Low Vitamin D level

Thank you Deanne for your good wishes.  I’ve got a way to go, but feel that it is doable and I feel very grateful that I haven’t got young children to care for.  If I’m having a yucky day, I can just rest.  Maureen X

Thanks Bec @Mollygirl I am  doing well thank you. Half way through the AC....yay!  Po has increased my anti nausea medication and I’m feeling good so far.  I start the Vitamin D today and hope it does the trick! Take care. Maureen X

Hi @duxx1234, I've been thinking about you and wondering how you are going. Number two down!!! How are you feeling ? 
I had low vit D a couple of years ago discovered with my melanoma diagnosis. Took a supplement for 12 months and it now remains good and did throughout chemo taking nothing. 
I hope you are managing ok??? Big hugs. Bec xxx

I agree that the issue of joint pain/ bone density is complex and have also found exercise very beneficial for both physical and emotional side effects of Femara/Letrozole.I have heard a lot about Curcumin and how great it is -which I gather is a refined version of turmeric -just be cautious and check with your medical team especially if undergoing chemo as it conflicts with some chemo treatments and other non chemo drug regimes.

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre website has a lengthy list of warnings re curcumin.Here is the web address just in case you haven’t got it:

www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/herbal-remedies-and-treatment

That said I too am a fan of natural supplements andI have been a bit surprised that some I have taken in the past like Vitamin B are a concern.

PS In case it’s of interest when I asked the medical oncologist before starting Letrozole what I should do for joint pain he recommended Krill Oil which I also take but can’t say whether it’s been helping tbh.I too have problems with my hands in the morning but not as severe as you describe more like a nerve/ circulation issue which movement restores.

I suspect that the reasons for joint/bone/ muscle pain and stiffness @Romla are not just down to any one cause. While I did have chemo, my Vit D levels were normal before and after. Maybe due to outdoor lifestyle on Sunshine Coast? So this obviously did not have any effect on my particular bc and did not cause my low bone density.

I did suffer from severe bone/muscle pain on Docetaxel chemo. I had what I thought was joint stiffness at first on Tamoxifen. I now wonder if that was not at least partially caused from muscle loss from the sudden reduction in my normal activity levels while on chemo, especially the last half on Docetaxel.

The joint stiffness gradually went away on Tamoxifen (as I returned to more normal levels of activity and also became much more into exercise!). But despite being very active, having good levels of Vit D etc, I had severe joint etc pain after 1 month on Femara! (After 2 years on Tamoxifen). I tried a variety of supplements before finding that Curcumin really worked for me, especially for my painful hands. (They used to wake me in the night just aching, swollen and stiff).

12 months into Femara my bone density (which was low to start with) was at osteoporosis levels in my spine. For me I think a big factor in this was the impact of Femara on my ability to move and exercise. Although I did walk a lot! Once I started a targeted weightlifting program to build muscle, which in turn builds bone, my bone density improved. It is now better than when tested before starting Femara. Incidentally my range of joint movement is better than it was before getting bc in the first place and this has vanquished any last bits of joint pain!

Our bodies are complicated and finding out what causes them to not be functioning well is complicated (and probably a very individual thing) for each of us. Always a good idea to check Vit D levels though. Very important for our health. 

Hope the supplement does the trick for you @duxx1234
Good luck with your Chemo too.
Deanne xxx

PS I am not without bone pain - I had radiotherapy May 2017 and having ongoing rib pain

Thanks @duxx1234 your post has precipitated a most interesting conversation from members.Thankyou all too.

I am starting to think that the depletion of vit D levels by chemo might explain why those who are also er+ seem to have bigger problems with joint pain when on aromatase inhibitors than those who have not had chemo.

Aromatase inhibitors are known to reduce bone density causing joint pain and fractures.I know ,having osteoporosis prior to breast cancer myself, that low vit D is associated with low calcium absorption and contributes to osteoporosis with symptoms of joint pain and fractures.So maybe those who have chemo and are er+ start aromatase inhibitors with lower bone density.

I have not had chemo and have been on Letrozole 6 months and joint pain has thus far been manageable although a couple of other side effects have been disconcerting like a spike in my formerly good cholesterol.

Apologies if I appear naive as I have been surprised to hear some of the difficulties others have had with aromatase inhibitors esp severe joint pain.I might add I also have the benefit from 6 monthly injections of Prolia to prevent further fractures which I guess may also explain why my joint pain has been manageable as well 2 Caltrate Bone and Muscle Health daily to provide the recommended doses of calcium and vitamin d suggested by Osteoporosis Australia for my age and situation.

@viking1   Thanks  so much  for your response. I’ll let you know how I get on.  Maureen x

Thanks Jane.  I will certainly keep you posted! Maureen  x

Hi @duxx1234, I’m also fair skinned and do my best to stay out of the sun but the trade off is low vitamin D.  I’ve also got bone density problems and have been taking a compounding prescription of one 25,000 unit capsule per week.  It’s put my levels back into the normal range.  It sounds like 50,000 should do the trick for you!  Good luck and let us know if there is an improvement.  Jane x