magnesium : anyone else get low in their... - My Ovacome

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Le-gra143 profile image
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anyone else get low in their magnesium levels on chemotherapy

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Le-gra143
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33 Replies
Moonbeams33 profile image
Moonbeams33

Yes. My levels were recently low when they tested the morning before my 3rd chemo.

1.2 was my level. My oncologist added magnesium to my pre infusions on day of chemo. Im keeping a close watch on them because my understanding is that the IV magnesium sulfate added only stays in system around 36 hours. I’ll consider oral supplementation when I get results of most recent levels. Oncologist suggested oral. Have researched a lot as there are many types. You can get combinations of different forms of magnesium.

I’m also struggling with increasing neuropathy.

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toMoonbeams33

Hi moonbeam

Yeah mine was 1 and hameglobin gone down to 10. They we’re considering blood transfusion but from preassement on the Fri to the Monday it went up by .6 so they didn’t kinda wished they did. I’ve to be vigilant and I’ve been getting dizzy and really exhausted, exhausted like leaning on counters. I didn’t realise it takes 4 hours for a blood transfusion

It also takes 40 weeks to bring up your magnesium levels? What I read

They gave me prescription for magnesium sachets so I’ll try them

Best of of luck to you and thanks for reply

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toMoonbeams33

Yes I am becoming aware of feet so mine was at the 3rd chemo

So is it more and more symptoms as it goes on I wonder

I had been creaming my feet all along but I do notice they are getting soooo dry

I am getting the sachets today so we will see hope I can take them tummy always iffy for a few days

Hope you feel good today

X

Yorkiepudd profile image
Yorkiepudd

Yes I did and was despatched with a week of tablets after one of my sessions. Didn’t have to have them again though.

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toYorkiepudd

Was it low

Did you find them good?

Why is it saying it takes 40 weeks to bring levels up

Zssu profile image
Zssu in reply toLe-gra143

I have taken 1 tablet magnesium oxide regularly up to 4 a week. This has been since I had a 2nd round of chemo in 18months, 4 years ago. I have told my onco and she is happy because it seems to help bowel movements, which could have been caused by adhesions during surgery

Yorkiepudd profile image
Yorkiepudd in reply toLe-gra143

I can’t recall levels as it was four years ago now but was only a short course and they were ok for the next cycle x

Skyeplus profile image
Skyeplus

Morning, yes my magnesium has been low and I am given sachets to take every time I have chemo. In Feb whilst still on Niraparib (currently back on chemo) my haemoglobin became very low and I had to have an urgent blood transfusion. My only symptom was I became breathless almost overnight. I only take the magnesium sachets given on prescription by my oncologist. Good luck

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toSkyeplus

Hi skyeplus

Yes they were on the verge of giving me a blood infusion but when bloods were done again my haemoglobin had come up by .6 but I kinda wish I had one but I’ve to monitor myself

Is the blood infusion like a quick energy boost?

Realistic profile image
Realistic

Yes in my 6 months chemo l had 3 occasions when mine were very low but was given tablets each time and was fine after so try not to worry it happens sometimes. Love & hugs SheilaFxxx

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toRealistic

Thanks very much for reply

X

Willowsmum51 profile image
Willowsmum51

yes my magnesium is always low, it’s 0.7 at the moment. It was always low through chemo and hasn’t improved whilst on Niraparib. My oncologist prescribed sachets but I hate taking them, so didn’t bother last month, not a good idea, my oncologist insisted that I do take them and do I take one sachet at bedtime. It also helps keep my bowels moving, my oncologist says it is much like milk of magnesia which we used to take for constipation back in the day.

