Have you got a Vitamin D deficiency?
By liquorice
@liquorice (3887)
January 16, 2011 5:58pm CST
I have been feeling unwell and 'not myself' for a few months now. I have odd pains in my shoulders and hips and back, painful lymph nodes, dermatitis/dry skin, and the feeling that I am hot, even though my husband tells me that I don't always actually seem hot at this time. I'm also getting exhausted after doing practically nothing, and I can't walk for miles around my neighbourhood like I could just a few months ago.
It's very disturbing, and I've had various blood tests which have come out fine. I'm waiting to see a specialist to investigate further, but in the meantime one of the GPs I've seen feels strongly that I have vitamin D deficiency. I was very dubious about this - how could a vitamin deficiency cause all these things? But after doing some investigating via Google, it turns out that a lack of vitamin D can indeed cause all of my symptoms.
I am also a likely candidate as I'm a fish-eating vegetarian who doesn't drink much milk or eat too many eggs, or in fact, eat very much fish.. And these are the major sources of vitamin D. The doctor also suspects that I have caeliac, which would prevent any vitamin D that I was getting from being absorbed properly.
I'm going to have to drastically change my diet I think, whether or not I test positive for this deficiency. I'm going to be tested this week so I'll know for sure soon. I'm sure that vitamin D deficiency is much more common that people think, maybe you even have it...
Has anyone here found that they're vitamin D deficient? What symptoms did you have? Did you change your diet, or did extra supplements help you? Did anyone get drastic improvements after consuming more vit d?? 
6 responses
@AjaySinghBaghel (5506)
• India
24 Jan 11
I was talking to one of my friend and he told me about his problem of gettign white spots on his skin. He is using soem lotion and medicines but still not felling any improvements.
what are the sources of Vit D other than Sunlight. I would like to know the foods that can be useful to get Vit D.
Thank You for sharing.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
17 Jan 11
The news today is all about the increase of rickets in children. That's caused by a vitamin D deficiency and apparently the only place that you can really get it in quantity is sunlight! I hope that the Drs find out what the problem is for you. I have problems too and am waiting for an angiogram. In my case though I am afriad that it is a case that I ate all the pies! LOL. Like you I now eat largely fish, vegetables and fruit. It's doing wonders for my weght loss anyway! 31lbs in 10 weeks!
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
17 Jan 11
I can say that I feel better after starting to take Vitamin D supplements. I have kidney disease, though, and my kidneys don't process it well. I have more energy and feel better mentally.
Vitamin D has also been shown to help our immune system so that we don't catch colds and so on, as easily. There are tests that can show you exactly how much Vitamin D your body has.
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@liquorice (3887)
•
17 Jan 11
That's encouraging that you feel better from starting the vit D supplements, but I'm sorry about your kidney disease. I'm hoping that taking vitamin D will help me too, if indeed that is the problem. I'm having my blood test this week, so should hopefully find out soon. Thanks for your post.
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
17 Jan 11
I know it won't be a proper thing to comment any thing on this subject as this is a technical matter. Since I live in India which is a tropical country, I am exposed to lot of sunlight and body prepares its Vitamin D in presence of sunlight. This fat soluble Vitamin along with other fat soluble vitamins A, E and K does have some vital roles to play in the body for its smooth functioning.
Any where while the process of synthesis if get hampered then the production of the Vit. D will be stopped by the body even if are exposed to sunlight. Skin rashes are common symptoms seen in deficiency of this Vitamin. Thus to establish exact cause of Vitamin deficiency we need to under go various clinical tests and after pin pointing the cause, it may be corrected by medication if possible or Vit. D is prescribed as a supplement by your physician.
Luckily I don't suffer from Vit.D deficiency. having read your painful experience I think after undergoing few more tests you will get proper diagnosis and hopefully you will have your problems sorted out once you have started with the medications which are going to be prescribed by your physician. I sincerely wish you best of luck and get well soon! Thanks !
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@liquorice (3887)
•
17 Jan 11
Thanks, I'm hoping that I get some answers soon. I'm glad you don't suffer from this problem, and yes, I think that living in a hot country would probably make a big difference to vitamin D levels in your body. Sadly, here in the winter we don't get too much sun.
It's interesting that you talk about skin rashes being a common symptom of this deficiency. For ages I thought I was allergic to something and couldn't figure out what - seemed like it was everything. But if I am vit D deficient then that might explain it.
Thank you for your good wishes, and for your answer!
@androbot (89)
• India
17 Jan 11
Vitamin D?? It s the vitamin that you get for free from our dear sun. I have never had deficiency of Vitamin D. Nor have I seen any person having a D deficiency. But I would recommend you to take a sunbath of atleast 20-30 minutes each day or atleast on alternate days. Should make you better.
@liquorice (3887)
•
17 Jan 11
Great suggestion. I didn't realise before this discussion that sunlight was the best way to get vitamin D - better than foods even. Does a sunbath work even when you can't actually see any sun outside??? I think you probably feel its effects when you're outside no matter what the weather, so I will attempt to walk more outside. Thanks for your helpful post. 
@tomasrobert12 (8)
•
14 Dec 11
The needs for d vitamin vary based on the age. The probabilities to create d vitamin poisoning are minimal as we obtain d vitamin through the sunlight and right from foodstuff only, but in cases where that takes place the concentrations of calcium mineral inside our physique can drastically increase. This might result in serious complications with the bone fragments, heart muscle or renal system.
Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.vitaminddeficiencyonline.com/
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