Low Vitamin D level appears to cause sleep apnea

[nanwilson]

I just received results of labs on Vit D. After taking 10K IU per day for four weeks, my levels have increased from 23 ng to 52 ng. My doc is having me increase amounts by an additional 10K per week to bring me closer to the targeted 60-80 ng range. I am also taking Vit. B12 liquid, Vit. K2 and magnesium supplements in addition to a multi vitamin. My sleep quality might be marginally improved, but not enough to say for sure. (my problems have been with waking up at 3 to 5 a.m., not with falling asleep). I have begun trying to wean myself from the CPAP machine, and am surprised that I am able to do so without problems. Last night, I didn't use it at all. I have shed 20 pounds this year, which might account for it. However, my sleep apnea has always been considered on the mild side. I will post another update after the next blood test or if I notice appreciable changes. I am interested in reading about results others are having with Vitamin D supplementation.

Sleeppapotomus....vitamin d will not fix your osa, the cpap machine will help it but nothing will "FIX" it. Please, please have another sleep test before you ever go off the machine, that way you will KNOW if your osa is there or not.

[Lizistired]

I have to differ on this.
My doctor didn't tell me that I had sleep apnea or recommend a sleep study. I demanded one because I was physically and mentally dead and knew I wasn't sleeping well and something was happening at night. So if I get to feeling better and can reduce my pressure and at some point feel I can sleep without the machine, and can do so without desats and a return of symptoms, I doubt that I will be doing a sleep study to get confirmation from some professional.
One night last week after several nights of sleeping very soundly, I set the alarm on my oximeter at 85% and when I wanted to take the mask off at 0330, I did. At 0420 the alarm went off and I put the mask back on. If a time comes and I can set it for 87% and sleep through the night without the mask and show normal sleep patterns with my ZEO and not feel a return of symptoms, I will park the S9 until I feel I need it again.

[ems]

My doctor didn't tell me that I had sleep apnea or recommend a sleep study. I demanded one because I was physically and mentally dead and knew I wasn't sleeping well and something was happening at night. So if I get to feeling better and can reduce my pressure and at some point feel I can sleep without the machine, and can do so without desats and a return of symptoms, I doubt that I will be doing a sleep study to get confirmation from some professional.
One night last week after several nights of sleeping very soundly, I set the alarm on my oximeter at 85% and when I wanted to take the mask off at 0330, I did. At 0420 the alarm went off and I put the mask back on. If a time comes and I can set it for 87% and sleep through the night without the mask and show normal sleep patterns with my ZEO and not feel a return of symptoms, I will park the S9 until I feel I need it again.

Hi Liz... I've read here at least a dozen times that sleep apnea never goes away, and that it gets "better" by using the machine/mask. I'm confused when I hear someone saying they are looking forward to parking the machine, meaning not using it. I thought once diagnosed, that means for life.

[Emilia]

There is a connection with Vitamin D and many diseases or disorders....visit the Vitamin D council website to read all about this: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org

[Lizistired]

My doctor didn't tell me that I had sleep apnea or recommend a sleep study. I demanded one because I was physically and mentally dead and knew I wasn't sleeping well and something was happening at night. So if I get to feeling better and can reduce my pressure and at some point feel I can sleep without the machine, and can do so without desats and a return of symptoms, I doubt that I will be doing a sleep study to get confirmation from some professional.
One night last week after several nights of sleeping very soundly, I set the alarm on my oximeter at 85% and when I wanted to take the mask off at 0330, I did. At 0420 the alarm went off and I put the mask back on. If a time comes and I can set it for 87% and sleep through the night without the mask and show normal sleep patterns with my ZEO and not feel a return of symptoms, I will park the S9 until I feel I need it again.

Hi Liz... I've read here at least a dozen times that sleep apnea never goes away, and that it gets "better" by using the machine/mask. I'm confused when I hear someone saying they are looking forward to parking the machine, meaning not using it. I thought once diagnosed, that means for life.

I think if we believe it is for life, it will be.

