FYI, Vitamin D Levels

• By cards7up
• Posted September 17, 2009 at 5:10 pm
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I read that article, someone here posted it just recently. But, you can also have a problem with
malabsorption due to conditions that keep vitamin D from converting into active metabolites. So you might be getting enough but something in your body is causing malabsorption. Also, you need to be careful not to overdose on any vitamin because it can happen and be just as bad as a drug overdose. A doctor should monitor if you have a defiency.
Take care, JC

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• By brooklyn1
• Posted September 17, 2009 at 5:14 pm
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Good thinking, Tina, and thanks for the info.
I just added D to my husband's supplements two weeks ago. We never get that much sun here in the city, but I am surprised it was low for someone who works outside. I just came in from my 15 minutes in the park playground, with screaming children bouncing all around. I think it is working for them!
All the best, Peg

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• By AliceL
• Posted September 17, 2009 at 6:12 pm
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I find this subject really interesting. Since I had gone almost 11 years from my first dx to this one, I was really surprised to hear I had a tumor in the remaining lung. Between the the first dx and this one, I had lived the healthiest lifestyle I'd ever lived. But for the 2-3 years just prior to this diagnosis, it turned out I had almost no Vit. D. My hair started falling out, and my stylist and my doctor both suspected thyroid problems. A nutritionist I know suggested testing for the Vit. D. My levels were extremely low. Although I live in the Pacific NW, and we aren't known for our abundance of sunshine, I do spend quite a lot of time outdoors. I started on regular supplements, and that didn't help either. Finally had to go on a prescription for 50,000 units a week. That did the trick. And of course I'll never know, but I can't help but wonder if the Vit. D deficiency didn't contribute to this newest dx. I think everyone should get their Vit. D checked, but doctor's didn't used to do it on routine checkups -- maybe they are now.

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• By maxgirltou
• Posted September 17, 2009 at 8:06 pm
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JC, thanks for the info, yes we had requested the test to be done by the onocologist and they are the one's who will be monitoring Tommy. We never do anything without dr's approval just because we want no regrets no matter how things with this cancer may go.

Peg, just fyi, we had our dr. draw for the vitamin check with Tommy's labs for chemo. Nothing special had to be done.

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• By Marylou1
• Posted September 17, 2009 at 8:16 pm
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I take Tarceva which makes me photo sensitive. Needless to say, for the last 20 months, I have been staying out of the sun as much as possible.

At one point, my Oncologist did test my blood for Vitamin D, but mostly because I mentioned that my arthritis was very painful even with taking Darvocette. Well, my Vitamin D was just a little low, and he suggested that I take more than just a multivitamin.

My Onc said that a Vitamin D deficiency will make you hurt more if you have a problem like arthritis. The last few months I have been taking 1000 IU of Vitamin D, and I can see a difference.

It's possible that I might have had a deficiency all along since I always worked on the inside and have Never been a sun worshiper.
Love to all,
Marylou

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• By DailySurvivor
• Posted September 17, 2009 at 8:29 pm
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I live in Texas and have always been a real outdoors person ---- gardening, yard work, fishing, swimming, etc. So I would be surprised if I was low on Vit. D. However, like someone said above, perhaps it could be an absorbtion problem. It has been my experience with conventional doctors that they pooh-pooh the whole idea of vitamin deficiencies. Especially the oncs I've had. I get so exxasperated with them! I never have been checked for vitamin deficiencies, but since I've got a new GP, perhaps I can talk him into it. I DO greatly believe in the body being designed to heal itself ---- IF it is given what it needs to do it with.

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• By Alisa
• Posted September 18, 2009 at 12:52 pm
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My integrative care doctor, Dr. Raymond Chang, has had me on upper level dose of Vitamin D for 9 years, since my chemo treatments ended.

There's A LOT of research on the subject.

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• By maxgirltou
• Posted September 18, 2009 at 1:16 pm
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Alisa,

I am in the process of getting Tommy set up with Dr. Chang, I came across him from Ellen posting his website. I am sure he will put Tommy on a supplement then.

