Help!Night cramps all over body.Maybe not AF related.

[kkatz]

I have had the most horrendous cramps during the night.I have always suffered but magnesium helps.I sometimes wonder if they are cramps as not always obviously in the muscles but Could they be in arteries?Last night it was practically impossible to get out of bed as I couldn't straighten my body to get out of bed.Now I don't know if this was the muscles or the seizures or Tia like symptoms I sometimes get.Curled up like a ball on my Left side ,unable to push myself up.I managed to grab the bedroom door handle & pull myself up.I am looking for possible causes that I can treat myself before consulting Gp or Arrythmia nurses or Neurologist as I feel I cannot give clear enough story.

They could be also be down to one of the changes occurring at the moment.

1.Hooked on milk chocolate.In fact I might call it part of the binging I am doing at the moment.100g milk chocolate last night.

2.I have increased my magnesium intake.Added Magnesium Malate 1000mg (elemental mag 140) to Magnesium Taurate 1720(150mg elemental Magnesium)

3.I have self adjusted my meds.I have reduced my candersartan from 20mg at night to 18mg as getting dizzy & light headed a lot .BP lower & HR occasionally lower .(4 months post ablation)I suspect I may need to lower dose of Diliatezem but seemed a bit drastic.

Hope someone can make sense of all this.

I will start by trying to cut the chocolate addiction & stop the extra magnesium.

[Soozoo]

I have had some nights with very bad cramps and it is always to do with being dehydrated at some stage of my day. Once the damage has been done by not being hydrated for a period it doesn't matter how much I drink later on, I will experience bad cramps during the night.

[kkatz in reply to Soozoo]

Soozoo dehydration is something I really try to avoid maybe a little less water yesterday .Only about a Litre of in addition to 3 cups of tea & my 1 cup of coffee.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to kkatz]

Ignore tea and coffe as they both have negative effect on hydration.

[pusillanimous in reply to kkatz]

I'm sure hydration is involved (I'm not a medic) , but I drink only one mug of decaf coffee in the morning and water through the day. I do not get thirsty so only drink when I think about it. The other day it was cold (by African standards) and I was busy and I drank even less than usual. Thay night I was in agony with leg and foot pain. The next day I made myself drink warm boiled water all day - have followed that regimen since, and no more pains - I do not take magnesium - I take Q 10 and an Eye Support vitamin, to try and prevent AMD (I have some drusen in my eyes, but this is common, but ophthalmic surgeon recommended Vits. to prevent them becoming a problem,

[Finvola]

Could you be deficient in salt?

[kkatz in reply to Finvola]

I wonder as I very rarely use salt.The old cut out salt bad for BP.

[Cha275rL in reply to kkatz]

it could possibly be lack of salt. My husband had a heart attack 8 years ago and was told to cut the salt down, and he suffered terrible cramp, even in his stomach. Once he took a little bit more, the cramp calmed down.

[Autumn_Leaves]

You need to see your GP and get your electrolytes tested as a first step, and they also might check for a few other things depending on what they suspect according to your symptoms eg whether there’s any autoimmune activity or inflammation going on.

I don’t think it’s likely to be caused by eating chocolate either. The problem with pop nutrition ideas as that they are often a complete red herring and delay people from getting proper medical help. These symptoms may resolve whether you eat the chocolate or not, or drink green tea or not, or take a supplement or not, it’s called reverting to the mean and it explains the placebo effect in part. But if you’re still bothered by these symptoms after several days then you definitely pick up the phone and call your GP practice.

[kkatz in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Thankyou it was so bad I was going to contact them but I couldn't really be clear in describing the symptoms which seemed a lot more than cramp.I will make sure my hubby wakes up and he can observe and remind me .

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to kkatz]

Finding the right words to describe symptoms isn’t always easy. You know your own body and if it’s not normal for you.

[kkatz in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

The hard bit it was 4.00 am when I couldn't move to get up to try & relieve the cramp with movement.I do suffer from very occasional seizures which have Tia type symptoms and I believe I may have had one of these on top of the cramp.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to kkatz]

That sounds awful.

[PICCASO]

Are u taking Riveroxaban? this gave me muscle spasms, so went back to warfarin, it's one of the side effects for some people

[Ppiman]

Have you had a recent blood test to determine your levels of calcium, magnesium and potassium? This sounds to be electrolyte related and could well be caused by candesartan. Also, are you taking long term PPI tablets such as lansoprazole? That can also cause electrolyte absorption problems.

I would contact your GP today and mention the information on this NHS page concerning muscle cramps:

nhs.uk/medicines/candesartan/

Steve

[kkatz in reply to Ppiman]

Thankyou.A few possibilities there.Took candersartan for years probably 15-20 years but have worked well .Also Omeprazole for at least 15 years as I have a quite large hiatus hernia.I do have yearly blood tests.

[Ppiman in reply to kkatz]

I have taken a PPI drug for many years for my hiatus hernia and reflux, too. I do wish that I didn't have to, but there we are: another tablet to the daily mix! It works well and my doctor did blood tests a while back to check that all was well. Apparently the PPI antacid drugs can rarely prevent absorption of electrolytes so it is worth checking. I'm thinking of asking again, to be sure.

