Do you believe in taking Vitamin?

[Vacation4us]

My insurance changed and I picked an MD off the PPO list. Turns out she is a homeopathic GP.

She ran some lab tests and my Vitamin D level was extremely low despite spending at least 2 hours a day walking in sunny SoCal. She had me take high doses of Vitamin D and now my levels are closer to normal.

She sells all kinds of supplements. TThe first bottle of D was $25.00 from her office. Once it was done I switched to a Costco sold D.

Now she is recommending I take 3 other supplements which I did not purchase cause of the $170/month cost from her office.

I feel there is a conflict of interest when my MD is trying to sell me something.

But, I wonder if the vitamins would help.

Does anyone here take Vitamins? Believe they help?

What do you take and what "symptoms" does it help?

She was recommending Methyl B and a host of other B Vitamin complexes.

 

[REWahoo]

I feel there is a conflict of interest when my MD is trying to sell me something.

Yep.

Time to find another MD.

 

[aja8888]

I take Vitamin D as it's low. My PCP says that's all I need. I eat a reasonably good diet and get required nutrients from that.

 

[MRG]

I had an eye doctor pushing eye vitamins, nah. I'm not going to spend a bunch on unproven benefits of supplements. I'd take the D if I verified the results. I was misinformed about my T levels twice from my PCP's office. I no longer trust their ability to read and give me the correct answer.

I do take a multivitamin.

 

[Dawg52]

I've always taken a multivitamin. May be a waste of time according to some studies. I also started taking a D supplement as it's a tad low.

 

[Walt34]

I take a multivitamin that I buy at the grocery store. I forget what the price is, it's not much, and a bottle lasts a bit over a year. I figure doing that is in the category of "won't hurt, might help".

 

[CaliKid]

I like a multi-vitamin but would not like any vitamins sold to me by my doctor. I'd get a new doc.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Get a new doc.

 

[MichaelB]

Keep taking the vitamins. Leave the Doc - and don't forget the cannolis ..

 

[Cobra9777]

My PCP is very anti-supplements. At my annual wellness exam, he always asks what dietary supplements I'm taking and why. The only one he thinks has any value is fish oil, but only because we eat fish only once or twice per week.

I also take glucosamine which reduced my knee pain. PCP says reduced knee pain is more likely due to the 45 pounds I shed around the same time.

I take an over-50 multivitamin plus extra vitamin C. We are low-carb, so don't eat much fruit. I rarely get the common cold. PCP says that reduced common cold is more likely due to retirement and being around people less.

He doesn't think they are harmful and doesn't advise me to stop taking them. But he knows we eat a healthy low-carb diet and my blood work is always good. So he just doesn't see the value. At some point, I might take his advice and quit. But for now, the cost is minimal and I'm happy with my health.

 

[NanoSour]

I believe in these. Definitely adds to my overall energy due to B-Complex. And I am low-carb so also miss out on the vitamins from fruit.

https://www.vitacost.com/natures-way-alive-max-3-daily-multi-vitamin

Order 2 for the free shipping and lasts a year as I only take one/day.

 

[misanman]

No vitamins, no supplements, no problems!

 

[Vacation4us]

That was definitely my last visit with this MD.

I needed an endocrinology referral.

 

[Jerry1]

I go to a holistic MD and yes, I take supplements. Yes, I believe they make a huge difference. Yes, the cost of supplements seem expensive. I think DW and I added ours up and it was about $5 per day. So yes, just shy of $2K per year. Here's the thing, it's no exaggeration to say that this Dr. changed my life. I feel way better and so does my wife. Of course, it's more than just the supplements, we eat a lot different than we used to. Basically, no grains or dairy.

When I first met this Dr. I was having all kinds of issues that other doctors had basically said they couldn't find anything wrong. One issue for example seemed to be neurological. Dr. was very frank - he said that what he's prescribing isn't going to cure a neurological issue, but if I do have one, he'll help me get my bodily systems working as well as possible and therefore be able to deal with whatever is going on much better. That made sense to me.

Now, many of the issues I was dealing with are gone and the neurological issue seems to be improving. One example of this is neuropathy. For years, I could not feel my feet. I went to two neurologists and they could not find anything wrong. It was two major workups from two different neurologists a couple years apart. Now, while this may not seem like a big thing to many, I can now actually feel the cold floor beneath my feet (we live on a slab in Michigan). Many other facets of my life and health are improving.

Example two - DW had a significant medical event that included surgery. Holistic Dr. gave DW three rounds of IV vitamin therapy injections and additional supplements. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the Dr.'s and nurses involved in DW's surgery commented in a very excited tone on how well she healed. Seriously, we discussed this with them and they said her healing was very uncommon in a good way.

Of course, now I'm an evangelist. So, don't take my word for it, but I hope you will do something for yourself. Take a chance and go with what the Dr. tells you to do. It's really not that expensive. Keep an open mind and see if you feel better in a year. If not, do whatever (leave, find new Dr. . . .).

