Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Vit D activates immune defence system

well I realy don't know much about this but what I do know is that you get vitamin D from the sun and my husband will tell you that I always feel my best when I have spent the day in the sun even when standing on the beach all day with the kids and my back should be screaming, but I still feel heaps better.

Know Idea if this has any relavence at all but something to think about.

I understand your confusion. I believe it's because our bodies do what they do that we need higher levels of calcium. I think it's as if in using calcium to bridge vertebrae, it's taking calcium away from other areas. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium properly. Magnesium helps your body utilize calcium properly. Has something to do with bone being sloughed off to make room for new bone growth.

Anyway, it all made sense to me when my doc explained it.

Hugs,

I have heard others say that the sun helps with pain levels.

Its good too as I am part aboriginal I don't burn but I am still careful with skin cancer.
But I can spend a long time out in the sun and feel recharged when I do.

I love being out in the sun except in the hottest part of summer. Then I try to get up early to get my gardening done before the heat of the day. The sun helps me to feel better. Now that I am so sore with AS, I am hoping that I will be feeling better by then. Our budget depends on growing, freezing and canning a lot of produce.
Donna L.

the thing that i found really odd for me was that i had my D levels tested at the end of august, at the end of the summer where i had been out in the sun ALOT, and my D was 33, which is borderline low! at least 30-60 minutes in the mid day sun week days (no sun screen on arms or legs since had built up slowly through the season) and longer each weekend, and after all that sun for at least 3 months, my D was that low. so how low was it by the end of the winter? and why was it so low? was it just low because it had gotten really low over the winter and it just doesn't come back that easily? or is it really a systemic problem? all i know is that the rheumatologist was surprised and acted like it meant something, but didn't seem to want to share. hmm?????

hmmm I wonder how low it must have been through winter for you also.
Let us know if the rheumy ever decides to share anything with you.
grr I hate it when your kept in the dark, even if its not that important you would still rather know than not.

thanks! how are you feeling today?

Much better thanks. Pain is still very acute but at least I dont feel like I want to kill anyone LOL. Has to be a good thing.
Tried to do a few things today, prob not the best idea and having to rest now but sick of doing nothing. You know what its like.

well, not wanting to kill anyone is a good thing, so that's something : )
hope the pain gets better too.