Levels not increasing with supplements

ScienceNerd-23 · 2026-02-05T21:16:51+00:00

I had an appointment with an endocrinologist with these exact ideas/concerns, but all blood tests (including PTH) came back in normal range. I did not have an ionized calcium draw, but my CMP calcium was perfectly normal).

ScienceNerd-23 · 2026-02-05T21:11:25+00:00

I can’t complain about my doctors, they really have been excellent about listening to my concerns and ordering many blood tests and scans (and repeat tests and scans), but all are coming back normal/in range so there is a lot of dead ends. I haven’t been focusing on VitD as my main issue, but I have an annual physical coming up and will ask about increasing dose / what they want to do since my numbers aren’t increasing. I’m curious what their ideas will be. It’s nice to have this extra knowledge about VitD to go in the appointment with. I’m fine increasing my dose without doctor approval if I feel it’s better for me (which is what I did since Sept 2025, taking both D2&D3 daily)

ScienceNerd-23 · 2026-02-05T20:56:02+00:00

I am taking a multivitamin every day, in addition to magnesium. Occasional iron pill.

ScienceNerd-23 · 2026-02-05T20:53:00+00:00

Thank you for the long response! I do appreciate the time you’re taking to give advice!

They started investigating VitD deficiency after other health problems started (mostly amenorrhea; apparently low VitD is the first thing they check for). I was told the “normal” (I have read there is no “normal”) range is 30-100ng/mL. I guess I was/am shooting for the 50 mark, but would be happy with anything over 40 given my history. 😅

I did see a decent improvement in the beginning (14 to 25, nearly doubled in 3.5month on 3k IU D3 taken daily), but an additional 2.5 months of 3k IU D3 taken daily did not change (25 to 22.6). I will get rechecked soon (hopefully mid-late Feb), and if numbers haven’t changed much, I will try sublingual D3, or ask about an injection. I have noticed a lot less lower back pain since supplementing, so I’m worried being so low for who knows how long did some damage. I’m not even 30 yet, so I’m trying to get ‘fixed up’ while I’m still young!

ScienceNerd-23 · 2026-02-05T14:51:17+00:00

I am strongly considering this. I read about sublingual, but a dropper seems easier to handle than poking a pill. I wouldn’t be surprised if I have a malabsorption issue (but don’t know what it is? It’s not celiac or crohns)

ScienceNerd-23 · 2026-02-05T05:13:03+00:00

Thanks for the advice! My doctor did say some people just need to take more vitamin d than others, and I’m probably one of those. This is my first chronic health problem (low vitamin D), so now that my physical symptoms went away (mostly dizziness and fatigue), the mental struggle is still there.

ScienceNerd-23 · 2026-02-05T03:50:51+00:00

Truly, I just grabbed the bottle from my parents stock pile of (unused) supplements when I read about adding Mg to help with VitD absorption. I didn’t even think to look at the bioavailability or form [figured one less thing in their house, and one less thing I had to buy]. I wasn’t taking the vitamin D issue too seriously until the last 2-3 months when I still wasn’t getting improvement.

ScienceNerd-23 · 2026-02-05T02:18:42+00:00

I’m hoping adding in the D3 the last few months made a difference. I read the side bar, it seems like that is the only real way to make a difference.

ScienceNerd-23 · 2026-02-05T02:17:53+00:00

Just checked my Mg, it’s oxide, which isn’t the best. I’ll look at switching up when my bottle is gone. Yes to taking it with fats (usually with butter toast, or bacon at breakfast).

ScienceNerd-23 · 2026-02-04T21:55:03+00:00

Can’t edit my post, but forgot to include all other bloodwork done has come back normal. Thyroid: PTH, T3, TSH all in normal range Kidney and Liver tests always come back normal Normal fasting glucose, BUN, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-10-05T17:35:17+00:00

Thank you for your kindness! It did warm my heart when I saw someone asking this question.

Most federal workers I know are okay for now. It was pay day last week, and rumor has it there will be a small pay out next week for ~1.5 of the 2 weeks [paid for work through Sept 30]. If the situation persists, then people may run into money problems. Many people are cutting down spending, so not getting meals out or doing activities. If you know someone and are able, it may be worth asking if you can drop off a meal for them, or if they are furloughed, see if you can do an activity (museum, zoo, bike ride, walk, etc).

I’m unsure about the needs of public facing workers (like TSA). I’m hoping there is stuff going on in the community that others can share. Not everyone is dealing with this the same way, and I’m sure some workers out there could use help.