[Emilia]

I don't believe it is for life for everyone... some folks do get to leave the machine behind either because they had surgery to remedy a physical cause or lost enough weight to allow better breathing. Not everyone is so lucky.... the structure of the jaw, throat, problems with nasal passages....all contribute and, for some, those cannot be fixed. The only way to know for sure that you aren't having events (because we don't know if we are asleep) of any type....OSA, Hypopneas, centrals, UARS, positional, or just from a neck being at a funny angle on your pillow, is to have a sleep study. And we know that one sleep study doesn't give you the best or most thorough picture, but it certainly sees much more than a home titration does.

Suit yourself... I am happy to know you are using an oximeter to monitor desats. Not all OSA events are tied to desats, though.

[Sleeppapotomus]

Perhaps, as some have suggested, sleep apnea is a permanent condition. I, for one, am excited about the results Dr. Gominak is seeing in her patients, and I am hopeful I, too, can "park" my machine after adjusting my vit. D levels and losing weight. It might be premature for me to wean myself from CPAP, but I have other reasons for doing so. I experience a "hiccup," presumably from a stomach sphincter, while using the cpap. It doesn't happen otherwise. My wife says she is not hearing me snore when I am off the cpap (she used to complain) and I will continue to monitor how I am feeling.

I remember a psychiatrist once told me I will never be able to overcome panic attacks and that I would eventually have to go back on meds. To that I respectfully have to say Horseshite!! What has our society come to when we accept these various conditions as "just the way things are" and that drugs etc. are the only answer. In a recent news report it was estimated that a large segment of the population is on anti depressant drugs. What's up with that?! I believe many of these conditions are a result of our screwed up modern world with its stresses, poor diet and degraded environment.

I will continue to seek sensible approaches to addressing my issues whether it is from traditional medicine, cutting edge research or common sense lifestyle changes.

[Lizistired]

... I remember a psychiatrist once told me I will never be able to overcome panic attacks and that I would eventually have to go back on meds. To that I respectfully have to say Horseshite!! What has our society come to when we accept these various conditions as "just the way things are" and that drugs etc. are the only answer. In a recent news report it was estimated that a large segment of the population is on anti depressant drugs. What's up with that?! I believe many of these conditions are a result of our screwed up modern world with its stresses, poor diet and degraded environment.

I will continue to seek sensible approaches to addressing my issues whether it is from traditional medicine, cutting edge research or common sense lifestyle changes.

More power to you! I had a sleep study when I thought I was headed down the road of antidepressants. I will continue to avoid big pharma and consider xpap to be a solution to a temporary condition.

[ems]

I remember a psychiatrist once told me I will never be able to overcome panic attacks and that I would eventually have to go back on meds. To that I respectfully have to say Horseshite!! What has our society come to when we accept these various conditions as "just the way things are" and that drugs etc. are the only answer. In a recent news report it was estimated that a large segment of the population is on anti depressant drugs. What's up with that?! I believe many of these conditions are a result of our screwed up modern world with its stresses, poor diet and degraded environment.

I will continue to seek sensible approaches to addressing my issues whether it is from traditional medicine, cutting edge research or common sense lifestyle changes.

Very true on the anti-depressants. More and more people jumping on that band wagon every day, and encouraged by their doctors to do so.

Good post... basically, I agree.

[ozze_dollar]

My doctor told me that I could go without the CPAP. All I had to do was lose 17 kgs,get my muscle tone back to what it was when I was 21,stop drinking,and watch my diet. So I now use the CPAP.

[Lizistired]

HA HA, and so it goes!

My doctor told me that I could go without the CPAP. All I had to do was lose 17 kgs,get my muscle tone back to what it was when I was 21,stop drinking,and watch my diet. So I now use the CPAP.

[SleepyToo2]

She is not saying that vitamin D is a "cure" for sleep apnea. What she is saying is that if you have a vitamin D deficiency and get that corrected to between 60 and 80, you will be increasing the chances of getting the restorative sleep you need. She also says that if you go too high, you will start feeling worse again, so you need to get your 25OHD levels checked 4 times per year. Some people do need very large doses of D3 to get them back to "normal" - others may need small amounts. Some people may need to continue the high doses for quite a long time before the levels return to "normal." Patients with sleep apnea probably do better after normalizing their D levels, but she does say that it is not a cure - the research has not been done.

