I started the D3 regiment last year in Early November about mid way through my fall cycle. My cycle ended within several days and didnt return. I stayed on it loyally, thinking this really has cured me for good. Alas, starting this November the beast came back with a vengence. I upped my d3 to 20,000 and added a 50 once a week loading dose to no avail. also continued taking all the co factors. This cycle has lasted longer, been more painful and has morphed several times. I dont take anything like verapamil, but I do take suma occasionally to sleep at nite. I have high flow oxygen that I use at home. At work..I drive for a living, all I use is ice and 5 hour energy. Once the sumatriptan is outa my system I'm going to "BUST". Just dissapointed the Vitamins were not enough for my particular beast. I have a smart one. He usually wins...but I keep trying. :(

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Hey Banger...

There's usually a reason why this happens, and the best way to track it down starts with a 25(OH)D lab test.

If your serum concentration isn't up around 85 to 110 ng/mL, stay on the accelerated vitamin D3 dosing schedule, cut the calcium in half for a few weeks and bump the magnesium up to 600 mg/day. 

You also need to make sure you're getting the minimum vitamin A (retinol)... or eating a couple carrots a day.  The body metabolizes the carotenoids in carrots and orange/yellow veggies into retinol.

There are other possible competing consumers of 25(OH)D. The usual culprit are the immune system's T-Cells responding to viral and or bacterial infections as well as allergic reactions. An immune response can consume 25(OH)D to the point where there's not enough to prevent your CH.

Diet can also cause problems if it leads to a low arterial pH...  Lay off sugar and refined carbohydrates completely as a first step, then start a GOMBS diet...  Greens, Onions, Mushrooms, Beans/Berries and Seeds/Nuts.  A handful of each at every meal can work wonders...  See the following link for details:

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Take care and please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch

Don't ever think of anything as a "cure." D3 is a treatment, and like other treatments it doesn't always get the job done. If anything, it's just another weapon in the arsenal. Hope your present cycle cools down in time for the holidays.

Batch, I came across several sources claiming absorption of carotenoids is usually poor. Chicken liver is a far better source for Vitamin A - a portion once a week is enough.

Hey Shooky,

Your info is spot on... Carotenoids have a low rate of metabolism to retinoic acid... Fortunately, most people don't need much of this type of vitamin A...

That said... we CH'ers are far from normal... Chicken livers once a week should do the trick...  I like mine wrapped in bacon...

There are lots of nutritional goodies that help us CH'ers... For example, I get a couple weeks supply of zinc from oysters on the half shell...  I've got a couple dozen from friends out on Hood Canal for dinner tonight...

Take care,

V/R, Batch