Magnesium - why do you think it helps you?

I don't like it, but I can sort of cope with atrial flutter. It's the atrial ectopics that get to me, although Bisoprolol seems to be helping. I am thinking of giving the Mag citrate another go but it goes against the grain to do it on spec.

Here's my reasoning. There is no evidence that Magnesium has any clinical benefit in people who are well and N.I.C.E tell us not to do it. However that doesn't mean it doesn't work.

If I take it and the ectopics go away, does that mean I need to carry on with it permanently? Or did the ectopics go away because I was less stressed..or because I had started drinking a couple of glasses of wine in the evening like I used to?

Being a science graduate, I need a blood test at the very least, is a red cell Magnesium really the answer? In the absence of any other suggestions, I will have the blood test and try the Mag again, while keeping other things the same where possible.

I would be interested to hear how Mag helps you, or if it didn't, and why you feel it is definitely the Mag that is helping you and not something else. Has anybody ever had a low red cell Magnesium level. or ever had it checked (not the serum Mag)

Thanks.

Edit. It has been pointed out to me that significant problems with Magnesium supplements are relatively rare so I have removed that sentence about Magnesium toxicity. Sorry about that

[BobD Volunteer]

I'm not a scientist.merely a well read long standing AFer and my understanding is that blood tests are pointless in checking for magnesium deficiency . It seems that the body is very clever and will almost always ensure that levels in the blood are fine by drawing from muscles and organs which strangely enough need it more.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Dear Bob,

I am not a scientist.merely a well read long standing AFer

I am an expert by experience is the term I have used many many times over the past 30yrs during discussions and battles with the professionals over my daughters basic human rights - health and well being.

Best Wishes.

Carol

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob. Absolutely on the same page. Magnesium tests are not that reliable and getting docs to order a more substantial test other than the usual (useless in my opinion) serum mag test is like pulling shark teeth. It has LONG been known that magnesium is so important for good heart function-not too mention so many other body/cell functions. It is one of the drugs kept on crash carts, and always used, for cardiac arrests. Plus because of poor soil used to grow much of our food, and so many GMO foods I have no faith in mg of magnesium that the RDA attributes to foods. I believe it's almost impossible to get enough magnesium in food alone. Unless you grow your own food and have total control over your soil quality. Doesn't seem very realistic to me. I am such a cynic about nutrition facts/statistics etc. Burma

[Sam72-]

High there , I have done a lot of research into magnesium myself and how I got on it was not just because of the AF as I did not no I had it at that time but because of trying to get off antidepressants and diazepam. I use oil and trying the tablets made me worse with ectopic beats. Also my EP was not happy with me taking it in tablet form but said putting on the skin was fine . It’s my understanding now that to much magnesium in tablets can make AF worse , but with magnesium oil your body will only absorb what it needs so I would think this would be the safest way to use it . I am not a doctor or medical person and can only speak on my own experience with magnesium. However stress and anxiety, alcohol , caffeine, dehydration, foods the list goes on can make us release a lot of magnesium out into urine . It is one of the body’s most important minerals that helps function the brain , bones, teeth , muscles ( heart ❤️ is a muscle) nervous system and more !! We loose a lot of it every day and food alone is no were near going to replace the levels we need . What is a normal level??? How long is a piece of string as everyone has a different diet , stressful lifestyle and so on . My point is you magnesium levels can change hours and days apart so I just stick with the oil and it’s very simple the body will absorb what it needs and no trots or upset tummy or guessing am I taking enough or to much ? Hope this helps

Best wishes

Sam .

[Hidden in reply to Sam72-]

Absolutely it does Sam72-

I never thought of using an oil. So essentially the skin is acting as a regulator. If the body needs it, it is absorbed, if not, it isn't.

Thank you, that looks like my answer.

[Sam72- in reply to Hidden]

Yes definitely, I use it morning and night after my shower, it can feel stinging sensation as soon as I put it on so try avoiding any cuts or after shaving any parts of the body 😬 I use it on my tummy and don’t wash it off until my next shower. It can feel a little sticky but some one has just posted about that on my post and they make there own oil so I will have a look at that 👍🏼give it time to get going as well but it’s my understanding that oil is absorbed straight away were tablets are broken down by the acid in your stomach and then the liver so you don’t no how much your absorbing from them . I paid a lot of money for the tablets and everything was going well until week 3 then stopped them and started on my oil again as my anxiety and ectopic beats came back with a vengeance 🤨😏so I have now seen how effective oil is and if I have to use it for the rest of my life then so be it . It definitely is doing its job with me so no complaints here 🙋🏼‍♀️

[ilovecoffee123 in reply to Sam72-]

I was told the tingling feeling is because we don’t have enough magnesium in our bodies. Once it builds up the tingling should go. Also apparently the back of the legs is a good place to put it. Magnesium gets out of our system quickly like you say therefore a blood test doesn’t really tell you much. Years ago bread was a good source of magnesium but it’s so processed now as well as other foods in our diets that it doesn’t provide much at all.

