vitamin d3

Everyday living
1

Hi

What’s everyone’s opinion on vitamin d3 supplements? What level should I be taking, if at all??? And should I be giving them to my children as a preventative measure for the future?

Thanks in advance.

Ann Marie

2

Hi Ann Marie

I saw a consultant in Southampton back in June, who advised me to go on 4,000 iu a day. I have since gone on 5,000 iu a day, and I don’t know myself! I am not diagnosed, but in March 2011 got optic neuritis and then in September 2011 got Trigeminal neuralgia. Unfortunately, that second attack (TN) was not recorded and therefore I only have a clinically isolated syndrome diagnosis. Since being on the high dose of Vit d3, my energy levels have improved sooooo much. I am not advotating that you do the same, as you need to discuss this with your GP or Neuro, but for me, it has done wonders (or at least appears to have done). It could have been a change of mentality towards the whole thing, rather than the actual D3 vits, but to be honest, as long as I am feeling far better than what I was, then for me, personally, things have changed and my quality of life has improved. I still get the buzzing, cold feet, numb parts on my face and my cognitive abilities have gone out the window, but I feel, in myself, so much better. Have a chat with your neuro or GP and find out what your levels are (blood test) and whether your GP/neuro feels you would benefit. It is only a vitamin at the end of the day, so I would have thought your children would benefit (but not at the same high dosage and again, you need to double check with your GP).

Ness46

3

My consultant put me on 10,000iu vitamin d3 a day as my levels were really low. My levels are now really good after being on that dose for months so I now take it every other day. I think now that most neurologists recommend a reasonably high supplement of 5,000iu a day or every other day. Double check with your consultant or gp and see what they recommend. In terms of recommending vitamin d for kids yes personally I would recommend they have some. The investigations show that you can’t have too much vitamin d as its not toxic so doesn’t cause any adverse problems but not having enough of it can cause serious problems. Hope this helps

4

They do nothing at all for me, infact i started off on 5,000iu. and felt really ill, so dropped it down to 2,000 and think i am going to stop taking them at all, because i have had more relapses this last 8 months than i have ever had.in all my years of MS.

5

I take 5000iu a day, as advised from my neuro and seem to be stable enough, physically I’m fairly good and hopefully will stay that way…

6

Hi,

I take 1,000 IU a day with my evening meal. I’ve tried taking 4,000 IU and 5,000 IU but it just made my legs really stiff and I couldn’t get out of bed in a morning, so I dropped it right back. My body tolerates supplements better if I take them with a large meal, otherwise I go all tingley.

Heather

7

Hi

thanks everyone for your replies.

I asked my neuro about vit d3 at the very end of my last appointment and he seemed to think that a good diet was enough and supplements weren’t needed but my uncle who also suffers from ms is adamant that it is necessary.

I’m hopefully seeing the ms nurse for the first time next week so I suppose it’s another thing to put on the list to ask her about.

My gut feeling tells me that whole idea of vit d makes sense but I’m wary of taking any drug or supplement when it’s not necessary but I do want to do everything I can to help myself live the best life I can in spite of ms.

Thanks again

A M