My doctor just started me on Vit D therapy. I was on antibiotic therapy with no change in my RA. Now I've started this. I am working up to 10,000 IU a day. Also, has me on Phosphorus and blood work regularly. Anyone done this before?
There is currently a great deal of controversy re Vit. D. A popular antibiotic protocol (MP) requires total avoidance of Vit.D, no supplements, little or no dairy, staying out of sunlight, special sunglasses to block the sun, etc., etc. Yet recently some studies have seemed to show that Vit D can be very helpful, even preventing some cancers and MS. Please keep us posted on your progress, did your doc test your Vit. D levels? I am planning to ask my rheumy for testing at my next visit. Also, so sorry AP did not help you, how long were you on it! All the best! Pat
Yes, the doctor tested my Vit D level and will continue to test it. I was on antibiotic therapy for 11 months. I will keep you all posted on this Vit D therapy.
By the way Vit D is a hormone and not a true vitamin. It was named upon discovery and the name never changed due to the popularity of it.
Here is some info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D
I've been on AP for two years now. My AP doctor started me on Vitamin D pills to see if they would speed up my remission. They made me herx like crazy. The pain was back and incredible. I felt like I did when I was first diagnosed. I stopped them immediately.
I then went to Mexico last March for a vacation. I was told to avoid the sun. Well, I sunned everyday for 4-6 hours with a good sunscreen. My RA went away. But within a week or two or being home, it was back. My AP doctor said that there is Vitamin D in sunlight. He said the reaction to the Vitamin D pills seemed to him more like an allergic reaction.
It did take almost two years for the AP to kick the RA. I am in remission. I heard that it takes longer for women for some reason and can take 2-5 years.
My advice is to stick with the AP Protocal. I think it is the best treatment. I don't like the biologics at all. With all the killer bugs out there, I don't think you should be lowering your immune system. I have a friend whose son was on immune suppressing drugs and he (at 21) caught a bug that gave him a less than 1% chance of surviving. It is amazing he is alive today and still recovering.
Becky