Vitamin Deficiencies

I touched on my vitamin deficiencies in that blog, so now I will go into more detail. I feel extremely tired for almost every minute of every day and have stomach/digestion issues. I was tested in November 2009 for vitamin deficiencies (the same day as the food sensitivity testing) and found out that I had multiple deficiencies too.

Here are my deficiencies and what I took/am taking to fix them:

Vitamin D—it affects bones and can cause osteoporosis. I took 4000 IU a day (which I didn’t mind because it tasted like chocolate). Since November my levels have improved dramatically.

Vitamin C—it affects my energy. It is an antioxidant. I was supposed to take 4 packets of Emergen-C a day, but it was too much for me. I took a couple of packets whenever I felt I needed them, but it didn’t make a difference. In June 2010, I had an IV of Vitamin C. It didn’t seem to make me feel any different and I cannot afford to keep going (it is $85 an IV).

Vitamin B12—deficiency can cause problems with energy, sleep, tingling of extremities, memory, and migraines. I took “End Fatigue Daily Energy B Complex” for a while, but when I got retested in June 2010 it wasn’t enough. I now do Vitamin B12 shots every Sunday. I will be switching back to the pills after the shots are done to try and keep the levels up.

Carnitine—affects metabolism and energy levels. I take a teaspoon of L-Carnitine every day. It is a thick, sticky liquid that tastes like raspberry and mint. It is kind of weird tasting, but not entirely disgusting. I have been taking it since November. As of June my levels were still low so I have to keep going for now.

CoQ10—an antioxidant that boosts metabolism. I get extremely bloated and have stomach fat that doesn’t go away. I take 200mg a day to combat both issues. I originally had an IV of Glutathione (a more powerful antioxidant), but the pills are cheaper.

Iron—can cause anemia and fatigue. I take 27mg of Ferrochel a day. I have been taking it since November and my levels are up since November. I continue to take it every day because I still have pills that I need to use up.

Probiotics—aid with digestion. I took them from November until a few months ago. I need to start taking them again since my body doesn’t digest food correctly. They made me feel a little better while on them.

Magnesium—helps with digestion. I take 150mg of Magnesium Citrate to help my stomach and intestines. It relieves constipation and makes sure everything moves through.

Berberine—restores the intestinal barrier that was damaged from food sensitivities. I took 900mg two to three times a day. It helped me feel much better. I was taken off of Berberine when I started the Magnesium Citrate.

Fish Oil—helps with dry skin. I took it for a few weeks, but the Cod in the pills caused problems for me. I stopped taking the Fish oil and it made me feel better. I still have extremely dry skin, but it is better than me feeling sick all the time.

Travacor—sleep aid and anti-anxiety pill. I wasn’t sleeping well for a few months when Brett was out of town. I took 2 pills every night for a month or two, but was taken off of it because I felt extremely groggy in the morning.

Other than those supplements, I take birth control and 3 shots a week for year round and fall allergies.

Every time I see my PCP she adds and takes away supplements. We are still trying to find the right balance for me. I get my vitamin levels checked every 6 months to figure out what has changed. I don't get most of the vitamins from food so I have to supplement them for now.

Enjoy your night!