Tex,
Yes, the magnesium deficiency connection caught my eye. I've been trying to think of ways to supplement magnesium since I read this. I take cal-mag, but very little because I worry about the D. What doesn't compute for me is that I've had these issues since childhood, before any GI issues. Could I have a life-long case of magnesium deficiency? I certainly have all the symptoms, but why me and not everyone else too??? Do certain genes prevent you from absorbing/using magnesium? Why isn't the whole population affected in the same way?
I think I'll be shopping for magnesium oil soon. Anyone know if Whole Foods sells it?
Childhood symptoms predictors of later autoimmunity?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Yes you could. Actually, according to some sources, magnesium deficiency is at epidemic proportions in the general population, but we seem to be the only ones concerned about it.Could I have a life-long case of magnesium deficiency? I certainly have all the symptoms, but why me and not everyone else too??? Do certain genes prevent you from absorbing/using magnesium? Why isn't the whole population affected in the same way?
Some sources claim that magnesium will eventually follow the same discovery path as vitamin D.Here is part of the conclusions from a research article about prenatal and genetic magnesium deficiency.
http://www.mgwater.com/genetic.shtmlIV. CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Presented here is a postulate that magnesium deficiency caused by genetic variations in magnesium metabolism, in conjunction with marginal magnesium intake, is a contributory factor to gestational complications, including perinatal and neonatal CMP. Severe forms of familial magnesium deficiency: isolated malabsorption and renal wasting of magnesium have been identified. The possibility that the underlying inherited abnormality in the renal magnesium wasting syndromes is that of magnesium malabsorption is presented. It is suggested that renal magnesium wasting may be caused by damage at the major site of tubular magnesium reabsorption, when infants with hypomagnesemic hypocalcemia are provided calcemic treatment without magnesium repletion. It is proposed that there may be degrees of magnesium malabsorption, and that there are genetic differences in plasma and cellular magnesium levels in different ethnic groups; low values have been associated with specific HLA groups. These differences might be part of the metabolic basis of other inherited diseases.
That's a long article, and I didn't read all of it, (mostly just the conclusions, and you may want to read the rest of the conclusions, at least). The abstract at the following link, (titled Genetics of hereditary disorders of magnesium homeostasis.), is short, and to the point, however:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14634861
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 did not have a chance to reply when you posted the list. Here goes.
1) Heart murmur: Never diagnosed with this, but have the symptoms, as a child and now. It seems it often goes along with Fibromyalgia, which I've had for years.
2) Dermographia (skin writing): I had this in my younger years, but don't notice it these days.
3) Joint hypermobility and muscle flexibility. My back is double jointed. My gymnastics teacher would go on and on about it, stating how rare it is (don't know if that's true or not). I could not do a hand stand to save my life (my back would not not bend so I just kept going over), but I could bend over backwards, grab my ankles and roll like there was no tomorrow. I know very little about Ehlers-Danlos, other than I have a lot of the symptoms. I researched it a bit because a relative (daughter of my first cousin) has it. I've never had the stretchy skin but have loose joints. My shoulders started dislocating about the same time the Fibro started. It's not severe, but can be very painful.
4) Fairly frequent UTIs: Very frequent until about the age of 35. I now believe I had an almost constant infection as a child because I started wetting the bed after I had been potty trained till I was 7. It hurt so bad to pee I could hardly force myself to go. I never told my mother because I thought it was normal. At the age of 23 or 24 I was tested to find out why I had so many infections and an incomplete double ureter was discovered.
5) Very frequent canker sores: All the time as a kid. Frequency has reduced gradually over the years, and it's fairly rare for me now.
6) Benign tremor: Slight case of this in my early twenties, but I don't remember it before that.
7) Low blood pressure and postural hypotension: All my life.
8) Restless legs: This is something that came on in the past 10-15 years.
9) Easy bruising (without anemia): I have always bruised easily, with or without anemia. However, I have often wondered if I was anemic and did not know it because I almost always was when I was tested, starting at about age two. Most bruises could not be explained - just showed up.
