Cramps & Muscle Twitches

This has been going on for a while and I've tried ignoring it but it won't go away so I am going to call my surgeon tomorrow, but not even sure it is related to WLS.

A couple of months ago I started having extremely bad cramps in the calves of my legs.  I upped my fluids and added magnesium to my daily vitamins.  I get atleast 100 ozs of fluids a day.  They didn't get much better.  When I went to my. 3 year check up I mentioned it to the surgeon and he recommended a different type of magnesium (I was taking the Slo-Mag).  So I got a Super Magnesium from the vitamin store and it says it is easily absorbed. 

I stopped my running/exercise because I thought maybe it was muscle overuse.  Well I don't have the cramps as much.

Now I am having constant twitching/spasms in my leg muscles.  It is very irritating and I'm sure it is not something I should be having.

I have googled it without much luck.  Some says it could be a vitamin deficiency.  All my labs were good in August. 

Has anyone experienced this or have any ideas what I should asked to be checked?

Thanks
Linda

I would call.  Seems like I remember calcuim being related to charlie horses.  Hope you find an easy answer and feel better soon.

Thanks Price.

Hope you had a good time this weekend.

Linda

I would be suspect of "slow" anything with our malabsorption and fast transit times through the intestines. Perhaps going on Vitalady's capsule magnesium citrate with every calcium dose.

Or, what were your potassium labs last time? If they were borderline and you haven't been getting in a lot of potassium through diet, you may need potassium supplements or a perscription for it.

What were your B vitamins like on your last labs? 

--gina

Gina,
My potassium was 4.5 right in the middle of the range.

My Vitamin B1 Thiamine was 314.0.  I was taking the B Complex everyday.  This was the second year it was high so I did stop taking this, but was already having the cramps before I stopped it.

The B12 was over 2000.

My magnesium was 2.5.  The range is 2.1 - 2.8 so it was in the middle also.

The only other change I made was I switched from the Bariatric Advantage Multi Vitamins to the Centrum.  I have since switched back to the Bariatric Advantage to see if it made a difference.

I'm pretty sure my PCP is going to refer me back to my surgeon, so I just thought I would start with them.  She won't do extensive blood work like the surgeon will.

Any suggestions on what I should ask for?

Thanks
Linda

Nothing pops out at me on your labs but I would still try an extra fast release mag citrate capsule at bedtime. 

I know there are some creams and rubs for cramping legs that contain magnesium citrate. You might try something topical as well and see if it helps.

--gina
 

Thanks Gina, I will check into that.

Linda

I have them so badly there are times I worry they will send me to ER if I don't get relief.  I don't know what causes them other than this:  My daughter made an observation about a year ago that when I eat too much sugar (I don't dump & confess I do indulge far too often) I get horrible leg cramps. 

She moved home after losing her job.  She did not live here when I had surgery, so she had a clean slate for making observations.  After yet another particularly  bad episode of cramps one night she told me, "Mom, I've noticed when you eat too much sugar, especially Hot Tamales candy, you get really bad leg cramps/foot/toes, etc., cramps. 

I did not know if what she said  was true - I'd never noticed, but sure enough, the next time it happened, I had eaten sugar...too much.  I don't know if this is coincidence, but it happens to me almost 100% of the time.

I had too much the other day after I ate some pastries when I was alone.  This time both ankles, where the tendon/muscle runs in front, rose up in the most painful cramp. The cramp then moved into my toes.   It scared me because I never had both feet do it at the same time.  I walked all over the house, which often  does not help.  I often wished I did dump to keep me from eating sugar.    It is either sugar, or I have a deficiency of some kind that has not been detected.

Please let me know if you find out anything and if the new vitamins help.

I have had to get up in the middle of the night with the cramps.  They are bad, but it is the constant twitching that is really driving me crazy now.  It never stops and you can see it jumping in my legs.

I use a lot of Splenda everyday, but have done that since I had surgery.  I love sweets too, but I don't eat them everyday.  Most things I eat are made with Splenda.

I will let you know what they tell me.

Linda 

I did not see the twitching part until after I posted a reply.  That would have to be the most annoying thing of all.  How long will you wait until you go back to the doctor?  What kind of specialist would you go t?.  It is difficult because most, or so many, do not have a thorough knowledge base for RNY & all it entails.