The only time my D levels go up is when I get out in the sun for a bit in the summer.  I have gotten them up to the 70's in the summer but even with taking large amounts in the winter 8,000 iu, I plummet to the 30's.  

Quoted from Chloe

About that.....some days a little more....but I average 5,000 most days.  I muscle test to see if
I need more.  (I know...not everyone is into muscle testing, but this is how I determine which
supplements I need).

But, if the fibromalaygia is acting up again, then the muscle testing is not reliable...

Quoted from ruthiegirl

When I had my last recheck, my doctor told me my levels were too high and needed to be brought down (and nowhere could I find the info that 83 was still within a safe range) so I stopped taking any D for about a week and then I restarted it at much lower levels. .

You know I don't think they really know because I just looked at my Lab Corp results again and
it says the range is  32-100 and then right under it, it says:
"Recent studies consider the lower limit of 32 to be the threshold for optimal health"  
Uh,...what? Now why would they have a "range" of 32-100 if they think 32 is perfect? Now what do we do?   Anyone ask Dr. D at the Conference?

I don't think I ever feel well when my D levels are in the 30's.  Maybe in the summer when my levels are up, it might be sitting in the sun that makes me feel better or the fact that my levels are so much higher.  

My doctor thinks that somewhere in the middle of those lab values is a good place to shoot for.

Quoted from Kim

I don't think I ever feel well when my D levels are in the 30's.  

When my levels were low 32, I was still picking up every virus. And at 25, I had osteopenia. I'm feeling good now so I'll check them this week if I'm not busy.

Quoted from Mayflowers

But, if the fibromalaygia is acting up again, then the muscle testing is not reliable...

I guess I wasn't clear.  Yes, if I was muscle testing every day and taking more or less D
according to my results, I'd probably be taking exactly the right amount..but I tend to
test a few days in a row....go back down to 5,000 iu (without testing) because although I feel generally confident that taking a high amount is safe, long term I can't be 100% certain this much is REALLY safe without getting to see blood results of my D levels very often...so I tend to go up and down between 5,000 iu and 10,000 iu like a wave....(believing it's a safer way
to do this) and don't test every single day.....I honestly think I would do best on 10,000 iu per day and am going to keep that up for awhile......at least until I can get some D from natural sunshine.....

And D has to be in balance with magnesium for optimum results.  Often it's not just low D that
causes fibromyalgia pain.....it's low magnesium along with it.  And when I spray mag oil every single morning, diligently, I usually feel pretty okay.  But it's not a guarantee.

Fibromyalgia has so many components...It's feeling tired, worn out, depressed, achy...irritable,
and for me, a lot of high anxiety.  It's a tough balancing act especially when life situations get in the way.  At the moment, I'm stressed because my sister is  struggling with her health.  Stress is really bad for fibro......causes muscular tension...adrenal problems.

So much balancing to do. I eat as optimally well as I can...My immune system appears to be
strong.  Haven't had bad allergies or even a cold for the longest time.   So even with pretty
good D levels....emotional health is also a huge part of feeling really well.

Life goes on!

Quoted from 14428

Can you explain how you muscle test, I am interested...

One way to do it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USJHqxxIC7Y

Quoted from Chloe

I guess I wasn't clear.  Yes, if I was muscle testing every day and taking more or less D according to my results, And D has to be in balance with magnesium for optimum results.  Often

Why do you have to muscle test all the time? Why can't you just muscle test once and be done with it for the optimum amount of vitamin D to take each day? Not for anything but that sounds kind of OCD to me.  

It almost always  tingles/itches when I use it. There were some links in the maagnesium thread about that- how it seems to tingle more when the body is low, and tingle less when the body doesn't need so much.

For a while I was using the mag oil twice a day, but that got too cumbersome. Now I use it once a day, although I forgot it several times last week. I'm now trying to get back into a routine with the mag oil and the D and I've also re-introduced the cal/mag/zinc supplement, but only one a day. That provides 500 mg calcium and 250 mg mag (and I forget how much zinc) because I'm afraid of making my minerals imbalanced if I only use the mag oil, and don't  get much calcium. If I was regularly consuming fish bones or bone broth, I wouldn't take the supps, but I haven't been doing that consistently.

The biochemist that works in my office just told me the new recommendations are 4,000 ius a day.  

Looks like Dr. D was ahead of the game as usual. He recommends 4,000 ius a day.

I take a lot of magnesium to keep things moving, but I also know I don't absorb anything well that goes into my digestive system.  I am using the magnesium oil but it itches something fierce.  If that means I am low in magnesium, it sure makes it hard to use it more often when you itch like that.

If the itching is REALLY uncomfortable, you could dilute some with water in a spray bottle. You won't get as much mag per spray, but it will be gentler on your skin.

My guess is that you're REALLY deficient, from not absorbing mag from food or supplements.

Quoted from Kim

I take a lot of magnesium to keep things moving, but I also know I don't absorb anything well that goes into my digestive system.  I am using the magnesium oil but it itches something fierce.  If that means I am low in magnesium, it sure makes it hard to use it more often when you itch like that.

Do you leave it on 20 mins then rinse it off and it still itches?  I haven't tried it yet and I have sensitive skin.. I'm leery..  Have you tried it on the soles of your feet ?

Quoted from Mayflowers

Do you leave it on 20 mins then rinse it off and it still itches?  I haven't tried it yet and I have sensitive skin.. I'm leery..  Have you tried it on the soles of your feet ?