1) Heart murmur: Never diagnosed with this, but have the symptoms, as a child and now. It seems it often goes along with Fibromyalgia, which I've had for years.
2) Dermographia (skin writing): I had this in my younger years, but don't notice it these days.
3) Joint hypermobility and muscle flexibility. My back is double jointed. My gymnastics teacher would go on and on about it, stating how rare it is (don't know if that's true or not). I could not do a hand stand to save my life (my back would not not bend so I just kept going over), but I could bend over backwards, grab my ankles and roll like there was no tomorrow. I know very little about Ehlers-Danlos, other than I have a lot of the symptoms. I researched it a bit because a relative (daughter of my first cousin) has it. I've never had the stretchy skin but have loose joints. My shoulders started dislocating about the same time the Fibro started. It's not severe, but can be very painful.
4) Fairly frequent UTIs: Very frequent until about the age of 35. I now believe I had an almost constant infection as a child because I started wetting the bed after I had been potty trained till I was 7. It hurt so bad to pee I could hardly force myself to go. I never told my mother because I thought it was normal. At the age of 23 or 24 I was tested to find out why I had so many infections and an incomplete double ureter was discovered.
5) Very frequent canker sores: All the time as a kid. Frequency has reduced gradually over the years, and it's fairly rare for me now.
6) Benign tremor: Slight case of this in my early twenties, but I don't remember it before that.
7) Low blood pressure and postural hypotension: All my life.
8) Restless legs: This is something that came on in the past 10-15 years.
9) Easy bruising (without anemia): I have always bruised easily, with or without anemia. However, I have often wondered if I was anemic and did not know it because I almost always was when I was tested, starting at about age two. Most bruises could not be explained - just showed up.
Robbie
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Linda in BC
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 801
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:39 am
- Location: Creston British Columbia
Very interesting thread, guys.
) , and just this week I had some fillings done and as I have learned to do, I requested that the dentist only give me half the normal amount of freezing, and I felt no pain and was still frozen for four hours!
I am beginning to think I have been magnesium deficient most of my life...
Linda
I hve always been super sensitive to al drugs and medications, and stil am. EG. I only needed three entocort for a week and then had to drop down to one ( it was too effecivePeople with mitral valve prolapse are especially sensitive to all kinds of drugs and medications
) , and just this week I had some fillings done and as I have learned to do, I requested that the dentist only give me half the normal amount of freezing, and I felt no pain and was still frozen for four hours! I am beginning to think I have been magnesium deficient most of my life...
Linda
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
The 13th Dali Lama
The 13th Dali Lama
I used to get pain relief from only one Tylenol or Advil. I couldn't take any cold medicines because the decongestants caused heart palpitations and dizziness. One Immodium stops me up so bad I'm in pain and gassy, wishing for D. I avoid meds like the plague. When I was prescribed Asacol, I knew it would mean nothing but trouble, so I declined.
Ditto Z and L on the meds. Fortunately, I have not had to take many meds throughout my life, but it seems that whenever I did, I would have an adverse reaction, or develop an allergy (starting with penicillin).
Also, Z, I've suffered from all the items on your original post starting in childhood, with the exception of the tremors and joint hyper mobility. Very interesting observation!!!
Glad someone brought this topic back, as I missed it the first time around.
Love,
Kari
Also, Z, I've suffered from all the items on your original post starting in childhood, with the exception of the tremors and joint hyper mobility. Very interesting observation!!!
Glad someone brought this topic back, as I missed it the first time around.
Love,
Kari
"My mouth waters whenever I pass a bakery shop and sniff the aroma of fresh bread, but I am also grateful simply to be alive and sniffing." Dr. Bernstein
So I dug up this thread, partly for a chuckle, but also to find my compadres who shared all my weirdo symptoms. After all this speculation that my dysautonomia, low BP, exercise intolerance, etc. were caused by mitral valve prolapse, I recently learned I needed to go a step further to get to the actual root cause. Turns out I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility Type (Type III - the least severe form), which means I have abnormally weak collagen throughout my body. I used to wonder if I had EDS as a teen, but no one was listening, so I gave up. A rheumatologist diagnosed me with "Joint Hypermobility Syndrome" 7 years ago but never explained it was a form of EDS, it was genetic, what the risks were, or how this "joint condition" could affect so many other body systems. He just told me I would develop early-onset arthritis. 
