MY gynecologist office called me recently to ask that I stop in for a Vit D test. Earlier I had a bone density test and was told to take both Calcium and D.

Sue

You betcha - I'm on 2000 to 3000 of Calcuim/per day. Since the body can't absorb that much, I'm on Rx doses of Vit. D, plus the D in the Calcium (hard to find the right type that doesn't have D). Not sure what my levels are, but I'm pretty sure they are waaaaay up there.

I use LabCorp for all my labs and just opened enough bills from them a few minutes ago, to use for wallpaper. I'll have to check on the cost. Funny, my dad used to sell blood-gas machines that would do lab analysis. About 30 years ago hee told me that a routine CBC was only 25 cents, but the cost to us was $25! That was then - sure it would be a lot more now.

The bloodwork for my annual physical included a Vit. D test this year for the first time. Mine was very low, 13 if I remember correctly. Dr perscribed 5000 units of Vit D twice weekly for 8 weeks, then a recheck. That's due the end of August.
Susan

Yeah, I have to take Vitamin D. I think for some the prescription may cost more than over the counter stuff. I had to pay like a $10 co-pay for one pill. I'm like, it's vitamin D - Seriously, it can't cost that much, can it?

I think buying it outright was cheaper than using my insurance because they had a minimum co-pay amount per month... just something to think about. There may be a way to bill it so you won't have to pay so much.. can you do mail order?

Carla - had never heard of Rx "D" before I had to take it when I had the hypocalcemia. Now I hear about someone else. The calcium is OTC but it's all getting to be too much. With luck, I can stop taking so much Calcium in a few weeks.

The $200+ was the charge for the test, Carla, not for the pill.

Dr last year Rx'd one pill, 50,000 units, once a week. My mail order drug insurance declined to cover it as "it's a vitimin". So I opted to buy the cheaper over the counter. I also didn't feel too good about taking that high of a dose. But I may revisit the Rx situation when I have a repeat level in 3 months as the dr wants me to do.

Oh, I figured that. I use LabCorp too.

I just know my prescription cost was really high for the pill amount I received. I think I just ended up buying a year supply from the pharmacy out of my own pocket rather than use my insurance and have to pay their co-pays each month... it was a lot cheaper that way. I can't rememebr exactly but it would have ended up being like $120 per year versus like $35 if I just bought the pills myself. My Dr. just gave me a script for a year. I never had a medicine that was cheaper to just buy without insurance... just thought I'd mention it if anyone else was in the same situation.

My Rheumatologist had told me for years that I should be taking Calcium and Vitamin D, but I never did. Last year I went to a new GP and she ordered a CBC, which came back saying I was low on Calcium, Vitamin D and my Cholesterol was low. After seeing proof that I was low, I started taking the Calcium and Vitamin D. I don't ordinarily drink milk, but I "discovered" Carnation Instant Breakfast. That is a chocolate powder that you mix with a glass of milk, and it has all kinds of good-for-you stuff in it. I think that has helped me to get some extra vitamins and calcium. I have a glass of that sometime during the day.

The CBC was repeated in April and the report came back with Normal on all counts, including Cholesterol, even though I hadn't made any drastic changes in my diet, except for not eating much meat.

If sunshine is supposed to promote Vitamin D, I should be well stocked. I love the sunshine!

I am scheduled for a bone density scan in December. I had one a couple years ago and I want to see if there has been any change since then.

Sue

I have always heard that you cannot absorb calcium if your vitamin D is low.
I just take a multiple daily and hope my diet does the rest.
Trin

My vitamin D is very low, too (it's an epidemic it seems!); so I'm on 2000 - 3000 ius D3 per day. Vitamin D2 is an inferior form of vitamin D, and we should only supplement with D3. Unfortunately, the prescription D supplement is D2.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vitamin D2 vs. D3

My experience is like slcsusan's. My bloodwork at my physical this summer included the test, I was low, and am now on megadoses and will be rechecked in a few months. I'm also trying to get a bit more sun, easy to do here in Minnesota now that it is summer. But it is true that during our very long difficult winter I was never out at all (except bundled up completely) for months on end.

Mine was tested as part of my diabetic workup last year and was way low. The Dr put me on 2000u twice a day and at my last workup it was where it should be.

I buy my Vit D from our local food coop.

Also, my Dr says it's more then 'just' a vitamin. She says it's a necessary hormone.

I was also told that everyone here is probably deficient since the summer season is short and we just don't absorb that much from the sun. Don't know if that's true or not.

I also take it, but my Dr told me about Vit D drops. 1000 units. I put a drop or two under my tongue.Once a day.It absorbs faster in your blood. My levels are real good now.

My levels were low too. First I took the weekly 50,000 IU doses, now I've switched to 5000 IU D3 (as Dee Can said.. this form is much better). I buy mine online from the link and take 2 daily.

Here is a good link with studies that everyone should read! There is a connection between low vitamin D levels and cancer as well as autoimmune diseases. Please get your levels checked.
The Article

Here is a link that might be useful: D3 at BioTech

I just checked & LabCorp charged $232 for the test, insurance discounted it by $212 and paid $20 and I owed nothing. (Thank God & dh for good health insurance!)

Thanks for the links, I'll be reading additional info, in order to keep up to date on the latest. I will look into the drops.

When I was buying a new supply, I did ask a pharmacist the other day about the difference in Vit.D vs D3..... he was "vague" in his answer.... I surmised that he did not know. But I have been using the D3 as I had heard it was supposed to be better.

From what I read it would seem impossible to get enough D in food to bring a low level up to "normal". I like fish (Sardines?~~~~shudder~~~~), but couldn't eat THAT much & it is the only food listed that has an appreciable amount of D. Then there is the concern for mercury in fish!

just be glad you don't have to take zemplar (man-made vit d) it aids in the asorbtion of calcium in the stomache, and thryoid (sorry can't remember the name)anyway when i went into kidney failure (side effect of hyster) it;s now my drug of choice...the kidneys are functioning, but wow! my co-pay is $100 per month...in addition, take 2000 units of otc d every other day. in my case NO calcium!

anyone who lives in a cold winter climate should have a check done. we just don't enough exposure to the sun (and the risks that can have...)

Two or three years ago I had a bone density test and had a slight thinning in my hips...Dr wanted to put me on meds for it...I didn't want them so he had me take the Calcium with Vitamin D. I take two of those a day.

My dermatologist ordered the Vitamin D test because my fingernails were lifting from the nail bed and fungus was not present. Turned out I was very low on D so he put me on 25,000 units once a week for 6 weeks and then an OTC of 1,000 IU once a day thereafter.

The positive aspects of vitamin d for robustness of the bone fragments are well-known. That is why each parent pushes its boy or girl to drink up milk frequently due to the vitamin d and calcium mineral in it. However, aside from these the vitamin d is quite useful for your wellness and this plays a significant role inside the protection against some significant disorders.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vitamin D Deficiency