Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

I got my Vitamin D level tested last year after taking a lot of the supplement and it was around 80. Is it necessary to test again every year? If so, do I test it out every year for life?

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

I get mine done once a year. Things change. When you take a vitamin d tablet or sit in the sun with no sunscreen your liver converts it to another chemical and then your kidneys take that chemical and converts it to the usable active. As we age, this process becomes less efficient so you might need to take more vitamin d to keep the process going

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

How often do you see your oncologist? Every time I go to get routine bloodwork, I get my Vit D level tested.

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

Before I started chemo, I asked my oncologist about vitamin D. He turned around and walked away. I told my BS and he said he wouldn't test my vitamin D levels either. I then asked my family physician a year later to test it and he did. I had been supplementing and didn't want to over supplement. I have to fight really hard to get basic care. I don't feel like my doctors care. I am getting blood work tomorrow and I don't think I am getting my Vitamin D levels tested. I didn't know if it was worth asking for. I see an ob/gyn once/year and my family physician once/year. I dropped everybody else.

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

I think I am way over tested on mine. I see my Onc. once a year and it's done then. I see my Primary Care Doctor twice a year and it's done then as well.
So I get tested 3 times a year. LOL

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

My endocrinologist has been ordering this every six months for a while now and my hope is that he will continue to do so because my oncologist doesn't and while my PCP is great, getting her to order anything is difficult, at best.

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

When I went in to get my blood tests from my family doctor, he didn't order the vitamin d test, but it was no problem and they ordered it for me. They called me today 26.9! I probably was low when I got diagnosed with breast cancer too. I was supplementing with 11,000 in per day for months before I got tested the first time! I am sicked that both my former mo and bs were so opposed and offended to getting me tested. My bs works at a cancer hospital that routinely tests everyone's vitamin d level. I feel forced to look to driving to another city for basic breast cancer treatment. Theses doctors in my city are way to arrogant. I am so glad I got my vitamin d level tested!

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

Well it is a good thing you did end up getting your vitamin d lelels tested! I had been getting mine tested every three months when I was first diagnosed. Now I get it tested once a year. I take 5000 I.U.'s which keeps me at a count of 95.

Take care,
Brenda

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

Just found out today that Vit D level not tested since being diagnosed in 2013.
A few months ago I had discussion with my Onc re Vit D & said I was going to start taking it. There was no objection. My reason for taking was that I had read numerous reports on it and it was particularly recommended if on Letrozole.
Today during a chat at the hospital I mentioned that I was taking Vit D (1000 IU a day) and wondered if I should take more! I was surprised to be told that my Vit D level has never been checked. So mentioned again to Onc. who didn't remember previous chat but today noted in my file I was taking Vit D. She then offered to check Vit D level in 3 weeks time! Apparently they are now considering whether to check Vit D routinely for all!!
A step forward?!

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

Had blood test done yesterday for Vit D. Now have to wait for up to a couple of weeks for result.
Managed to have sneaky look at blood results only to see that calcium levels just under normal range & never been told. So will be interesting to see what Vit D level is!

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

I just saw the responses! My insurance didn't even bill me for the vitamin d test, but that was the only time I got my blood tested in 2015. My family physician told me to take 5,000 iu and test again in 3 months. I had a thought to take 20,000 iu, but will follow my drs orders. He is smart and I trust him.
Jules - I am glad you are getting your blood work. Maybe you ask for a copy of the results?

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

Hi Spitfire
Only consolation here is that we don't pay for tests!
One of the other ladies taking 10,000 IU a day along with other vits & minerals. Says she has never felt better!

I am working on getting copy of results. Although legally I am entitled to them, actually getting them is not always easy. Hence the sneaky peek at my file yesterday! Took photo on cell phone & studied the results when I got home.

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

Way to go Juls!

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

Just got Vit D result. Really surprised to find its at 72. Have only been taking 1000 IU capsule on and off for 3-4 months. Nurse treating me had just had her Vit D checked and she was only 17!
Calcium was just in bottom of range though! Not sure if this signifies anything.

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

3 months ago my vitamin d test was at 20.... Just got retested today, so let's see what the new year brings

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

Thanks R.B,
Re other thread - Working my way through it.
I live in Scotland so post of August 2015 (Scotland recommending Vit D supplementation) was one of the reasons I started to take supplement. So glad I did as I am 72. I wanted to be in 70-80 range. I think Nurses level says it all for Scotland!! 17 far too low.
Thanks
Juls

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

Some interesting things I have noted in researching about vitamin D.

Our bodies need magnesium in order to activate vitamin D for use in the body. This goes for sunlight or even D2 or D3.

Taking extra vitamin D might not be good if you have other calcium and electrolyte disturbances in your system. Your body may lower your vitsmin D levels to counteract hypercalcaemia in the blood and boosting vit D levels might cause more wasting of bone.

Low magnesium levels affect the parathyroid glands, the main calcium regulation glands in the body. Cancer patients are typically dysregulated in magnesium but even with all the blood tests we get it isn't often tested. An RBC magnesium level is more accurate if stores in the body but like many nutrients in the body, the range is boosted up to help keep the body in homeostasis. A lowered serum level is associated with low stores -- I saw this happen in my own body and this was after monitoring my magnesium throughout treatment by my naturopathic oncologist and researching me this's to improve magnesium absorption in my body for a year. If your serum is low you are low.

Now for my totally crazy finding, resistant starch improves magnesium and affects vitamin D absorption in the gut. Resistant starch means the body doesn't fifest it for use in the body but your gut flora does use it -- it's about feeding good stuff to your microbiota. Resistant starch can be found in potatoes, corn, wheat flour, acorn flour -- but the trick is you have to eat it cold. You can take a spoonful of Bob's Redmill potato starch like I do, it won't throw your blood sugar and it only tastes faintly of potatoes, or if you aren't on a special diet try adding in 1/2 potato worth of potato salad or the equivalent of cold pasta salad or maybe cold polenta (dotorimuk anyone?) into your diet. Read more:

http://www.vegetablepharm.blogspot.c...ge_31.html?m=1

Re: Vitamin D Testing Frequency
 

I expected my Vit D to be very low ( Live in Scotland & Cancer) even though I had been taking a 1000 IU capsule on and off since August. Result of test = 72. . Unfortunately not tested when first diagnosed so can't compare. Magnesium is 77 so ok and Calcium just in at bottom of range (2.19/2.33)]. I am a little concerned about calcium being low but can't find any info on this. Any suggestions?
Will read up on resistant starch.