Early on after my diagnosis I was doing my research and found associations with vitamin D and several “issues” that I had going on. And I was pretty concerned that although I was outside alot I had for some 10 odd years never been in the sun unless covered up or slathered in Factor 50 sun block … because I had a sun allergy.
I asked: i) my (then) rheumy laughed and told me pretty much that I was talking rubbish ii) my (then) GP said that I did not fall within the testing criteria … she did include a calcium and magnesium (I think) check with my next bloods on the basis that provided these were ok it was impossible for my Vit D to be deficient.
The calcium and magnesium came back ok, mid-range but I still wasn’t convinced so I ordered the skin prick test and, guess what? My total Vitamin D was 30.6 nmol/L which was an “insufficiency” and only 0.5 nmol/L above “deficiency”. And this was a mid summer test.
I took supplements for nine months and retested the following May with a 62.3 nmol/L result. Anything greater than 50 is considered “adequate”.
This was all back in 2012/13 so I guess I probably should retest. Think I’ll leave it another month or so and see what level I’m going in to autumn/winter with. Bizarrely, this year for the first time I have been able to tolerate some sunshine … Factor 30 on the areas of historic sun allergy but otherwise have been able to have short spells catching the rays
My gut feeling is that everyone with an autoimmune disease and especially the arthropathies should probably routinely supplement Vit D. In fact I am seeing my PsA specialist rheumy in a couple of weeks, I’m going to add this question to my list.
Just got my results back: 40.5 nmol/L, status: insufficiency.
After the great summer we’ve had I tend to think that indeed my bod is not making the stuff like it should. And now it’s raining hard. Damn. Anyhow, I am now anticipating feeling flipping wonderful after taking a supplement for a while!
So what is the best supplement? I’ve got the idea from somewhere that just taking Vitamin D tablets isn’t the best way … that they need a bit of help or something?
Annoying, but at least you know. The only thing I’ve read about vitamin D is that it is oil soluble - so you should either eat something with fat in it, or have some oil when you take it. I guess if you are taking fish oil, doing them both at the same time might work?
Hi sorry I haven’t been around the site , I’ve been working at the hospital and I’ve been having a lot of trouble with the tendons in my left knee …I’m having a MRI on Saturday…the rheumatologist thinks I have torn a tendon ,no time for that trouble I have to take care of my mom and dad…I get my vit d level redrawn sept 19th I’m hoping for some good news …maybe a level of 20 would be great …lol…I’ve enjoyed reading your replies and thank you all for for answering my thread …you are amazing
I’d read about the smoking connection (and also in relation to development of psoriasis) but I’ve never smoked myself. Not even one puff. BUT I have been exposed through passive smoking.
Both my parents smoked, my mother including through pregnancy as people did in the 1960’s. When they both passed in my early adulthood the ciggie smoke gauntlet was taken up by working in large offices in the days when smoking was still permitted.
The sun allergy didn’t start until 2000 when I was 37, up until that point I had always been a careful sun worshiper. That said alot of health things started going awry around that time and as the saying goes “all roads lead to PsA [Rome]”.
Will report back after my appointment on Monday. May take me a few days to recover as it’s the first time I’ve done the round trip in a day, I’m going to be out the house about 14 hours. I feel sick just thinking about it but at least as I’m travelling by train I can shut my eyes to rest.
Best of luck with the journey Jules. A French doctor told my mother in the 1960’s her sun allergy was probably caused by her smoking. And sadly I smoked too and developed the allergy in my 20’s. It’s much less acute now but I never sunbathe and do wear factor 50. So no doubt my vit D level is pretty crap. I will send off for the test though.
Thanks for raising this issue ohmeowzer. I hope you can get your levels up, I’ve always thought Vitamin D was very important in lots of ways but clearly I’ve been complacent.
Might be worth mentioning that I was thought to have torn a tendon in my knee after falling over a couple of years back. Doctors persisted in this belief even after an ultrasound showed no visible damage and it was only when I was suddenly able to lift my leg while getting prepped for surgery that they realised it was most likely ‘just’ PsA. Hope yours isn’t torn either and that things improve whatever the cause of the problem.
