| I often preach the value of taking a daily multivitamin pill, | | | | felt that my wife was exhibiting symptoms of Vitamin |
| particularly in light of how our modern lives are lived. In | | | | D deficiency. |
| an article I have posted elsewhere entitled "Should You | | | | We pointed out that my wife was already taking a |
| Take a Daily Multivitamin", point out how we live our | | | | daily multivitamin with Vitamin D, but the doctor |
| lives these days and how people's individual situations | | | | countered that, particularly due to the Roux-en-Y |
| usually make it in their best interest to at least | | | | gastric bypass procedure, she probably needed to |
| supplement their nutritional intake with some general, all | | | | supplement even more. |
| purpose, daily vitamin pill. | | | | My wife started taking a daily Vitamin D supplement |
| However, I have seldom studied, written about, or | | | | and experienced relief from the fatigue and depression |
| discussed the value of individual vitamins, minerals, or | | | | in a few days. |
| supplements. | | | | Now, I do not want to imply that she began running |
| A recent personal experience, combined with a little | | | | around the room, singing all day, and everything was all |
| research, has moved me to write about one nutrient in | | | | better. No, but she DID experience visible (to me and |
| particular. At least when I began my researches, I was | | | | her) relief from several of the symptoms which had |
| looking into Vitamin D only, but I soon learned that to | | | | been troubling her. She now has more energy and has |
| discuss this topic without mentioning calcium is only | | | | lost the depression which was clouding her life for so |
| telling part of the story. | | | | long. |
| The personal experience was that my wife, a | | | | As I said, this experience led me to do some research |
| particular person with a particular medical history, | | | | on the symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency, and this is |
| began experiencing what a doctor eventually | | | | what I found. |
| determined was probably symptoms of a Vitamin D | | | | You cannot look at Vitamin D without looking at |
| deficiency. When my wife began to take a Vitamin D | | | | calcium. The relationship between calcium and Vitamin |
| supplement regularly, a major portion of her symptoms | | | | D is integral, and one cannot be separated from the |
| cleared up. | | | | other. Vitamin D's main function is to assist the body in |
| This led me to do the research I mentioned, and what I | | | | making use of calcium. In fact, if you examine what |
| learned led me not only to write this article, but to look | | | | happens when a Vitamin D deficiency exists, you will |
| at my own vitamin and mineral supplementation | | | | note that the symptoms of a Vitamin D deficiency are |
| regimen as well. | | | | almost identical to those of a calcium deficiency. |
| My Wife's Symptoms | | | | Rickets and Osteoporosis |
| First, my wife is 51 years old, overweight (she admits it | | | | While my wife did not experience these, at least not to |
| freely), does not get outside much, and had the | | | | our knowledge, Rickets and Osteoporosis, both |
| Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery about seven years | | | | conditions of the bones have long been linked to |
| ago. I will add that she began having some of her | | | | deficiencies in Vitamin D and/or calcium. |
| symptoms a couple of years ago, about five years | | | | However, recent research is illuminating other |
| after she had the surgery. She does take a daily | | | | symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency, such as heart |
| multivitamin supplement and a daily B-12 supplement. | | | | disease, cancer, stroke, depression, fatigue, heart |
| A while back, my wife began experiencing chronic | | | | palpitations...the list goes on, and you may have noted |
| fatigue, heart palpitations, an increase in Candida | | | | some of my wife's symptoms listed there. |
| infections, high blood pressure, and depression. | | | | Vitamin D is normally formed in our bodies by a |
| She had a history of anemia and her iron was low, so | | | | reaction to direct sunlight on our skin. However, if we |
| she was treated for that. She began menopause | | | | do not get enough sunlight, a deficiency can occur. |
| about the same time, so some of her experiences | | | | Also, as we age, we have a bit more difficulty making |
| were ascribed to at least possibly being related to that. | | | | and using Vitamin D. People who are obese also have |
| While in training for a new job, she began having dizzy | | | | a problem as Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and can |
| spells, more heart palpitations, and mini-blackouts. Some | | | | be absorbed by the fat in the body, essentially taking it |
| testing indicated that she had a growth in her abdomen | | | | out of circulation. |
| (tumor?), and on her thyroid. Her iron levels, which had | | | | People with digestive problems, either natural or artificial |
| been treated, had dropped again. She was going | | | | have problems using Vitamin D as some of its action |
| through menopause, constantly fatigued, she lost her | | | | occurs in the digestive tract. |
| new job because she could not perform the required | | | | My wife's doctor pointed out that people who have |
| actions, she was depressed (surprise?), and she had | | | | had gastric bypass surgery, such as the Roux-en-Y |
| to undergo a long and expensive series of medical | | | | procedure often experience symptoms of a Vitamin D |
| testing. | | | | deficiency a few years afterwards. |
| While she got a little immediate relief from some of the | | | | Our personal experiences and beliefs are not to be |
| fatigue by receiving intravenous iron treatments, the | | | | taken as a medical diagnosis, as many of the |
| seemingly unending round of testing showed that | | | | conditions discussed in this article can arise from a |
| everything seemed to be normal, and there was no | | | | wide range of causes. However, if you are |
| apparent medical reason for all the problems she was | | | | experiencing what seems to be some of the |
| experiencing. | | | | symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency, you definitely |
| Then, one doctor diagnosed a possible problem which | | | | should discuss this with your doctor and do a little |
| had been overlooked by other physicians. This doctor | | | | research on your own. |