Vitamin D Testing

mary625

My naturopath tells me to stop my supplements two weeks before testing. Do any of you do this?

Pessa

No.  Does not make sense to do that

mamabee

No, I've only been told to stop before surgery. Did the naturopath say why? I would think she'd want you to stay on them as that would be the true test of whether or not the supplements are working.

suegr8

Had my first Vit D test in Dec.  & it came back as 'low'.  I took supplemental calcium & D3 for 2 weeks prior to the blood draw, but nobody said to stop before draw. 

Just took first of 6, weekly, prescription doses of D forte (D2?).  I'm to complete the repletion, resume 2 weeks of D3 & have another test.   Hope my D comes up...bone density concerns.

cheers

mary625

She told me it was to see how much my body was hanging on to. I think that's interesting to know, but I think this coming time I'll keep taking it right up to the test as a comparison. My onc has not told me to stop.

SpecialK

suegr8 - it can take a while for the D level to improve so don't panic if it doesn't happen super fast!

Klm0221

I found out my D level was only 10!  My PCP had me take 5,000 IU's of D-3 a day for 3 months.  I was shocked when I ws re-tested .  . . my D was only up to 10.4.

I then started 10,000 IU's a day on my PCP's order.  After a couple months of that, my D was up to 62.  Now, I am taking 10,000 IU's but only 3 times a week.  I will eventually decrease it to a more normal level but, obviously, my body wasn't absorbing. 

I don't know if my situation is normal or unusual, though.

suegr8

Kim, a thought...have you asked for a prescription of vit D?  My nutritionist recommended it & asked the NP to prescribe it.  The intervention is called 'repletion'.  The capsule I'm taking is 50,000 per week for 6 weeks.  (but this isn't over the counter D.)

SpecialK    thanks for the info...I tend to be a little impatient when I take something & expect results, well... yesterday!  Mid March for the retest - want to be up from 68.

cheers

SpecialK

suegr8 - are you having a 25 hydroxyvitamin D blood level test?  The normal range is 30-74 on that test, so up from 68 would be really up!  This is the test I am administered and I started at almost single digits and am now up to almost 50, but it has taken a while.

Ariom

Hi, I was told to stop all supplements a week before my surgery. My anaesthetist said that it was because they could never be really sure what was in them all that may contraindicate withth anaesthesia or the other meds they were going to use after the surgery. When I told him I was nervous about going of my Olive Leaf extract because of its benefits he said that I could keep taking that.

The day after my surgery I noticed that they gave me a Vit D with the other meds.

i read recently that most people who are tested for Vit D levels are coming up low now because we spend so much less time in the sun which is the only natural way to get Vit D. Here in Australia just about everyone I know is taking Vit D supplements to boost their calcium levels. 

mary625

Ariom--your hair and your picture are beautiful!

suegr8

Special   Yes, that's the test administered.  But, I read on my printout that 30-74 is the 'low' range.  'normal' is 75 and up range. 

cheers

SpecialK

suegr8 - here is a blurb that discusses that test, 74 is the top of the normal range:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003569.htm

Jomama2

My initial vit D level at time of dx was 18 -- my bs thought this quite low and had emailed my pcp to "work with me" on bringing it up  She did not contact me, and when he found out said he would contact her a second time to make sure I started supplementing with Vitamin D3. He was not happy.  My MO, however, told me my Vit D level was "slightly low" and, for bone health, I should not worry too much because there was no credible information to do otherwise. (another reason I may fire this guy).  I was warned online not to ask for the prescription kind, which is usually D2 and not that helpful.  My pcp told me to take 2,000 mg a day, so I started with 4,000 mg a day. (I live by the motto: If a little is good, more must be better).  That brought it up a littlle after 4 months, so I began taking 5,000 a day...was just tested, and my level is now 55.  I plan on getting it up to 65-70 if possible. I am using it for the chemopreventative qualities, not for bone health, per se.

Ariom

Thank you so much Mary!

suegr8

Hi SpecialK

Confusing this D thing!  I'm reading my lab report now.  Perhaps there's a discrepancy in the units of measure?  Mine says

"25-hydroxy Vit D       result 68           ref range 75-250     unit nmol/L     flag   LO

25-74nmol/L: Vitamin D Insufficient"

I notice that the MedlinePlus article unit of measure is ng/ml.  Maybe difference in Canadian vs US lab report?  I will ask at the lab next time I'm there.

cheers 

suegr8

Hi SpecialK

It is in the unit of measure.  I found a math explanation to divide my number by 2.5 to arrive at the approx value on the ng/mL scale.   So I'd be in the high 20's on the MedLine scale.

Now, for some shut-eye.

cheers

SpecialK

suegr8 - mystery solved!

slousha

Hi,

I have copied these dates from an Important Vitamin D Conference in Canada 2012  saying:

  Vitamin D levels  25 Hydroxy D

Defficient       Optimal     Cancer     Excess

under 50        50-65        65-90       100 and more

ng/ml             ng/ml         ng/ml       ng/ml

Keeping your level in this range, and even erring toward the higher numbers in this range, is going to give you the most protective benefit. And the way you maintain your levels within this range is by getting tested regularly -- say two to four times a year in the beginning, and adjusting your vitamin D intake accordingly.

Best

Usha

Timbuktu

I read somewhere that being overweight makes it harder to absorb the Vit D.  

mary625

Time for another Vitamin D level. I took 5000 IUs a day up to the day of the test. I still tested at 48. I definitely want to get above 50, preferably 60. I don't know what to do. I'm hoping to get out in the sun using my DMinder app IF/WHEN the weather cooperates.

suegr8

Mary625   Not sure where this fits in with your Vit D experience...I just took my 3rd prescription capsule Vit D of 50,000 units, so half way thru my 'repletion'.  I am feeling stronger so I hope my bones are getting stronger.

cheers