Vit D help needed!

You should be taking the over the counter D3. I take 2000 units a day. My count went from 23 to 41 in  matter of months. I want to get to 60. D3 is absorbed much better by the body.

my doc said she would like vit D to be in the 50-60 range. But as juneping said it is always good to talk to your doctor because our health histories, age etc matter

Hello to Everyone. I am new here.  I am happy to have found this forum.   

Hi Sophia. I too am taking Vitamin D.. In my particular case, I did not require Chemo and I chose not to have radiation; being a good candidate for that choice. 

On April 25th I had a lumpectomy followed up by a hematoma removal and some more tissue removal around the original site on May 7. 

Everything came back negative. They tell me I am "cancer free" at this time. Working with the medical oncologist recently, I will begin taking

Anasterol a generic drug for Amidex (i may have those spellings wrong). 

Is there anyone out there who has or is taking this drug?? If so, I would love to know what kind of reactions you have had to it - if any. 

Thanks to all and have a HAPPY DAY     Bobbi  

Joysoul, there is discussion about Arimidex in the Hormonal Therapy section. 

There is also this information: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/aromatase_inhibitors/arimidex

Welcome to the boards.  Take time to explore and become familiar with what's available here.  We are here to help.--Corky

So, there is is a vit d out there that is so much superior in absorption.  Natural practitioners would have it, or you can buy online.  Its from biotics research.  Its emulsified d.  Way way better.  It put my levels over 100.  So, less is more.

Ditto - the comments about Bio-D-mulsion.  I switched to this brand about 2 years ago and now can maintain my D levels at 70 - 80 range.  I read somewhere that some individuasl do not metabolize or absorb certain Vit D supplements.  This may be the reason why this brand has worked better for some of us.

i am new here too.  I took Anastrazole for 2 months and the side effects were joint pain to already arthritic knees.  It was very painful and also seemed to affect one hip.  I was told to stop taking it for a month and the pain went away.  I am now taking exemestane with the only side  effect being hot flashes.  I do have insomnia only exacerbated by the breast cancer diagnosis.  So what was a problem with sleeping is MUCH worse since diagnosis.  I have not found any of recently prescribed meds to work for the insomnia 

so I will have to call my doctor.

Thanks cp! That sounds like a good plan to me. I feel a Vit D range in the 70-80s in very important for breast cancer patients. Other people, 40-60 is fine and that's what some oncs are going by.

There is so much conflicting information about vitamin D, and I'm FAR from an expert. I can only tell my own story.

When I got cancer, I did a lot of research. One of the things I noticed was that some were beginning to talk about low vitamin D levels being a concern.  I recalled how I'd been CRAVING sun the prior year, but never getting it (so much work, and single Mom).

Fast forward 7 years and I begin to have severe migraines with AURA (temporary cognitive loss, visual disturbances, numb mouth, etc.).  One of the things that was tested was my vitamin D.  It was 35, and labs tend to give a normal range of 30-100, so it was never mentioned (I've since heard that range is useful for bone health, but neurological (and other?) health MIGHT be more like 70-100).  I got worse and worse and finally closed my business of 20 years and have been unemployed.  No one could help my migraines (multiple neurologists, chiro, pcp). 

While at a chiro (who I think was not very "legit," though at least he did order a lot of blood tests), I found my vitamin D to have dropped to 15. Of note: my cardio CRP was over 6 (should ideally be under 1), which is a generic indication of inflammation somewhere in the body.  He started me on 10,000 IU of D3 daily.  I took the supplement he sold in his office (yeah, I know), then Nature's Bounty then Nature Made.  Four months later and I am at 70!  Vitamin D also supposedly fights inflammation, and my C Reactive Protein is now down to 1.7.  But what is most amazing is that my aura has completely disappeared.  I still have other issues, including headaches--but you cannot imagine what it is like to have that extreme problem gone. During a "spell," I could not see well, read, understand--I once didn't recognize my daughter's own name. 

And the change came very quickly.  I was having a visual aura 1-3 times per day!  Within perhaps 2-3 weeks of starting the meds, I'd nearly stopped having them at all.  Then I had one each day for two days in a row. Then another about 2-3 weeks later. And that's it.  None for probably two months now.  I am so thrilled!  I know that vitamin D is important, and there is conflicting information if it should be D2 or D3 (our body converts D2 to D3??).  And the dosage is important--when my pcp found out I was taking D by order of the chiro, she said "make sure it's a big dose."   And it was-10,000 IU per day.  Now that I'm "normal," she recommends 1,000-2,000...but I'm still taking 5,000 a day until I use all the pills I have...then we'll see. 

Mind you, I started Lipitor for high cholesterol right after the vitamin D3.  So there is some thought that these improvements could be due to that medication (which worked miraculously for my cholesterol too!).  But, whenever I look up either of these meds along with the word migraine or aura - the only thing I find is questions about whether they CAUSE migraines. 

Bottom line-I think vitamin D is something many of us are low on, and all of us need dearly for so many body functions.

cpd418

I've tried melatonin and it does not help.  Realize I should be on can't sleep topic.  ;-)

To heartnsoul7, I was taking 10,000iu.  When I got levels checked, I was over 100.  Toxic levels.  So, less is more.  I like the biotics research 2,000iu per drop.  The other one is only 400iu.  O put the drop right ok my finger, and lick it off.  Simple.   I probably wouldn't take more than 4,000 a day.  Have your levles checked to know for sure.  Wish you the best.

Sleep Issues since BC

This works for me:

Ambien, 10mg (be sure you are in bed and ready for sleep)

Dear  Keep, check around 5.000 a day to start getting it up.  Research it. Doc recommend a lot more