Lyme Disease Support Group

My lab tests are trickling in (not Lyme

specific, but regular labs) from my last appointment.

Yesterday, I received my Vitamin D test results, with

a note from my (new) doctor.

This is the THIRD time that I have had a deficiency.

I know there is a lot of discussion on Vit D here in

this forum (I did the search), but I did want to keep you posted and ask a question (me, the one with the many questions, lol).

First time my Vitamin D was down was two winters ago,

and I bottomed out at "13."

I was doing a longterm substitute job during my period of unemployment for "Migrant Head Start."

I felt like I could curl up in any corner at any time of the day and sleep.

The foster grandma who visited my classroom was actually the one who told me to get my Vit D tested.

I worked hard to raise the level, and I was convinced this was going to finally be the key to getting rid of my fatigue and maybe even my body aches.

I do think it helped my immune system, because after I raised it the first time I didn't catch as many colds and viruses.

This could also be related to working at home versus walking into that petri dish of little childrens' coughs and runny noses when I worked in the school buildings, but I would just look at someone who was sick and I would become ill...all winter long every winter!

Long story short, took 10,000 I.U.s once per week for

six weeks then once per month for six months and that

did the trick.

Then I tested in the correct range, then slipped again, then raised up again.

Now, I am very surprised, because I am on 4,000 I.U.s

per day, and it is the end of the SUMMER months where

I was absorbing SUNSHINE (I always say that 90 percent

of people in MN must be D-deficient after our long, cloudy winters!).

So, here I go again.

I did see in the forums that some believe this is Lyme related, but that this can also be related to other "conditions."

My questions:

1. I am taking 4,000 IU per day.

The doctor wrote a message to up by 2,000 IU per day.

I wrote back and told her that I am already on 4,000IU, and does she want me to take 6,000IU now?

She wrote back and said, take 4,000 IU.

I don't understand how this will help me, since I am already taking 4,000 IU per day, so this makes no sense to me. You?

2. This doctor/lab broke down the Vitamin D into D2 and D3 and I have never had my other doctor/lab do this before.

I researched, and I now have a good idea what D2 is versus D3, but nowhere can I find what "normal" or average numbers are for D2 or is there even a "normal range" or "average number" for the D2?

My D2 = 0 and my D3 = 26. I know that 26 isn't the worst ever, mine has been much lower (13), but remember this is with taking 4,000 IU per day and coming off one of the sunniest summers that MN has seen in many years!

The highest I have gotten it in the past four to five years is 32 or 34 (I have to look at my other doctor's website/lab results).

So, anyone know if there is an average number for the D2? And should I up my amount even though the doctor says to keep on taking 4,000 IU, or should I wait until my appointment with my original doc, at the end of this month, and ask her?

Just wondering what you all think.

I do not see that she tested the thyroid (TSH), as that is always low, and I would be curious, but I do not see it.

However, my Lymphocytes are just a LITTLE bit low, and from what I read this is not cause for concern? Anyone know about Lymphocytes?

On a side note, that gland that swelled way up on the right side of my neck just under my

ear was playing games with me again last night.

It swelled just a little bit, and HURT. Oh, ouch!

Now, this morning, it is back to normal again. If I can call anything about my body normal, lol.

I'm in a similar boat with the constantly low vit D. I assume you are taking D3, since your D2 levels are zero. That's fine, since D3 is what the body actually uses. Just pay attention to your total.

I am told the total should ideally be in the 70s or 80s for lyme patients. I can't seem to get it up there and have been on 5,000IU/day. I have since upped to 10,000IU/day, and am told this is a safe amount although not something I should stay on long-term.

So if your values are consistently low I would think it's fine to do either 4000 or 6000 IU/day. Keep in mind that I'm not a medical professional, but multiple MDs/NDs have told me it's okay to take 5000-10,000 IU to get the levels up out of the deficient range (20s or 30s)). I think you can also take the vit D with food and/or vit A to increase absorption.

Venus

I appreciate your input and explaining what the D2 means. I had no idea.

I have also heard that anything under 35 is considered severely deficient.

I also took 10,000 IU when first discovered, but as I said about, that was a once per week prescription that I took for six weeks, then once per month for six months, and that did the trick! ....for a while.

Today is the day I make my list of supplements and vitamins that I am taking and/or need to begin taking, and I am hoping to purchase all that I do not have that might help with this out-of-control pain and other issues, as I wait for my Lyme test results.

I just hate taking pills, but I guess I better get used to swallowing a lot of vitamins/supplements, lol.

Maybe the doctor can write me a prescription to move to Florida, Hawaii, Arizona,...any sunshiny state, lol.