General Chat

sufferers, please read this.

I recently had more blood tests to see why I am always so tired. I have in the past been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and before that, fibromyalgia.

My doctor has always told me after the results come back that they show I am 'ridiculously healthy'! This time she asked for a Vitamin D test and it has come back showing I have a deficiency. I am not surprised, I am not outside much due to my odd sleeping pattern and in winter often don't see daylight or at least get outside in it. I am hoping my coming holiday in the sun and the prescription the doctor has given me will help redress the balance and help me feel less tired and therefore more able to get out in the light, even when the shortest days arrive in winter.

I will put a very significant comment from the piece I have copied on a seperate section of this thread and marked it with *** It might be relevant to others with fibromyalgia as many of us don't get outside enough in the light and sun.






Fifteen facts you probably never knew about vitamin D and sunlight exposure.
(Compiled by Mike Adams, based on an interview with Dr. Michael Holick, author, The UV Advantage)

Vitamin D prevents osteoporosis, depression, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and even effects diabetes and obesity. Vitamin D is perhaps the single most underrated nutrient in the world of nutrition. That's probably because it's free: your body makes it when sunlight touches your skin. Drug companies can't sell you sunlight, so there's no promotion of its health benefits. Truth is, most people don't know the real story on vitamin D and health. So here's an overview taken from an interview between Mike Adams and Dr. Michael Holick.

Vitamin D is produced by your skin in response to exposure to ultraviolet radiation from natural sunlight.
The healing rays of natural sunlight (that generate vitamin D in your skin) cannot penetrate glass. So you don't generate vitamin D when sitting in your car or home.
It is nearly impossible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from your diet. Sunlight exposure is the only reliable way to generate vitamin D in your own body.
A person would have to drink ten tall glasses of vitamin D fortified milk each day just to get minimum levels of vitamin D into their diet.
The further you live from the equator, the longer exposure you need to the sun in order to generate vitamin D. Canada, the UK and most U.S. states are far from the equator.
People with dark skin pigmentation may need 20 - 30 times as much exposure to sunlight as fair-skinned people to generate the same amount of vitamin D. That's why prostate cancer is epidemic among black men -- it's a simple, but widespread, sunlight deficiency.
Sufficient levels of vitamin D are crucial for calcium absorption in your intestines. Without sufficient vitamin D, your body cannot absorb calcium, rendering calcium supplements useless.
Chronic vitamin D deficiency cannot be reversed overnight: it takes months of vitamin D supplementation and sunlight exposure to rebuild the body's bones and nervous system.
Even weak sunscreens (SPF=8) block your body's ability to generate vitamin D by 95%. This is how sunscreen products actually cause disease -- by creating a critical vitamin deficiency in the body.
It is impossible to generate too much vitamin D in your body from sunlight exposure: your body will self-regulate and only generate what it needs.
If it hurts to press firmly on your sternum, you may be suffering from chronic vitamin D deficiency right now.
Vitamin D is "activated" in your body by your kidneys and liver before it can be used.
Having kidney disease or liver damage can greatly impair your body's ability to activate circulating vitamin D.
The sunscreen industry doesn't want you to know that your body actually needs sunlight exposure because that realization would mean lower sales of sunscreen products.
Even though vitamin D is one of the most powerful healing chemicals in your body, your body makes it absolutely free. No prescription required.
On the issue of sunlight exposure, by the way, it turns out that super antioxidants greatly boost your body's ability to handle sunlight without burning. Astaxanthin is one of the most powerful "internal sunscreens" and can allow you to stay under the sun twice as long without burning. Other powerful antioxidants with this ability include the superfruits like Acai, Pomegranates (POM Wonderful juice), blueberries, etc.

Diseases and conditions cause by vitamin D deficiency:
Osteoporosis is commonly caused by a lack of vitamin D, which greatly impairs calcium absorption.
Sufficient vitamin D prevents prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, depression, colon cancer and schizophrenia.
"Rickets" is the name of a bone-wasting disease caused by vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D deficiency may exacerbate type 2 diabetes and impair insulin production in the pancreas.
Obesity impairs vitamin D utilization in the body, meaning obese people need twice as much vitamin D.
Vitamin D is used around the world to treat Psoriasis.
Vitamin D deficiency causes schizophrenia.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is caused by a melatonin imbalance initiated by lack of exposure to sunlight.

*****NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT:
Chronic vitamin D deficiency is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia because its symptoms are so similar: muscle weakness, aches and pains.