Best wishes Julie x

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toWillowsmum51

When you took them did you feel better

I read it takes 49 weeks for levels to come back up

It is the breathlessness and the nausea fatigue it has brought on me and with the hameglobin dropping I think because of the bleeding from rectom. It was for 8 days

I get funny reoccurring symptoms in between cycles. I get the bone pain (from injection) which I’ve pain somewhat controlled . I get two days of tummy pains and I’m in the loo

I get 3 lumps come up under the two armpits

I get 2 days of headache and then I’m up and down with fatique this lasts now

I’ve just done my 4th cycle of chemo on Monday

Do you get any reoccurring symptoms

Thank you

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toLe-gra143

40 weeks not 49

Willowsmum51 profile image
Willowsmum51 in reply toLe-gra143

Oh poor you! You are having it rough. I’ve been lucky whilst on Niraparib and not had any nasty side effects. I do get breathless and have fatigue but not sure if that’s because of the low magnesium. Xxx

parthenon profile image
parthenon in reply toLe-gra143

How do you do all this.....have you ever considered the side effects are not worth it...i guess not Iam not happy at 74 yrs old with stage 3c and really dont know what the future will bring but Mom had Myelodysplasia and had low grade fatique and it was all the cancer drugs with their side effects.............god bless all of you...looks like this Ovarian cancer is very common....do people refuse treatment? what percentage of people do.

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toWillowsmum51

Hi there

That’s low

I know how you feel taking all the tablets etc and now sachets that is what I’ve been prescribed

I just hope they work

I would have preferred a infusion of it as it takes such a long time to come back up I read

Hope you are improving

Thank u for reply x

BadgerBright profile image
BadgerBright

Hello Le-gra143 Although I have experienced low levels of haemoglobin whilst on Rucaparib ( enough to have had to have many blood transfusions) I have not experienced low magnesium until very recently. I am currently back on IV chemo and after about a week after my 1st session I became really weak and suffered palpitations and ended up in A&E. I was sorted out with sodium and magnesium infusions and a beta blocker and I have been well since. However, your post and the helpful replies had made me realise I have to be more vigilant and proactive myself about this. At the blood test before the chemo the nurse did say my magnesium was a bit low but said it was okay to go ahead. Now I will ask more questions and see if I need to take supplements. So I thank everyone for alerting me to this. Our shared experiences are so helpful. BB.

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toBadgerBright

Hi badger

I had palpitations in the 3rd cycle and I have been feeling worse since so they did a ekg all ok

then but like you didn’t think to Percivere it until Monday on 4th when I was telling her I had bled for 8 days and she went looking at my bloods and my hameglobin was low and my magnesium was very low so they we’re considering blood transfusion ( does it take 4hrs) but because it cane up by 06 they said I was ok to go ahead with the chemo but gave me magnesium sachets and a number for the a&e oncologist nurse and if I’m bleeding again or if I feel poorly to ring her

So I’ll be more vigilant too I thought it was just the process

Are you feeling any better

Thank you for reply

X

BadgerBright profile image
BadgerBright

Hi Le-gra Really sorry you have been going through all of this. Blood transfusions themselves do not take more than an hour or so in my experience. However, there is a lot of waiting for blood results and the actual blood to arrive. They did make a difference to me helping my breathlessness mainly. All this is process I think it just long and very different for each woman. Keep vigilant and do ring a&e. This is what I will be doing in future.

Thank you I am well at the moment so taking every opportunity to get on with life. My next chemo is next week so we shall see how that goes.

Do take care of yourself. BB.

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toBadgerBright

Oh thanks badger for reply I feel better now after yours and all the ladies replies

I feel I can ask anything here and so many understand

I don’t feel like I’m being dramatic so thank you very much for taking the time to reply

Best of luck with next cycle

bamboo89 profile image
bamboo89

My magnesium level dropped a bit on chemo, but never to the point where I was deficient or they wanted to take any action. That 's probably because I take a magnesium supplement in tablet form every day, regardless of chemo. Most of us are low in magnesium, its a common one to be short of, which is why I started taking it daily about 20 years ago - it certainly helped with the night cramps I was getting at the time.

