You will find many articles, forums, and blogs on Fibromyalgia and Vitamin D out there. Those of us that have Fibromyalgia may also be Vitamin D deficient. We may not have it in the beginning, and it could develop later down the line.
Vitamin D helps control levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood and is essential for the formation of strong bones and teeth. Vitamin D also modulates cell growth, improves neuromuscular and immune function, and reduces inflammation.
How do you get Vitamin D? From being in the sun is the #1 but with skin cancer on the rise, most of us avoid that route due to the alternative.
To find out if you are Vitamin D deficient, you just need a simple blood test, and your doctor can easily tell if you are deficient or not and start the proper treatment plan.
Recently I was amazed to find out that some doctors won’t even test a patient with Fibromyalgia for Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is so important for not only Fibromyalgia patients, but everyone in general.
A lack of Vitamin D can make you feel like you have zero energy, which you are struggling just to get through the day. As a Fibro patient, this is something that you deal with on a day to day basis, but then you add a vitamin deficiency, that is essential for anyone, on top of that and you almost cannot function on a day to day basis.
I can speak from personal experience that being deficient in Vitamin D does have an impact on me physically. I have been taking Vitamin D for several years now, and my levels are still not where they should be. My Fibro has played havoc with them. At my June doctor’s appointment, my blood work revealed that my Vitamin D is at 13, which is extremely low, so I now have had to increase my dose to 5000 IU a day from 2000 IU a day.
It is so important as a Fibro sufferer that you encourage your doctor to check your Vitamin D levels and get you on a supplement to help bring them up. It is not a cure for Fibro, but it will help you with your energy levels. You may not run out and do a marathon, but you will be able to get through a day without feeling like you have no energy.
Will there be more changes? Yes, I know there will be, and I will take each one on a positive note because once I give into the negative and creep over to the red platform I have let my illness win and control my life. Staying positive lets me win each time.
Always remember to stop, take a breath and be positive!
Aimee Reese is passionate about bringing awareness to others about Fibromyalgia. Aimee has been living with Fibromyalgia for years, but officially diagnosed five years ago. Aimee is the founder of The Green Platform Assistant where she believes “In order for you to grow you have to start with knowing who you are.” Aimee believes by staying positive and on the Green Platform it helps get through the most difficult times when living with an invisible illness. Aimee lives in Kentucky with her husband Eric and two children.
Contact Aimee: aimee@thegreenplatformassistant.com