Your risk of developing serious diseases like diabetes and cancer is reduced 50% - 80% through simple, sensible exposure to natural sunlight 2-3 times each week.
Infants who receive vitamin D supplementation (2000 units daily) have an 80% reduced risk of developing type 1 diabetes over the next twenty years.
~~~~

My doctor said that doing vit D tests is relatively new or something that has started to be recommended so if you might not get outside much, and think you need to be tested do check with your doctors.

Lizxx

Will let you know if I start to feel better but as the doc said, it won't be suddenly, and could take some months.

Very interesting, thank you. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks for this Liz, it's really made me think because as you know I am housebound so hardly ever get out, apart from hospital visits that is.

Caz xx

Liz. I have read your messages with great interst both as an individual and a professional albeit not in the acute sector of health care.

I wonder if it is possible for you to plan 10 minutes per day to sit outside or wander out side regardless of the weather. I f you look at my Daily Diary you will note that I spend at least ten minutes everyday outside, even if it is bad weather. The reason is it gives me exposuere to the natural light as well as giving me peace and quiet for a short time. I started to do this when I worked on night shifts, which I hated, and have never stopped. I stopped doing the night shift but not my ten mins!
I blelieve that Natural light, light bulbs can also be bought and there are special blue lamps as well. O f course nothing is as good as nature itself.

I wish you well and hope you enjoy your holiday

kind regards


bridget

Very interesting Liz thanks. Enjoy your hoilday xx

Thank you for that Liz, I have forwarded a copy to my sister who actually knew about vit D but has got slack about taking her supplements. Did your GP recommend a daily dosage as my sister says too much can be harmful and she is not sure what the recommended dose is.

Ann xx

My doctor sorted out the dosage from stuff she looked at on the internet and will check me again in a couple of months or so, your sister needs to be checked properly and advised re dosage, then checked again. It's only dangerous if loads too much is taken, you can have injections if things are really bad that last for several months I think.

Back later,

Lizxx

How much do you take then Liz?

brilliant liz
hope it helps
keep us informed

Caz, i thought of you and wonder if it is worth you asking about it as it might help your aches and pains a bit etc.

BB, it has to be sunlight or light on skin, so the lightbulbs might not have the same effect, I am not sure. I suppose a sunbed might do it but they are dangerous if used too much and expensive too.

I did find it strange in the above report that it says sunblock, eg. spf 8 can inhibit the effect - i just got spf 30 for the holiday, mainly cos it was down to £1 a bottle lol from £8 but thought it would be good to start off on a high spf, have ordered some spf 10 from my Avon lady's sale book for later in the fortnight. I think I might have to not use anything on bits of me, maybe my milk bottle legs, till I have been outside for a few minutes so the sun can reach my skin. I rarely burn anyway even tho I am so fair skinned, I usually go very red but then it turns brown, but will take care and hope I strike the right balance lol

I have given Adcal -D3 Lemon chewable tablets which contain 1500mg Calcium carbonate and 400 i.u. Vitamin D, it says inside on the leaflet that it's equivalent to 600 mg calcium and 10 ug of colecalciferol, the Vit D part. I have to chew or suck one each morning and one in the evening for preference, as long as you have two a day. They do have various side effects so I might start with one a day for three days and then add the second one, they are easy and pleasant to chew so hope they do the trick. I have 8 weeks' supply so have to remember to take enough on holiday with me.

Thanks for all the good wishes for the holiday.

Will keep you posted but might be an idea for all fm sufferers here to ask for a test now.

Lizx

n

I have been on Vitamin D supplements for the last couple of years ........... not because of any problem or blood tests, but because the doctor thought it a good idea. Especially as I am lactose intolerant and my intake of Vit D in food is thus lower than it used to be.

However, in the last 6 months or so, we have been hearing much more over here (Canada) about the importance of Vitamin D.

It is suggested that you should get outside into the sun for at least 10 minutes at NOON, WITHOUT any sun screen on.

The phrase "naked" was used earlier thsi year ....... but they decided to qualify that statement!

Now that is flying against everything that I, a fairskinned blonde (once!) with an allergy to the sun, have been doing for the last 50 or so years!


Apparently the rationale is that sun screen blocks out the rays which are needed to start the production of Vitamin D within our bodies. This "natural" Vit D is apparently much better than the supplements.


sylvia

I too have seen that advice about 10 minutes in the sun with no sun cream on.

Which just reminds me my silly OH has gone to golf and this is the first time for ages that the sun has shone here, I bet he didn't put cream on his face.

Hi folks, just a quick visit. For the past couple of years I suppose I have been outside a lot less so I must make the effort to 'catch the rays' as the saying goes. I don't use sunscreen much when in England, well not on a day to day basis, but am usually pretty careful when abroad or on holidays but haven't had many sunny lazy holidays lately, and even when I was in Malta in 07 it rained more than was sunny and I was inside a lot as visiting Maltese friends who prefer to sit inside and chat.

Ann, hope your o.h. doesn't get sunburned today, you will have to put some supplies in his golf bag. Get the aftersun in the fridge ready for his return lol

Sylvia, I used to be happy to go naked if the place was right and the sun high lol but not these days, will have a bit less skin showing to absorb the necessary rays to start the production of the Vit. D.

I used to think about my elderly friends who were a bit wobbly and rarely went outside other than to the bin or washing line, and then only occasionally if they had help to do it for them. I bet there are thousands and thousands of elderly who would feel better if they sat outside for a few minutes - maybe there should be some sort of campaign started. Lots live in flats and such inside sheltered homes and care homes so rarely go further than the laundries or common rooms etc, and I used to think how awful not to feel the air and sun on your face. Now I realise I had begun to behave in the same way, always so much to do inside and never time to just sit outside for ten minutes. I dash? from house to car to shops but used to go out every Sunday to the coast or countryside, now that is once in a blue moon. The cover is always on the bench outside cos he doesn't want it to get wet and rot away, and it's a palaver getting it off cos he has these spring clips to hold it and I can't open and reclose them and my sunlounger is up in the loft and he complains about where to store it when it's down for the summer so this year it has stayed where it was.
Oh well, overcast today but when I do go out later it might be brighter.

Take care all
Lizxx

Found this article about Vit.D interesting.

I go out walking everyday, firstly to collect daily paper from local shop, then there is always something to be sorted in the garden. Yesterday actually picked 36 tomatoes - have a few each day for past few weeks, plus plums, courgettes and runner beans - so plenty of Vit.C as well!

Liz, he usually puts cream on and has it by his aftershave, he actually might have some in his golf bag. He does always wear a cap though.

Good to see you about Mac, and thanks, yes I hope I will enjoy Corfu.

Sorry you won't be taking your holiday at the mo but hope you will get better soon so you can get away yourself f f f f f f .......



flying away somewhere.

Lizxx



Ann, hope your o.h. was ok.

n