Steve

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Ppiman]

Absolutely. Good advice. Taking medication can and does make a difference to electrolytes, so always worth checking as I’ve learned from the people here

[Dinamite]

hi

I had terrible cramps every night and found it was statins caused it. Told the GP and came off them. Now I’m cramp free.

[kkatz in reply to Dinamite]

Have took Simvastatin 20mg for a long time no probs.

[Cassag]

I got addicted to chocolate milk during the lock downs. I got a bad arthritis flare in my knees. It took me about 6 weeks to walk past that aisle and not buy it. Too much dairy and sugar, I did lose a lot of weight when I stopped it which has helped with a fib .

[rubyr61]

you must contact your Dr for blood test and stop adjusting your meds

[secondtry]

High calcium diet (eg dairy foods) may block magnesium absorption.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Are you taking Statins?

Statins cause soreness where I've had an accident - like my big toe, like legs.

I have to get up and move but last night I had trouble getting comfortable.

Lots of rain so condensation i the air. Have you got lots of humidity?

Use a dehumidifier.

Try anything.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Quilter43]

Get leg cramps

[RoyMacDonald]

I've just increased my magnesium dosage because of night cramps in my legs. But I switched from tablets to powders as I read they were better tolerated by the body and more available for the body to use. I'm using Seeking Health Magnesium Malate Powder that I buy from the Supplement Hub in Sheffield via the WWW. Sleep like a baby without any cramps now.

All the best.

Roy

[Snowgirl65]

I only get cramping in arch of feet or sometimes just toes, from lack of potassium. I always eat a banana a day; if I don't, I would get the cramping mentioned while in bed.

[philologus]

A simple way to stay hydrated during the night is to have a drink of water before going to bed to which you have added (or just swallowed from a spoon) a teaspoonfull of chia seeds. The seeds absorb water and so you get a slow release during the night and it also reduces the trips to the loo too.

Magnesium oil spray is effective for cramps and doesn't cause tummy issues. There's also a sensitive skin version of this.

I would agree with the poster above who said that you should see your GP and stop the DIY medicating.

[kkatz in reply to philologus]

I have just read in quite a few places that you shouldn't take chia seeds & anticoagulants.I don't suppose 1 teaspoon a day would make much difference.I bought some to try but taking dry is not for me.Finding bits all over my mouth.

[Ern007]

You say "you can't give a clear enough story" - see your GP or other medics you have and tell them like you have told us..

They will understand..

I am sorry I can't say more - You need help and you need to see your GP as soon as you can. There are drugs for cramps no matter the cause and there is more than one cause,

. "Diliatezem " ask you GP what to do,

Best of luck - Really I would not put up with what is happening to you, see your GP....

[kkatz in reply to Ern007]

I do appreciate everyone's replies & advice.I do not want anyone to take offense by me saying I know my own body .And I have considerable of Gp involvement & Arrhythmia services over the last couple of years.Lost referrals ,failed CV & told by one Arrhythmia nurse to go back to gp for ECG .Gp said go to a & e .Rang back to Arrhythmia nurses spoke to a different nurse & told no I will put you forward for ablation.That referral sat in eps tray for 3 months as he does charity work abroad.Just need to clarify a couple of points.

I have only tweaked my one medication 1/10 and my GP was happy when I did it a couple years ago by 1/6 th.

No not prescribed Magnesium.Gp said no ask consultant.Arrythmia nurse said we have some evidence it helps so why not.

I have taken on board people's advice & contact & tried to contact Gp.1 conversation send an email.They Sent email back can't do this by email . Another conversation results in ring 8 am Monday to try and get an appointment.

Do you wonder I try self help first.

[Ern007 in reply to kkatz]

I have had all this you mention in the past. I was checked for Lung Cancer, then it was something then it was not, it was on the XRay but told I did not have an abnormality anymore. I did because he took my abnormality to radiologist who said further scaring. I know what it can be like.

I have AF/Angina/Valve Problems on top of that, Bladder Cancer. I know to well about delays ect, But my GP has always been there.

Your post mentioned "Could you cramps be in your arteries" - This is another reason you should see a GP.

Can you not ring and ask for a FACE to FACE consultation with GP, who could refer you, take bloods - I did,

[kkatz in reply to Ern007]

Last time I tried that it was a 6 week wait for face to face and virtually impossible to get through on phone but receptionist said if you are local & can't get through come round first thing & ask for an appointment.I will do this first thing Monday but can imagine queues round the block.

[Ern007 in reply to kkatz]

I hope you do get in, my GP is easy to get in, if urgent at once, if not a week to 10 days wait. I am glad you are going, you need something sorted,

[Camelia23]

When all the the other things have been checked please consider replacing the milk chocolate with one or two squares of dark chocolate. It may be the sugar in the milk chocolate having adverse effect. Someone some while ago wrote on this forum that sugar seemed to make his Afib worse.