CPAP and autoimmune disorders (O/T?)

That low Vitamin D level needs to be remedied. An optimal level should be between 50-80! I have to take 8,000 IU's of D3 daily to just stay at the low end of optimal. I also take it in liquid form so it is more readily absorbed. D is related to so many diseases and autoimmune disorders..... you must work on that!!

If you haven't read any of the rather long thread on Vitamin D, take some time to do so..... some great stuff there: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=69331&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Emilia wrote:That low Vitamin D level needs to be remedied. An optimal level should be between 50-80! I have to take 8,000 IU's of D3 daily to just stay at the low end of optimal. I also take it in liquid form so it is more readily absorbed. D is related to so many diseases and autoimmune disorders..... you must work on that!!

Emilia wrote:If you haven't read any of the rather long thread on Vitamin D, take some time to do so..... some great stuff there: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=69331&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

I know right? I've been taking 2,000 IU a day but I guess my body is using way more than that per day. I'm going to try the prescription D2 -- despite it being poo poo'd -- to see if I can't get a boost from that. It really helped my sister get into the normal range. If not, I'll go back to D3 in larger doses (my doc said maybe 4-5k IU).

Thanks, Emilia!

Rx D2 is a total waste of your time.... it isn't the type of D your body naturally produces. D3 is the only way to go..... go to the vitaminDcouncil website and read up on it: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org

I've read all that stuff. My original Vitamin D test was from ZRT Labs. So, now I'm conflicted as to what to do.

Hi everyone! Long time no chat!

I have just been to a rheumatologist (very nice older gentleman) who is going to test me for lupus and ankylosing spondylitis. However, based on my episodic symptoms, he wants my primary to do a 24-hour urine collection to rule out a pheochromocytoma or carcinoid tumor. He also suspects fibromyalgia based on the tender point test he did.

So...

He has prescribed me an NSAID (Meloxicam) to help with my neck/spine pain. Not too happy about that because he wants me to take a PPI to protect my stomach, and those have always made me sick. Pepcid or Zantac I can tolerate just fine.

He also wants me to take Nortriptyline (TCA) to increase my SWS (deep sleep). Now, I know that it can supress REM, but he wasn't sure if it would cause CNS depression as well. I don't want to take anything that will further airway collapse. I have an S8 II and the A10 algorithm doesn't respond to my apneas since I don't have snores that precede them (damn, I really need an S9).

Thoughts? Comments? Personal experiences with Nortriptyline?

Thanks!

I also have autoimmune disease. I am off all immune suppressants for the past 18 months. My rheumatologist found that my critical low Vit D level was the bulk of my issues. I am on Vit D 50,000 units twice a week for like and even at that..I am still very low. I use Nortriptyline for sleep at times. It works. I have not had any side effects. I get into cycles of having problems falling asleep.

msradar65 wrote:I also have autoimmune disease. I am off all immune suppressants for the past 18 months. My rheumatologist found that my critical low Vit D level was the bulk of my issues. I am on Vit D 50,000 units twice a week for like and even at that..I am still very low. I use Nortriptyline for sleep at times. It works. I have not had any side effects. I get into cycles of having problems falling asleep.

The rheumatologist is also re-checking my Vitamin D levels. We'll see what the 4,000 IU/day for the past six months has done. I'm betting it's not enough. You have trouble falling asleep because of the nortriptyline or does that help you? I've also read that it's not a medication you can just stop. Did you have to wean yourself off of it when you didn't take it?

Also, my REAL big concern is that if I do have a carcinoid tumor, which most likely secretes serotonin, I just don't know what would happen if I take the nortriptyline.