Hi All,

I am looking into ways to increase my Vit D. I have not been able to take the supplement. However, when the sun is out and I sit in the sun I feel better in so many ways.

I seem to be running out of options and am very depressed and distressed. I have had this fever now for 2.5 yrs and it is unbearable. I am very weak and am to the point where I may try almost anything - since I am not responding to anything yet. I've had this DD 14 yrs.

I also have severe breathing problems - with no rescue inhaler or anything that helps. I've been to a million specialists - with little but a yawn from all of them.

In fact, I recently saw the head of immunology at our local teaching hospital - University Hospitals - and asked him about XMRV. He said he'd try to make time to read about it but had little interest. I was shocked and sad, I guess not surprised.

Anyway back to my question:

Dr Myhill, Dr Mercola, Dr Guyer and others all say they are okay with safe tanning (beds) - is this route worth a try? I just don't have any options and I need something to give me a foothold.

Any other ideas you have found that help. Seems I've tried them all. Just need to hang my hat on something - and be hopeful.

Just so worried I'm really near giving up. Family/parents angry with me mainly for not getting better. I am so alone and isolated - which is such a huge problem - it would make anyone sad.

All for now...God Bless,

Elisabeth <br><br>[<i>This Message was Edited on 11/04/2009</i>]

[This Message was Edited on 11/04/2009]

what happens that you can't take the supplement D3? You know there are drops, sublingul tabs and quite small caps/softgels. I've never had a problem in almost 3 yrs taking D3.

For me, i personally don't like the idea of a tanning bed. I've got my reasons.

How long do you usually sit out in the sun? I don't have any data regarding the amounts of harmful radiation during a tanning bed session, or even how long they usually last. But I imagine you could make your own decisions about how long you would want to stay in there.

I tested low for vitamin D and was offered a prescription to increase it. However, I chose to put on my bathing suit and sit in the sun for approximately 15 minutes, twice a week. I'm now in the normal range, so I do believe that we went too far in our avoidance of the sun, use of sunblock, etc. Where I live I can do this (almost) year round. It sounds like that's not the case with you, or you wouldn't be thinking of a tanning bed. It's a tough decision; best of luck...I hope you find something that helps.

Hi,

I am sorry to hear you are still dealing with that fever. I am not sure that the tanning beds would be the answer. I would think it will make you feel even hotter than you already do.
Have you tried them since you've had your fever??

I just started Vit. D today, so I am not sure how I will take it. I know I need Vit. D as I feel better in the summer when I can get some sun. Jam gave some good ideas about the Vit D options. I am trying the pill form now, but may look into drops.

Also, remember the XMRV is being looked into as possible treatments. Maybe, your fever is being motivated by the retrovirus. It seems possible to me, as it is an infection.
Hang in there as we may be closer than ever to answers.....

Sending you many hugs and blessings as you continue this long journey...

God Bless You!!!

Gosh, I wish you all knew how much I needed to hear your voices and ideas today - it really helps me sort things out.

Jam - So great to hear from you - you're an expert in the D area! Do you know the brand of Vit D drops - maybe i could titrate then up from very very low. When i take just a bit, in the past, I end up in the ER with left ventricle issues on the EKG and shortness of breath - pretty severe. Makes me wonder if the infection is in my heart...

Dlebbole - Thanks so much for your help...I stay in the sun for 1/2 hr to many hours late in the day - never get burned even though I am VERY fair skinned - because there is not much sun here in the suburbs of Cleveland. I actually thought maybe i could get sun through my window (opened) since it is so so cold here. But we get mostly gray cloudy days here.

Chrissy - you have such a sweet voice of compassion - thank you so much for your ideas. I always love hearing from you!

God Bless,

Elisabeth <br><br>[<i>This Message was Edited on 11/04/2009</i>]

[This Message was Edited on 11/04/2009]

to get that SUN, but as you know the winter sun, when it's out, isn't very strong.

I've been a longtime customer of Swansons and I saw in one of their recent catalogs that they are offering liquid D3. So check them out and also I'd bet other suppliers like vitacost, iherb, and even ph may offer liquid drops.

Your ER trips sound awful and that from Vit D? Could be something else going on there. And I didn't even put together the "fever" and going into a tanning bed. For sure, that would be a no for me.

Hope you can figure it out, but it does take a long while to get those levels up once they are so low.