IBS and colitis of all forms are a hallmark of EDS, even gluten intolerance, probably due to weak collagen in the digestive tract. I suspect it allows the intestines to become more permeable. It probably also explains my heightened susceptibility to GI infections.
Knowing I have EDS has explained virtually EVERY unanswered question in my sorted medical history. From bruising and skin issues, pelvic separation and fast deliveries during pregnancy, frequent need for chiropractors for back, neck, knee and hip issues. Even why my knees click when I walk upstairs, why I can't wear high heels, and why I can't sit indian-style on a hard floor.
Of course the genetic inheritance aspect has me all freaked out for my kids, who have a 50/50 chance of having EDS. They are both hypermobile, and my daughter has some characteristic facial features (including narrow jaw, small palate). I believe I inherited this from my mother, who got it from her mother. We all have the same soft, stretchy translucent skin. My grandmother had serious vascular issues affecting her lower legs. My mother developed 2 brain bleeds.
I urge anyone who has many of the above symptoms to read up about EDS. This isn't misery loves company. I just know how relieved I am to know there is a common source to all these seemingly unrelated things. Of course, there are very few doctors out there who understand or can properly diagnose EDS. So it'll feel like your medical battles with MC all over again.
The EDS Foundation has a list of doctors who specialize in managing EDS (my doc was on their list).
Here is an article to help you understand whether you may have EDS. Please keep in mind there is a wide range of symptom severity, so you may read about people who are disabled, but there are others, like me, who you would never guess...
http://www.ednf.org/images/stories/leaf ... aveeds.pdf
And here's a good overview of the condition:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1279/
Now here's to hoping the GF/DF diet helps delay the early onset arthritis. It certainly helped with persistent hip and back pain. But I do feel far too creaky for my age.
IBS and colitis of all forms are a hallmark of EDS, even gluten intolerance, probably due to weak collagen in the digestive tract. I suspect it allows the intestines to become more permeable. It probably also explains my heightened susceptibility to GI infections.
Knowing I have EDS has explained virtually EVERY unanswered question in my sorted medical history. From bruising and skin issues, pelvic separation and fast deliveries during pregnancy, frequent need for chiropractors for back, neck, knee and hip issues. Even why my knees click when I walk upstairs, why I can't wear high heels, and why I can't sit indian-style on a hard floor.
Of course the genetic inheritance aspect has me all freaked out for my kids, who have a 50/50 chance of having EDS. They are both hypermobile, and my daughter has some characteristic facial features (including narrow jaw, small palate). I believe I inherited this from my mother, who got it from her mother. We all have the same soft, stretchy translucent skin. My grandmother had serious vascular issues affecting her lower legs. My mother developed 2 brain bleeds.
I urge anyone who has many of the above symptoms to read up about EDS. This isn't misery loves company. I just know how relieved I am to know there is a common source to all these seemingly unrelated things. Of course, there are very few doctors out there who understand or can properly diagnose EDS. So it'll feel like your medical battles with MC all over again.
The EDS Foundation has a list of doctors who specialize in managing EDS (my doc was on their list).
Here is an article to help you understand whether you may have EDS. Please keep in mind there is a wide range of symptom severity, so you may read about people who are disabled, but there are others, like me, who you would never guess...
http://www.ednf.org/images/stories/leaf ... aveeds.pdf
And here's a good overview of the condition:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1279/
Now here's to hoping the GF/DF diet helps delay the early onset arthritis. It certainly helped with persistent hip and back pain. But I do feel far too creaky for my age.
