Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Vitamin D Deficiency


This past summer I began to grow more and more tired and under the weather. I thought perhaps it was my late hours, but the worse it got I realized it had to be something beyond that. I made an appointment for a checkup and got a load of blood tests. Surprisingly, they included a Vitamin D level test. I didn't think a thing of this until the nurse called several days later to inform me I had a severe Vitamin D deficiency. She added that a lot of people have this and don't know it - it's a new wide-spread issue, especially in people who stay inside and out of the sun a lot for their jobs (myself and fellow artists), work on the computer a great deal or play video games. I started a vitamin D supplement and am slowly getting my energy back. What a lucky find - I could have spent years searching for the cause of my fatigue. But thankfully my doctor keeps up with recent medical articles and findings.

Anyways, I thought I would post this for other artists who might be having the same issues and bring some more awareness to Vitamin D deficiency. Maybe even help someone else avoid wasting a season or even years being tired with no explanation. It's a quick and easy test and an even easier problem to treat.

Stay healthy :0)

7 comments:

storyqueen said...

Thanks for the heads-up, Paige. Do you just have to take vitamins now? (Just curious.....similar symptoms from time to tme....)

Hope you feel better!

Shelley

(I have missed your illustrations!)

Phyllis Harris said...

Oh no! So sorry to hear this but the good news is that it's treaable! This is one of the big reasons I try to take a walk in the mornings or afternoons, even when it was too hot. I kept telling myself half-heartidly that I needed the Vitamin K and D from the sun. But I didn't realize just how important this was, so thank you for the heads up! Wow!

Oh and I LOVE the piggy!!

Phyllis Harris said...

Ooops! I meant "treatable".

Ginger*:) said...

{{{{{{PAIGE}}}}}}} I am so glad you found out the problem. You are not alone. I have found several other illustrators who have recently been diagnosed with the same Vit. D lack. I am so glad you are aware of this and will be on the road to recovery!

Patricia González Palacios said...

I found your blog is very beautiful, your characters are adorable, I'll leave a greeting from chile, I will return again , by paty

Mônica said...

Hi Paige -- I hope you're feeling better. Being from Brazil, I'm always looking for a bit of sun everyday, even during winter. It is so important!

By the way, at work we just got Scholastic's Spring 2010 catalog and on page 78 there's a big advertisement for your book "Wow, it's a cow!" It looks delightful! Congratulations! :-)

AtelierBrigitte said...

I am glad they found out about your vitamine D deficiency and that you take them now, so you'll feel better. I have the same problem and taking vit. D for 6 months now.