I use a tanning bed about every other day for 10 - 15 minutes. My vit D levels were low before tanning, despite taking supplemental Vit D, and now they are optimal. I do check my skin regularly and if I ever find anything that seems at all different from what it is now, I will get it looked at rt away. Personally, I have found that going tanning feels great. Even though I normally can get overheated very easily, I find that tanning does not cause me any problems in this regard. I do agree, though, that it could make a fever feel worse. If you do try it, I would just go for a very short time the first time and see how it effects your fever.

Aside from the Vit D (which incidentally protects people from cancer), I have found that tanning helps me some with my messed up circadian rhythms. If I miss tanning for more than a couple of days, my body starts to wake up later and later until I am sleeping until 5:30PM, but if I go tanning, I can get to sleep a little earlier and wake up a little earlier, too. (This is getting a bit messed up from taking LDN, though. Even so, it is still better when I tan than if I don't.)


Another really great thing about it is that it helps me quite a bit with pain. It doesn't eliminate it, but it does help a lot.

I just bought some from Costco. Taste pretty good too! I think it's too soon to tell if it's helping, but I'm trying it. It's made by Wellesse.

Personally, I stay away from tanning beds and the sun. I just got back from Jamaica and as good as the sun felt, it didn't do too much to take pain away.

Good luck!

Hi,

Thanks Jam - I'll check out Swanson - who knows maybe that will help. I get Life Extension's magazine and they have had some pretty impressive articles on Vit D and health...

Thanks AuntTammie - I think your approach sounds like a good one. That's interesting about your sleep - I have the same thing - so I wonder if it will help me too. I hope so.

God Bless You both,

Elisabeth

Thanks Dazed...tasty Vit D - that would be great - lots better than fishy taste...Your trip sounds amazing - I bet it was beautiful, the beaches and people, and fun too.

God Bless,

Elisabeth

Elisa,

I bought this last year and it works! I cannot take a supplement--it makes me feel very sick. I also have hypothyroidism and the vit d supplement really messed w/ my thyroid.

I found the vitamin d sunlamp online. My doc tested me prior and after and it, indeed, raised my levels. This sunlamp has less bad uv rays than the tanning beds.

Great Info!

What is the make/maufacturer of your lamp? Did you buy it online?

Do you feel better?

Sorry for so many questions - just very interested!

God Bless,

Elisabeth

but I think there are other brands, too. I did buy it online; it was about 300 dollars BUT well worth the money.

You can google it and read about it online. YES, I feel better this year but I don't know if it solely because my d level is up.

I'd suggest doing a Google search for
"tanning beds cancer"

Roy

I discussed the tanning beds and cancer w/ my doc BEFORE buying the vit d lamp. It is not a sun lamp like the tanning beds.

edited to add: you do not get a tan w/ the vit d lamp.

[This Message was Edited on 11/05/2009]

J Invest Dermatol. 2009 Jan;129(1):162-6. Epub 2008 Jun 26

Forskolin protects keratinocytes from UVB-induced apoptosis and
increases DNA repair independent of its effects on melanogenesis.
Passeron T, Namiki T, Passeron HJ, Le Pape E, Hearing VJ.
Pigment Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Cell Biology, National
Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
20892, USA.

Melanin pigments provide efficient protection against ultraviolet B
(UVB) radiation but DNA repair also plays a key role in eliminating
UV-induced damage and preventing the development of skin cancers. In
this study, we demonstrate that forskolin (FSK), an agent that increases
intracellular levels of cAMP, protects keratinocytes from UVB-induced
apoptosis independently from the amount of melanin in the skin. FSK
enhances the removal of the two major types of UVB-induced DNA damage,
cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 6,4-photoproducts, by facilitating DNA
repair. These findings suggest new preventive approaches with topical
formulations of FSK or other bioactive agents that could be applied to
the skin before sun exposure to increase its ability to repair DNA
damage.
Publication Types:
* Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural


PMID: 18580960




EDIT: The problem is to get a forskolin creme. To my knowledge there are no on the market and mixing a creme doesnt work very well because the forskolin needs a carrier and special processing in order to get through the skin layers.

[This Message was Edited on 11/05/2009]

I meant no offense. I think most people are not aware of the new studies about tanning beds and cancer.

Hi All,

This may be a funny question - but can you get a tan (or sunlight that generates Vitamin D) through a window screen (window is wide open).

I get great sun through a window in my house - and if I open it up - do I need to remove the screen? It's too cold outside to sit outside - so I am trying to get sun in the house - someway...

I searched on the web and can't find an answer - most address getting sun through window glass...

Thanks!!!!

God Bless,

Elisabeth

not sure of the answer to your question about the screen, but when i read it I pictured a person with a tan that has all the same lines as a screen....LOL

sorry if I seemed grouchy...........