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Vitamin D Defeciency-New Symptoms

I am just finishing my second dose (two months) of vitamin D and for some odd reason still having some symptoms, even new ones.  Not sure if they are related but I've been having constant head pressure, chest pain (feels like pain in heart) especially at night, and last night I had a nosebleed.  This is not helping with my thoughts that I am on the road to recovery, so i'm wondering if there is something else I should be asking my doctor or are any of these symptoms normal in the "healing process?"  Any response would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
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1156694 tn?1265210026
Sorry it took so long to get back at you.  Problems with my server.  You seem to be taking a lot of the 50,000iu.  Although I have seen it prescribed that way, sometimes just can't handle that high of a dose.  You might want to go to the Vitamin D council website to get the most current information on VDD, treatments etc.

As odd as this sounds the prescription form can be difficult for people to absorb.  If you are having these troubles, you might need to switch to the Vitamin D3 that is OTC.  It is usually tolerated more and is easier for the body to process.  I went through all the cardiac testing when we were searching for an answer to why I was having so many issue.  Everything was normal except my Vitamin D was serverely deficient.  Since I have finally gotten up to optimum levels (50-80ng/ml) most of my symptoms have either greatly improved or are no longer an issue.  Studies say it can take up to a year (sometimes longer) from when you reach optimum levels for a resolution of symptoms.  I wish you luck.  Make sure you educate yourself on VDD at reliable sources.  Many doctors are not "up to date" on treatment and the such. (I was the first adult my doctor had ever seen who was VDD and he had no idea that it could cause such a range of symptoms.  Once he realized I was getting better when my levels went up, he began to check the test on other patients with similar issues.  Guess what 85% were VDD.)
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
The normal US range for Vitamin D is 30-100 ng/ml. Optimal number to feel healthy is 50ng/ml. Even though your test result may show as normal, low normal can still cause symptoms.

You need to take D3 in a soft gel 5,000iu to 10,000iu daily to build up levels. Higher amounts are especially needed in the winter. Most states don't get the UVB rays from the sun that help create D3 from October till beigining if March AND even then the times of day change throughout the months. Just because there is sun does not mean you get UVB rays. You will probably need to take D3 for the rest of your life, just in a lower dose during the summer and more during the winter.

Daily D3 is more helpful then high weekly dosages. D2 is not going to keep your levels up.

You need to take Magnesium and Vitamin K2 with the D3 or you can have other symptoms. Magnesium calms nerves and K2 moves calcium around do its not deposited into your arteries. Don't take calcium or dairy at same time you take magnesium because they compete to absorb.

