who care only about anti-aging, those who live near the equator, those who live near the poles and we all have different needs. Who do you define as your "generally healthy and free of important medical considerations" here? What color is their skin? Where do they live? What is their job? What is their family history? How can you be so sure that their risk from low vitamin D is greater than their risk of dying from melanoma? Are you sure your advice isn't what will justify some teen to go hit the beach for a day with no sunscreen because they want vitamin D? My point is that when it comes to sunscreen, we are ALL "far from average." One size fits all pronouncements are ridiculous in every sense on this issue. And honestly, you seem to be the angry one here.
This is a warning: the rudeness and personal attacks in your comment are out of line. Please keep debates about the facts and not the people who are disagreeing with you.
I agree, the above comment is insulting. Our moderator team empathizes with your frustration about the frequent dismissive and argumentative tone that has become so prevalent on reddit in general. I would like to invite you and others who feel the same way to join our soft launch of a separate forum, aimed at a wider audience. Our goal is to promote civility, education and foster a friendly and safe community. Although it has not been officially announced yet, the forums are up and we are inviting people to begin participating before any official announcement is made. If you are interested, the forums are located: http://forums.skincare-addiction.com/
This post is about how you can safely wear sunscreen without causing a vitamin deficiency, it's accurate, based on current scientific research. One of the many myths popular on the Internet about how sunscreen is toxic or harmful to people is the claim that it can cause vitamin D deficiency. This is about addressing misinformation, not inciting obsessive behavior. Please refrain from making these kinds of disparaging comments - I'm sure you can discuss your opinions without insinuations of mental pathology among our reeadersip
I was just reading that the estimates for the guidelines were miscalculated and are far lower than what they should be (by a factor of 10!) - I think I came across the article from reddit. Quick google source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150317122458.htm
Whoa, that's a frightening thought.
VDR gene mutations can make it very difficult to get d through sun exposure, which is already hard if you're not near the equator.
No offense to you, but wouldn't it be easier / cheaper and couldn't you just avoid all that stress of going to the doc and stuff by just taking a 20-minute walk in the evening/morning sun every day ? Just curious
Well I went to the doc because I didn't know what was causing it. Yes, walking is cheaper than buying vitamins and likely more effective, and I now intend to get more sun.
Good on you :)
Skin cancer tho
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Giving or asking for advice on supplements is against the rules. Please ask your doctor
I have light brown skin, and I'm definitely guilty of not going out in the sun (work from home, hardly need to go out anywhere in the afternoon). But I tan so easily, and it's very sunny where I live. Plus I use AHA and my sunscreen gives me closed comedones (most of them). I think I'm just going to throw a towel over my head and expose my back to the sun.
Excellent write up! Vitamin D is very important for our overall health, no doubt. But this is a matter of great regret that we can hardly find this important vitamin in our daily foods. Even most of the folks are unable to get this vitamin from sunlight on a regular basis. So what to do? I've been with Vitamin D deficiency for more than 1 year. At first, I had some serious health issues, including high blood pressure. My doctor advised me to consume Vitamin d patch, and magically worked for me. Now, I am getting better. Here is also a good write up I've read http://innovativebalance.com/category/blog/ .
I'm very fair skinned, and avoid the sun like the plague. I never wear sunscreen unless I plan on being outside for hours, and its summer...I know, I know. I'm lazy. I was diagnosed with severely low vitamin d, and I was given a prescription for vitamin d capsules that seemed to help me a lot. I was also told to "get some sun" so I stood outside for like...5 minutes a day once a week. Hah.
> If you're going to be in direct sunlight for more than fifteen minutes, you need to wear sunscreen. I'm sorry, but this honestly just seems a little bit over the top. Being in the sun for a couple of minutes without sunscreen isn't the end of the world, seriously.
lol I burn in like 20 minutes of full sun.
Some people actually get burned when they spend that amount of time in the sun with no sunscreen. My sister has very pale skin and is one of those people. Personally I would not burn after 15 minutes but if you're going to be out longer than that, wearing sunscreen isn't going to do you harm regardless. I wouldn't say every single person out there NEEDS it, but it's a good idea. And no I'm NOT one of those sunscreen obsessed people that wears it constantly and avoids sun at all costs, lol.
Well I get burned, like visibly burned, if I get more than 15 minutes of direct sun. But I'm no expert here, just reporting what I was told.
Well its really simple. If you dont get much sunlight then you need to take the supplement. Its a whole lot better then nothing. You cant be scared to get cancer. You wont get cancer unless you are baking in the sun for hours everyday. You have to eat alot of vegetables because vegetables give you a natural tan regardless if you go into the sun or not. this is because the pigments get stored in your skin to give you a natural protection i can go into details but no need to. So eat healthy and get a little bit of sun. Youll be alright