help with vit D levels

I watch reality t.v., so I'm totally sensitized to bickering in all it's forms; but this thread was at it's most productive for me when I learned which Vit. D test to ask for (25-OH-D) and then how to interpret the numerical results of the test.  (My doctor erred on both counts, so it was women posting here that put me on the right track.)

Women who might just be joining us:  In the over 30 pages that are here already I believe you will find the info. that you need, or links to sites containing that info.  It might be a lot of reading, but by the time you are done I bet the controversy will have blown over.

In other words, welcome new women who are still needing help with Vit. D! 

Okay BC sisters I could use some guidance.

I argued with my PCP last year to get a Vit D test. He agreed, but insisted it be the 1,25. That was done in August 09 and came back as 58 (reference range 25-66 pg/ml.)

I took things into my own hands and did a home Vitamin D 25-OH  test through ZRT labs. I just got the results today and it shows 29 with range as 32-100 ng/ml. I don't know the difference between the pg/ml and the ng/ml.

Am I low...should I tell my PCP? I know he'll be disgusted that I had this test done on my own. I've been having testing the past four weeks for joint and muscle pain and everything has come back within "normal". I don't like that my white blood count is 3.7 and the range is 3.6-11.0, but they insist it's okay. I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm a hypochondriac, but this joint pain isn't normal for me.

Can any of you guide me on this?

Hi Elimar,

No, I am very fortunate not to have needed either Tamoxifen or AL (?) I've read a lot about ZRT labs and they seem to be credible. I'm sure most doctors would disagree. They send you a kit and then you send them the sample.I just felt I needed to check out the 25OH test as everywhere I research says that is the better test for the vitamin D.

Candi

There is a national epidemic of vitamin D deficiency--ask your doc's

We have been so programmed to avoid uv rays we don't go out without protection. My Endocrin.doc when he moved here was shocked at how many people he was finding in the sunshine state of Florida. I said we don't go out between 1000and 4-5pm to be in the sun, because of uv.

THE endocrin docs comment when he saw my numbers "was do you ever go outside". The first dose of 50,000units was like warm chocolate melting all over my body for hours. Regretfully, I never had that feeling again. It was niravanha!!!.  Actually, forgot the number. But on his regimen of D3, I came up to midrange by next bloodtest. It was one a day for 5-6 days, then once a week for 6 weeks, then once a month for 6 months. When asked how long I would have to take it- he said forever. HEy okay by me. Could only depend on diet for ca++. Oral Ca++was to constipating with the pain meds.

There has never been an abbreviation fo endocrinologist that I've seen. If you use ENDO that is commonly used to describe a gastroenterologist. Just an fyi. If someone nows what the abbreviation or slang is, please post. WE don't want to get our body parts mixed up.

JO the ironing thing---don't look down at what your wearing or at anything that brings out the inner ironer in you. It will decrease your anxiety to pull out the iron I guess you carry in your purse-----meant as LOL   (((((H))))).

Old joke from Readers Digest:     We went on family vacations every year, about 75 miles from home, my mom would say "I think I left the iron on". Dad would turn around a drive back to check the Iron. One year same thing, except dad stopped the car, went to the trunk, came back and got in the car. He then handed my mother the iron.   CLASSIC and understood by anyone who has returned home to make sure the iron is off or stove off or whatever else makes us crazy. AND lovely DH husbands that don't fuss. Last time it happened to me --no DH fuss--I thanked him and said "what was different "? he said "I finally understand how you worry". wow.

Squid are you on D3 50000 units pharmacy dispensed. OTC won't do. No regulatory agency watching consistency in potency. you need to be on pharmacy dose.-(((((((((H)))))))sas

A gal can never have too many clothes....or shoes!

Deirdre1, I have been taking Vit D supps for many years and have never had a problem with dry mouth and mouth sores until I started Arimidex.  I take 4000iu per day. Love n hugs. chrissyb 

Hey D, I take each day Vit D, Vit B3 B6 B12 magnesium, selenium,melatonin, cod liver oil, glucosamine, folate an Co Q10. These are my supps. Then I take meds for high blood pressure, Arimidex (of course), an acid blocker, aspirin to thin the blood and pain killers.  Sometimes I think I rattle when I walk. Oh I take the staight Vit D no added calcium.....it upsets my tum. lol. Love n hugs. chrissyb

All dark green veg but in particular the leafy type.  You can eat them steamed or raw the choice is yours.

I can't help you with a calcium without D as your branding is different to what we have here in Australia but surely you would be able to find one if you went to a health food store or an alternative naturopath should be able to tell you where you could get some.  Hope this helps. Love n hugs. chrissyb

Candi,

The 25(OH)D is the test you want. Levels should be above 50 ng/ml (125 nmol/L) year-round, in both children and adults. I've seen recommendations that with bc our levels should be above 60.  We need D3 not D2 that some docs prescribe.

After chemo, my levels were 19.  I've been supplementing, first with 4,000 iu of D3 and now 7,000 iu of D3 a day and was just tested a few weeks ago.  After 8 months of taking D3, my D3 level is now 68.

Donna 

Juli,

I'll be hoping that you'll get a good reading when you get your Vit D level tested in August.  It seems to take quite a while for our bodies to adjust to the Vit D to show an increase in our levels. 

I found this article from 2008 from the Linus Pauling Institute on Vitamin D.  It's a very reputable source and has some good basic information, even if their recommended levels may be on the low side compared to what we're hearing today.

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminD/index.html#function

123Donna:  Thank you, this is a chronic issue for me.  I also had a parathyroid tumor removed in 2002, and have primary hyperparathyroidism again.  I cannot take calcium supplements, and limit calcium in my diet, but do have some.  I do not think this D2 50,000ius will increase my levels that much.

That article was amazing, thank you!  As it pertains to my personal issues of the parathyroid.  And, it also indicates the 1,25 D testing, which I'm also getting along with the 25OH.  VERY interesting, and yes, like you said, doses on the very low range indeed, especially for breast cancer patients.  I never knew breast cancer tumors had vitamin d markers.  (I think I'm reading that part correctly). 

Thank You again...hope all is well with you.  I was on a Gemzar Clinical trial (adding Gemzar to Taxol and dose-dense chemo/every 2 weeks with cytoxin/adriamycin first).  How was your bisphosonate trial (and what would that be for?)...gemzar is already used now for recurring breast cancers, so it was a well-known drug, they wanted to add it to treatments to see if it helps prevent recurrences.  We shall see.  Did you have cancer in your familial history, as I see you had the bilateral mastectomy?  Just curious here, hope you don't mind the questions!

*Hugs*  ~juli

Great article, thanks for posting the link!

I am so confused about the vitamin D and sun issue...

I finished chemo in March and my vitamin D was tested and is very low.  I am on the pills once a week but I am not sure about sunscreen?  I am using a natural sunscreen product since I looked up my original sunscreen and it had Estrogen in it?  And I have been slathering this on my kids?

I have been advised by friends to not use the sunscreen all the time so I can get more Vit. D

I had skin cancer on my face last year which was removed but this makes me more unsure about going without sunscreen.  Can I just be on the pills forever?

MariannaHB, the guidance from your doctor sounds great.