Today I got the results of my 25-hydroxy vitamin D and Fibrinogen test.
Fibrinogen results 499 (High). Normal range is 232-456.
Vitamin D results 22 (Low). Normal range is 30-100
My PT, INR and APTT (whatever that is) is in the normal range.
Any comments, feedback and suggestions would be appreciated regarding my test results. Do you think this is likely related to Lyme or should I be tested further for something else?
Would also very much appreciate some feedback and suggestions regarding what specific vitamin D I should consider taking. Links would be appreciated.
What do you recommend I take for high fibrinogen?
Thanks in advance for your input and feedback.
Gary
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
My LLMD, Dr. C, has said that of his thousands of patients, the majority have hypercoagulation. High fibrinogen is part of that. Some Lyme patients do not have this issue, for whatever reason, but it is far more common than not.
It's a complicated issue to try to explain in summary, but basically, in the case of Lyme, it causes buildup of fibrinogen (fibrin is part of this glycoprotein) in the bloodstream, which causes hyper-coagulation, or thickening of the blood.
Also, many of us have low Vitamin D - for a variety of factors most likely. I know I don't get enough sun, haven't for many years since I became housebound/bedridden. Most of the US population supposedly has far too low Vit D levels.
Personally, my issues with hypercoagulation were so bad it was recommended I begin Heparin. I asked if I could see how my Lyme treatment would effect the issue before I started another medication, and he agreed. So far so good - the nurses that do my lab draws have noticed a big difference in my blood thickness, etc.
As for Vitamin D, it has improved greatly from the natural Vitamin D3 in the Cod Liver Oil supplements I take. Before I ever started going outside to get sun for 20 minutes midday anytime I was able, my D levels rose all the way from 17 to I think 77 (can't recall, but it was past the high level on the lab report).
One thing to be cautious of, if you decide to take hefty synthetic Vit D pills (like 10 or 50,000 IU per week) they can have a side effect of mild to severe bone pain - this happened to me, and I switched to the natural Vit D in Cod Liver Oil.
The best brand I have found for this is Carlson's - they make it in gel caps so you don't have to taste it, but it is high quality so it won't taste like a normal fish oil pill.
Oh, I have also added Boluoke to my regimen, which is a systemic enzyme that breaks down fibrin and thins the blood (clinically-proven). It also is said to break up biofilms, which is an issue in Lyme as well. Enzymes might be something you would want to look into as well. I haven't taken it long enough to give an opinion on it yet (only one pill).
That's just my personal path with these symptoms. Your mileage may vary. I wanted to limit my variables, and my prescriptions/synthetics, and it has worked out great for me so far, thankfully. I'd love to rerun my coagulation/fibrinogen panels when I have the money, should be interesting.
Posted by blaze (Member # 16838) on :
I spent all summer out in the sun in my garden and my vitamin D levels were still low, so don't necessarily blame your low D levels on the amount of sun you get. Something else is at work here with regards to everyone's low D levels.
Perhaps 'something' is preventing the body from producing its own in response to the sunlight, and this is why we all have low D levels unless we devour large amounts daily in our diets?
Posted by Cold Feet (Member # 9882) on :
(Nenet: nice post!)
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
hypercoagulation-
try nattonkinase, lumbrokinase, or Boluoke
vit d-
supplement as needed.
-d
Posted by amkdiaries (Member # 7035) on :
I take nattokinase every day because of elevated fibrin. I read that it helps dissolve biofilms.
Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
Thanks for your responses everyone.
Anyone else want to comment?
Gary
Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
quote:Originally posted by djf2005: hypercoagulation-
try nattonkinase, lumbrokinase, or Boluoke
djf2005, what's the difference between nattonkinase, lumbrokinase and Boluoke? How would I know which one to take????
Gary
Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
quote:Originally posted by amkdiaries: I take nattokinase every day because of elevated fibrin. I read that it helps dissolve biofilms.
amkdiaries, would you mind telling me what brand you take? How long have you been taking it? Have you noticed any difference in how it makes you feel since taking it?
Gary
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
If you do replace vitamin D I would do it at low dose and work up as needed. Vitamin D reacts as a
hormone with calcium. Which a lot of tick borne diseases need to survive. I do believe it has the
ability in lyme to fuel the fire so to speak. This is a patent to grow gram negative bacteria
and associated pathogens. I do believe if they would add lots of vitamin D they would have a
better outcome. I have not seen if there has been any progress on stari but I would like to see
what this addition would do for it just based on my history.
they are all different forms of agents that would help w/ your fibrin issue.
I would start with nattokinase since it is the milder of the 3, then go to lumbro, etc.
vitacost has natto and lumbro, both of which are expensive.
good luck
Posted by dguy (Member # 8979) on :
Lymies need a 1,25D test as well as the standard low-cost 25D. Often 1,25D (the biologically important type) is high because due to the infection excess 25D is converted to 1,25D. If 1,25 is high, D supplementation is not needed and may even be harmful.