As for the cost of supplements, be careful about going to Costco. We do get our vitamin C there, but give the Dr's supplements a try first. Some of them you will be able to find on line (exact same thing) for less money. Others, you'll need to do a little work. DW and I just started (after about 5 years with this Dr.) to search out alternatives to acquire supplements and will probably be able to reduce our supplement bill by 20% and maybe more if we work a bit harder.

Finally, FOOD IS MEDICINE. I take the supplements but I don't have any delusions that the biggest impact was that me and DW eat way different than we used to. I'm no zealot here, but eat real food (not processed). Your Dr. will also likely do tests to see if you're sensitive to certain foods. DW cannot eat dairy. She didn't realize it, but if she has dairy now, there is a direct impact on how she feels the next day. There is no doubt that this was causing her problems that she did not link to dairy.

Good luck. PM me if you want to discuss further.

 

[flintnational]

I would not be as quick as others to ditch the Doc. But, I would get my vitamins elsewhere. There is conflict of interest in a lot of industries including medicine. I like what I see about the functional medicine model, trying to identify and prevent/stop problems on the front end. In this case, I would not throw the baby out with the bath water until I at least had more information.

 

[W2R]

The first bottle of D was $25.00 from her office.

Whew!!! Pretty pricey.

I feel there is a conflict of interest when my MD is trying to sell me something.

I agree.

But, I wonder if the vitamins would help.

Does anyone here take Vitamins? Believe they help?

What do you take and what "symptoms" does it help?

I take a Centrum multivitamin every day but I don't have any logical reason for doing so except that I am on a weight loss diet so I am being cautious. I don't think it helps with any symptoms or is necessary. Personally I think that eating a good balance of nutritious foods gives me plenty of vitamins.

I also think it is "interesting" that in recent years so many people are getting tested for Vitamin D and coming up deficient for that particular vitamin. I am skeptical about that test, except in cold, polar regions where people do not get exposed to enough sunshine.

 

[street]

No >> my Doc said no need for them,when I was taking them. He said just eat right, and you will get everything you need.

 

[Jerry1]

The first bottle of D was $25.00 from her office.

That may not be too bad. A bottle of D that me a DW use lasts a few months. Together we take about 6 drops per day.

Now she is recommending I take 3 other supplements which I did not purchase cause of the $170/month cost from her office.

That does seem high. What are the three supplements? Are you sure the $170 would only last one month? And, will it be continual or are any of those a one time use?

She was recommending Methyl B and a host of other B Vitamin complexes.

DW and I both take B12 injections. I take them as I was B12 deficient when I went to the first neurological work up and B12 is essential for nerve function. For DW, it makes a big difference in preventing her from getting muscle cramps.

 

[aja8888]

Quoting the OP:

But, I wonder if the vitamins would help.

Does anyone here take Vitamins? Believe they help?

What do you take and what "symptoms" does it help?

I already posted that I only take D. But you have me wondering also. Others say take a multi and have expressed success.

Just wondering out loud what would be the best Multi Vitamin to take for the over 50 crowd as there are tons of them on the market? a

 

[joeea]

My insurance changed and I picked an MD off the PPO list. Turns out she is a homeopathic GP.

She sells all kinds of supplements.

I feel there is a conflict of interest when my MD is trying to sell me something.

If it quacks like a quack...

 

[joeea]

Keep taking the vitamins. Leave the Doc - and don't forget the cannolis ..

LOL! From one of my favorite movie lines of all time!

Just one nit - the singular is cannolo, the plural is cannoli. “Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.”

 

[samclem]

I believe some vitamins/supplements can be of some use. But I really want my GP to be well-rounded, evidence/science based, and not believe that every malady can be addressed by a supplement (conveniently on sale in the lobby). I'd find another doc pronto, one who is less "invested" in a single approach to achieving good health.

 

[joeea]

Just wondering out loud what would be the best Multi Vitamin to take for the over 50 crowd as there are tons of them on the market? a

If you have a vitamin deficiency and your doctor prescribes a vitamin to cure it, take that vitamin.

Multi Vitamins are a waste, unless you wish to produce enriched urine for some reason.

 

[samclem]

Quoting the OP:



I already posted that I only take D. But you have me wondering also. Others say take a multi and have expressed success.

Just wondering out loud what would be the best Multi Vitamin to take for the over 50 crowd as there are tons of them on the market? a

As far as I can tell, they are all about the same. I take one--because humans have very complex nutritional requirements, I have no idea if I'm checking all the boxes, and it is cheap insurance. I wouldn't pay more a nice label/expensive marketing. I do recall reading some good papers that most men and post-menopausal women do not require much/any additional iron from supplements, and that excess iron is not good for heart health. So, I buy vitamins for oldsters, since those pills usually lack iron.

 

[Aerides]

For your D situation, you had a blood test that led her to recommend the supplement... fair enough.

For the "now try these too!" is there a similar blood test deficiency? Unless yes, I would pack up now and find another doctor.

It's not whether vitamins are a good idea, it's whether you want a doc who's trying to sell you stuff or not (me.... not)