I read that if one has a vitamin D deficiency and this is addressed it may help overcome depression . A test done by a doctor can determine if this is appropriate for any individual. There can be other health benefits as well.
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SILLY
Super Contributor
The site to look at is WEB MD . Look up depression help centre. Lots more info. there.
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mg0080
Not applicable
Hasn't worked so far!!
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Pamela
Contributor
If the depression is mild, it may be enough to get out into the sunshine daily and bare some skin to manufacture your own Vitamin D or use light therapy on overcast days, similar to treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
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mg0080
Not applicable
Hi All Doctor discovered I had seriously low levels of vitamin D about a year ago - pre cancer diagnosis. After taking double recommended doses for about 6 months the reading when taken again had gone up by only 4 points. Another 25 or so needed to be at the bare minimum! Another 6 months have seen it reach 50 whih is the bottom of acceptable levels. Found no difference in 'mood' things but did gain some improvement in aching joimnts, particularly fingers and feet. Still eprsevering - Doctor wants levels higher still.
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glenys48woods
Contributor
Hi Pamela, I haven't been on here for a while but I need help from you. I have had no recontruction on my right side of my chest as I had a mastectomy in Oct 2010. This annoys me as I have to wear a false breast. It feels different to a natural breast. Laying in bed at night and having had the mastectomy on my right side and laying on my right side feels satisfying to me because I have my left breast weighing 1 kelo. Laying in bed on my left side it really annoys me where I have no weight in my right side. This doesn't help me to sleep. It is quite depressing to me. Will you help me? Glenys xx
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Jules2
Super Contributor
Vitamin D deficiency is apparently at 1 in 3 that are deficient in australia. I take vitamin d and have done so since my last cancer diagnosis and it has helped with the muscle pain that I was experiencing post treatment. It does have many benefits and probably worth exploring enough for people to get tested.
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Jules2
Super Contributor
mg... do you eat foods that are rich in vitamin d also? 🙂 Just curious as am sure I am low and am trying to improve mine.
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mg0080
Not applicable
Hi Jules2 Yes tried everything - and also ate those kinds of food prior to finding out I was Vit D deficient. Not that there are many foods and I guess as you get older nothing seems to work as well as it used to! Interesting you should comment just now as I haven't had my levels checked since last time I posted and I have had a return of the aching hands and feet! Might be time for a GP visit again :-) thanks hope you are well mg
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Jules2
Super Contributor
mg I need to get to a gp and get some tests done. Need my thyroid checked and vitamin d levels. I was curious as to whether food alone worked or if you needed to take a supplement also. 🙂 I also take magmnesium and multi v. Since my head and neck treatment I don't eat quite the variety of food that I used to. I generally feel pretty good these days except lately I am feeling quite fatigued - hence the thyroid check. ALl good here thanks 🙂 ... well apart from the fatigue but that could be ms aswell. lol Maybe it is just age and I don't want to slow down? *insert big grin here* Julie
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mg0080
Not applicable
Definitely get tested - and if low they will recommend supplements. As I said previously I was on double dose of capsules for it and the levels barely shifted. Thyroid is a good idea but I would also really recommend hormone level tests. Not sure how old you are but I found that the stress of surgery/ treatment etc apparently thrust me straight into menopause. One of the doctor's I was seeing suggested it. I didn't even give that a thought! But like you I was SO fatigued and just never seemed to get on top of it no matter what I tried. I have an hour's drive to work each day (3 days a week)and even up to 6 months later I used to cry all the way there - wondering what I was doing it for! But I wanted to persevere, hoping I would eventually feel a bit better - and apart from the extreme exhaustion I actually liked my job. Anyway have started on HRT (3 weeks)and can't believe how much better I am starting to feel. Wish I had thought of it earlier!! And despite some negative press about increase breast cancer risk (my doctor wasn't concerned just said keep up with mammograms and just take it for 2 years) - it's worth it to just feel half human again. Hope you can get some answers soon! Blessings MG
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Jules2
Super Contributor
MG I have been travelling 3 hours to work and back. My day is a 12 hour day and 13 days a fortnight ... it could just be an age thing on my behalf. I still think I am not quite as I should be but I can still function at a reasonable level, or at least one that I am relatively happy with. Julie
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