Not quite what I expected
Yesterday I went to the GP for the follow up appointment and results of the blood tests.
Chatted away for a while and then he got the results out.
Ticking them off one by one, this is fine, that is fine, nothing wrong with this, nothing wrong with that
Thyroid levels are good – means the dosage is correct
Then he said, oh yes, this is what I wanted to tell you.
This level is a bit lower than the norm.
My ears pricked up
Oh dear, whats up now I think
Seems many GPs are now ordering a Vitamin D test to assess your levels as well as the ‘usual lot’ when they are doing a health assessment and mine were a trifle below the norm. Nothing to worry about but as a precaution he suggested I take Ostelin as a supplement – something to do with calcium absorption, brittle bones and possible Osteoporosis. I knew that but didn’t realise it all came back to Vit D.
Have to definitely lose those extra kilos – no complaints there but theres only about 5kg/11lbs to go and its becoming increasingly harder to shift them. He did remind me (nicely) that theres a reason we often refer to ‘Fresh Air and Sunshine’ giving us a helping hand in dealing with so many of our problems – seems like chasing the blues away, blood pressure and weight issues as well as acquisition of Vit.D can all be put right by walking in my case lol
Will test again in a few months.
As someone who knew all about sunshine (as well as some food) being the place where the body obtains Vit. D this came a bit of shock. But then I thought about it and realised I haven’t been outside as much as usual recently – this past summer I have stayed indoors and knitted a lot, have been to the gym rather than walk, done very little gardening and used underground car parks close to the entrance of a shoppng centre where before I would choose an outside park furthest away and walk to the door – using that as part of my exercise for the day.
So being the person I am I’ve spent a lot of time on Google checking this problem out – had my eyes opened I can tell you. Over the past few years a lack of that little vitamin has been related to so many diseases its not funny :-
Vitamin D deficiency is known to be associated in osteoporosis, impaired immunity, diabetes, high blood pressure, ‘stroke’, heart disease, liver disease, depression + other disturbance of mood, body muscle mass wasting, gum disease, & certain forms of cancer.
Taken from this site
http://www.hairlossclinic.com.au/articles/vitamin_D_surprising_deficiency.html
If you are interested here is a list of links you may like to have a look at –
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Vitamin_D
http://www.sunsmart.com.au/vitamin_d
http://www.hairlossclinic.com.au/articles/vitamin_D_surprising_deficiency.html
Asthma and allergies
http://www.6minutes.com.au/articles/z1/view.asp?id=509536
Weight loss
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153669.php
Cancer
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/wellbeing/vitamin-d-deficiency-linked-to-cancer-20090729-e1mg.html
Influenza
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D_and_influenza
Now where did I put my runner/trainers/joggers ??
Still Waters 
Glad your blood work came back okay. Vit. D is important. Thank you for listing these sites as well, a lot of work to share with us……be well….:-) Hugs
LikeLike
I just found out recently that I am very Vit D deficient, I was also told to take Ostelin (but there are other brands of Vit D supplements) and to get out in the sun more, and like you, I thought about it and realised that I had been spending a lot of time indoors, plus I was going for my walks before the sun was up properly. So now my walks are done in the sunlight making sure to expose my arms and I'm taking a Vit D supplement (oh and calcium too)
LikeLike
I didn't know all that, and I for one, don't seek out the sun, and when I am in the garden I cover up as much as possible.Thanks for the info…..Gill in CanadaP.S. No I haven't found the money tree, it's tax time over here and we are in for a refund!!
LikeLike
You really are quite healthy and the solution to the vitamin D shortage can be very pleasant, i.e. get out in the sunshine and do some fun things in the fresh air. I understand your concern for your thyroid. My mother and my grandmother had myxadema, the stop functioning of the thyroid. They took thyroxine. My grandmother had to get up out of her death bed and go to the doctor to get this replacement drug when it was experimental. My mother was in her 30's when she needed it. The changes in her were dramatically back to normal within two weeks. Ever since I have always asked the doctor about my thyroid. No problems yet, "touch wood".
LikeLike
Me again! With regard to your questions about Heidi and her new sweater.She is very patient and stands there letting me get her sweater all done up. (If I were designing a cardigan for a dog I would have her wear it backwards (Remember when girls thought wearing their sweaters backwards was fashionable, about the time of poodle skirts and neck scarfs. Whatever happened to that?) Then the buttons would be on top rather than underneath. She is a tall dog so the stretch is not so far for me. She also is very patient with me. I think after a when she will just step into the sleeves herself and I can them pull the sweater up and over her head and button it up (in a loving embrace.)She does not really need it now. The weather is quite warm and the snow is disappearing fast. Our temperatures are above normal _(above freezing) even at night now.There is a rush to have people get their fish huts off the ice while they can.I will put the sweater away carefully for next Winter. She can go naked through the summer.The lady who knit the sweater has offered to knit Heidi a tube scarf (I don't know what you call them in Australia. There is a different name for them in the US.) It is worn around the neck to keep that bare area in front warm in the cold weather. They can also be worn around the head to cover the ears.This will turn Heidi's cardigan into a turtle neck sweater ( sort of) She is a delight. She had a friend stay over last knight and they slept on my bed while I sought refuge in a bunk bed in the spare room. 🙂 Yes, it is as crazy as it sounds.
LikeLike
I too recently had my physical and one of the tests was for the Vitamin D. Mine came back below normal and I am taking a supplement now and will be retested next month. However I am outside in the sun all summer long as well as almost daily walks the rest of the year. I have been hearing so much about Vit. D the last couple of months now. It seems to be a "hot topic".
LikeLike