It’s not all in my head after all.
So I had my follow-up doctors visit on Tuesday, and I finally know what’s wrong with me.
I was beginning to believe it was all in my head, especially because some days were not so bad. Other times, though, I’m just dragging my bones through the day. And I am also having periods when I can’t concentrate, when my mind wanders or just goes blank. Not like I forget something blank, but not focused, devoid of thought. That part is really weird for me, to just be a blank slate – I mean, I never stop thinking. Until now, that is.
Anyway, it’s a vitamin d deficiency. My doctor said that a level of 20 is considered too low. Normal is 30 – 50. My level is 7. Low vitamin d will effect your concentration and cause cramping and muscle fatigue. So now I know why I haven’t felt well for so long, why I’ve been so fatigued and my energy has been so low.
I had an issue a year and a half ago with iron levels and tiny blood cells. Right now my iron is just a little low, but the blood cells are still small. So I guess I’ve been borderline anemic all that time. I should have kept checking, but I just figured everything would go back to normal when the original issue was fixed.
Now I’m on prescription strength vitamin d (I didn’t even know it came in prescription strength), and I’m back on the over-the-counter iron and b vitamins that I never used up from last time. My doctor said it could take months before my levels increase enough to feel a difference, but at least I have an answer and something to look forward to.
Cause I was really getting tired of writing Week In Review days that said how tired I was feeling.
steadily skipping stones 
At least you know what it is now. I hope you feel better soon!
Thank you! I’m really glad to have an answer that isn’t, “you’re just fat and lazy”.
Know the feeling, also have vit d deficiency and on the prescription doseage . Let’s hope they work soon. That’s a very low level you have. Good luck!
Thanks! And good luck with your’s, too. My doctor said it could take months to build back up. My dad had a 6, and he’s been on the prescription for about 3 months and hasn’t felt much better yet.
Sometimes it just makes you feel better to have an explanation for feeling terrible. By summer you should be feeling great!
I agree! When I first got the call, the nurse said all my tests came back fine except I was low on vit.d. She didn’t explain anything, and I thought, “great, I feel broken, but nothing’s showing up wrong and maybe it’s all in my head.” But when he explained that the vit. deficiency was a real thing, plus the low iron, then I was actually happy. At least I know what it is and it’s easy to fix.
I’m glad to hear it’s something relatively simple! Remember that sunshine gives you vitamin D, so on any pleasant day, you have the perfect excuse to go take a walk someplace lovely.
Thank you, me too! And I could count that walk toward my exercise resolution!
So glad they could pinpoint the problem and offer an easy solution. One of these weeks in review you will tell us how energetic you feel. 🙂
I sure hope so! I was getting annoyed and bored with so many negative, tired updates.
Oh wow~ did the doctor say how this could happen? Are the vitamins helping? It is sooo good to get answers, isn’t it? I just realized I’ve hit you with a slug of questions- sorry! Feel better!
He didn’t say, but I’m sure it’s because I’m overweight. I read that fat cells can basically hijack the vitamin d. They aren’t making a dent in the physical muscle fatigue yet, but the doctor said it will take months, and I’ll probably be on the prescription for at least 6 months. And yes, it is great to know what it is! 🙂
So glad you now have a diagnosis and it’s something that can be fixed. The not knowing is the worst part. Maybe this is a sign to take more walks and soak up some natural Vit D. (I need to take my own advice because I haven’t been walking much lately myself).
I’m glad too! It’s weird, though, that some days are okay and some days I’m totally wiped out (like yesterday and already today). And I do need to start doing some exercise, for sure! Walking would be a great place to start on that resolution, especially now with more daylight, like you said – kill two birds with one stone.
I am glad the doctor was able to pin point this for you. As you know eating that great balanced diet that you have been doing will help speed things up for you.
I agree about the diet! I think it has helped already, because it was way worse than this and was already getting better when I made the appointment. I do think good nutrition will do wonders for you!
You won’t believe this, I just had a physical and my vitamin D levels are low too! We have so much in common! Seriously, tho, my levels are no where NEAR as low as yours…
I do believe it! There are a few people around here that I have a LOT in common with, and you are one of them, for sure. It’s almost like WordPress put us all in a sifter and the like people tumbled down the same tube together.
But isn’t it weird to realize how crappy low vitamin d can make you feel? I started taking a multivitamin, an iron pill and b vitamins too. When I remember to take those, I feel better that day. The prescription vitamin d hasn’t really kicked in yet, I don’t think.
I’m hoping I can pin the elastic around the knee episode on “Cognitive impairment in older adults” from Vitamin D Deficiency.
Why is it hard to remember to take pills when you know they make you feel better? Everyone does it, and it’s not like it’s all that difficult.
Hahaha…I have been blaming every mind lapse and blank moment I can on vitamin d!
All the hair clogging the shower drain? Vitamin D
I heart you!! Oh how I love a good reference. Vitamin d deficiency hasn’t effected your memory!
I don’t always read posts in the correct order, so don’t mind my commenting on this so late.
Vitamin D is synthesized by your skin when you step out into the sunlight. I believe natural intake/synthesis of vitamins is far more effective than taking them as pills.
I wonder, had you not been getting enough sun lately, or does your skin not produce sufficient Vitamin D by itself?
I hope you’re seeing some improvement in your energy levels by now 🙂
Comment in any order you like! 🙂
I definitely don’t get enough sunlight, especially in the shorter winter hours. But actually, my doctor said people don’t get as much vitamin d from sunlight as we think. I don’t know if that’s because we’re not out in the sun or because it’s not as efficient as we have been taught to believe. I think mine is a combination of things, including not much sunlight.
I just read about this, and it appears that using sunscreen also blocks Vitamin D synthesis. Moreover, many factors (including your factor of not getting enough sunlight) can determine Vitamin D synthesis, even your skin colour.
Though Wikipedia is not a reliable source of information on something like this, and that article said nothing conclusive has been found relating Vit D & the skin colour.
ooh. New knowledge. 😀
That makes sense, because I’m very fair and I can get a sunburn in about 15 minutes. So I use strong sunscreen if I’m going to be out for very long.