Hi
My daughter is on 150mcg levo and supplementing with Iron Vit B12 Vit D and has just started taking Magnesium,
(her level is 51 bottom of range 50) the G.P. did not prescribe it, she is self supplementing.
I have just read that you should only take Magnesium if it has been prescribed by your G.P.
so should my daughter stop taking it or does anyone know if it is O.K. for her to be taking it.
Many thanks browny
Hi,
Magnesium levels are not usually properly tested in the UK. You should ask for an intracellular test.
This is what Dr. Neil Nathan says " When our bodies are deficient in it we see fatigue, depression, malaise, muscle cramps and pain, and difficulties with focus, memory and concentration........ Some of the major symptoms of magnesium deficiency are: fatigue; exhaustion; tiredness; muscle cramps; spasm; pain; muscle weakness; manual treatments like chiropractic, physio do not hold more than a few hours; depression; cardiac arrhythmias; cognitive impairment; insomnia. Most doctors don't know how to measure it accurately. Magnesium is usually found inside the blood cells, not in the blood stream....... The body thinks that magnesium is so important that it will do everything in its power to keep blood levels normal. Thus you could have a perfectly normal blood test result and still have low magnesium levels inside your cells.......Our bodies have a limited capacity to absorb magnesium from the intestines.
When that capacity is exceeded we get the one symptom that too much magnesium produces - diarrhea."
We have found that the best replacement is Peter Gillham's Natural Vitality Magnesium Citrate.
Jane x
Sorry, I should have added this bit too. "All magnesium formulas are not created equal. Most magnesium you buy over the counter is entirely or mostly composed of magnesium oxide because it is inexpensive to manufacture......this form of magnesium is not well absorbed by the body. Only 10% of this form of magnesium is actually absorbed". x
Many thanks Janet for your reply my daughter is taking Magnesium Glycinate,
her G.P. said she had CFS and tested her magnesium level because she said there had been some new research showing people with CFS were low in magnesium, even though she was at the bottom of the range she did not prescribe her anything so she started supplementing herself, she has all the symptoms of hypothyroid which I also have. She was getting nowhere with the G.P. so she has been seeing Dr. S who prescribed the levo.
Do youy know if she would beable to get the Intracellular test at the
I wonder if anyone has a link to the CFS and Magnesium research - I found an article on pubmed but not recent.
PS there's also Epsom salt baths or sprays as you probably know already J 
Hi Yes I would like to see an article on this research also, thanks for your reply
Sorry Janet pressed the reply button too soon, I was asking if my daughter would be able to get the Intracellular test at the G.P. or is it a private test.
Thankyou browny
I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that. You would have to ask your doctor. My daughter's was done in the USA. How old is your daughter? Mine (now 33) was diagnosed with ME 21 years ago and it wasn't until earlier this year that we discovered why
she had become more and more ill as the years went by including thyroid dysfunction.
A recent study might be of interest to you and your daughter:
We have at last found the reason for her profound illness and she no longer has to struggle on with no answers. It's a massive new load of information to absorb, and hard to take in, but we feel really positive for the first time in 21 years.
Let me know if you need more information - I have a LOT! Jane x
My daughter is 31 and has had the symptoms for 5 years now, although she has had other illnesses before that. She has suffered from non bacterial cystitis since she was 19. This was put down to nerve pain from a reflux corrected on her ureter when she was 5 years old.
I have looked at the link thankyou but don't really know much about the mold connection and would not know how to start looking into it, if you have more info I would really appreciate it.
Again many thanks browny
Hi Browny, I truly hoped when we went to see Dr. Nathan in Feb that he would have a quick and straightforward answer for us. He definitely had the answer but it was not straightforward. We now know that my daughter has Lyme Disease too as well as the things I mention in the two posts below.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
This has all been a HUGE learning curve for us but I'm so pleased and relieved that at last we know why she has been so ill for so long with so many different symptoms and why her thyroid failed. Dr. Nathan now has quite a few English people travelling over to California for his help. I'm not sure that the book I recommended is still in print, but he has a new one out covering the same subject matter. I found it on Amazon.
I have loads more information, but I felt this was enough as a starter - it is all so groundbreaking and new it's hard to get your head around it all. Get back to me though for more if you want it. PM me if you want to.
Jane x
Many thanks Jane
Here is a list of foods containing magnesium but avoid the first on the list as they interfere with the uptake of levo.
healthaliciousness.com/arti...
If we supplement with Vit B12, it should be methylcobalamin as that is best, rather than cyanocobalamin.
Wise doctors have recommended magnesium supplements for years since our diets often use up much of the magnesium we need for our muscles, especially the heart muscle. Some people even resort to having intravenous sessions. I've taken it for years. It helped my restless leg symptoms when I took 500 mg mag/cal at night and made a difference. I think as we age, we don't have enough stomach acid to absorb the minerals we sorely need. Usually any excess is excreted and that is the reason that many magnesium compounds are used for constipation. I don't know why there is a worry about overdosing. If people have a heart attack, the E.R. will give massive doses of magnesium or at least they used to.