Glad to hear that you have been with Dr. Chang 9 years.

God Bless,
Tina

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• By Alisa
• Posted September 18, 2009 at 1:26 pm
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Hi Tina,

Yes, Dr. Chang is amazing. I'm glad you and Tommy will be seeing him. I'm so blessed in many ways. When I was originally diagnosed by an internist, my internist was on vacation and I saw the covering doctor who I never met before and was interested in Integrative Care and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He asked me if I was open to it, and I said yes, and he gave me Dr. Chang's name and number and, well, here I am today to talk about it.

God works in mysterious ways. At first I panicked when I found out my dr. was on vacation. But I was so blessed to see the covering doctor who was interested in nutrition/supplements and cancer, which my original dr. wasn't. Of course, I switched to the new doctor and stayed with him until last year, when unfortunately for me he moved to Maryland.

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• By maxgirltou
• Posted September 18, 2009 at 9:01 pm
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Thanks for sharing your experience with Dr. Chang with us. I was only concerned that he was going to tell Tommy only to eat raw vegetables and a little raw fruit. But Ellen explained he was more into the Chinese supplements. We have really improved our nutrition around here, planted a garden, canned tomatoes, try to eat organic. Eat lots more vegetables but Tommy doesn't want to do the extreme. I don't say anything, he cut out all pop, gatorade, and 90 percent of the time doesn't eat sweets. We also quit eating out so much. Just once a week if that. This is from a guy that would drink a quart of chocolate milk and a king size snickers on his way home from work before supper. And ate fast food every day for lunch. So I am proud of these changes and maybe they will continue to work into more changes.

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• By UneasyRider
• Posted September 18, 2009 at 10:30 pm
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There's a pretty good argument to be made for most of us taking vitamin D, and more of it than just a multi-vitamin delivers. It was the first supplement I added after my diagnosis, even though I live in Texas, and between my bicycle riding and fishing, spend a lot of time outdoors.

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• By kitkat4ever
• Posted September 19, 2009 at 11:07 am
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My Vit D levels were checked and i too was very low. I have been on prescription Vit D 50,000 unit gelcaps since early 2008 and I swear by it. I think it has been instrumental in helping my body become healthy and to heal my immune system for what ever challenges I have.

Get checked and get and start taking your Vit D.

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• By Again
• Posted September 19, 2009 at 12:23 pm
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Hey Alice ... I live in Seattle, and my GP did measure my vitamin D in my normal workup without any discussion on the topic, so perhaps it's something docs are doing at least in the PNW. About two months after that is when I got my diagnosis via a LC screening trial (unrelated to my GP). On my last post-surgery checkup, I asked my surgeon about nutrition. He just mumbled the usual "yeah, you should eat greens and healthy, but, oh yeah, get your vitamin D checked--the highest rates of lung cancer among nonsmokers in the US is here the PNW." My jaw dropped. (Guess ya had to be there ... *lol*) At any rate, I'd obviously blown off my GP during the surgery hubbub, but I need to get myself back to her ASAP.

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• By AliceL
• Posted September 19, 2009 at 1:16 pm
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Again -- I think you're right and doctors (at least in the PNW) are becoming more aware. The nutritionist that insisted I be checked said that in the PNW the sun is only close enough from Mar-Oct to give us enough exposure even if we are outside all the time -- that leaves the Nov. through Feb. without sufficient sun regardless.

I'd never heard that statistic about the rate of LC in nonsmokers being highest in the PNW -- and it is quite a surprise. Really makes you think. None of my doctors seem really up on nutrition and/or supplements. I have learned most of what I am doing right here from all of you. Alice

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• By Alisa
• Posted September 19, 2009 at 2:24 pm
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Tina, I wish I had it in me to go to the extreme, but I think that would add stress, which would negate the purpose :(

But, of course, it's a good way to go ...

Instead, I try to eat heathy, and take evidenced based nutraceuticals and botanicals, guided by Dr. Chang.

If it's not an intrusion, let me know how you and Tommy feel after your appointment with him.

Warmly,
Alisa

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