Hi everyone, my doctor is wanting to prescribe 50,000 units of Vitamin D. It hasn't been a concern for me because I thought I was getting adequate amount in my food etc. Why would I need that amount of vitamin d if I am staying within the guidelines of what is appropriate for daily consumption? To much of anything is not a good thing, I am older and my body doesn't metabolize things the same as it once did. Also, do we really need a calcium suppliment if we get all our calcium and vitamin d from our foods? I take extra care and actually document my calcium and vitamin d on a daily basis. I am totally confused on this subject, would appreciate any information. Thank you
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
50,000 units how often? Monthly? Weekly? Daily?
My pcp actually put me on that amount daily for many months before my orthopedist caught it and stopped it. Although it has been a couple of years my D,1,25-Dihydroxy is still clocking in at 127 (normal range being 19 - 67) despite the fact that the only D supplements I am getting now are from Citracal and Centrum. I wish I knew what this meant! Too much of a good thing, as you say. Any way, current thought seems to indicate our need for D is greater than traditionally assumed, all still controversial.
The more calcium you can get from dietary sources (particularly non-dairy sources,) the better. If you can get all the calcium you need from your food, God bless!
I'm extremely curious to hear what the more authoritative voices on this wonderful board will have to say on all this. Good luck to one and all.
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
thank you turtle lady, My doc wanted to prescribe it once a week. I had a revolt from my husband who was concerned with the amt of calcium and vitamin d that was to be prescribed. He works in the medical field and said that there just is to much toxicity from taking to much. He sees it first hand of pts who are told or prescribed to much calcium are confused mentally and hardening of the arteries etc. etc. Vitamin d can be very toxic also, so what is one to do? I want to play it safe and take just the required amounts and get it though my foods etc. I have to be so careful, I don't want to let fear be my motivation for taking more then I need. The right amount is therapuetic, versus to much toxic!!!!!!!
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Has your doctor given you a blood test to see if you are getting enough Vit. D? When my dr. did, it showed that my D level was extremely low and prescribed 50,000 units twice a week for 6 months. Now I just take 800 units daily.
I would think that if your Vit. D level is okay that 50,000 units would be too much but I am not a doctor. You really should check and see just where your D level is.
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Thank you Kathy, I haven't had my vitamin d tested since last year before taking forteo ( couldn't tolerate forteo) and it was good at that time. I will make a apt for a lab draw before I consent to that amt of vitamin d. I will be honest, I just don't know why that much vitamin d is needed? If perchance I am low, I do believe I will still have a problem taking that much at one time into my system. I appreciate your info.
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Wildflowers - I don't think you will have a problem with taking that much Vit. D. I am a person who is very sensitive to all medications and I was afraid to even take one of these, but didn't have any problems at all. I feel like if I can tolerate that much, everyone probably can.
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Thank you Kathy for your words of encouragement, it was good to hear that someone who was sensitive to medications easily was able to take that amt. of vitamin d. Did you ever find out why so much is needed Kathy? There are different kinds of Vitamin D, what kind did you take? I was told by a friend not to take any prescription vitamin d because it really wasn't a vitamin, it was more like a drug, have you heard anything like that. Again, thank you for responding it was very kind for you to take time out of your day. Take Care!
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
wildflowers - I took the prescription Vit. D that my doctor gave me. You can't buy that much Vit. D in one softgel over the counter. Now, I just buy the 800 unit D3 over the counter.
No, I have never heard of not taking the prescription form of Vit. D.
I only know that you have to have so much Vit. D in your system so the calcium will absorb properly. My osteoporosis had gotten so bad and that is why I finally went to another doctor who tested my Vit. D level first thing. He said that Vit. D is vital for bone health. If you are too low in the Vit. D, then nothing absorbs like it should. I think that's probably why the 50,000 units is okay for a short time. I took it for 6 months.
