Hello
Can anyone suggest a good brand of Vitamin d capsules, I have been told to take 60,000 a week. Just looking on Amazon and some reviews of certain ones are poor, so hoping someone can recommend a good brand.
Thanks
Hi summertime, I get calcuim + vitamin D from my doctors. They are prescribed because I have PMR. You haven't said whether you have PMR/GCA. You also haven't said mg or what strength. There will be someone that will get back to you soon. I am relatively new to all this. Good luck on your journey. Pat
Summertime, you will need pure Vit D3 (colecalciferol) and there are a few different brands on the market. My renal consultant recommended one by Lamberts, and I take a 3-month course each winter, which keeps my levels within the normal range (75 to 150/200iu). If I don't have the regular winter course, my levels decrease to the 30's). Many patients are lucky enough to get them prescribed by their GPs but I was told to buy mine over the counter! However, they are very inexpensive so won't break the Bank!
Pat, if you haven't already had one, it's a good idea to have a Vit D blood test as, if you happen to be deficient, the calcium + Vit D pills prescribed by your GP will not be sufficient to raise your levels to normal. Only a high dose 3-month course will do that, and once within the normal range, a smaller maintenance dose can be continued. It's important to get tested because any severe deficiency can cause pain similar to that of PMR if not corrected.
Thanks Mrs. O for that information, I didn't know that. I was put on adcal-3D and had to take two in the morning, I finished them and now am taking the ones you chew or suck and it says one a day but the enclosed leaflet says 2 per day. I will ring drs tomorrow to arrange a blood test, or they may have already done one but haven't informed me.
It's snowing here and it's lying - I don't know about you but I never go out in the snow or drive in the snow. Thanks again for the info.
my doctor has told me to take 60,000 mg a week as my vit d is low.I am still having tests for pmr but suffered with fibro for several years.
Where are you summertime? In the UK I usually buy mine from Holland&Barrett, the 25mcg (1000 IU) tablets and I always take 5000 IU per day in the winter. Apparently the high dose ones from Boots are also good. Neither are desperately expensive.
However - if you are that low then your GP should be prescribing the high dose version where you take either 20,000 3x weekly or 3 tablets once a week. I know the NHS is in a mess but for goodness sake!!!!!! They can do a boob job but not prescribe vit D!!!!!!!!!
Mrs O I just read my message back and it's so funny. I may have had blood test done but they haven't informed me lol. I am sure you know what I mean. Dr just says I need to get your bloods done and never tell you what the tests are for, that is what I meant. But am going to ring tomorrow to see was vit D ever done, if not then I will make appt to see nurse and get it done. Thats what I mean about this forum with people like yourself and Eileen and a few others. You all keep me up to date on what I need to know. Thank you to all.
It isn't a usual test - and they may be unwilling and try to get out of it saying it is expensive. It isn't. A lab in the Birmingham area does it for the NHS - and also for private requests for £25. Which isn't going to break any bank is it!
Thank you again. I will see if they will do it and if the answer is no then I will pay £25 or more. It won't break my bank. When it comes to my health then needs must. :-)
My GP prescribed me Adcal-3D although the rheumy had previously said go to Holland and Barratt. You should be able to get a copy of your blood test results. I ask the surgery for a copy every time I have a blood test.
Pat, don't worry, your post was perfectly clear and I understood exactly what you meant! The Vit D blood tests are available on the NHS - I haven't come across anyone who has had to pay for their's.....yet! The test should be carried out automatically when a patient presents with pain such as our's, simply because Vit D deficiency can cause such pain. I don't blame you for not going out in the snow - please don't send it here!
The local pharmacy was offering free vitamin D tests the other day. The pharmacist says he was amazed at the number of people who had low readings including his assistant!
It isn't really surprising that so many of us are affected as we just don't get enough natural Vit D from the sun. My GP said that even her window cleaner who is able to snatch every opportunity of being out in the sun is deficient! Perhaps a few more foods should be fortified with Vit D.
eileen i take the same as you but i only take 1 per day should i be taking more
Hi Summertime I take Natures Aid . They are chewable.
Thanks for the info. Yes my gp prescribed me Adcal-3D. I am sure I could get a copy of my blood test results but I wouldn't know how to interpret them.
I am nearly sure I would be deficient in Vit D I very rarely go out and when I do I am straight from the house to the car outside, even in summer. So I really do need to get a check up.
Blood test results are usually pretty easy to read. There is a brief description of the test eg Vit D and then your number and then the normal range it should be. My GP sometimes makes some very very short comment as well. There is usually an asterisk or exclamation mark against your number if it is outside the normal range. Do you get told your ESR and CRP readings?
Mrs. O, I promise I won't send the snow to you. I just posted above I very rarely go out even in summer, and when I do go out just grocery shopping I am straight from the house to the car and vice versa. When the weather changes I am going to take a nice walk.