A friend with Lyme says she can't take vitamin D supplements. They makes her feel ill.
What could cause that?
Posted by kday (Member # 22234) on :
Nocebo effect possibly? I really don't know. Posted by karenl (Member # 17753) on :
I cannot take vitamin D.
Some people say vitamin D acts like an antibiotic,so it would cause too much die off. Some people say it acts like a steroid, would be worse.
Probably we just have an intolerance to this medication, like an allergy. I have no idea.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
All I know is however much I take, it doesn't raise my levels much. I have normal low 1.25 levels. 8,000 IU of D3 daily is making my D levels DECLINE and I've been on this for 6+ months. That's 40,000 IU a week. Does Lyme like the Vit D more than me?
Posted by Bugg (Member # 8095) on :
Vitamin D is a known immune system modulator....If you start "tinkering" with a lyme patient's immune system, it can initially cause a flu-like, achey reaction....Some choose to stay on them and work past that feeling....I would have her ask her doc about her reaction....
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Bugg is right. I get "worse" when using Vitamin D, as well as many multivitamins. I don't "recover" either, which is strange. However, I see no way around it since I'm not getting proper nutrition. Yes, the vitamins/minerals in supplmental form are coming from whole foods.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I think D at high levels feeds them. Just my opinion based on clinical outcome of mine. Went bad
neuro on vitamin D for a severe level of 11 total. D acts as a hormone in the body and interacts with
a lot of blood components. Unless you are on treatment it has to have an impact on Lyme. Could
be in the biofilm formation where they recently found it is composed of a lot of calcium. But we
need a lot more research in all areas concerning lyme.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I believe vitamin D3 is very important to recovery of any illness, not just lyme. Women with breast cancer are told they are 70% less likely to relapse if they supplement D3. There is also D2 which is useless so you need to be aware of which one you are actually getting.
I don't buy the research that it is bad for lymies and therefore we should avoid it. There are a lot of nutruients that feed lyme as well as our own bodies, like water for instance. If we quit drinking water, chances are we will also kill the lyme.
For me, my lyme always gets worse during the months when I am getting no vitamin D from the sun. Flu also takes off during this time. I would say if you get sick after taking it, it is probably a good thing, not something to avoid. It means that your immune system is more active.
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
It is known as fat soluble. So poor fat digestion - especially gallbladder / liver not working right - could be a factor.
Posted by Piegirl (Member # 14786) on :
I just started trying to take D3 and even the smallest amount gives me a bad headache and nausea. However, being in the sun makes me feel good.
So, I'm not sure why I have a problem ingesting it but I'm fine through the skin.
Not sure what to do because my vitamin D levels are low and my doctor just found out that I am losing bone. Plus, the vitamin D that is often high in Lyme patients is normal.
Mary
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
I have the same rx, nausea and worsening of symptoms.
My D levels are adequate though, so I think I will stick w/ the sun.
Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
Vitamin D makes me feel awful. My levels were low for a long time. So my LLMd told me to "load" on weekends. That means take big doses on Sat and Sun and skip the rest of the week. It is fat soluble so this works if you are deficient and only want to feel crappy a couple of days.
I know other lymies that also say D makes them feel sick.
I think the best idea (when possible) is just to sit in the sun 20 minutes a day (showing as much skin as possible) to get your daily dose of D. Winter time, most all people are deficient, there is literally a D deficiency epidemic.
MS patients keep their D levels low, their goal is to keep immune system down. So apparently D does boost immunity enough to flare their symptoms too.
Posted by dguy (Member # 8979) on :
What's your friend's 1,25D level? Many lymies have low 25D, and high 1,25D. High 1,25D is hypervitaminosis D, which has its own set of symptoms.
Posted by grandmother (Member # 19908) on :
She hasn't been to a doctor for years, has no insurance and doesn't think her 25D or 1,25D has ever been checked.
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