Hi Yes, you are right as magnesium is an important electrolyte, it effects the others especially potassium, which if too high can cause renal failure and if too low cardiac arrests. I have had many of both. I have to have a lot, on a script, so weekly tests. It is a tiny range and must stay in range. In food, it is good, lots of food contain it , see the WEB.My Nephrologist, says the only one any use is magnesium Oxide, indeed nothing else helped with my magnesium, or better a drip as when I am in hospital..I have it on a script and mostly only used after renal transplants, his field. The magnesium range is tiny, so important to keep an eye on it, if meds. Vit D, also should be prescribed, after a test for corrected calcium, another electrolyte. Both should be retested in 3 months, then again, now and again. Calcium must stay in range, often goes up on D.
I hope this helps.
Jackie
Hi Jackie, I know we have always been at odds about this topic and I'll explain why. I followed a bulletin board run by a wonderful doctor who practiced conventional medicine for 35 years. He was as brilliant as he was kind to sacrifice his time and saw the need to expand the narrow vision that the AMA (and NHS apparently) almost deny natural means to good health. Over ten years he answered daily questions personally and had long threads of feedback from the people who took his advice. He did not advertise on his website and other than his very inexpensive book, he sold nothing, and actually funded his own website.
He actually recommended up to 1000 mg of magnesium for people trying to raise their levels. Although I took oxide since it was hard to find other forms, he said it was the least effective because magnesium is very difficult to absorb. As I said, that is why it makes a good laxative as it will go through the system almost un absorbed. He recommended glycinate or orotate. People who suffered palpitations were the most responders because it was so effective. There were hundreds who said it cured their palpitations. I just can't think that they were in danger. Of course, I know we will probably agree to disagree, lol, and I don't think erring on the side of caution is a bad thing but I think they might be missing out on a very effective and simple treatment. If you feel good about your beliefs, don't mind me, but I've just heard too many testimonials from suffering people to ignore. Still friends?
Hi Of course, no problem, if people disagree, so long as polite, which you are. I always prefer to have all opinions when for myself.
I purely go by the advice of 3 top Cardios, one is clinical director,all 3 saved my life several times. and my well know Nephrologist even though mixed feelings about him! I used to have IV of magnesium when Potassium well bellow range., after Cardiac Arrests, However in CCU nearly 2 months recently, cardiac. My potassium dangerously low,( especially for me)in spite of 10 sodium chloride and 10 Sando K daily and a huge cardiac unit very good hospital. When I asked for an IV for my magnesium to push up the Potassium ( desperate), consultant said that as just in range with Magnesium ,it was far too dangerous.I have to have weekly and more sometimes, blood tests for Magnesium because I take it.
Best wishes,
Jackie.
Thank you, Jackie. I do wonder if your particular case is different from ordinary people, though, who don't have a cardiac condition. Seeing as you have a potassium problem as well makes your condition rather special. You have sodium and vitamin K daily? or just when in hospital. I just don't know whether your issues are similar to others.
It has helped me so much over the years but the only condition I have is a thyroid one. I don't take any other medications even for blood pressure so I feel it has been of benefit for me. From my experience, it just seems odd to need a prescription for magnesium.
I am very sorry to hear you were in CCU for 2 months? I wondered why I hadn't read anything from you. Is that why?
This doctor that I mentioned before was a diabetic (so terribly diabetic that three of his children and all of his siblings were also diabetic) and had a bad heart as well and was taking 400 mg. of CoQ10 along with his heart meds. He lived to age 74 which was 20 years more than he was figured to live.
It's unfortunate that conventional as well as alternative doctors can't work together as it would probably be a perfect solution! I hope you have no more of the hospital any time soon.
Hi I should have added that when my Potassium is too high , I have had 3 acute total Renal Failure,coma etc ( I cannot have dialysis), Normally when my Potassium is high, which , as I am sure you know, can be the result of too much Magnesium. While, it is true , I am very complicated with 10or12 co-morbidities, I leave my consultants to count, not interested! Potassium lead arrests ,which are what I have, are the most common cause of sudden death.rarely recognised by cardiologists or only the top Pathologists, So, one can never be sure ,who it is going to effect.When I was very lucky to be diagnosed in August 2010, there were only a very few Cardios even, that new about it,
Co-enzyme, Q 10, is marvellous, I have taken the max dose many years for lots of things. My sodium has to be low, must not have salt, however, usually too low, now days that is known to not relate to salt intake. I take a lot of Potassium but definitely vit K ,which would be dangerous. Magnesium is on a script, because it needs to be under a doctor and weekly blood tests. This has been the case for a long time. It can be bought as can Potassium chloride, which has a lot of deaths attributed to it. A lot of things which can be bought are not safe to take. All the same I think some alternative medicine is good, but think it should be through at least a qualified doctor. In fact, these days, a lot of my consultants like some and suggest it.Yes, Diabetes is a nuisance, however, that too, certainly in my case is pushing up the Potassium, a night mare really. it is left to me as too complicated, so I have to take great care, in hospital 3 blood tests a day also be well informed.Liver disease, which I also have, effects all the bloods, especially Diabetes, Potassium and anticoagulation. Often people do not know they have liver disease for a long time, it only shows on LFT`s when very bad.As for Calcium and vit D, another day!
Good night,
Jackie
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