Does anyone have any advice on maintaining magnesium levels?

[AF59]

My magnesium levels drop 10 -20 days after receiving top ups via drips in hospital after attending A & E for "big" AF events that include chest pains and medication to restore NSR. Shorter, less lengthy events are usually sat out at home until back in NSR. Magnesium supplements taken in tablet form irritate my IBD, often resulting in a flare up, the laxative effect of Mg ensuring I lose magnesium faster and triggering more AF! (My IBD also has dietary restrictions, limiting the amount of Mg rich foods I can eat such as nuts) Regular blood tests to check Mg are not available as part of primary care although my GP includes Mg with usual blood checks for kidneys, liver etc, not totally useful as Gp cannot prescribe Mg so referral to hospital follows a low Mg result. Any suggestions how to stop this circle gratefully received.

[10gingercats]

Might be worth asking around in your area for a good naturopath...and preferably someone with a good success track record in some of the areas that affect your health.It does not sound as though any of the ord. health channels are helping.There are better and worse magnesium meds.You might also consider a different regime for taking magnesium.....that is to say,possibly, in small doses a few times a day?I do not know .I am not a doctor but it sounds as though any advice needs to be 'outside of the box' and not along conventional lines.

[AF59 in reply to 10gingercats]

Many thanks 10gingercats. I will look into naturopath suggestion. I have found that the med. profession is not too keen on advising on anything that is not considered conventional or mainstream, such as getting magnesium via alternative methods. When the system is not set up to allow you easy access to conventional Mg replacement it doesn't give you much help to "manage" your AF.

[Auriculaire in reply to AF59]

Gingercats suggestion of small doses several times a day is good. I never take more than 100mg at a time. Mag citrate is not supposed to be very bowel friendly . I take one 100mg pill of that but divided into two doses and two 100mg capsules of a malate / biglycinate combo that also has b vits and taurine. I have had a partial colectomy and the shorter transit time can play havoc with the bowels so the last thing I want is a magnesium regime adding to that. Magnesium threonate also is not supposed to affect the bowels but it is expensive. Epsom salt baths will also get magnesium onto the body without affecting transit.

[AF59 in reply to Auriculaire]

Thankyou Auriculaire. Liking the bath idea...Also definitely not keen on aggravating the bowels!

[chenstone18]

I understand that Epsom salts are a good source of Mg and a daily bath can absorb it. Also you can get body cremes that can be applied as well. So uses on the forum might be able to help you with links with products that may help.

[AF59 in reply to chenstone18]

Thank you chenstone18. Definitely feeling a pull towards a relaxing bath....

[annemk]

I understand that adding a good green salad and nuts like cashews to the diet are the way to go.

Magnesium bath - apparently magnesium does not get absorbed through skin? But -there are roll-on magnesium oil products widely used.

[AF59 in reply to annemk]

Thanks annemk. Unfortunately my IBD leaves me unable to tolerate uncooked green veg - even some cooked ones can cause a problem. Nuts and grains are a definite no no, all a bit of a misery since I've always been a fruit and nut case and have been lusting after a nice crisp green salad for months! Not seen any of the roll on products you mention but they are on my "to be investigated" list.

[10gingercats in reply to AF59]

as with Mag. meds. being taken in several small doses over the day.....in view of your yearning for salad.....you might try a lettuce leaf or two in a sandwich once a day and then a few slices of very thinly sliced cucumber later in the day? I would find food without salad difficult.Our branch of the family were called 'the rabbits' on account of our vast salad consuption .It irritated my father no end!

[AIW58]

Yes I've heard of oils and sprays. Could you talk to a pharmacist about prepations that may be better tolerated. As your GP knows you have low Mg have they referred you to a specialist? Maybe renal team. Does your potassium drop along with your mg? I'd keep pushing for investigation to find cause.

Good luck.

[AF59 in reply to AIW58]

Thank you for your reply AIW58. My Gp will do a blood test for Mg as part of other blood tests if I report to surgery "feeling unwell" and has contacted local hospital for advice on how Mg can be administered. Will still be long winded process which means I have to endure runs of AF while results come back. Am attempting to contact my cardiologist to see if a solution could be offered via her intervention. Potassium levels do not appear to be a such a problem.

[AIW58 in reply to AF59]

I hope they find something that works for you. Do they have no clue as to why you are losing the Mg? A side effect of any meds you're on??

My daughter (21) was admitted with a v.low potassium and Mg feeling tired and nausea (heart ok). Needed supplements - they never gave her an answer as to cause. I chivvy her from time to time to see GP for answers but she won't!

I hope you your cardiologist can help you.

[AF59 in reply to AIW58]

One or two things have been suggested such as dehydration caused by IBD flare ups ( usually have electrolytes to hand to try to counteract this), ongoing use of PPIs to deal with reflux problems, and of course, the limited amount of magnesium rich foodstuffs I can consume without upsetting the bowels. My wails of "oh no, not again. Why can't I hang on to the stuff" are met with much sympathy but no solutions other than a bag and a cannula when I finally get through the logistics problems of not primary care etc, or end up in A & E after a prolonged fast AF with chest pain incident. May be it is a mystery which is why your daughter got no answer as to cause. I hope she is well now.

