After reading this book from front to back I was certainly convinced enough to give it a try and at the beginning of October started taking a Vitamin D supplementation. Well I can say it was the first winter I have gotten through in over 20 years without feeling very down, depressed, lethargic - it was quite a revelation to me. I stopped taking it at the end of February when I went to Australia and New Zealand figuring I would get enough natural vitamin D through sunlight while there and when I got back in April I had a blood test done and my levels were good. Yes I should have had a test done before I started, but I didn't realise then that you could just send off for one...and a lot of doctors are reluctant to offer these tests for 'no reason'. I know I had a hard time convincing the locum doctor in April to give me one. Fortunately my actual doctor I discovered is very pro Vitamin D and when I saw him for the results he said to make sure I take supplementation from the end of September through to April each year (unless going to NZ) . I only wish he had suggested taking it sooner instead of me instigating it!
Anyway the last few weeks I have been feeling significantly 'out of sorts' and the last few days rather tearful, so on Monday I took another test and sent it off. I received the results today and I have to say I was rather surprised as despite it being only just the end of our summer, and that I also spent time in very sunny Arizona, my levels have dropped. They still fall in the 'adequate' range, but the fact that they have dropped indicates to me that my body isn't maintaining levels that it should. It also possibly explains why I have been feeling 'down'. So back to supplementation for me, and hopefully I will start to feel more on top of things again.
Incidentally from what I have been able to gleam on good old Google searches, one of the organs you store vitamin D levels is your spleen. I don't have one, so this could be why I am more sensitive to dips in my levels?
Oh and something else I discovered last year...and not to dwell on it too much, but if your magnesium levels are also low, when starting Vitamin D supplementation you may very well become um...well constipated as one of the side effects if you are also low in Magnesium when taking Vitamin D is this rather painful condition - easily remedied though by adding a Magnesium supplement. I had to find this out through research myself though.
Of course I will have to add the disclaimer that I am not a medical practitioner of any kind, just interested in health and well being and like to find out as much as I can and make informed choices.
Interesting to read that. I've been very fortunate rarely to feel 'down' and, of course, to spend my life in two summers for many years which may well be a significant contributory factor. Presumably my vitamin D levels are good.
ReplyDeleteYes I am sure that has helped! I had four winters in a row which is what started me on the downward slide I believe and I am hugely influenced by sunlight and lack of it. Took me years to realise this though.
DeleteReally interesting and good to hear how this has affected you. I too take vit D and mag as I live in Scotland and we usually only have summer for two days in the year and nationally have a high rate of MS, as do many emigrated Scots living in Canada. I suspect as time goes on and our understanding increases there will be more use of supplements rather than it just being left up to individuals to experiment.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting isn't it? I have only met one other person whose doctor actually put them on Vit D and that was out walking the dog last October at a local park. They were sitting on a bench soaking up some sunlight.... I do hope you are right and that as time goes on there will be more openness and understanding of the use of supplements rather than just drugs thrown down our throats.
DeleteMy husband and I take vitamin D in the winter months sort of on faith that they will help since neither of us can tell any difference. As for doctors, my experience was so different as my last doc gave me a list, I am not fooling, at least ten different vitamins to take and he wanted us to take them ALL YEAR. We eat a healthy diet so just kind of ignored him, except for the vitamin D.
ReplyDeleteYou would probably know they made a difference if you didn't take them! A good idea that you are I think.
DeleteWow, I have never taken supplements and really know nothing about Vitamin D or Magnesium, so I really appreciate your sharing this - and your personal research was helpful too LOL! :)
ReplyDeleteLuV, TiGGy
Glad it was helpful... I have to say since restarting them again I have started to feel a lot better in myself.
Delete