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EastWestGirl
- Little Blue Penguin
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:09 pm
- Location: Los Gatos / NYC
For me:
1. Frequent UTIs since a child (cleared up in my 20's but returned in my 30's and 40's)
2. Low blood pressure (doctors are always concerned and i set off alarms when I come out of anesthesia).
3. Easy bruising (but tend to have a low hematocrit and low ferritin - no known reason either). I've had 10 iron infusions in the last 3 years for this. I have a few bruises on my calf that have persisted for at least 3 months. They just don't seem to go away.
Tex: I've also had the excessive yawning thing. It was really starting to worry me this last summer. I just couldn't stop yawning. I took vitamins and minerals so I don't think it was magnesium for me.... thoughts?
1. Frequent UTIs since a child (cleared up in my 20's but returned in my 30's and 40's)
2. Low blood pressure (doctors are always concerned and i set off alarms when I come out of anesthesia).
3. Easy bruising (but tend to have a low hematocrit and low ferritin - no known reason either). I've had 10 iron infusions in the last 3 years for this. I have a few bruises on my calf that have persisted for at least 3 months. They just don't seem to go away.
Tex: I've also had the excessive yawning thing. It was really starting to worry me this last summer. I just couldn't stop yawning. I took vitamins and minerals so I don't think it was magnesium for me.... thoughts?
Hi Linda,
Sometimes my breathing matches what happens during an asthma attack, (when I was a kid, asthma was a major problem for me, but I seemed to outgrow it in my 20's), except that when this happens now, I never notice any wheezing, and I rarely cough up anything significant, but breathing becomes very labored, just as with asthma. I'm assuming that it can't be asthma, though, without wheezing.
So currently, I'm stumped.
Tex
Well, apparently something besides magnesium deficiency can cause it, because the problem has returned for me, and I take 400 mg of magnesium daily, (in addition to whatever I get from my diet). For me, the yawning is connected with trying to take a deep breath, which in turn is connected with shortness of breath episodes, which initially began, following surgery, 6 years ago. I think that in my case, it may be due to a hypothalamus/pituitary/thyroid issue, but I haven't had any luck proving it, so far. At least all the lab tests, a couple of years ago, were negative, including thyroid antibodies. My Free T4 is always at the bottom of the normal range, or below range, and so I've taken 60 mg of Armour for 6 years now, but my most recent thyroid test results have shown progressively declining TSH, and on the last test, (last month), it was below range, so obviously, something is changing. I'm currently experimenting with a reduced thyroid supplement dosage, because since late last summer, I've been having symptoms of hyperthyroidism.Linda wrote:Tex: I've also had the excessive yawning thing. It was really starting to worry me this last summer. I just couldn't stop yawning. I took vitamins and minerals so I don't think it was magnesium for me.... thoughts?
Sometimes my breathing matches what happens during an asthma attack, (when I was a kid, asthma was a major problem for me, but I seemed to outgrow it in my 20's), except that when this happens now, I never notice any wheezing, and I rarely cough up anything significant, but breathing becomes very labored, just as with asthma. I'm assuming that it can't be asthma, though, without wheezing.
So currently, I'm stumped.
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.
Zizzle:
I have a couple of the problems but not all. Some I had when a child, but disappeared as I grew up, ,like dermographia.
I always feel out of shape (endurance-wise). It doesn't matter what I do, or how much I do I always have feel I have to "start from scratch."
I was told by a doctor years ago that I have MVP, but I have never told anyone about it. So I don't know.
No hyperflexibilty here, but since I had polio as a child and was immobilized for a long time (relatively to my age) I don't know. I do NOT have PPS.
Leg cramps yes, but no restless legs.
I am always bruised, even bleeding, but I never know where or whether I have bumped myself.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I have a couple of the problems but not all. Some I had when a child, but disappeared as I grew up, ,like dermographia.
I always feel out of shape (endurance-wise). It doesn't matter what I do, or how much I do I always have feel I have to "start from scratch."
I was told by a doctor years ago that I have MVP, but I have never told anyone about it. So I don't know.
No hyperflexibilty here, but since I had polio as a child and was immobilized for a long time (relatively to my age) I don't know. I do NOT have PPS.
