Friday, February 5, 2010

Vitamin D Deficiency Is More Common Than You Think

I just shared my mom's personal story on my other blog Memories Of You, but I wanted to share it with all my fans of My Crazy Life With A Toddler. Vitamin D deficiency a serious medical problem that needs to be addressed and there is such a simple cure.

It's been a long six months for my mom. She's been extremely ill since before Thanksgiving. She had been having severe symptoms since September, but ignored them. She also is lactose intolerant and was trying to lower her cholesterol. In turn she cut out anything that contained Vitamin D. She chalked all her symptoms up to being overworked and just burned out. So, she ignored her aches and pains until they were just unbearable.

Let me tell you a little bit about my mom. She just turned 63 in September and leads an active life style. She's never been one to sit home. So, when she got sick I became very concerned. It was even so bad that she had to come stay with us. Her symptoms included weakness in her limbs, dizziness, tremors in her arms and legs, aching in all her joints and complete exhaustion. She could hardly walk or function. She went to five different doctors before they figured out that her vitamin D levels were dangerously low. A normal vitamin D level should be at around 70 and hers had plummeted to only 19. She was diagnosed as being malnourished. It's hard to think my mom is malnourished. You'd think a malnourished person would look like those poor people in third world countries. How ignorant I was. It doesn't help that we live in a state that is cloudy nine months out of the year. You can get tons of vitamin D from the sun.

The terrible thing about mom mom's story is that she has been having problems like this for over 30 years. When she was twenty nine they diagnosed her with rheumatoid arthritis. Now, we come to find out that she never had arthritis. The culprit was vitamin D deficiency all these years and she was never treated correctly. Shame on all those doctors. She still has to undergo several more tests for Lou Gehrig's disease, which I'm praying and hoping she does not have. Lou Gehrig's disease is a cruel and malicious disease.

My mom finally went back home and is living on her own once again. She seems to be feeling better and getting around. She has started enjoying all her activities again, but at a slower pace. She has been on medical leave from work since November and I'm not sure she'll ever return. She will probably be on a high dose of vitamin D the rest of her life. This incident has scared me so much that I've started taking 2,000 units of vitamin D per day and I'm feeling really good. Check out this great article that I came across regarding vitamin D deficiency. Please help spread the word. This problem really needs to be addressed.  If you think you might be deficient in vitamin D talk with your doctor.  A simple blood test is all it takes to check your Vitamin D levels.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

13 comments:

  1. Osteoporosis runs in our family, so, we have all requested bone density tests be done at an early age. Because I was diagnosed with early onset osteoporosis at age 45, my doctor ordered the blood test to check my vitamin D levels. Sure enough, the levels were low. I now take vitamin D supplements and have a written doctor order to get 10 minutes of sunshine per day! (unless it's raining!). I also take prescription calcium for prevention of bone loss.
    You've done a very good thing helping to get the word out. We must be our own health advocates and many doctors will not even consider having these tests done until a woman is much older. Men also need to be aware of vitamin D levels. I'm so glad your mom has finally been able to get an accurate diagnosis. I hope she begins feeling better soon.

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  2. Michelle, I so understand this story as I'm 63 and in my latest blood work last week, I was told I'm vitamin B deficient and have a low white cell count, of course this is from all the chemo I've had and I'm sure can be treated, although you never know what the month has to offer.

    Blessings, and best wishes for your mom.

    Dorothy from grammology
    grammology.com

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  3. I'm glad to hear she is doing better, and with such a simple remedy. Much better than it could be.

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  4. I am so sory about your mom,I am glad she is starting to be active again. Its hard watching people we love get sick and feel so helpless!

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  5. I've been hearing more and more about this problem. So sorry it happened to your mom and I hope she is completely well soon.

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  6. Michelle i am SOOO sorry to hear about your mom! i am just so happy that she is okay now! I don't know what i would do with out my mom!
    I wish were you live was more sunny! i live in utah it is always sunny hear ( that or the wind and temperature are trying to make you into a popsicle!) HAHA.
    Luv ya!
    Tassja

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  7. Thanks for the link to Women to Women. Another vitamin D article there caught my eye (this one on To test or not to test — the ABC’s of vitamin D testing and treatment

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