Re: Pain Patient Health Choices /Cindy/vitamin D

[Guest guest]

Hi Bennie,

About 4 years ago, was back and forth about D in high doses. I had experimented

with 4000 units a day for a while, and considered having tests done for D

levels. By what I read, I just decided to go down to from 1000 to 1200 units a

day along with animal A and omega 3(cod liver oil). Did some research tonight,

and you may want to read some. These people had low levels, but those getting

the high doses, these ended up with more falls and fractures. Seems these were

annual high doses though.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3093446/

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=185854

Here 2000 t0 4000 units appeared to be safe for the 3 month treatment, and

levels went to optimal levels.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17661558

A clinical trial is being done on this, because of confusion about what is an

optimal level, and the need to find out if we need that level, and if that level

can be reached by high supplementation, and be safe.

http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00933244

Hope this helps some. Vitamin D is very important, in preventing so many

diseases. However, it seems, like all supplements, it is affected by other

supplements, and it affects other supplements. I wish it were simple. Hope your

doctor can help you out more here, since he is the one thinking this is safe,

and necessary. Sounds like you are in a clinical trial now.

We, on another group were doing research into high vitamin B supplementation, if

they were safe, and effective for Parkinson and Alzheimer. We looked at numerous

studies, and it is still hard to decide to go above 100 mg a day of Bs. Best we

could come up with was to always take them along with the whole complex of Bs.

C.

> Bennie wrote:

> I found out when I went to the Endocrinologist to discuss my Vit D3 levels,

she told me that my levels were dangerously low and low levels are accumulative

and not noticeable until levels drop and symptoms escalate.

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> About 4 years ago, was back and forth about D in high doses. I had

experimented with 4000 units a day for a while, and considered having tests done

for D levels. By what I read, I just decided to go down to from 1000 to 1200

units a day along with animal A and omega 3(cod liver oil). Did some research

tonight, and you may want to read some. These people had low levels, but those

getting the high doses, these ended up with more falls and fractures. Seems

these were annual high doses though.

A little while ago, I was listening to Dr. Zorba on the radio. He said

that a large Scandinavian study showed that we were approaching the

vitamin dosing incorrectly. I haven't gone searching for the study yet,

but the doctor said that the multi level study found that the North

American recommended high doses of calcium and vitamin D were not

showing much improvement in osteoporosis and osteopenia, but they were

showing a serious increase in fractures.

I've been falling for years, but it wasn't until this year that my lower

leg snapped like a frickin' twig. I'd been on a doctor ordered large

dose of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D.

Of course, it was while I was recovering from the leg fracture and the

messed up foot, that I heard Dr. Zorba going on at length about his

confidence in the study, as it was very thorough and covered several years.

I have since cut back on all vitamins. I have always eaten well,

incorporating the appropriate food groups. My exercise has been more

limited since I broke my leg, but I'm working on it.

My friend took Boniva, then switched to IV Reclast. In the space of four

years, she has gone from someone who got around great, to being in a

wheelchair most of the time. Her bones are hard as rock and not

absorbing nutrients. She's bone on bone in both hips and both knees.

Even her elbows and shoulders have developed serious problems.

I think we need to be very careful about jumping on the latest drug or

vitamin band wagon.

Lyndi

[Guest guest]

> I have since cut back on all vitamins. I have always eaten well,

> Incorporating the appropriate food groups. My exercise has been more

> limited since I broke my leg, but I'm working on it.

> I think we need to be very careful about jumping on the latest drug or

> vitamin band wagon.

>

iLyndi,

How right you are, that is why I was referred to endocrinologist and she

requires regular testing and she cut me back so I appreciate her being so

careful. I believe in my situation. I required high dose because my testing was

so low. Then I was regulated.

I also have a problem with self medicating vitamin and minerals as if I haven't

been tested for deficiencies, I do not want to overdose them.

I just know I had severe bone pain, weakness and falls and after two weeks, I

could tell the difference and no more falls.

Along with being careful about new drugs and vitamin bandwagon, we should ask

for the testing and read the research and clinical studies.

I always waited for new medications to be out for a while before trying them and

wanted to see what the clinical research showed.

I am to the point, I say, show me the test, before I take the medication or

therapy. Just like those " wonderful spinal injections " , I was never told there

were any complications with them and was told that Cortisone was a safe

medication and should have no problems. Well, I ended up with " arachnoiditis "

and now I can say

no more and they believe me.

Sitting in my Doctors office, I met another woman coming out of the room

stating " No more of those injections, I am worse off and cannot walk right "

She sat by me and I found out they injected here until she had so much scarring

they could not do injections anymore . I told her I had the same thing.

I had been in so much pain, I think I would have done anything and I told my

husband don't let me agree to a procedure when I have high pain levels and want

relief as I don't want to agree to something that will make me worse. So I just

do what I can with medication therapy.

I hope you are better Lyndi and you are so right about not jumping on the

bandwagon. Bennie