question about potassium?

saluki

question about potassium?

saluki

I've been subject to vicious cramps in my toes, feet, lower legs, calves,

especially when laying down. They are unbearable.

Yes, I do take Femara, and have neurapathy in my feet. I am also subject to horrific sweats even nearing sixty and it is so much worse now that we are entering the summer. 

I have been taking magnesium citrate all along and melatonin.

I keep thinking its my potassium levels but whenever I get them taken they are fine.

I was wondering if any of you can tell me if potassium levels can change daily?  Are they hit and miss?  Could I be sweating up a storm and since

it may not be happening at the time of my appointments could it be missed?

I did get a potassium supplement and thought it helped but, I was too

scared to continue if it wasn't needed.

Can anyone weigh in on this?

amberyba

Try bananas, they have lot of potassium, I was struggling with leg cramps a while back, sweating when out in the heat, I drank gatorade and ate bananas.

FloridaLady

It sounds like restless legs that is the side effect to neuropathy.  I have it bad also.  Your doctor can prescribe something for this even though I hate taken another drug.  But sleep is very important for our healing bodies. I take Lyrica about 3 hours before bed and it does help a lot.  You need to watch these meds though some will stop your legs but the side effect is insomnia. Excuse me! but we are trying to get a good night sleep.  Hope this helps.

Flalady

saluki

Glad you found something that works for you.  I was on Lyrica---Turned me into an absolute zombie---could not leave the house or even get across the room I was so dizzy--Could not cook.---Could not drive.

I actually put paper plates in the toaster oven and turned it on.---I became a danger to myself even on the lowest doses.

Because I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) (CRPS)My Pain Management specialist tried Lyrica, Gabapentin, Keppra, Topamax, Lamictal,---I can't even remember the rest.   Obviously, I'm sensitive to

medications---but my Doc decided he wouldn't try me on any more of the anti-convulsants.-------

But boy, I slept great---- twenty out of twenty-four hours. LOL

I've been getting substantial pain relief from SAM-e 1200mg daily but it doesn't seem to touch the cramping.  Doc did mention a medication for restless legs,  but since I've just gotten my liver enzymes down from a toxic reaction to Strattera I'm loathe to try anything that may get everyone scrambling over my liver enzymes again.---Maybe there is no alternative.

AnneW

Have you tried tonic water? Sometimes nothing is better for cramps other than good old quinine. (It's also by prescription, I think.)

Anne

saluki

Anne--Tonic water was one of the first things I tried.  No luck.

jerseymaria

when i was getting severe leg, foot and hand cramps with treatment, my onc told be to take a b-6 supplement.  i did and no more cramps.  but you may have a totally different scenario.  good luck.

saluki

 JerseyMaria,

I used to take the B6 but I stopped--just too many pills and supplements.

I forgot about that one--I try again. -----Thanks!

TenderIsOurMight

HI Susie,



Like you, I suffer from neuropathy of feet, legs, fingers, etc.,. and also am on Femara. I have noticed worse nocturnal cramps of calves, and continuous aching, of calves and all musculoskeletal areas affected (shoulders ((can't lift arms above shoulder now, thanks very much), feet, legs, etc.).



Recently, somewhat out of desperation, I tried buffered aspirin. This has strict contraindications, and I cleared it with my doctor first. I take as needed, one full dose during the day and one at night with food. I noticed improvement of pain. Who knows if it was placebo, I'll just take it, as the pain is so bad at night it interferes with sleep. Anyway, hope I can slowly more to less.



Sorry for your trouble, Susie.

Tender

nosurrender

Susie, my potassium is always low.  Shows up on every blood test.

But I don't get the cramping you described, so I am wondering if there is a deficiency in another vitamin? What about Calcium? Can a low blood calcium cause cramping?

I hope you feel better.

Hugs

g 

saluki

Gina---That's the weird thing -my calcium, magnesium, potassium, b12

levels were all normal.

By the way, the Zanaflex (tizanidine) that Constantine mentioned on your forum is the best muscle relaxant I have ever used.  It makes you very sleepy the first hour or so but, does an incredible job. 

The only reason I'm not reaching for it is because of the 20mg of melatonin I'm taking.  I'm afraid of accidentally overdosing on something.

Tender---I'm afraid buffered aspirin is out for me right now---I've been on a proton pump inhibitor for years.  Very bad Gerd especially with Femara but it was under control with protonix-----I've recently discontinued because it uses the same pathway as Femara as do the other PPI's----

Zantac is not an adequate substitute for me it seems.   So adding even buffered aspirin may be asking for trouble.------In fact I'll be getting a prescription for Aciphex supposedly the least problematic of the PPI's.

Oh Wonderful----Look what I just read.......Is this the source of my problems????????

Some drugs and medications have been associated with restless leg syndrome including caffeine, alcohol, H2-histamine blockers (such as Zantac and Tagamet), and certain antidepressants (such as Elavil).

Well guess what I won't be taking for the next few days!  

Wish me luck. 

NativeMainer

Have your had your magnesium and calcium levels checked?  Low levels of either can cause muscle cramps.  There are a lot of supplements available. I don't use a combination supplement since too much magnesium can cause diarrhea (it's the major ingredient of Milk of Magnesia), and I can stop the magnesium if I need to for a few days and keep taking the calcium.