vitamin D deficiency (ok /not ok?)

[CurlyGirl]

Hi Chin-Chin! It's wonderful to have you on the forum.

You said you feel as though your bones are falling apart - well, all I can say is, you must try to find a way not to let all the tests and doctors' prodding get you into a negative mindset. The mind has a powerful influence on the body - my advice would be, when you get into bed at night, take a few moments to close your eyes and visualise your bones getting stronger. I know it might sound crazy to you, but I do these visualisation exercises all the time (for a variety of things) and they really help me to overcome health problems and think more positively about my body. Try it!

All the best,
CG

[Chin-Chin]

Thanks for all the input. I'm on the 4th day now, and still feel kind of spacey and alternate between listlessness and restlessness. I have put a post about ADHD in the personal experiences section.

Oscar talked about withdrawal symtoms, what are they exactly?

[rischott]

I think that with this diet, one has to not only give up their previous understand of food, but also reevaluate the meaning of life in general.
Our minds were zombies of food addiction, but we may also be zombies to our unhealthy lifestyles.

[RRM]

Hi Chin-Chin
Welcome!

He had x-rays run for my cervical vertebrae, and found a slight deformation + holes/spaces (lacunes osseuses) in the C2 and C4 discs?

Im worried about those holes, because if this is an ongoing process, it would eventually lead to immobility.

He then ran a blood test to understand why there's a de-mineralization in the bones - turned out that I had a vitamin D defficiency and a surplus of tablet (plaquette) in my blood.

The plaquette may be calcium-salts (maybe due to a lack of bone formation activity, or due to increased bone resorption), but may also mainly contain bad fats and bad proteins (from eating cooked proteinaceous / fatty foods)
What I dont like about high one-time vitamin D intakes, is that this promotes precipitation of calcium-salts.

The alkaline phosphatase activity (a bone formation marker) is quite low, but studies have shown that this may be the direct effect of vitamin D level.

I'm definitely underproductive and feel unfocused.

This diet (especially the egg yolks) will fix that, at least.

I don't know if it's psychological, but ever since my battery of test, I feel like my bones are falling apart. So don't tell me it's true!

Thats psychological, but you need to find out whether the degeneration of bone is ongoing, and what causes it.
So, I would suggest testing bone health related indicators:

- PTH (parathyroid hormone) level, as hyperparathyroidism is a well known cause of bone-degeneration (and associated to low vit. D levels).
- Estrogen levels, as estrogen is protective regarding bone health.
- urinary Bone resorption markers, such as pyridinoline (Pyr)
deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr), urinary type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx) and/or serum type I collagen carboxyterminal telopeptide (ICTP). This to establish whether the degeneration of bone is ongoing.

Did you use medication for your pains?
What medication? Glucocorticoids? / corticosteroids? (Im hoping they caused the holes)

[Chin-Chin]

The only medication that I used was anti-inflammatory, and only for very short periods of time to control acute inflammation.

So I was wondering if my cholesterol level is indicative of anything? I remember that my cholesterol was a bit high, which never bothered my dad (in terms of cardiovascular health) even though he was really thin and fit.

By the way, mom says that my problem is something that runs in the family: my dad started consulting for all sorts of muscle and joint pain starting from college, and it went on for all of his life; my paternal grandmother did the same it seems.

Do you think I should see a bone specialist? And what would that be? My general practionner appears to be quite competent so I'll talk to him first.

The alkaline phosphatase activity (a bone formation marker) is quite low, but studies have shown that this may be the direct effect of vitamin D level.

Can you explain what the alkaline phosphatase activity is? Did you read this from my blood test?

I'm definitely underproductive and feel unfocused.

This diet (especially the egg yolks) will fix that, at least.

I certainly hope so! So far it's not happening yet. I hope that with time, my system with react positively to this diet.

And also just wondering, if there's a hormonal or thyroid inbalance, what are the interventions that we can conceive from the diet's point of view?

[RRM]

The only medication that I used was anti-inflammatory,

So are corticosteroids / glucocorticoids, which have devastating effects on bone (and muscle, ligaments etc.)
What medication did you use exactly?

So I was wondering if my cholesterol level is indicative of anything?

Yes, if it is way too low, it may be the cause of your problem. (as you need cholesterol for conversion into sex hormones.)

By the way, mom says that my problem is something that runs in the family: my dad started consulting for all sorts of muscle and joint pain starting from college, and it went on for all of his life; my paternal grandmother did the same it seems.

Were they ever properly diagnosed?

Do you think I should see a bone specialist? And what would that be? My general practionner appears to be quite competent so I'll talk to him first.

As I said: what you need are those tests, as they may tell you whats wrong... (regardless of what Dr initiates these tests)

Can you explain what the alkaline phosphatase activity is? Did you read this from my blood test?

Yes, its in your test result: "Phosphatases alcalines: 77 UI/L"
Its a bone formation marker; regarded as a represant of bone formation activity (osteoblasts creating the matrix upon which calcium precipitates to form bone)

I'm definitely underproductive and feel unfocused.

This diet (especially the egg yolks) will fix that, at least.

I certainly hope so! So far it's not happening yet. I hope that with time, my system with react positively to this diet.

By far the most important aspect of doing this diet right (and thus getting the wanted results) is about proper energy management.
How often do you ingest some food / juice?

And also just wondering, if there's a hormonal or thyroid inbalance, what are the interventions that we can conceive from the diet's point of view?

