What do you guys think. My Dr. would put me on 50,000 IU / week for a few weeks and then retest me a few months later. I supplemented on top of that, but could never get above 25 of so on my Vit. D levels.
So, I've been on 25,000 IU DAILY for about 3 weeks now and I have my first Cold / Flu in 4 years. I'm talking some nasty green stuff in the nose and coughing it up as well.
I feel like crap, but I would think this is a good thing.
Any chance in Hell turning back on the immune system can get the Lyme in itself ?
If not, it's a nice dream :-)
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I still wonder myself if this is a good sign.
I too have gotten a couple of colds lately, and its been at least 5 years since I've gotten anything other than lyme stuff.
I have been taking 70,000 IUs of vitamin D per week and its just been since this time I got the colds.
Vitamin D is suppose to modulate the immune system, so it does make you wonder.
Posted by lymetwister (Member # 19590) on :
Fingers and toes crossed Sutherngrl :-)
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
I also have not had a cold or flu since Lyme. I recently picked up what others have... some sort of flu.
I'm a bit confused. If you get sick doesn't that mean your immune system is down and not up?
Posted by jarjar (Member # 8847) on :
I would check your vita d 1.25 by Quest or a lab that freezes it before I would be taking large doseages.
If it is high then you don't need to be supplementing.
I never did well on Vita D. made me want to take lots of naps.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
The form of Vitamin D makes a big difference. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol or "vegetarian" Vitamin D) is poorly absorbed/utilized by the body compared to Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, usually from fish oil).
I also agree that both the 25 OH and the 1,25 OH Vitamin D levels should be checked... If the 1,25 level is high, then regardless of what the 25 OH level is, then supplementation may not be best - be sure to discuss this with your doctor!!!
Also, getting a cold after starting Vitamin D supplementation may be an indication that the immune system is waking up and responding to things. If the immune system is too weak, then it will not produce symptoms during a cold/flu and a person can be fooled into thinking they are healthy when in fact they are in a potentially very dangerous situation. I know this from personal experience...I never get fevers, so most MD's would never consider sepsis (potentially fatal systemic blood infection) or other serious infections as a diagnosis for me, yet I have a PICC line and a feeding tube, both of which increase chances of sepsis, and I have immune deficiency (low T-Cells). It is probably the immune deficiency that keeps me from having fevers, in my opinion...
Jarjar,
Interesting - I get terrible insomnia from oral vitamin D supplementation... I'm experimenting with topical Vitamin D3, since the skin contains a mechanism for absorbing Vitamin D3 from Sunshine... So far, I haven't had the same insomnia affects from the topical Vitamin D3, but I also don't know if I'm absorbing it. Will have to get my D levels checked again one of these days...last few times it's been checked, it's been very, very low...
Take care,
Posted by lymetwister (Member # 19590) on :
Razzle, well said and I 100% agree.
Posted by missing (Member # 22437) on :
Oh my word!
I am so glad to hear that others don't respond well to vitamin D.
I was on high doses too, and it seemed to create more problems and more extreme pain for me.
It seems that if I kinda starve myself, I can somewhat survive my day full of torture and sickness.
My Vit. D. levels have been really low.
I was taking a really good quality Vit. D. from my ND who was the one who arranged for all my Igenex testing.
She admits that she really has no clue, but she does care.
Posted by steven (Member # 13101) on :
"If you get sick doesn't that mean your immune system is down and not up?"
No, flu-symptoms are not symptoms made by a disease, but symtoms made by your working immune system.
I also take 1000-3000 IU of D daily, but dont feel it has helped much. Still after a sunny holiday my D was low as before.
If a lot of people here say D-supplements make them tired and sick it could be sign it makes the immune system working more.
But this is only helpful if you get better afterwards. It doesnt help anybody if your immune system is in chronic action without you getting better.