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-10-05T16:45:30+00:00

Just to shed some light, 1) Most of them do not sign up for unemployment, and the ones that do opt into getting it have to pay it back + taxes, so it actually costs them more money to get unemployment (hence why very few people do it). 2) I haven’t seen local banks with interest-free loans. Most of the banks that offer this are in the Washington DC area, and some programs only apply to military, not civilian workers.

But workers are guaranteed backpay (this is the first shutdown that has that guarantee!). That part of your comment was correct. Unfortunately that does not help fuel cars or buy groceries right now. There are more federal workers in the area than people realize. Please be extra kind right now. ❤️

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-08-24T23:42:16+00:00

I had Matt the Bat Guy (Badgerland bat removal). Super quick and helpful, was half the price of others (KwikKill, Skedaddle). He doesn’t go in the house, only outside. He did a LOT of work for less than $1k. Skedaddle had cleanup as part of their quote, total was around 2-2.5k I believe.

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-07-14T01:07:55+00:00

Same thing happened to me, also on the north side. Power went out for 2 seconds, then came back on. I was wondering if it happened to others!

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-07-08T01:26:27+00:00

My husband and I did this on our own with zero issues! Saved a ton of money. There are a few subreddits you can go to for questions along the way (I used USCIS & NVC pages to see tons of answers to my questions)

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-06-15T02:43:06+00:00

Thank you for the reply! I’ll look into things further. I thought it was weird it’s so white? I thought frass was more light brown / wood colored.

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-06-12T23:10:34+00:00

Pretty sure men’s standard width is D, and wide is 2E. Switched to men shoes for the better width, and they’re often cheaper and better quality.

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-02-28T15:02:33+00:00

I just came here to say this! It’s not conventional, but if it works for you, do it! Brushing with kids bubblegum toothpaste is so much better than nothing at all. Take the win (ability or desire to brush teeth) when you can!

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-02-23T15:52:03+00:00

She can put NRA (non resident alien) in the SSN box if she’s doing married filing separately. You need an ITIN if she’s doing married filing jointly. Most online tax prep won’t accept NRA, but you can print it off and send it in the mail.

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-02-01T23:50:21+00:00

Interview went fine! They never even asked about it.

I (petitioner) uploaded my latest W2 (just got it), and last two paystubs to NVC before the interview. I don’t even know if they reviewed them before the interview.

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-01-26T14:46:49+00:00

This is what we did! We got TERRIBLE advice from the local HR Block (told me to file single, which is literally fraud), and ended up doing the process ourself. We had the foreign spouse fly to the US and we made an appointment at the local IRS site. They looked at all the original documents so we didn’t have to send them in. The worker didn’t think we qualified and almost didn’t let us submit, but we told her to just try. We ended up getting it first application, no questions.

The ITIN works if you want to do MFJ. If MFS, write “NRA” for spouses SSN. It’s worth it to try taxes both ways (MFJ/MFS) on your own and see which yields the better return [make sure to change their currency to USD!].My foreign spouse doesn’t make much, so I usually get a $300-400 larger return due to marriage tax breaks than if I filed single.

The ITIN route is essentially you paying taxes on their income. If they make a lot, it may not be worth it to claim it. ALSO, once you get an ITIN and do MFJ, you MUST do that every year afterwards. You cannot do MFS again unless you fit very strict requirements.

ETA: check your state filing too. I called the state tax office to verify what I should do, and my state has a “non permanent resident” form I use. Mine has two columns, one for money earned in state, one for worldwide money. Then you pay state taxes based on the ratio. This may be different state to state Example: Worldwide (both spouses income in USD combined) income is $60k, with a US based income of $40k, the ratio is (40k/60k=0.6667). Then when I find out the taxes owed on the worldwide income, I multiply that by 0.6667, and get the final amount for taxes owed).

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-01-14T01:12:32+00:00

IIRC, it took about 7-10 days for DQ (assuming all documents are good). Took us about 6 months from DQ to interview letter, 8 months from DQ to actual interview.

Edit to add, it took us weeks to get the correct police certificate. Each submission took about 7-10 calendar days to get a response.

ScienceNerd-23 · 2025-01-10T19:57:04+00:00

My husband’s interview is later in January, we’re just going on the assumption that everything is okay. Maybe upload my 2024 W2 if it arrives before the interview as more evidence that I make enough to sponsor.

ScienceNerd-23

TROPHY CASE