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply tobamboo89

Hi there

Oh do you I was only taking magnesium a few yrs ago as I was weight lifting

I wish I had been taking regularly as I hear it takes a long time to replenish

I have palpitations and real bad fatigue

And I was getting nausea which I don’t usually get and loss of appetite so I just assumed it was from the chemo

I hope you are well now bamboo x

bamboo89 profile image
bamboo89 in reply toLe-gra143

Take the sachets you've been given, they may work faster than a pill, though I've no clue as to what the formulation is. This 'it takes 40 weeks' to get magnesium levels up is only for those with ongoing chronic, serious magnesium shortage, so when you finish the sachets, just get some magnesium tablets, though of course, you can absorb magnesium through the skin via a spray too. I don't like that method so much, can't tell how much I've absorbed, if any, so I stick with the tablets. Your magnesium shortage is not chronic, its acute and is likely due to chemo, though yes, you may have had low magnesium beforehand. One other thing for later - if you take Vitamin D3, take that and the magnesium at the same time, it helps with absorption of the D3. As for your symptoms of nausea and fatigue, I don't know which chemo you're on, but the likelihood is its the chemo causing those sympoms.

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply tobamboo89

Hi again

Ok brillant I’m relieved

Thanks for all the info and for your time in replying

Very much appreciated

I will look into the D3

X

Saintgermain profile image
Saintgermain

Hello, I am not low on Magnesium but my Husband has struggled with that, the infusions really help we went to a specialist because there's so many supplements not saying you need it but if any Teal Sisters struggle with it "Slow Mag" from Amazon has helped him tremendously brought him back into normal range not the same scenario but he hasn't had to have the weekly infusions.

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toSaintgermain

Hi there

Ok that sounds interesting

Is he feeling better with the infusions. Had he many symptoms

Palpitations and breathlessness I felt dizzy and just leaning on counter tops

Hope he doing well and you

Saintgermain profile image
Saintgermain in reply toLe-gra143

Yes, the infusions helped and were not that time consuming the symptoms that your feeling are typical of low mag heart racing, shortness of breath and dizziness the infusions should really help you feel better fairly quickly have you had your first one yet?

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toSaintgermain

No they gave me sachets to take

Haven’t took one yet as the meds make me sicky and it’s hard to take them

But hopefully tonight as I ate something there with ease I would love a infusion ye are all helping me to know I can ask for it I didn’t realise you could get a infusion of magnesium so I’ll monitor myself more better going forward

God I love this group so so helpful feel like I’ve have loads at my back

Appreciate everyone’s time to reply to me

And you saintgermain

Saintgermain profile image
Saintgermain in reply toLe-gra143

Yes, it brought it up slowly but your Onc may have your dose a bit higher given the circumstances. Push for the infusion at times it's frustrating that we have to be our own advocate and navigator. Plus the infusion will get into your blood system a lot quicker and its painless. Yes, I love this site.

Towgirl profile image
Towgirl

My mum has constantly fought magnesium levels, always borderline too high to prescribed oral, ( and that always affects bowels!) But often just low enough to need infusion ( adding an extra hour onto chemo day) They didn't seem to consider her able to monitor the oral doses herself so as to try to maintain a better level without causing bowel problems. She's now trying to eat more green veg and a small amount of dark in an effort to keep her levels above the threshold and so far it seems to be working. Hope you can find a solution that suits you. Xx

Le-gra143 profile image
Le-gra143 in reply toTowgirl

Hi there

Thank u for reply

I do eat green veg and nuts is it from the chemo you get the low magnesium levels

When I looked into the symptoms it’s is like chemo symptoms so I didn’t say anything last month just this month about the bleeding and the checked my preassessment bloods and seen my haemoglobin went down and magnesium was very low

But after Monday bloods haemoglobin went up slightly so they just said I’ll be monitored

But I would have loved one

I have a feeling I will have one before I finish this chemo

Hope your mom doing ok and you x

Leniko profile image
Leniko

Yes, they made me take Mag supplements

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