Guest guest Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Hi all, I have not posted in forever, but I do read the messages all the time. However, recently my husband was diagnosed with low vitamin D level and I told my rheumatologist about it and asked for a test. I figured if my husand was low at 20, that I had to be low too because we live the same lifestyle, but he gets out more. Needless to say, I got an urgent call from my doctor saying my vitamin D level was so low, it was only 12, and he started me on 2000 IU of vitamin D immediately per day and I get retested in a month to see if this is helping at all and he may increase it depending on that. Does anyone else have this problem? My rheumatologist did say that they are finding a connection between low vitamin D and arthritis. I have to wonder why I had to ask for the test?? That does seem odd. So of course I now asked for a vitamin B12 level as well. I figured it was best to make sure. Well, let me know if anybody else has this problem and if so what doses you are on of vitamin D. Also, are there any other vitamin levels I should be checked for? I have RA, Sjogren's syndrome, diabetes, and Raynaud's so far... I hope nothing more comes along! I do have to take a fluid pill for unknown causes of edema. Thanks everyone, sorry I rambled. Tracie (yes, the one in Maine, LOL) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Hi Tracie, I tested low on Vitamin D as well but that happened before I was diagnosed with RA (possibly not before I actually had RA though). I'm on 2000 IU per day, I take it after I eat breakfast. The first time I was tested my value was 18, now it's 50, the range (according to my test results page) is 32 - 100. I was also low on B12 and took shots daily for 5 days, then once a week for a month and was re-tested, my value had gone from 189 to 689, range being 180 - 914. She gave me the choice of taking a pill every day or getting a shot monthly, I think I'll go with the shot, feels like I take so many pills already. I really felt a difference with the B12 (I also have peripheral neuropathy and it helped with that, it's not gone but it's better). Oddly though, my Dr only gave me the B12 because I was having actual issues (neuropathy), since it was within the normal range, even though very low, if I wasn't having the neuropathy she wouldn't have started me on the shots. Good luck with your vitamins, it sounds like you have enough to deal with right now! :-) PJ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Tracie Subject: [ ] Very low vitamin D level Hi all, I have not posted in forever, but I do read the messages all the time. However, recently my husband was diagnosed with low vitamin D level and I told my rheumatologist about it and asked for a test. I figured if my husand was low at 20, that I had to be low too because we live the same lifestyle, but he gets out more. Needless to say, I got an urgent call from my doctor saying my vitamin D level was so low, it was only 12, and he started me on 2000 IU of vitamin D immediately per day and I get retested in a month to see if this is helping at all and he may increase it depending on that. Does anyone else have this problem? My rheumatologist did say that they are finding a connection between low vitamin D and arthritis. I have to wonder why I had to ask for the test?? That does seem odd. So of course I now asked for a vitamin B12 level as well. I figured it was best to make sure. Well, let me know if anybody else has this problem and if so what doses you are on of vitamin D. Also, are there any other vitamin levels I should be checked for? I have RA, Sjogren's syndrome, diabetes, and Raynaud's so far... I hope nothing more comes along! I do have to take a fluid pill for unknown causes of edema. Thanks everyone, sorry I rambled. Tracie (yes, the one in Maine, LOL) _,_._,___ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 My rheumatologist checked my vitamin D level, and it was in the normal range, but low normal. I decided on my own that it wouldn't hurt to take a vitamin D supplement. I take 2000 IU daily, just for good measure. I also have diabetes along with RA, but not the other two diseases that you have. I much prefer the diabetes over the RA, LOL, because you can take steps to control diabetes. Sue On Feb 3, 2011, at 7:14 AM, Tracie wrote: > Hi all, > > I have not posted in forever, but I do read the messages all the > time. However, recently my husband was diagnosed with low vitamin D > level and I told my rheumatologist about it and asked for a test. I > figured if my husand was low at 20, that I had to be low too because > we live the same lifestyle, but he gets out more. Needless to say, > I got an urgent call from my doctor saying my vitamin D level was so > low, it was only 12, and he started me on 2000 IU of vitamin D > immediately per day and I get retested in a month to see if this is > helping at all and he may increase it depending on that. Does > anyone else have this problem? My rheumatologist did say that they > are finding a connection between low vitamin D and arthritis. I > have to wonder why I had to ask for the test?? That does seem odd. > So of course I now asked for a vitamin B12 level as well. I figured > it was best to make sure. Well, let me know if anybody else has > this problem and if so what doses you are on of vitamin D. Also, > are there any other vitamin levels I should be checked for? I have > RA, Sjogren's syndrome, diabetes, and Raynaud's so far... I hope > nothing more comes along! I do have to take a fluid pill for > unknown causes of edema. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Thanks Sue and everyone who responded. I am beginning to see that this is not an unusual problem for those of us with RA. Sue I am glad you started taking it anyhow because it was in the low normal range. You never know how quickly that can drop some more and most of us are on MTX so we are not supposed to get too much sunshine. I am doing well so far onthe vitamin D supplement, no side effects which I am very happy about. I do need to have that recheck in a month along with a B12 level and also a folate test. I noticed this on my lab slip. I hope that some of my results are normal! LOL Thanks to all. Tracie > > My rheumatologist checked my vitamin D level, and it was in the normal > range, but low normal. I decided on my own that it wouldn't hurt to > take a vitamin D supplement. I take 2000 IU daily, just for good > measure. > > I also have diabetes along with RA, but not the other two diseases > that you have. I much prefer the diabetes over the RA, LOL, because > you can take steps to control diabetes. > > Sue > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Why not sit in the sun for 15 minutes, exposed to get adequate Vitamin D? I am on Methotrexate and either the doctor didn't warn me of sun exposure, or more likely....I forgot. Rojo Noble Beasts Ranch Grass Valley, CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Also, sun exposure doesnt work if you are heavy-set. I too suffered from very very low Vit D levels when I was first diagnosed. I felt terrible. I took 50,000 of Vit D for a whole year, now my Rheumy took me off them, since my Vit D is above normal now (which is optimum for RA patients she says) and I can continue with my daily chewable calcium/vit d combo. OKD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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