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Thank you Kathy, I will know after my lab work if I need extra vitamin d or not. I am armed with more information and I deeply appreciate you sharing your experience with me. Wildflowers
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Hi Wildflowers. I was on 50000 IU's for 13 weeks and now am on a maintenance dose of 1000 IU's. My vit D levels were very low. The way my doctor described it was like a storehouse. You have to keep the storehouse full and running at a steady state where the outflow equals the inflow. If the storehouse gets too low, the body has nothing to draw on and becomes deficient. The reason for the 50000 IU's was to replenish the storehouse. The 1000IU's now keeps the storehouse in a steady inflow/outflow state. I felt wonderful on the Vit D. It was actually a little energy boost for me. I feel like the 1000 IU's is now right for me too. Hope this helps - jrose
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Thank you jrose, boy does it ever help, I love the analogy of the storehouse, now that makes sense to me, I just wish I had your doctor, I have one that prescribes and gets offended if you ask to many questions, she doesn't like to be challenged, I am in the process of changing doctors. I am one that doesn't swallow anything without knowing the why's, what's and wherefore's. I think it's only natural and healthy to investigate and do research before you commit to anything. Again, thank you for your response Wildflowers
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Wildflowers:
I took 50000 units of vitamin d2 once a week for 2 1/2 years. When I started my D level was 18. It is now 55. Earlier this year I read up on the differences between D2 & D3 and the D3 is the natural version. D-2 being a synthetic type. So I took myself off the 50000 units and started taking 2000 units of D a day. When my level was checked in May it was still 55.
There is a lot of info on the internet regarding Vitamin D. It's supposed to be the new miracle vitamin. The only side effects I have is that my nails and hair grow like crazy. Never had long nails before and now I can hardly type. One thing it hasn't helped is my dexa scores.
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Thank you Turquoise, Iwill definitely go the natural D3 way, the info was vital. I haven't had the luxury of doing alot of research on the computer lately due to recovering from back surgery, that is way I fast tracked to my friends on healthboards. You get the genuine deal here, everyone generously shares there knowledge and experience hoping they can save others some stress, knowing if your asking the question, you are waiting anxiously for some answers. Thank You!
Wildflowers
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Wildflowers-
I hope you are recovering well from your surgery
About your vitamin d-
First step-you need to get your vitamin d level checked and post your level
Second step-if you are deficient it would be best to raise your level
Vitamin d3 is the preferred source and not the d2 that comes in the super high prescription dose
And, I have read and been told by my bone specialist that it is not wise to get your vitamin d from cod liver oil because it is very high in vit A and too much vitamin A makes us more prone to fracture.So if you go to the store to get vit d3 --you can get higher doses now at the health food /vitamin supplement stores--just check the label and make sure you are not getting vit. A in there as well. I have seen doses of 1,000 and up to I think 5,000 as well as lower at the vit supplement store. If you are not comfortable with 50,000 a week maybe some mid point like 4,000 a day for awhile and then check your vit d levels and see how you are doing in a few months.It can take several months to get your stores up, but also you then need to be maintained on a dose that is adequate to keep your levels in the best range. Everyone is different as to how they metabolize vit d, what works for me or someone else may not work for you. Because vit d can affect calcium levels all this really should be done in connection with a dr. who will monitor your labs.
Raising and keeping your vitamin d at a decent level is a project. your . I do agree with you and do not like the 50,000 dose -chiefly because it is D2 and secondly because it is such a high dose taken in a single day.
If your doctor is inflexible and not helpful, sounds like time to make a change.
Let us know what your vit d level comes out to--I find it hard to understand that the doctor would write a prescription for a high dose of vit d without having the lab tests back.
Also--there is much thought that the daily recommended amount of vit d is too low. If you do supplement at a high dose, it is critical that you have your levels monitorred. So you need to work with a dr. that you like and trust . I would say if you can't get this vit d issue dealt with, with your current dr. , how would you deal with a very critical, stressful situation?
Talk to your friends and find a doc you get good reports on and that would be more compatible with you.
Did you stop the forteo?? You seemed to say it didn't agree with you. I completed 18 months and am so glad to be off of the forteo. I didn't have virtually any improvement in my spine and that is where I had the worst situation. My hips improved but because forteo is not supposed to effect the hip , I do not think it was the forteo but a serious walking program and the juvent vibration platform. Anyway,my body doesn't feel as stressed as it did while I was on forteo--I think it was very hard on me. I am now on hormone replacement therapy and somehow feel better--so whether it was quitting the forteo or starting the hormone replacement --I will never know.
I hope you will do well with your recovery from surgery. I would think healing amidst your blooming garden flowers would be excellent therapy for you. I believe I recall that you are a very devoted gardener . Enjoy the flowers.
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Have your levels monitored regularly by your doctor.
I have been told to take extra high doses of D3---get stuff in writing and make sure you understand everything.
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Thank you so much osteoblast and t4t3.