[AIW58 in reply to AF59]

Oh gosh poor you. Do you have good support with your IBD? Presume you've had other diagnosis excluded like coeliac? It's just I was at a conference for bowel and bladder issues and one of the nurse specialists said people often labelled as having IBD without having all the tests for other conditions.

Daughter is OK now thanks but is resistant to my pressing her to get referred. 21 and won't listen! 🙄 Hey ho

[Jamila123]

Hi

Mmmm interesting needs a lot more research

Strangely enough I was taught that mag levels can’t show the true reading as mag is in the cells and not floating all in the blood

So try observing and documenting with certain products yourself

Listen to yiur body if the afib get better u know I are getting right but it takes months to notice

I take mag turate works for me

Best luck 🌸

[AF59 in reply to Jamila123]

Hi Jamila123, I also understood that true Mg levels are difficult to determine due to the cell/blood issue. I only know that when I was taking Mg taurate as a supplement my AF burden really seemed less debilitating. May be just a co-incidence as AF can be a progressive thing but I had to stop taking the supplement due to laxative effect and the IBD flare up which was very severe. I am getting quite good at the observing and documenting these days, what with triggers for AF and food affecting the IBD. so I shall experiment a little with sprays and baths and see how I get on.

[Jamila123 in reply to AF59]

Hi. Thanks for reply

Afib is not progressive a lot of the time

Depends if heart disease

I have lone afib no problems with heart

Since taking Cq10 vit c

Lcartine and mag

Not have episodes for nearly two years before I was on them I was getting one a month afib lasting for 6 hours

[Kingsley09 in reply to Jamila123]

Hi Jamila are you saying that talking magnesium supplements have stopped your afib events and also how much do you take a day I’m very interested as I’ve just started taking magnesium citrate 100 mg and magnesium glycinate 100mg total 200 mg a day in the hope that it may stop my afib as they seem to have got more frequent although I only notice a fluttering and feel fine otherwise and my bp is ok and my heart rate is usually 70 I only really know I’m in afib because 3 months ago I brought a new bp machine brought out by boots the chemist which tells me I’m in afib that’s why I started on magnesium as my heart and bp stay ok I don’t want to take anymore medication from dr I am awaiting an appointment with a cardiologist as my own dr wanted to refere me she even said maybe I should throw this new bp machine away as it seems very sensitive and it might be eptopic beats which we all get

[Jamila123 in reply to Kingsley09]

Hi

Very sorry for the late reply

Mmm

Yes I first completely stopped ALL triggers I knew for me

Stress processed foods caffeine chocolate crisps All sugers

I went OCD I wanted to do my own research and started on myself

I will be uploading a utube at some stage as I think people need to know

Basically I just ate extremely healthy

This went on for 8 months just slightly decreasing my afib

Oh I don’t drink alcohol or smoke either

I read an article dr rath and heart disease and vitamins

Now I refused to take any betablocks blood thinners or anything

I needed to know what the hell was going on with myself

I realised that the cells needed energy which most of the medications block giving way to more heart disease

So I started taking C- q10 vit C pukka brand

Mag taurate 3 tablets day two in morning and one in evening with c q 10

L- cartinine

Plenty water plenty herbal from Baldwin’s

Hawthorn berries decoction

After maybe a couple months I noticed a dramatic chmage

Whereas I was getting three episodes a

Month hr up to 180

It was reducing gradually till now I can honestly say I have had no afib for two years now

I might have had the odd feeling omg I am going to get it when I had some food my body did not like but that was it

I am

Not saying I don’t have it anymore just it’s controlled by what I do holisticly

I burnt my self out for 6 years 3 years ago I have started detoxing and looking after myself

Apologies writing so much but I have a passion for health hope this helps 🌸

[Hidden]

Holland & Barrett sell a variety of different magnesium body sprays which absorb through the skin. You can buy a small one for a few pounds to make sure your skin can tolerate it, before investing in a large one.

Pat

[AF59 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Archie89, Holland and Barrett are on my shopping list for tomorrow. I am also following up a suggestion from 10gingercats (the name conjures up a delightful vision for a cat lover!) re a naturopath and am awaiting responses to some enquiries I have made.

[KMRobbo]

Ultra Pure Zechstein Magnesium... amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BB9KZZY?...

It does not go through your digestive system, absorbed through your skin

A bottle lasts months. I have used 3 since October 2017.

[AF59 in reply to KMRobbo]

Thankyou KMRobbo, made a note of the link...

[WendyWu20]

I have used a magnesium spray for a year now and it is really good. I use a Holland and Barratt one or order one off Amazon.

[TinCool]

Magnesium citrate certainly has a laxative effect for me too, but it's not too severe. Magnesium taurate tablets don't have the associated laxative effect and I found them more effective than the citrate ones.