Went for my blood test this morning and picked up my results this evenbing. TG. D3 levels coming up - from dangerously low of 9ng/ml in Dec to now, 32 (norm in region of 60 - 80ng/ml). Must say that I have been feeling really pretty good this last few weeks. My neck even moves better, like I can 'turn' it! AND, even have some side-to-side movement, whereas before it was pretty much locked. ALSO finding voice not so hoarse ALL the time and in addition, can swallow better (this is a first 'improvement' in some several years. So, instead of getting worse and worse, have noticed an improvement...YEA). Can hold a conversation without my voice sinking into a gasping snatching ratchety semblance of a voice - horrible. Can even 'almost' swallow saliva without feeling like am swallowing on a continual painful lump in my throat. Not quite, but soooo much better - and haven't choked up on food in a few weeks now either (before it would happen all too often).

Now, this evening had a thought. D3 and my response, so, how many of you guys out there get yr D3 levels checked out? Could there be a relationship between abysmally low levels of D3 and so many of our mobility problems. Even my heels seem a tad better - though not arthritis in feet, just the bone spur on the right heel.

Anyone can comment on this? Perhaps a causal relationship? But my 9ng/ml D3 level was seriously very low, to a danger level... Now at 32ng/ml, what will I feel like in say another four months and perhaps a reading of 62ng/ml? (Like an exciting development).

Input, anyone?

mine were never that low to begin with (30) but borderline low, so started supplementing (50,000 U weekly, then less as my D went up). now on 5000 U daily to see if that maintains it.

between 30 and 65 and everywhere in between, i never noticed any benefits.

however, the nights i'd take the 50,000 U, i'd sleep so well and wake almost refreshed.

and i do figure, if feeling bad, adjust everything to "within normal limits" as its just too complex of a problem to know exactly what affects what.

but since your's was so low to begin with, maybe why the difference in how you feel.

and hoping you keep feeling better and better!

Molli.

I check my Vit D readin every 6 months. Yes I try to keep it over 50 and I feel better when I do. It is know that Vitamin D can lower levels of IL 17 and that appears to be the primary cytokine that is driving AS inflammation. I have no doubt that for some of us Significantly upping Vit D can help us feel better. I doubt it is the magic bullet but I think it can help.

Mine was 8 when I had the first level done around a year ago. Rheumy started me on the 50K IU dose. After a couple of weeks, I felt 'better', though I couldn't put my finger on exactly why. In 3 months, I'd gotten level up to 30. But my inflammatory arthritis is still active and not under good control yet. D level has been up as high as 90-something last time and rheumy said to back down my supplementing. I had been taking the 50K IU on one day and 5K IU on the others. I stopped everything for 2 weeks, then went to 2000IU per day. Will see how that's balancing out next labs in a month. Of course, going into summer, so that's good.

Other than the very beginning, I've not felt any better or worse regarding the Vit D supplementing. At this point, it's not having any effect on my arthritis, that I can detect.

Thaanks Sue.

drizzit : not so much the inflammatory factors as the blasted neck and feeling like am being constantly 'jammed' in the throat, all the time, never ending. Difficult swallowing and the hoarseness with the constant coughing. Now, that aspect has not cleared up, just better than it was - though am coughing like a veritable (fill in the blank!) Just wondered that as D3 helps with bones, could this have helped me...? (Certainly *not a magic bullet - don't think thatta one exists outside of fiction! <LOL>)

Rumble : Cor, even lower than my levels. Should be like one's bones are 'melting'. So, getting yr levels up has not made that much of a difference. OK.

Well, was only a thought.

Thanks guys - have a good one -

Hi Molly,

I was just given 50,000 vit d for a few days from my dr. I felt alot better on those days too. I get a raspy voice too somedays, but I'm still on prednisone(hate it) and I heardit can make a raspy voice. I don't know foe sure if it does.

Glad the vit.d helped you. I was reading about vit.c in high doses for arthritis. I want to try it.They saytake as much as your stomach/bowels can handle and see if ther is improvement.
Take care.

Thinking through my fingers here, and not really sure what I am saying.

I don't quite understand how vit D could have a direct relationship to the neck stuff or voice? Can see how it could make you generally feel better though. I also wonder why there is so much focus these days on vit D. What has caused so many people to be so deficient just in the last few years? Were they always like that but its increased testing? Or is it something about our lifestyles that has made the dramatic difference?

I guess I am always suspicious about "deficiencies" and intensive supplementation, and wonder whether only addressing one deficiency area would eventually cause even more problems by putting other things out of balance. I know that can and does happen with minerals where one element will replace another if it is ingested in too big quantities (calcium, magnesium, potassium ratios for example) and cause even worse problems.

cemc - dysphagia and dysphonia - due to osteophyte(?) jamming into oesophagus. Hence *always swallowing on a lump / having summat sticking, jamming into throat.

This is a tad better than it was, though still there. Just wondered IF, in sorting out levels of D3 I may peradventure have helped the cervicals, osteophyte. Hence my question. As I 'also' have this DDx of DISH (cervicals, like dripping candle wax). Would need another MRI Saggital STIR etc etc. (I need to get over to the UK. Sigh.)

Hope the D3 continues to help. I am scripted 100,000 units per month Cholecalciferol. Didn't hear the programme this morning, but apparently D3 is very much in the news over here at the moment, as there was a whole section of a programme devoted to D3 and how too many were at low levels, as we don't get enough sunshine in these ere parts. The Dr at the blood clinic place said yesterday that doctors here are just waking up to the fact of the importance of D3. She said that 'n' numbers are coming in for D3 tests - sound idea to check.

P.S. Rest of levels look to be OK with Potassium and calcium and sodium spot on (TG)