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Low carb diet and night cramps....help please!11

My local chemist where my prescriptions are sent to never seems to have the same staff behind the counter, they won't know me from Adam! My GP on the other hand never seems rushed (maybe why he never runs on time, but I allow for that when I book the appt!), I've already decided that as the low carb diet is showing dividends in my weight loss and reduction in my HbA1c, I'm going to tell him what I've been doing in the hope that he'll come on board. If I'm going to ask about the cramps then I think he needs to have a complete picture.
 
Glenmac said:
The pharmacist/chemist if you are lucky, may have a more recent awareness of contra-indications of some drugs.Mine had spotted my longstanding cough could be connected to a BP med.The med was changed,cough gone!When you see a different locum at each visit it's difficult to have any sort of continuity,for either doctor or patient.Some of us oldies and not so oldies have more than one illness to unravel
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I would have thought any doctor worth his money would tell you before you took an ace inhibitor what they could do, I assume it was the ace inhibitor? This has been known for many years!
 
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lindisfel said:
I would have thought any doctor worth his money would tell you before you took an ace inhibitor what they could do?
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I have been on BP meds for 45 years when my youngest son was born and I was very ill.Believe you me I was given a lot of info over many years from both my GP and the consultant I saw annually for 30 plus years.Over that time meds were changed as and when necessary.I can assure you those particular doctors earned their salaries and I owe them everything....................however lets get back to the original topic.There has been good advice on this thread for cramp relief.Thankyou for all your suggestions.Just off to have my stock cube drink!
 
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dunelm said:
Even before going on a low carb diet I had and still do get leg cramps every night. I have yet to find anything effective apart from getting up and stretching.

Here is an interesting article about what doesn't work (placebo effects aside - which is great if it works for you of course):

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/is...effective-ways-we-treat-nocturnal-leg-cramps/
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@dunelm

Have you had your magnesium levels checked? Try putting Epsom salts in your bath and having a good soak - it's easily absorbed through the skin, and is a great quick-fix if you are low in Mg.
 
Nidge247 said:
@dunelm

Have you had your magnesium levels checked? Try putting Epsom salts in your bath and having a good soak - it's easily absorbed through the skin, and is a great quick-fix if you are low in Mg.
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dunelm said:
Even before going on a low carb diet I had and still do get leg cramps every night. I have yet to find anything effective apart from getting up and stretching.

Here is an interesting article about what doesn't work (placebo effects aside - which is great if it works for you of course):

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/is...effective-ways-we-treat-nocturnal-leg-cramps/
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I have read through the replies on this thread and one week on am adopting a'belt and braces'approach.Prevention.........I'm now taking a vitamin and mineral tablet,plus using LowSalt on my food with an occasional glass of skinny tonic water(today's my birthday so I'll perhaps add gin!)after all life's for living. Plus I'll take even more care of my hydration..........more water.Plus nuts for potassium,will check which are best.
This should take care of the things missing or reduced in the LCMF diet.
Treatment.............If I have another attack I've got a magnesium spray at the ready an extra birthday gift from MrMac(oh the joys of diabetes) but I'm hoping I'll not be needing it.If these measures don't work I'll see my GP and ask about quinine tablets.
 
Glenmac said:
I have read through the replies on this thread and one week on am adopting a'belt and braces'approach.Prevention.........I'm now taking a vitamin and mineral tablet,plus using LowSalt on my food with an occasional glass of skinny tonic water(today's my birthday so I'll perhaps add gin!)after all life's for living. Plus I'll take even more care of my hydration..........more water.Plus nuts for potassium,will check which are best.
This should take care of the things missing or reduced in the LCMF diet.
Treatment.............If I have another attack I've got a magnesium spray at the ready an extra birthday gift from MrMac(oh the joys of diabetes) but I'm hoping I'll not be needing it.If these measures don't work I'll see my GP and ask about quinine tablets.
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Oh interesting! Where do you get magnesium spray from? I've started using LoSalt again and thought it had worked but got bad cramp again this morning :(
 
Rachox said:
Oh interesting! Where do you get magnesium spray from? I've started using LoSalt again and thought it had worked but got bad cramp again this morning :(
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The magnesium spray was from eBay and was £10 including postage.There were cheaper and dearer ones.This is Magnesium Oil mineral spray by Essential Minerals.Ive just spoken to my son,a biologist,he is not so sure it will work,however others have tried it and it has worked for them so will see and report back!Sorry you are still having problems.Ive tried to analyse my day before a bad night attack.Twice now I've been preparing for visitors,standing in a warm kitchen cooking,not drinking enough water.But some of the attacks could be dehydration,plus my age,we are all different.Hope things improve for you Rachox.
 
Nidge247 said:
@dunelm

Have you had your magnesium levels checked? Try putting Epsom salts in your bath and having a good soak - it's easily absorbed through the skin, and is a great quick-fix if you are low in Mg.
Click to expand...
Hi @Nidge247 my magnesium calcium and potassium levels are fine and I take supplements. According to clinical trials such as this; http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2603490 oral magnesium is probably not a solution. However magnesium absorption through the skin may be worth a go so thanks for that. We don't have a bath so will have a look at a spray.
 
Have been researching magnesium and potassium,and found the Dr axe site re Dr Google!.......It has some good information for foods containing M orP or both,and also suggestions for muscle cramps.So far I've been fine this week,using the suggestions from this thread, and taking a supplement.Im tweaking my diet to include foods which will replace the minerals from carbs,rather than popping more pills.
 
Just as a humorous aside,I've now taken to playing music and dancing round the kitchen in short bursts when cooking and standing.Recounting this to my grandson a drama student,his reaction was OMG you're the funniest granny I know.Did he mean funny peculiar or funny ah ah?Imagine me almost 80, rolling pin in one hand sieve in the other,making Diet Doctor cracker biscuits..Ill leave you to decide!The crackers are pretty good though!
 
Glenmac said:
Have been researching magnesium and potassium,and found the Dr axe site re Dr Google!.......It has some good information for foods containing M orP or both,and also suggestions for muscle cramps.So far I've been fine this week,using the suggestions from this thread, and taking a supplement.Im tweaking my diet to include foods which will replace the minerals from carbs,rather than popping more pills.
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Glad to hear your cramps are better. Mine are too, not completely gone but only occasional now. Just adding low salt back into my diet seems to have helped.
 
Glad the cramps are improving Rachox.The diet doctor crackers have sea salt on top and I thought might help.
 
Glenmac said:
Glad the cramps are improving Rachox.The diet doctor crackers have sea salt on top and I thought might help.
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I am working my way through the Diet Dr recipes gradually. I'll have a look for the crackers, they sound good :p
 
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