After reading quite a bit about vitamin D deficiency in those of us with MS, I decided to ask for testing on my vitamin D levels at last week's physical.
The results are in! The "normal" or "healthy" measurement of Vitamin D is a number from 30 to 80. Mine was 9. Therefore, I will stop by the pharmacy on the way home from work to pick up my prescription-strength vitamin D pills. The doctor was not only concerned with the MS aspect of this, but also bone density issues.
The fact that I had to specifically request this screening really irks me. One would think that a medical professional would know that once a person is diagnosed with MS, the vitamin D levels should be screened. This is not news. Articles were published regarding this topic back in 1984.
Nonetheless, I encourage all of you dear readers to get your vitamin D levels screened at your next blood-letting. You are your best advocate!
On another note, all of my other test results were positive. With the exception of elevated LDL cholesterol levels. Not in a danger zone yet, but with my family history (both of my parents go to the same PCP as I do and both have high cholesterol) the doctor would like me to make a few dietary and lifestyle changes before we go the medication route. I read that giving up smoking could help in that area, too, so here's to one week of being smoke-free! Yay!
How many of you in the MS blogosphere have been tested, what were the results and are you on supplements? Inquiring minds want to know!
Peace,
Kelley
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2 months ago
4 comments:
My PCP wanted to check my D levels back in September at the same time as she checked my TSH.
The result came back a shocking 7.8 ng/mL, just about the same as yours. I started on the prescription green gel capsules at 3/week, then 1/week. In December, I added OTC D3 supplements at 2000UL daily.
Two weeks ago, I got tested again and now it's up to 44 ng/mL. So we've moved to prescription every other week and later just monthly, while keeping the OTC daily.
I hope that you can get yours up too. I actually did feel a difference, especially in my bones which had become very tender.
Wow - I have never had any neuro have my vitamin D levels tested - can't believe yours were that low...I am going to ask to get tested when I see my neuro at the end of the month - thanks for posting!!! I'm surprised after 4 years of this disease no one has ever tested my vitamin D level...i guess i feel stupid now assuming the neuro's know what they are doing considering i have seen 4 in three different cities thanks to my job...
My D score was 24, Dr put me on 1,000 IU, then neuro pit me on 50,000 and a week later I was in ICU, taken off D, and er, here I am; I live in Seattle and just moved (one week out of ICU to assisted living home that will give me sun all summer. I will up my D the old fashioned way.
10 minutes outside during the daytime will give you all the vitamin D you need. Some people have trouble absorbing the vitamin d supplements, but everyone absorbs natural vitamin d. Svae your money.
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