Hope you’re ok Sam xx

[dedeottie in reply to ilovecoffee123]

I use the oil and it has the added benefit of relaxing muscles so I spray it on any aching muscles and honestly, it is almost instant relief. My physio endorses its muscle relaxing qualities and recommend s it to athletes for the recovery phase. I would add that I am not one of those athletes! X

[Nanfranz in reply to Sam72-]

Sam, is there a particular brand of spray oil that you find most effective? I'm looking on Amazon but find it impossible to tell which might might be better than others.

[BobD Volunteer]

Being facetious here but does machining magnesium and breathing in the dust count?

[Sam72- in reply to BobD]

😂😂😂🙈😭😭😩 bob I have no idea lol 😂

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Also being facetious! It counts only at certain times of the year and on certain days. The Ides of March and every Thursday whose date is an even number but only during a Leap Year.LOL!!! Sorry. Couldn't resist. Loved your 'machining' comment and had to add my 2 cents' worth. Burma. Forgive me.I have ADD!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

We use it a lot in race cars. I do use cream for leg cramps which I occasionally get on long drives and it does help. I do sometimes wonder what the inside of my lungs looks like after sixty years of breathing brake dust and metal filings. We never even thought about it back in the sixties. Cellulose paint? leaded petrol? how did we survive?

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob. Remember the old saying "Ignorance is bliss!" Not so meaningful anymore. BTW I love your dry sense of humor. Sometimes my humor borders on the ridiculous but at times silliness is the best way to get through an overly serious day! Take care. Burma

[Hidden]

I'm still experimenting with magnesium and quite impressed with results . Longest gap for some time between AF episodes and tachycardia greatly reduced.

I'm a bit concerned about Death by Magnesium mentioned by you. Can you enlarge upon this please ?!

Sandra

[Sam72- in reply to Hidden]

If you are ok with taking tablets and you have no problems with digestion and upset tummy then that is working for you and is good news 👍🏼😊 I wasn’t so lucky but my oil is better and I don’t no about death but if say some one is taking to much of anything it might contribute to more harm than good but that can be anything really, foods alcohol, and so on . But I have seen and been told to much magnesium can make AF worse , I think it’s trial and error with tablets but you seem to be on the right dose that is working for you and thats all that matters ❤️

[Sam72- in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to but in again lol , but also some tablets are mixed with talcum powder and oil is water based and strait on to the skin . 👍🏼

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yatsura

One case I read about was an elderly man with chronic renal failure. The other I think was a malnourished infant. For healthy people with normal renal function, I believe that normal homeostatic mechanisms will protect against hypermagnesaemia.

My understanding is that with my normal kidneys, I could crunch 5 grams a day of Mag Taurate with impunity, banish my ectopics, make another ablation unnecessary, regrow my hair, regain my lost youthful good looks and if I wasn't sitting all night on the loo, I could sleep for England.....ok so I was exaggerating about my hair.🙂

[Sam72- in reply to Hidden]

That’s frightening to read , but it does say if you have kidney problems to consult with a dr first . I always ask my dr before taking any thing but in the case of the tablets i was seeing my EP 2 weeks after starting them and got told off for buying my tablets on line 😬 and she wasn’t happy about taking it in tablet form , actually she was quite firm about why I was taking magnesium and tablet form . But said putting on the skin was fine .

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yatsura

clinicaladvisor.com/hospita...

This article is rather more worrying for anyone who takes Mag and has Chronic bowel problems.

[Hidden]

Also meant to say that Magnesium oil does not work for me

[Sam72- in reply to Hidden]

What oil did you use if you don’t mind me asking Sandra? There are different types of oils .

[Hidden in reply to Sam72-]

Sam72- Better You...i have the original and the goodnight one. Both have 10 sprays = 150 mg Mag. Maybe I don't give them long enough to work....i don't like the oily feel anyhow. I would rather have a cream or gel

[Sam72- in reply to Hidden]

Aww ok I no there are different types of oils and sprays I didn’t no they done gel or cream ? Maybe the oil is better than them for effectiveness and might be why it didn’t work for you 😬 just a thought. But I no what you mean as the oil is sticky but I put up with it because it works for me 👍🏼

[Hidden in reply to Sam72-]

Sam72- misunderstanding Sam! I've been using oil but would prefer a cream or gel but I've never seen one .

