Tuesday, December 18, 2012

How to ask to be tested for a Vitamin D deficiency?

Q. I have a lot of symptoms that match up to those of a Vitamin D deficiency. I am going in to my doctor today, and I want to ask to have this blood test done (numerous other blood tests have been done with no conclusion as to why I feel the way I do). How do I best bring it up? My doctor is...how do I say this, sort of an idiot-but my insurance is military so I cant change at the moment.

Thanks.

A. Vitamin D testing is pretty much standard here in Seattle area where I live but no matter where you live you can be deficient.

Tell him that due to a lack of outdoor activities (or use of high SPF sun screen when outside) you feel like you might be deficient. Tell him that you made a little bit of a research and your symptoms do match those of Vitamin D deficiency; however you are not a doctor and though you came to ask his advise.

If your doctor seems reluctant, just request for the test to be done and if he still refuses, remember you can safely take 2000 - 3000 units a day on your own to see if there is any improvement.


What are the symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency?
Q. I haven't been out in the sun a lot for a while now. I was indoors for basically all the Summer and it's almost Winter now. I don't think I was even outside much before Summer. Could this help cause a vitamin D deficiency?
By the way, I'm 16, overweight, and tan.

A. Symptoms and Health Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency
Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness can mean you have a vitamin D deficiency. However, for many people, the symptoms are subtle. Yet even without symptoms, too little vitamin D can pose health risks. Low blood levels of the vitamin have been associated with the following:

Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease
Cognitive impairment in older adults
Severe asthma in children
Cancer
Research suggests that vitamin D could play a role in the prevention and treatment of a number of different conditions, including type1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and multiple sclerosis.

Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency can occur for a number of reasons:

You don't consume the recommended levels of the vitamin over time. This is likely if you follow a strict vegetarian diet, because most of the natural sources are animal-based, including fish and fish oils, egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver.

Your exposure to sunlight is limited. Because the body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, you may be at risk of deficiency if you are homebound, live in northern latitudes, wear long robes or head coverings for religious reasons, or have an occupation that prevents sun exposure.

You have dark skin. The pigment melanin reduces the skin's ability to make vitamin D in response to sunlight exposure. Some studies show that older adults with darker skin are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency.

Your kidneys cannot convert vitamin D to its active form. As people age their kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active form, thus increasing their risk of vitamin D deficiency.

Your digestive tract cannot adequately absorb vitamin D. Certain medical problems, including Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, and celiac disease, can affect your intestine's ability to absorb vitamin D from the food you eat.

You are obese. Vitamin D is extracted from the blood by fat cells, altering its release into the circulation. People with a body mass index of 30 or greater often have low blood levels of vitamin D.

4 Top PicksIs Your Baby Getting the Right Nutrients? Top Tips to Tame Picky Eaters 5-Minute Workout at Your Desk Alzheimer's Disease: Tips On Nutrition


My doc tested me for a vitamin d deficiency, what are the symptoms?
Q. Obviously havent gotten the test results back yet. Vitamin D is the one supplement I dont take but I do take a multivitamin. What are the symptoms of a deficiency?

A. In America adolescent girls are at greatest risk for Vit D deficiency. The test is expensive, supplementing is cheap AND NOT DANGEROUS unless you have liver damage or take way too much. Most common symptoms of borderline deficiency are back pain, diffuse and not resolving with exercise or therapy. More common w/ kids living indoors, not much sunshine. limited milk consumption..


Has anyone had experience with Soma plus Aspirin and codeine and Darvacet or ultram at the same time?
Q. I have been in pain for quite a long time. I am going to a Rheumatoligist a few times a month and getting numerous testing done. So far the only thing he has found is that I have a Vitamin D deficiency. I am currently taking Soma plus Aspirin and Codeine and Darvocet. I have been switched to extended release Ultram but have not gotten the script filled yet. The Soma and Darvocet used to work at keeping my pain away but I am now being awakened by it so thats why the switch to the extended release Ultram. I just wanted to know if anyone has taken this combo of meds for long periods of time and if they are now experiencing adverse effects of doing so. I don't want to have to take these meds but so far they are the only ones that don't make my symptoms worse so I really have no choice and I am afraid of the long term effects. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Oh and if it helps, I only take them at night before bed, I can't take the meds while at work.
I have had three different doctors plus my pharmacist tell me its ok to take these meds together. The amount of pain that I am in by the end of the day is terrible. I am asleep so I don't get a high off of them and I don't take them during the day. A small part of the pain that I have is stabbing pains in my legs, arms, bottoms of my feet, in my ears and on top of my head. I also have other symptoms but tjis is the worst. There are no other medications that take this pain away enough for me to sleep. I have had to choose the lesser of two evils and take these medications. If I don't take these meds I do not sleep at all. I am just worried about the long term effects of these meds. Also if anyone knows of any other treatments for this severe kind of pain. I would love to stop taking them...but thats not possible until a different treatment is found.

A. I was on all kinds of stuff after a severe ankle operation. You need to go to a pain manager they are great with combining drugs so they interact with each other if you were in chicago i could tell u who to see





Powered by Yahoo! Answers

No comments:

Post a Comment