The lack of vitamin D can be resolved by consuming ENOUGH egg yolks / fish daily (I know you are afraid of cholesterol; dont be its a super-'vitamin', essential to your health in many ways, also as it is the precursor of vitamin D composed by your own body)
A possible lack of estrogen might be resolved by exactly the same, as cholesterol is also the precursor of estrogen.
If there is hyperparathyroidsim (HPTH), eliminating a lack of vitamin D will probably resolve this as well, as vitamin D very effectively controls PTH levels.

But first of all, you need the right tests for a proper diagnosis.
Only after that you can start thinking about the options (and there are many) to solve your problem.

[Chin-Chin]

By far the most important aspect of doing this diet right (and thus getting the wanted results) is about proper energy management.
How often do you ingest some food / juice?

I tend to go between overeating and undereating for the moment (it's such a fine line). But I do eat at regular intervals, about every 40 minutes to 2 hours.

I haven't figured out how to work the juicer, but I really dislike orange juice (gives me acidic regurgitations). I eat plums, abricots, kiwis, bananas, pineapples (hard to find at this time of the year), and avocados.

3-4 egg yolks a day (I'll slowly move up, but I feel so full after 2 egg yolks , and I try to emulate Corinne: 2 in the morning, 2 in the evening), lots of lemon juice + honey that I put on everything, and of course, olive oil.

I'm also binging on sashimi - I've had it almost everyday in order not to feel too deprived.

I'm also considering beef carpaccio and steak tartare (raw beef) as they are both readily available here in France. That's where my cravings lie currently. If I don't have acne problems, can I consume as much sashimi/raw beef as I want?

No munch food really as I wanted to do a pure raw diet for 30 days to experiment.

I'll call my doctor for more blood test!

[RRM]

I really dislike orange juice (gives me acidic regurgitations).

Only if you dont add sufficient oil.
With juices its so much easier to keep your blood sugar leveled.

If I don't have acne problems, can I consume as much sashimi/raw beef as I want?

Yes.

I'll call my doctor for more blood test!

Perfect!
(make sure he is testing all that needs to be tested)

[Oscar]

Oscar talked about withdrawal symtoms, what are they exactly?

I just noticed I've overlooked this question earlier...

Our bodies are used to keeping a certain balance. When this balance gets disturbed by a certain substance (or substances), the body will (try to) compensate for the effects of this substance. Whenever the ingesting of this substance stops, the body will not immediately stop with compensating, and will thus overcompensate, resulting in effects contrary of that of the substance.

A simplified example: alcohol stimulates GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid), a neurotransmitter in the brain, which slows down the nervous system. The brain compensates by stimulating Glutamate, which speeds up the nervous system. When alcohol intake stops, the stimulation of Glutamate will go on for a while, resulting in tremors.

Usually there isn't just one, but multiple effects. Even opposite ones, like in ADHD.

[Chin-Chin]

Thank you for all the input. I'd like to use the nutrient calculator, but I don't find anything in my category of weight/height. I'm a woman, 1.64 m and 46 kg (100 pounds).

BTW, I've been bouncing between 100-105 pounds since age 16. Since I don't weigh myself everyday, I can't be sure, but I think I lost some more weight with this diet even though I don't have much fat to lose!

This is really undesirable as I'd like to gain more strength, especially in the upper body, which I think will help with my arm and shoulder problems. I tried weightlifting for a sememster back at school, but I'm always quickly worn out with any of these exercises. Any pointers?

Another question, RRM, what is your opinion on taking silica suppliments for stronger bones? I heard this from my yoga teacher...

[Oscar]

I'd use the category which is the closest to you.

You might have lost a little fat and excess water from your skin, nothing to worry about. There are some threads on weightlifting in the Muscle Gain section.

[nick]

I haven't figured out how to work the juicer, but I really dislike orange juice (gives me acidic regurgitations). I eat plums, abricots, kiwis, bananas, pineapples (hard to find at this time of the year), and avocados.

Make sure the oranges are ripe to overripe ( showing signs of beginning to go bad). That way there is less acids. I never get acid reflux or anything like that.

3-4 egg yolks a day (I'll slowly move up, but I feel so full after 2 egg yolks , and I try to emulate Corinne: 2 in the morning, 2 in the evening), lots of lemon juice + honey that I put on everything, and of course, olive oil.

Lemon juice is too acidic for your teeth! But if they can handle it once in a while, fine.

[RRM]

Im sorry; I had missed this:

Another question, RRM, what is your opinion on taking silica suppliments for stronger bones? I heard this from my yoga teacher...

Well, in my opinion you first need to know what caused the malfunction before you do anything, because in theory, it might even be too much silica that caused it (just in theory).
Only if the cause would be a lack of silica, then supplementation would make sense (or better, from natural sources).
There is no such thing as 'just making sure' if you dont know the cause, as physical health is all about being in balance.

[RRM]

I'll call my doctor for more blood test!

Have you managed to get a more specific test?

The only medication that I used was anti-inflammatory,

And I wrote: "So are corticosteroids / glucocorticoids, which have devastating effects on bone (and muscle, ligaments etc.)
What medication did you use exactly?"

[Chin-Chin]

Thank you for the concern, RRM.

I'm still having a lot of shoulder pain. Just deposited my thesis - all that work at the computer didn't really help.

My docter seems to think that I shouldn't have too many blood tests closely spaced and recommended me to another specialist. I still haven't had the time to do that yet.

I don't know what the anti-inflammatory is as I don't keep any medical records. I noticed that since I threw away all my medical records, I've never had any medical problems - eh, except of course, for this cervical problems, which is bringing me back to the doctor's office - I'm doing physical therapy and massages. But I try to avoid going to the doctors whenever possible.