Thank you also osteoblast for asking about my surgery, I had a pinched nerve and had a microdiscectomy on May 13, dealing with nerve pain now. It just so happens that my wonderful doctor left and is going into practice with her husband at the same time I was having surgery. It left me with a very stoic take no prisoners doctor who really scares the heck out of me. My first order of business is to get another doctor, you are so right why would she prescribe 50,000 units at one time without knowing my level. I have no connection with her whatsoever, and you said exactly what my husband said, what happens if you get into the hospital in a serious situation and she is writing the orders. You have cleared up all my questions about how and why with vitamind d, I feel so much better and reassured. I don't know what happened to me but after the surgery I somehow lost some of my self confidence and research and investigative skills, thank you for reawakening them in such a kind manner. I was very saddened to not be able to work at all in my garden this year. I watched spring go by, summer and I am sure fall You wouldn't know it by my garden, my children and husband planted and worked so hard to make it nice so that when I looked out my front window or was able to walk outside it would bring me joy, and it did. Wildflowers
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Wildflowers, Hi!
It's me, Montesflus Happy to hear you're recovering from back surgery. I wasn't aware that they now operate for pinched nerves. What is a microdiscectomy? I seem to remember that some time back you had said you were moving some furniture around and had somehow injured yourself - if my memory is correct (I may be wrong).
Anyway, I won't go rambling on and on. Just wanted to wish you a VERY speedy recovery and hope you'll be tending to your garden soon. Noticed you're getting good advice about vit d on these boards. Do get your levels checked out first before adding any extra, though.
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
I call them lazy doctors.
One of my doctors told me that he wanted me to quit taking estrogen 'cause it wasn't necessary---and I might get breast cancer. Oh, then he told me that he had read about it in Time or Newsweek!!!
I should have run screaming from the office then and there.
Since I got kicked out of this doctor's office (after he took me off estrogen and cut my thyroid dose in half---he ended up personally driving me to the ER when I showed up for a scheduled appointment!)---I've seen an ambulance---with flashing lights and everything---in his office parking lot.
I guess I wasn't the only patient he's attempted to kill.
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
Thank you monteflaus and T4T3 A pinched nerve when it causes severe pain from compression on a nerve root that isn't helped by conservative treatment, p t, injections, mediations, then surgery is the only alternative. My disc L5SI was compressing my nerve and I was in excruitating pain for months prior to surgery. Initially it happened I do believe when I was carrying heavy books from upstairs bedroom to the den downstairs, books are heavy alone but walking two flights of stairs reallly pushed my disc over it's limits. A microdisctomy is when they make a incision into your back and take out the disc that is pressing on the nerve. The substance between your disc is like toothpaste and when a tear is in your disc it can squeeze out and press on a nerve root. Some folks can have hernaited discs, bulging discs and never need to be operated on, that is as long as it doesn't press on a nerve. Sometimes the "toothpaste" stuff from the disc will be absorbed by the body over a period of time, needless to say I wasn't one of the lucky ones. Pain is a very humbling experience. They forgot to mention one of the side effects of the surgery is nerve pain, when you lift up a nerve to get to the disc, it gets very agitated and wakes up and lets you know it in no uncertain terms. It takes a long time for nerves to heal, someone said a inch a month. Thank you for your concern it is deeply appreciated. Sometimes you can have all of your loving family around and firends but feel very alone in your illness. My age I am sure has played a big role in my delayed recovery.
T4T3, I have lost all trust in the medical system the way it works right now, I felt like a piece of meat on a assembly line, many times no compassion just"what is your pain level" it is very disheartening when I remember a time when there was more empathy and compassion in the medical field. Now they have there face in a computer, looking only once and a while to ask a question, they are overworked, over scheduled and burn out. It's all about getting the most patients in and out, numbers, numbers, numbers. they are not able to spend the time with there patients. Sorrry for the long rambling, I didn't know I had all of this in me this morning. My feelings now are if you are not in pain, and your body plumbing works, its a good day. take care and good health Wildflowers
Re: How much Vitamin D is to much? Calcium? Toxic?
To everyone who has osteoporosis, this is a reminder from my own experience. When you go in for a medical procedure, surgery etc. and have to be put out, or sedated in anyway, let them know you have osteoporosis. Have the surgical team, doctor, nurse write it on the front of your chart, or have them put it on a band and place it on your arm. When I had my surgery, I had a spinal anethesia, and knew what was going on. They lifted me by my chest and I heard a pop, and thought for sure my ribs fractured, I told them I had osteoporosis, and that went right over there heads, to busy positioning my body .Anyways, if you have rotator cuff problems(arms) whatever please let them know before hand, they have no idea. When they drop you off at the front of the surgical room, all they know is to operate etc.etc. I always wondered after surgery or a procedure why I was so sore and miserable, now I know. One can not afford when you have osteoporosis to have your body pulled in awkward ways etc. Make them document it on your chart in bright red letters, its your body and don't be discouraged by there comments. Wildlflowers