I was diagnosed at 19ng/ml and have been taking supplements for 3 1/2 weeks. I am slowly seeing improvement. I've been told it takes 4-8 weeks to feel better
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Avatar universal
I have been feeling tired  and sleepy for about a year went to many doctors did all kinds of test and everything came back normal. But I was still so tired went to another doctor who ordered a Viitamin D test. The level came at 22 so she put me on 50,000 once a week, took my first dosage last Saturday but it's makes me very nauseous and I am still feeling tired how long before  I feel better.
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Avatar universal
I have been feeling tired  and sleepy for about a year went to many doctors did all kinds of test and everything came back normal. But I was still so tired went to another doctor who ordered a Viitamin D test. The level came at 22 so she put me on 50,000 once a week, took my first dosage last Saturday but it's makes me very nauseous and I am still feeling tired how long before  I feel better.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My blood work came low on vitamin D as 10. I was feeling so tired and depressed and all the bones in my body were hurting. I'm Mexican with very white skin, I  had always avoid the sun, but now I sit outside for 20 minutes to get sunshine and my doctor started me on vitamin D3, a few days ago, And I can feel a big difference I'm also eating and drinking more high vitamin D foods. Good luck to everyone!
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Avatar universal
My level was 8 and now it is 50.  I am also wondering if I have a hypothyroid issue as well.  One physician told me that a vitamin D level @ 8 shouldn't cause any symptoms.  I thought to myself he has got to be joking.  Hope he doesn't ever have to deal with a low vitamin D level.  What an idiot.    
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Avatar universal
Hi I am new to the forum. Nice not to feel crazy. My level of d was 7 and I am also hypothyroid. Taking50000 once a week for one month now. Feel a bit better mostly because I don't think I am a hypocondriac, lazy dull human anymore. There is a reason I don't do anything for days on end. Thanks for sharing.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Kim - I'm not sure if you are still having the shaking and heart palpitations but the same thing was happening to me. It was very scary and I went to the ER one night because I was sure I was having a heart attack! We had recently lost our sweet golden retriever, so a lot of people chalked it up to "stress." But, I knew something wasn't right. I did some research, and found that many people who are on recovery doses of D expose an underlying magnesium deficiency, and that high levels of D can absorb magnesium as well. Within 24 hours of taking 500 mg. of magnesium with my Vit.D I felt 100% better. I wonder if this is what you are experiencing as well? Hope you are feeling better.
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Avatar universal
What Week of vit d are you on ? I'm on my third week and I still feel a lot of heart palpitation and it scares me.
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Avatar universal
Im wanting to maintain my levels at 70 to 80ng.  I was at 31ng a month ago and doubled it to 62ng in one month on 10k/day.  I probably need to bring my dose down to the 5-7k range at some point for maintenance, but I wonder if some of my issues arent thyroid/testosterone related.
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Avatar universal
Thanks and I hopefully I find something out as far as thyroid issues.  My doctor also did an ultrasound so I have to call and get results from that.  Lately I've been having some head pressure and chest pains and feeling kind of bad at night and first thing in the morning.  But I'm going to try a dosage of the OTC D3 that you suggested and see if that helps any!
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1 Comments
Hey TW I know I'm years late! How do you feel as of today?
Avatar universal
Lately I've been having some head pressure and chest pains, so as gary suggested I'm going to take a dosage of the OTC D3 to see if that helps.  I still don't feel great, but I guess it takes time.  Not really any heart palpitations, I actually had a stress test done a couple of days ago and my heart was normal so that was good news! Just wished I felt like the test results are saying!
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Avatar universal
Yay your vitamin d levels are up. Keep it up :) I suggest you continue to take OTC vit d. What Kim of symptoms are you still feeling ? Heart palpitations ?
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Avatar universal
Find a level of OTC D3 to maintain your levels above 60ng.  Im shooting for 70-80 ng and then may taper down to 7k or 5k/day.  With summer almost here I may taper down even more.  Re thryoid, I had 2 docs say that my levels were normal.  Went to a metobolic MD and he looked at same results and stated that I was fuctionally hypothyroid.  My levels were in range but my reverse T3 was high, meaning that I m having issues converting T4 to T3.  Im on a small dose of time released T3 right now.  Your T3 and T4 levels should be in the upper 1/3 of the range.  My TSH looks perfect, but my T3 level is in the lower 1/3 of the normal rnage and my mom has been hypot her whole life.  
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Avatar universal
The doc finally received my lab work and my vit d level is in the 60's now.  Thyroid level was normal something new though was my glucose level was sort of high.  Not sure if that had anything to do with my diet prior to labs or what?? Still feeling some of the symptoms, so should I still take OTC D3 even though my leves are up.  The doc says he thinks my symptoms are from something else not the vitamin D.  I'm starting to feel i'm about to be pushed aside since everything tests normal but I don't feel normal that's the problem.  I saw an internal med doctor and she stated that she thinks a lot of this is anxiety.  Could this be the case?? Really getting frustrated.  I just want to make sure everything is covered and I'm not missing anything!!
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Avatar universal
I jsut got my blood levels back and am 62ng form 31 ng just a few months ago.  Upped my dose form 5k/day to 10k/day, which equates 70k per week.  Feeling better but still having some symptoms.  I know it can take time, but if possible I would have your free T3, Free T4, reverse T3 and TSH checked.  Hypo T can cause tingling, weakness, dry skin, brittle hair etc.  My TSH is great, but my T3 whihc is what the cells use is at the low end of normal, so Im might experiment with some T3 supplement to see how I feel.  Im also low normal on Testosterone, so may go on that.  Between VDD, Low/normal  thyroid and low/normal test, no wonder Ive been feeling so bad!
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2064671 tn?1335562853
Thank you Gary. I've been out of work and had to go on a sliding scale fee program here in AZ and they don't seem to care much. I don't even know what all they tested for on the blood test. The Dr. was smart enough to check for vitamin D deficiency though so I am thankful for that. They told me to just take the 50,000 IU per week and go back in 3 months. Should I call back and let them know how debilitating the symptoms are or just tough it out?
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Avatar universal
One thing to also have checked for evreyone is your Thyroid levels.  They can also can cause these same symptoms.  Im at the low normal level of Free T3 and may try a small dose of thyroid supplement to see what that does.  Been on VD for awhile now.
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2064671 tn?1335562853
Thank you for your post. I'm new here because I recently found out my vitamin D levels are low. The Dr. didn't tell me the number but I'm on 50,000 IU once a week. I'm only into my 3rd week on this but I have finally had a few nights where I can actually sleep more than 4 hours. My symptoms pretty much match most of what I have seen here. Is there anything else I can do as far as diet or other meds to cope with these miserable symptoms? Dizzy, brain fog, vertigo, ringing in ears, muscle pains with a burning sensation,muscle spasms,random sharp pains all over my body, EXTREME fatigue and anxiety that I may have a disease. When the Dr's office called they said my blood test came back fine with the exception of very low vitamin D. Your post and others make me hopeful that I can recover but the thought of a long battle scares me because it has brought on depression and despair.
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Avatar universal
My endo doc still hasn't received the lab work not sure what the hold up is hopefully I hear something today cause last night was just as worse.  It's like i'm relapsing or something! But today I'm going to need some answers for sure. Like I stated every since he told me to stop taking it I've been feeling worse and worse so I'm not sure that was a good idea, but I guess he wanted to make sure I wasn't taking too much! Will keep you posted!
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1156694 tn?1265210026
In the begining I had "palpitations" or what ever they were, multiple times a day.  When my numbers got over 30ng/ml I didn't notice them as much and I think now I have only had one or 2 in the last several months.
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Avatar universal
Thanks guys ! I have another question did  u guys get it everyday every so often ? And now that you guys are taking vitamin d supplements has the heart palpitations calmed down a bit ? If so how long has it been since u noticed that the heart palpitations aren't as bad ?
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1156694 tn?1265210026
I hope to hear the results soon.
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1156694 tn?1265210026
At the begining I did.  They even put me on a heart monitor for 3 weeks.  No abnormalities were seen.  I still get them occasionally, but now that I know my heart is fine, so I don't worry.
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