UOAA Discussion Board

I have had a Koch pouch since 1991 and ma now experiencing very low vitamin D. Has anyone had this issue?

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is produced in the skin from exposure to the sun's rays, the main source of vitamin D. It is also available in supplements and in fortified milk, liver, eggs, and oily fish. First get some sun light, then talk to your Doctors about a supplement.

Ray

I have a urinary Indiana pouch and I also had low Vit D levels. When it was first tested it was practically non existent so I was initially put on massive doses of it. After 2 months I was in the normal range and now take it every day.

I have a urostomy, and was recently diagnosed with low Vitamin D. Your doc will probably put you on a massive dose for a few weeks until it gets to where it should be. Btw, thanks for the post...reminded me I forgot to take my weekly dose.

I have been seeing an increase in the number of people who are stating that they have a vitamin D deficiency and have an ostomy or other type of diversion............hmmmmm there has to be some correlation there!!!!!!

That said, I too have a critical low Vitamin D level. Now, I am a sunner in the summer.... I live outside, love the sun and am ,by no means sun deprived. I have been taking the supplements for about a year now but my level has not changed at all. It has not gone down, but it has not gone up either.

Do any of you with a low Vitamin D level experience body aches? Do you just plain hurt?


** On a side note, I have an aunt who has been diagnosed with Rickets at age 60!!!! She does not eat much red meat, is a big veggie and chicken eater, works night shift and does NOT go out in the sun much........... so all should be mindful of that vitamin D level!.

LeeAnn

My regular doctor said there has been an increased awareness among doctors that low D is more prevalent than they realized so my doctor and probably others as well are checking our Vitamin D levels now. It is more common in the northern states to see lower levels but even in the Midwest where it is hot and sunny in the summer it is still cold, cloudy, etc in the winter. Those of us who fight dehydration probably do have that in common. I take 2000 IUs a day suplemental even though I am a hugh milk drinker.

thanks everyone. I have been taking massive doses of Vit. D for months = 50,000 units a day! It has finally reached an acceptable level but I was wondering if it had to do with the ostomy.

I have had muscle weakness, fatigue, etc and while I have adrenal insufficiency and Hash's thyroid, I have had lingering problems. I live in sunny ca and do gardening, ride my bike, etc. so never even considered I might be deficient. My internist checked it only because I have the beg of osteopenia and am post menopaused. So glad she did. blood levels were at 32. The minimum is 30 but new guldelines suggest at least 40 (90 being the max I believe). I get a significant amount daily with my calcium supplement. But, learned now that absorption is often a problem with ostomies!

I will be starting supplementation. Am anxious to see if my s ymptoms improve.

here's a link to symptoms I find interesting..

http://www.ehow.com/list_5992901_signs- ... iency.html

I have a urostomy and have struggled with low vitamin D. I'm taking 5000 units a day, after being on the 50,000 weekly dose. I do get the body aches if I skip a dose; sometimes even when I remember to take it.
I've always wondered if there was an ostomy connection...

Steve S wrote:My regular doctor said there has been an increased awareness among doctors that low D is more prevalent than they realized so my doctor and probably others as well are checking our Vitamin D levels now.....

I agree with Steve S - Vitamin D levels seems to be the latest thing....I was told mine was low and I've read about it and have at least one friend (no ostomy) told he has low counts as well.

The wife and I both have a D deficiency. I am an ostimate. She is not. We both have kidney issues. I think we spend too much time indoors on the computer.

My GP has me taking 3000 units of Vitamin D every day.

Any Ostomate should have an annual metbolic assesment.

There are several vitamins which are absorbed in the terminal small bowel which is used for diversions. It is easy to supplement these vitamins but much harder to deal with the effects caused by chronic denial of the vitamin.

Scott