I found it interesting that she listed many of the common sleep apnea "problems" as being vitamin D "problems. We all need to make sure that we are getting 8 hours of sleep at night, that our D levels are "normal," and that we are getting enough exercise. Get out in the sun during summer, and stop spending so much time in air-conditioned rooms. Then maybe, just maybe, our apnea may get a little better. How much better will depend on our own make-up.

From a personal perspective, I have many tall relatives. Lack of good sleep causes a reduction in HGH levels (that is human growth hormone). I am only 5' 7". Could I have had sleep apnea as a child, stunting my growth? Getting on CPAP, along with vitamin B2 supplementation and magnesium (didn't know about the pumpkin and sunflower seeds before the video), has stopped my chronic migraine headaches. I still have an AHI of about 2, and still have some leg movements during the night. Could it be that I need more exercise? Could it be that I need my D levels "adjusted"? Could my thyroid function be a little wacky? The answer to all of the above questions has to be "possibly." No one can say for sure, but it is worth checking out.

[Jphicks]

I thank the doctor for her contribution to this thread. I am very interested in the possible D3/restorative sleep/apnea connection. I am a 48 year old male in relatively excellent condition. I exercise a minimum of 5 times per week and am not overweight. About a year ago I suddenly realized I was not sleeping soundly. I felt that I was never falling asleep - just drifting in a semiconscious state. I suspected OSA but was told by my dr that I did not have OSA. I demanded a sleep study and it was found I did in fact have severe OSA. I have been using a cpap ever since.
I have always intuitively felt that there was yet an unknown reason for the onset of my OSA. In my mind, the D3 connection is worth exploring. I just had blood work performed and was informed my D3 was low at 27. My OSA also emerged during a change in my daily work environment. I had changed from years of outdoor work to a job that keeps me indoors all day. I am going to pursue this and attempt to get my D3 in the 60-80 range recommended. Many thanks again to the doctor - perhaps it won't help me - but I do hope it helps at least some gain relief from OSA.

[Goofproof]

My doctor didn't tell me that I had sleep apnea or recommend a sleep study. I demanded one because I was physically and mentally dead and knew I wasn't sleeping well and something was happening at night. So if I get to feeling better and can reduce my pressure and at some point feel I can sleep without the machine, and can do so without desats and a return of symptoms, I doubt that I will be doing a sleep study to get confirmation from some professional.
One night last week after several nights of sleeping very soundly, I set the alarm on my oximeter at 85% and when I wanted to take the mask off at 0330, I did. At 0420 the alarm went off and I put the mask back on. If a time comes and I can set it for 87% and sleep through the night without the mask and show normal sleep patterns with my ZEO and not feel a return of symptoms, I will park the S9 until I feel I need it again.

Hi Liz... I've read here at least a dozen times that sleep apnea never goes away, and that it gets "better" by using the machine/mask. I'm confused when I hear someone saying they are looking forward to parking the machine, meaning not using it. I thought once diagnosed, that means for life.

I think if we believe it is for life, it will be.

I believe that those that believe, will live longer and more productive lives, than swimmers in De-Nile. Swimmers in De-Nile are fish food. Jim

[Lizistired]

I saw this article yesterday while googling possible reasons for my rapid resting heart rate. It has been 105-121 when normally 72-82. Up to 140 while trying to walk a comfortable pace on the treadmill. Thought I would post it here.
I had a trip to the ER Monday and a follow up with my PCP today. As it turns out I did overshoot the 50-80 range and my blood tests came out at 92 for my D3... supplementing somewhat randomly since early October when this thread started.
Yes, I should have had my levels tested before I started supplementing ... I discussed this with my doctor today, who I only see when I really need to. He mentioned a beta blocker to slow my heart rate but knows I am resistant to drugs so he ordered a 24 hour Holter Monitor and suggested I use the treadmill or whatever during that time to emphasize the results. I decided after the appointment to donate a pint of blood that may or may not reduce my D3 level by roughly 10% on the chance that this article explains my symptoms. I also have had trouble getting to sleep at night during this time. "Return of symptoms over 80"?
I'll see in the next day or two if the symptoms subside.... My doc did agree to retest my D3 in a month.
Just something to think about. Get your levels tested often. We really need a home test.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health ... udy-finds/