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I just thought I'd mention that a few weeks ago I started having leg cramps again (severe enough that they forced me out of bed to resolve them by walking around for a while). You may recall that I had a serious round of leg and foot cramps roughly a year ago, which I resolved by switching back to magnesium citrate (from magnesium glycinate).
About the third night that cramps ran me out of bed, it occurred to me that I hadn't eaten any bananas in a long time, so potassium could have been the problem.
Sure enough, a banana a day keeps the cramps away. Obviously, we have to be alert to any problems with any of our electrolytes, not just magnesium. Interestingly, the cramps that I experienced were totally different from the cramps associated with magnesium deficiency. I don't know how to describe the difference, except that it seemed to be more of a problem with the tendons just above the ankle, whereas the cramps associated with magnesium deficiency affected the calf muscle itself, or the top of the foot. The point is, they were distinctive enough that if it happens in the future, I should be able to immediately detect the difference (assuming that it doesn't slip from my feeble memory before then) so that I will know which electrolyte is short.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
So sorry about the leg cramps, Tex! Those boogers hurt like crazy; my husband gets them frequently too, even though he's a banana-a-day kind of guy. His may be more from magnesium deficiency, though -- never would have thought about the manifestations being different. His seem to affect the calf and sometimes the thigh. I've told him he should be taking magnesium, but in one ear/out the other….
Thanks for sharing your observations! I learn more stuff on this site…………..
Cindy
2008 Celiac disease
2012 Collagenous Colitis
Family history includes ALS, ulcerative colitis, Lyme disease, mild epilepsy
Interestingly I've been eating bananas everyday since I bought myself this new gizmo called yonanas. It takes frozen fruits and turns them into soft serve ice cream. Awesome for a person like me who doesn't want chemicals like carrageenan and sugar in their treats.
This might explain why I don't have cramps lately. Hmmmm...I am now addicted to this new gadget. Use it everyday!
Love,
Monique
Diagnosed 2011 with LC. Currently on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
I probably should buy one of those gadgets, since I usually eat my bananas frozen, anyway (freezing prevents the development of high histamine levels).
Thanks for the tip.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I don't only use it with bananas. I use it with all kinds of frozen fruits. It makes awesome mango/bananas/mixed fruits combos and I add coconut and shredded almonds. And it comes with a booklet with 130 recipes. Best gadget I've bought! I am not tempted to eat anything sweet. This does it.
Costco sells it for $40, Walmart for $50. It's made by Dole the fruit company.
Love,
Monique
Diagnosed 2011 with LC. Currently on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
Sounds fantastic, Monique, but I could not handle all that fruit! Tex, I am going to try freezing bananas. Do you peel and freeze them when just ripened, at the same stage you would want to eat them? Ad yes, good job figuring out you needed potassium!
Yes, I peel the bananas when they are ripe (but not too ripe), and put them in ziploc-type bags and stash them in the freezer. That way they will keep a long time without gaining much more histamines, and they are like a frozen desert, when eaten frozen.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
No Costcos around here, but I see that Amazon has them available for $48.15 with free shipping, so that seems fair enough.
Thanks for all the info.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I've been freezing bananas ever since Tex posted about them a few years ago. I make a smoothie with frozen bananas, mangos, strawberry, peaches and raspberries processed with apple juice. It is just like soft serve fruit ice cream. I haven't had leg or foot cramps since I started eating this smoothie every morning. Thanks Tex. I actually forgot why I started having frozen bananas every day. It just got to be a delicious habit.
SheilaW
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.
A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
We were down south for a while this summer and I apparently got dehydrated. My thumb froze against the palm of my hand and I couldn't pull it away or straighten it; also I had severe cramps in my legs. Urine color, etc. pointed to dehydration. I had never had that happen before though DH said he had. I am back home now and have resumed my magnesium and have had no further problems.
HI ALL, NOW I AM ABOUT TO IMPART SOME HELP, YOU WILL ALL THINK I'M MAKING THIS UP, BUT NO I'M NOT. SO IF YOU HAVE LEG CRAMPS, TRY THIS...
BEFORE RETIRING TO BED PUT TWO BARS OF SOAP INTO THE BED, AND THEN SLEEP WITH ONE BAR OF SOAP ON EITHER SIDE OF YOUR LEGS, GO TO SLEEP, DONT
KNOW HOW THIS WORKS, BUT IT DO.
HEY TRY IT ONLY COST TWO BARS OF SOAP, WHAT YOU GOT TO LOOSE.
THIS CURE CAME WITH ME WHEN I EMMIGRATED FROM IRELAND. IN 2002
TRY IT.. REGARDS MARIE
Obviously, we have to be alert to any problems with any of our electrolytes, not just magnesium. Interestingly, the cramps that I experienced were totally different from the cramps associated with magnesium deficiency. I don't know how to describe the difference, except that it seemed to be more of a problem with the tendons just above the ankle, whereas the cramps associated with magnesium deficiency affected the calf muscle itself, or the top of the foot. The point is, they were distinctive enough that if it happens in the future, I should be able to immediately detect the difference (assuming that it doesn't slip from my feeble memory before then) so that I will know which electrolyte is short.
