OT: Vitamin D Testing

[WearyOne]

In checking the forum for Vitamin D posts, I read a post from someone saying they were leaving the Vit D test for last because it's one of the more expensive ones (and it is!). Since that was back in July, thought it best to start a new thread with this info that some folks might not know about. At http://www.healthcheckusa.com/ the normal price is $70 but through Tuesday they're having a 20% "sale" so now it's $56. A lot better than the $200 it costs when I go through my doctor for it. (They have a lot of other blood tests, too.) You order online, they send you the paperwork, and then you take the paperwork to participating labs in your area (LabCorp is mine) and have the test(s). I've ordered several different tests over the years and get the results online in less than two days (sometimes the next day) and then later receive the results in mail also. I just ordered the Vitamin D test. (There are a few states where this service is not available...NY, NJ, RI are three of them and they might be the only ones.)

Pam

[snuginarug]

Getting tested is such a good idea, especially if you deal with depression. Vit D deficiency is a wonderfully treatable condition. Getting enough Vit D on board after a deficiency feels great!

[WearyOne]

Snuginarug, every time I get tested I'm low...always between 13 and 16. I take the three months of prescription D and then don't go back and test again (dumb!). This time I'm going to stick with it, take OTC D, test every couple of months or so, and keep taking it until it's up where it should be. Glad to hear of great improvement after a deficiency is corrected!

Pam

[elena88]

they have crp tests too!

[howkim]

they have crp tests too!

They have lots of tests. If you don't see what you're looking for online, call them and ask about it.

[Slinky]

WHICH Vitamin D test are they running? Vitamin D 25-hydroxy or vitamin D1,25-hydroxy? These two vitamin D tests are sent out by our local hospital's outpatient lab instead of doing them in-house.

I forget whether it was the vitamin D tests or the PTH tests that Quest Labs was supposed to have the best lab for. But I had a good chuckle when the government slapped their paddies 'cause on accountta not only was it NOT the best test out there, it wasn't even a particularly good test.

Quests Labs are NOT my favorite if you haven't managed to figure that out already. Those sheisters refuse to even honor an ROI so that the results can be released to my family doctor as well as my ordering specialist!!! Sheesh! And that is just ONE of my several complaints about them.

I wonder, given HIPAA is in effect now (it wasn't the last time Quest and I butted heads quite a few years ago now), whether they would have to provide the results to me if I requested them??? IF I thought I could win that battle I would be tested to have one more (and definitely last) blood draw done at a Quest Lab just to force the issue.

[slaaplekker]

If you go to http://www.vitamindcouncil.org you can find more information about Vitamin D then you ever thought possible. There is also link there to a company to get tested, I think the cost is $65.

If you are taking Vitamin D make sure it is Vitamin D3. The other forms of Vitamin D are not as effective.

I'm taking 10,000 of D3 a day trying to get my level up. I had a family member whose Dr wanted to put them on Prozac, luckily I was able to convince them to try 5000 units of Vitamin D3 a day which turned their life around in just a couple of days.

Of course that isn't the case with everyone who is deficient. But think about it, your body makes around 10,000 units of D3 in 20-30 minutes of sun exposure doesn't it make sense that we need more the the US Government's recommendation of 400 IU a day? And that maybe taking up to 5,000-10,0000 IU of D3 a day to replace that sunshine you probably aren't getting is a good thing?

regards
John

[Gia]

I wonder, given HIPAA is in effect now (it wasn't the last time Quest and I butted heads quite a few years ago now), whether they would have to provide the results to me if I requested them??? IF I thought I could win that battle I would be tested to have one more (and definitely last) blood draw done at a Quest Lab just to force the issue.

Unless you live in a state that prohibits the direct release of a certain type of test - yes you can get the results - if you go to their website there is a form you have to request - once they mail that to you - you complete it and mail it back in they will send you the results.

http://www.questdiagnostics.com/common/ ... l#results2

[Gia]

Snuginarug, every time I get tested I'm low...always between 13 and 16. I take the three months of prescription D and then don't go back and test again (dumb!). This time I'm going to stick with it, take OTC D, test every couple of months or so, and keep taking it until it's up where it should be. Glad to hear of great improvement after a deficiency is corrected!

Pam

The vitamin D that requires an RX (the little green pill) is useless. It is vitamin D2 which the body has to convert to vitamin D3 to be used, and the conversion is not very efficient. You can actually buy 50K unit of vitamin D3 over the counter and it is much better absorbed. I usually get mine from Amazon.com

[Slinky]

Thank you, Gia, but its too late for Quest now. I had too many problems w/them. They'd have to be the last and only lab in our state before I would use a Quest lab for any testing. I'm on a medication that requires blood testing every 3 months and have been for the last 7 years. I'm perfectly happy w/one of our local hospital's outpatient labs and its no problem, no hassle, no cost at all to get my results from them. And a copy of EVERY test I have done is provided to my family doctor by just adding his name to the usual ROI for insurances and ordering doctor. No fuss, no muss. It just gets done at my request. The staff at 3 of the hospital's outpatient labs and I are friendly terms. They are pleasant and courteous and we exchange life and family stories, etc. during the process. In the early days I used 3 different Quest Labs in town and the staff at all of them were a surly bunch.

[snuginarug]

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me the prescription D was useless. OTC D3 works better for me. For a VERY inexpensive test, you can just try taking some vitamin D and see if it helps. A mild deficiency will respond to 1000 units. Of course you could have a severe deficiency and need to be tested by a lab. But for many folks, just taking some gives them their answer--- Heck yeah, I feel soooo much better taking it. I was able to drop my antidepressant after adding D3.

[WearyOne]

After my last prescription D2, I did a lot of research and realized the D3 was better, so that is what I'm using OTC now. I started taking 2,000 IU of OTC D3 two days ago and will continue with that until I get the blood work later this week, then make a decision if I need to increase it. I picked mine up at the local Vitamin Shoppe. I don't know if one brand is better than another, although I did notice the other ingredients--mainly the type of oil--do differ between brands. And of course it's the gel cap.

Since the starting range for Vit D is around 30, with the recommendation at 50 I believe, and my last testing a little over a year ago was 15 (13 the year before that), I feel better getting tested now, and then every three months or so. Getting out in the sun now even for 20 minutes is not something I want to do in this heat---prediction of 100 again today.

The test they do, Slinky, is the Vitamin D, 25 Hydroxy.

Pam

[Emilia]

I use Quest labs (the only one approved for my insurance), and when my doc ordered a Vitamin D test, the lab had to call her office because they said they have 2 different Vitamin D tests. She told the lab to do both! I use a micellized D3 that is very absorbable. One drop mixed in water, juice or other beverage has 1,000 IU's. I take 2 drops a day in my morning juice.

[Slinky]

Thanks, Pam. The D 25 is the correct test.

If one is scripted 100,000 of D2 once a week, how much of the D3 should one take in place of the D2?

[WearyOne]

Thanks, Pam. The D 25 is the correct test.

If one is scripted 100,000 of D2 once a week, how much of the D3 should one take in place of the D2?

I wish I knew! The three different times I was put on prescription Vit D2 it was 50,000 IU once a week for three months. The dosing I've chosen of D3 OTC is just from stuff I've read and will make adjustments according to repeated blood work. Not a great way to do it, I guess, but I don't know any other answer.

I did end up going outside in the heat today and just standing in the sun for 15 minutes!

Pam