Leg Cramps Everyone - a thank you

[Lindaura]

Dear friends on Ovacome,

Thanks so much for your input.

As you may have surmised, I still have regular bloods taken. My Magnesium and Potassium levels have been in the normal range for the past 6 months, so I had stopped taking my sachets of minerals.

My daughter suggests that maybe after Chemo, normal is not enough and perhaps I need more- but I mustn’t over do it!

Just to complicate matters, during first line, like many if you, I was severely low in both potassium and magnesium and had infusions as well as the soluble oral sachets, and I never suffered leg cramps during that time (although I suffered a lot of other more distressing side effects.)

With Niraparib, I had been literally dying of thirst, and keeping hydrated was a necessity. I always have a bottle of filtered water with me, as well as four in the fridge and 2 by my bed at night, but I still think that somehow hydration is behind this phenomenon.

These cramps are weird. It feels as though the muscles in my calves and feet, just decide to twist themselves into knots, apropos of nothing.

So, I am increasing my Potassium & Magnesium input and trying to drink even more water 💦 and we shall see if something improves.

Thanks again, ladies, and I hope you all are as well as can possible!

Hugs,

💕🥰💕

Laura

[thomas62]

HI Laura, Good luck with your strategy. Hope things improve. Gwen Xx

[bamboo89]

I hope it improves too, but honestly, I can't believe the coincidence here - yesterday, just the day after I posted an answer to you, I had the worst bout of cramps in both feet and ankles and one calf during the afternoon, whilst standing up ironing. As I know that serum blood tests don't really illustrate how much magnesium is stored in the body rather than just present in the blood at that particular moment, I'm wondering whether I need to take more as well. Still not sure, but I applied lots more magnets to certain areas in my lower back, and the problem resolved itself within an hour.

I'm seeing the oncologist this afternoon and intend to ask whether there is a more reliable way of finding out whether I need more magnesium or not, but from what I heard on Radio 4 recently on this subject, there probably isn't...

[Lindaura in reply to bamboo89]

Dear Jay,

Taking everyone ‘s advice, even though my magnesium levels were within normal range, I started back in the sachets, every night, (mixed with Mango juice) and since I started, I have to say, feeling like an idiot, I have not suffered these nightly cramps.

Hugs,

Laura

[Tesla_7US]

Finishing 3rd line, I too am battling chronic dehydration and low electrolyte issues. I buy Nuun electrolyte tablets on line, dissolve in water, drink 1 liter daily, in addition to plain water and no more muscle cramps! I also use Refreshe eye drops to re moisten my eyes.

[Lindaura in reply to Tesla_7US]

Hi Tess,

Seems like I must need a load of extra magnesium, because taking those sachets every night has really done the trick.

Hugs,

Laura