I haven't rinsed it off, am I supposed to?  I have not tried it on the soles of my feet.  I do sleep better when I spray liberally at night, that is after the itching stops.

Quoted from Mayflowers

Do you leave it on 20 mins then rinse it off and it still itches?  I haven't tried it yet and I have sensitive skin.. I'm leery..  Have you tried it on the soles of your feet ?

Newbies who are magnesium deficient are going to itch....It's not like you're going to be jumping out of your skin, but it does feel pretty itchy at times.  I've done a foot soak which is what I recommend if you don't want to try the mag oil in a concentrated form.  Pour an ounce
of mag oil into a pan of warm water and let it cover your feet.  You don't need a lot of water...
it doesn't have to be deep.  Soak for 20 minutes then rinse your feet in clear water.  You will
accomplish the same thing....It's just one way to do it.  Not everyone has time to sit down
to a foot bath.  You can also buy the magnesium chloride in a dry granular form. (crystals/flakes)  
Pour some into warm water and soak your feet or soak in a tub....It's just going to take a lot of
flakes when you combine it with a full bathtub of water.

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWU495/ItemDetail

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/health-library/products/barbara-hendel-magnesium-oil.html

Quoted from Mayflowers

Do you leave it on 20 mins then rinse it off and it still itches?  I haven't tried it yet and I have sensitive skin.. I'm leery..  Have you tried it on the soles of your feet ?

Yes, Chloe said she sprays it on and waits 20 mins and then takes a shower. It only takes 20 mins for the magnesium to absorb into the skin..then you wash it off. I would do the same on the soles of your feet as well..  I haven't tried it period because I'm leery of my sensitive skin.

I haven't been doing it on my feet because I don't want to sit around doing nothing while the mag oil sits for 20 minutes, and I'm afraid of slipping if the bottoms of my feet are damp, or, alternatively, the mag oil going into the carpet instead of my body. So I cover from my ankles to my neck and the top half of my arms. The last time I did my lower arms and hands, my lower arms were painful- like a sunburn, and it didn't fully heal when I rinsed it off. It's also a hassle having mag oil on my hands and wrists, as then I can't put away dishes, hand wash anything that needs to be washed, prep food, etc, during that time. It works best for me if my hands and feet are clear so I can be productive during those 20-25 minutes.

Quoted from Mayflowers

Yes, Chloe said she sprays it on and waits 20 mins and then takes a shower. It only takes 20 mins for the magnesium to absorb into the skin..then you wash it off. I would do the same on the soles of your feet as well..  I haven't tried it period because I'm leery of my sensitive skin.

MF, look at my post above.....a less irritating alternative would be adding magnesium flakes
to a bathtub for a 20 minute soak or to a foot bath for same.  You could actually just put some
flakes or oil into some water...place your hands in it and see how it feels....The magnesium will
be absorbed no matter where on your skin you put it.  If it doesn't itch on your palms or tops
of your hands, you could next try it on one arm...diluted of course.

I've decided to use my extra $ on NAP supps instead of a Vit D test, and start (regularly) taking 5000 IU of Vit D per day for the next 90 days. By then, I'll send away for the home Vit D test and see where I'm at.

Quoted from Chloe

MF, look at my post above.....a less irritating alternative would be adding magnesium flakes
to a bathtub for.

Yes, I know, I saw it Chloe.  We were discussing Magnesium oil, that's why I didn't mention the epsom salt baths.  But thanks for the tips.

Drea, where is there an "at home vitamin D test?"  I pay a $15 co pay to have it done at my primary.
I searched and found some sites that charge from $65-$135 for the test.. I'll stick with my primary.

ruthie, the soles of the feet is a possible not irritating place to apply it for those people who have reactions every where else. It might be worth it to "do nothing" for 20 mins instead of burning and itching on your arms.  I got a rash just from dry brushing.

Quoted from Drea

(regularly) taking 5000 IU of Vit D per day for the next 90 days. By then, I'll send away for the home Vit D test and see where I'm at.

I don't think 90 days is going to show much of an increase.  It took 4 months to get mine up from 25 to 29 taking 5-10,000 a day. It takes a long time.  Chloe said she took 5-10,000 for 6 months a day to get it up to 50

Quoted from Mayflowers

Yes, I know, I saw it Chloe.  We were discussing Magnesium oil, that's why I didn't mention the epsom salt baths.  But thanks for the tips.

I'm confused about your post.  This isn't epsom salts .  It's magnesium chloride.  Magnesium sulfate is
epsom salts.  Two different things.

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWU495/ItemDetail

Magnesium chloride flakes sold on SWANSON'S is just a different form of the same formula. It's concentrated magnesium oil in a flake form/crystal form.  Exactly the same when rehydrated with water as the stuff purchased as a magnesium oil spray.  Just an easier way of application for those who want to put it in a tub or foot bath.  Also it can be made into a spray by just adding water.  It comes from Zechstein sea bed.  Just different processing..

Quoted from Chloe

I'm confused about your post.  This isn't epsom salts

They are both magnesium.  The body would absorb maginesium just as well from epsom salts.. which are way cheaper.  I wouldn't spend money on magnesium oil flakes.

Something else I read said you could use magnesium oil or epsom salts and get the same results.

I'm still confused.

The Swanson's product is not magnesium sulfate. It's magnesium chloride.  This is what magnesium
oil is and this is what the flake form they sell is.  Not epsom salts.

OK...you need to understand the difference between the two forms of magnesium.  As a transdermal
form, magnesium chloride is preferred.

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/health-library/products/barbara-hendel-magnesium-oil.html