[fallingtopieces in reply to Hidden]

Nor me. Not enough to make any difference anyway. Same with magnesium flakes in the bath. It’s very expensive to use a proper amount in a bath and too time consuming to soak for at least 20 minutes a bath. However I do have 2 baths a week( + 5 showers of course!) using a generous amount(a big mug full) of mag flakes as an added extra.

Pat

[rosyG]

I think it's OK to have magnesium if one has normal renal function , if it's in balance with other things- potassium and sodium. I take prescribed Magnesium Citrate but uncreasing potassium rich food stopped AF completely for 3 years ( went from fortnightly PAF) and only 2 episodes in last year.- one of which was after bad chest infections with soup only for a week1.

[jeanjeannie50]

Once while in the A&E emergency unit with my heart racing I was put on a magnesium drip. It made me feel dreadful, I felt like I was fading away (yes, dying), couldn't talk or move. A doctor was trying to talk to me and suddenly realised what the magnesium was doing and quickly disconnected the drip. Back I came to normality, think I was eventually admitted to a ward. It was a scary experience.

I do spray magnesium oil on at times and that has no nasty effects that I'm aware of.

Jean

[Sam72- in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Oh god jean 😮 that is terrible. And yes they do that in hospital i have heard 😟 bless you I bet you was petrified. Them tablets definitely made me worse after 2 weeks . Never agin xx

[Hidden]

Everybody

Please note I have edited my original post to remove a reference to fatalities with Magnesium. These are unheard of in healthy people taking supplements. Toxicity can occur if the kidneys are not working properly. I did later on post a link in my second reply to Yatsura which touches on problems which can crop up when absorption of Mag is increased sometimes if we have certain conditions of the bowel. I have no knowledge of Magnesium infusions but JeanJeannie50 has described a personal reminiscence of that.

I do think that Magnesium comes in the category of supplements that should be discussed with your pharmacist and your GP to check for possible drug interactions and suitability for our particular situation.

My thanks to RosyG and Yatsura for pointing out my mistake. My apologies to anyone quite reasonably alarmed by my thoughtless comment. There is no cause for concern.

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Hi Oyster - I’ve always avoided Magnesium supplements - because of my co existing problems.

But I found that sea bathing whilst on holiday seemed to help me. I am now rather reticent of open water swimming these days - for reasons which will be obvious to you - so I use Sea Salts at least once a week, bought quite reasonably at a local Pharmacy or any good Health Store. The advantage of Sea Salts being that they have high Magnesium content but a mixed with other essential minerals.

The Victorians had it right when they said bathing in sea water was health enhancing!

Warm bath soak for 10 mins. I suffer badly from night cramps and twitches, made worse by the Pyridostigamine and find that bathing thus helps to stop them. I found Epsom Salts too much as it made me Floppy Doll, much as Jean described.

Nutritionist recommended eating foods with high Magnesium content. I found even 9mg used in a filler for B12 supplement had me on the floor but then that is because of the Myasthenia so I do think it is something to use with caution.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

CDreamer

Thank you for that

BelaBela (which as you know is Sepedi for "the pot that boils") in Limpopo province is a meeting point for those bathing in the rather warm mineral waters. I don't recall the Magnesium content but can confirm the benefit for aching muscles of standing in what was essentially a large open air swimming pool at that time. A welcome staging post on the way to Tokaleya Tonga : Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) or Victoria Falls as it was known then.

The shame of living in apartheid South Africa while Mandela was interned, albeit that I was an expat missionary, has never left me.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I believe that there are Magnesium Caves in London which one can visit for therapy . I heard about these a couple of years ago.....i can't find details online now so hope it wasn't a dream(?!) Actually I recall discussing this with an A&E nurse when I was having IV Mg as she had visited it. Incidentally when I have IV Mg it has to be diluted or I've been given a shot of anaesthetic first as I find it so painful...intense stinging.

Sandra

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

May I ask why you had the infusion and whether it helped?

I couldn't find the caves but I do remember visiting Tunbridge Wells as a child and having the iron laden water at the Pantiles- ghastly🙂

[Hidden]

I had the infusions when I presented at A&E with persistent fast AF and obviously bloodwork showed low Mg. This happened on several occasions prior to DCCV s and if I recall correctly I actually went back into NSR once without having the electrics . I gather that they like potassium and magnesium levels up before attempting DCCV s anyhow.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I didn't realise.