Calcium/ cramps from the lack thereof???

[Lucy]

Hi,

Just thought I'd post this as a sort of warning to those of you who may not be getting enough calcium if you're trying to get it solely from food, and can't do dairy, and aren't doing fortified juices, etc.

Today, I was busy washing in the kitchen, when all of a sudden, got a cramp in my right index finger. That's the one I was holding the big spoon with that I was using to stir spagetti sauce on the stove for our evening meal. My sister, a physician, happened to be here then, and when she tried to get it to relax, she commented that "it's a dozy."

What we thought then was that it mighta been from some repetitive type work, like for instance, lifting some of those big heavy type pans to scrub em, etc. Then, the other fingers, and on opposite hand began to spasm, and then the feet, and a little in the legs. Was suspicious it might be lack of calcium, so downed one of those capsules that I'd purchased, and was supposed to be taking faithfully, but haven't been. Took a while, but that may have taken the edge off. The capsule also had Magnesium in it, so decided to look around for another form of calcium. Can't remember why I stopped taking the Calcitrate, possibly due to not being able to easily swallow that big chalky tablet, but anyhow, found the version of that that only has Vit D in it which the capsule didn't have, so bit off a little less than half of one of those, and chewed it up good, then, after a while, took the rest of that tablet.

Sis wanted me to call the endochrinologist, who monitors my thyroid replacement hormones, but I decided that I'd rather just keep on chunkin' the upper limits that are officially reommended, and instead, go ahead and get my appointment set up for a bone density. Can also get a mammogram there, hopefully, at the same time. This location is in the same place where my sister's office is located, so that might make it easier for her to watch Mom there while she does paperwork or something, and afterwards, could just pick her up, and leave.

Wow, if the calcium is THAT low, it's going to be a little scary loading and unloading the transporter wheelchair from the trunk for fear of getting a fracture in the back.

Think we'd all better watch out for our calcium levels, particularly those of us who aren't eating foods high in calcium. -- also, need to be vigilant about our bone scans. Don't think I could ever get enough calcium with diet alone.

Yours, Luce
Yours, Luce

[Polly]

Thanks for the reminder, Luce. I probably don't get enough calcium either. Did your sis think it was classic tetany from lack of calcium? Did your fingers and toes curl in like claws? Glad to hear it responded so quickly.

Love,

Polly

[Lucy]

Hi Polly,

Could've just been a coincidence that the spasms went away when I took that calcium as by then, I'd stop all the work I'd been doing. Sis still maintains it was from overuse, and to back that up, she started having some spasms in her feet as well. She hsa the hand spasm thing all the time, apparently.

At one point, I remember that in my right(dominant) hand the index finger was drawn straight into the thumb. This is the finger that the cramps started in, but at first, it just seemed like the index finger was trying to twist itself around. This may have been because the weight of the things I was working with had been sort of twisting the finger as I lifted things or pushed that spoon around. Have fairly long fingers, so it's pretty easy for them to twist around when doing anything, like for instance, taking the lid off a jar.

One theory that I had, besides the calcium, was that my feet might be getting cold at night while I'm in bed sleeping. Perhaps that's what's been happening with my sister's feet. Also, she's been doing a lot of housework related to having the office part at her house this Wednesday afternoon, so could be a combination of that and some weather factor.

At any rate, think i'll take another calcium tablet, this time the one with Vit D as I took the capsule with Magnesium at lunchime.
Sure don't want to go into the pretzel position! Ha!

Guess my answer to your question is, no, no claws, other than Santa Clause, of course.

Notice that the stools tend to be a little more firm, so better watch for C. Sure feels strange saying that! At least with the regular Magnesium, that should help.

Polly, can you think of anything in that Citracal that would bother a gf, cf, sf, ef, yf person? It's been sooooo long since this topic has come up, hasn't it? When we find out the answer, perhaps that should be posted in the treatment area.

By the way, I'm interested in what the results of your next bone scan, etc. will be.
Thanks for the responses.

Yours, Luce

[artteacher]

Hi Lucy,

I've been thinking about your muscle cramps. Are you getting enough potassium? For me, it's not so much a lack of calcium that gives spasms, but an imbalance of calcium, potassium, sodium. And the component that out of whack for me is the potassium. One thing that might cause low potassium is a high protein diet, esp. if you don't take a balanced calcium pill regularly. But I can't remember if your diet leans that way or not.
I did a seach on Google using these words: "muscle cramps calcium potassium sodium" and got some really interesting information.

Anyway, hope they're going away and you figure it out . .

Love, Marsha

[hazel]

Lucy,
Are you taking Entocort? I had terrible finger cramps when I was taking it. I couldn't knit or crochet. Also leg cramps every time I swam. They stopped when I stopped taking Entocort.

[Lucy]

Thanks everyone!

Yes, I thought of the potassium, and even guzzled down some out of date orange juice. Due to the close timing of both, and the fact that I got better, I wondered which if either had helped at the time. However, I eat a half a banana every day, and other than being gfdfefsfyf, I eat a well balanced diet most of the time. I have been a little bit lazy about cooking veggies of late, but I eat leafy green salads, green beans, and eat mixed veggies out on other occasions, but that's probably once a week.

I know that I have LOTS of sodium, and of course, I'm not perspiring lots this time of year. On the other hand, I WAS perspiring for a couple of hours during some pretty hard work in the kitchen, and steam from the stove top in addition to the hot dishwater, but just can't imagine it throwing me into that much of an imbalance.

I've only treated my MC with total removal of a few "allergens," and don't think my diet is all that high in protein, particularly since I don't eat any dairy, eggs, or soy.

My sister just thinks it was from overuse at the time, both her cramps and mine. (She's been scrubbing the house for her office party there this week!)

I think that her legs, like mine, probably get cold while she's sleeping, and she doesn't know it, so maybe it's a combination of the two things. I've only realized the cold legs when I wake up with a full bladder in the middle of the night, etc., but she may still be able to sleep through the night. I'm pretty sure that weather contributes to it in some strange way.

Wow, I need to get some fresher orange juice!! Yuck!

Anyway, now I'm afraid to wash the dishes!!
Really, just those great big heavy skillets.

Thanks again!
Yours, Luce