Leg cramps yes, but no restless legs.
I am always bruised, even bleeding, but I never know where or whether I have bumped myself.
Happy Thanksgiving!
That's what remains from long-term use of prednisone. That should fade away with time, as your skin returns to normal thickness.Lesley wrote:I am always bruised, even bleeding, but I never know where or whether I have bumped myself.
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.
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draperygoddess
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 558
- Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:49 am
- Location: Tennessee
Zizzle,
I just read the articles at the links you posted, and I have to admit to being a little alarmed! I don't want to jump the gun, but I will definitely be asking my daughter's doctor about this at her next checkup. My mother and grandmother both bruised easily and bled freely from small cuts. Mother has also always been "clumsy" (her words) and a bit accident-prone--it's a family joke! She has MVP and a heart murmur. She has very soft, very thin skin and, at 63, relatively few wrinkles. She also has migraines. My sister's daughter is also notoriously clumsy, and her shoulders would become disjointed very easily (had to be careful how you picked her up when she was little). She also has flat feet. My younger daughter has always been my "soft girl" (very soft skin). She is double-jointed in several places and prone to joint pain in her knees and ankles. She is a competitive swimmer, which has the double advantage of improving her muscle tone and not putting pressure on the joints like other sports can, but she must be careful about the shoes she wears, especially if she'll be walking (a trip to the mall in unsupportive shoes leaves her sore). This daughter is the one who also has acid reflux (diagnosed at age 9) and a sensitive digestive system: as soon as food hits her stomach, she needs to go to the bathroom. Both my daughters have narrow palates (older one had an appliance to spread the palate when she was 6, and even though she has little teeth, when she had braces they had to file down her teeth to get everything to fit). That is a little more coincidence than I'm comfortable with. I have been more concerned for my children regarding my MC and food intolerance issues, which is why I had the genetic testing done at Enterolab (still awaiting results), but I would be interested to know whether these other symptoms are just coincidence.
I just read the articles at the links you posted, and I have to admit to being a little alarmed! I don't want to jump the gun, but I will definitely be asking my daughter's doctor about this at her next checkup. My mother and grandmother both bruised easily and bled freely from small cuts. Mother has also always been "clumsy" (her words) and a bit accident-prone--it's a family joke! She has MVP and a heart murmur. She has very soft, very thin skin and, at 63, relatively few wrinkles. She also has migraines. My sister's daughter is also notoriously clumsy, and her shoulders would become disjointed very easily (had to be careful how you picked her up when she was little). She also has flat feet. My younger daughter has always been my "soft girl" (very soft skin). She is double-jointed in several places and prone to joint pain in her knees and ankles. She is a competitive swimmer, which has the double advantage of improving her muscle tone and not putting pressure on the joints like other sports can, but she must be careful about the shoes she wears, especially if she'll be walking (a trip to the mall in unsupportive shoes leaves her sore). This daughter is the one who also has acid reflux (diagnosed at age 9) and a sensitive digestive system: as soon as food hits her stomach, she needs to go to the bathroom. Both my daughters have narrow palates (older one had an appliance to spread the palate when she was 6, and even though she has little teeth, when she had braces they had to file down her teeth to get everything to fit). That is a little more coincidence than I'm comfortable with. I have been more concerned for my children regarding my MC and food intolerance issues, which is why I had the genetic testing done at Enterolab (still awaiting results), but I would be interested to know whether these other symptoms are just coincidence.
Cynthia
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
Probably since the first time you used a corticosteroid, or first developed a malabsorption issue that affected the absorption of the "B" vitamins. If you can lick the malabsorption issue, and avoid the use of any corticosteroids, your skin should be pretty much normal after half a year or so.The bruises and bleeding have been around for a very long time.
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.
Nope, long before that. As has the ataxia. In fact, I can't remember when I was NOT designated "clumsy". The bruising - I would get up in the morning with a bruise, but didn't have the faintest clue where I got it. I think I started really to notice it around age 40-ish. Mostly on my legs. And later on my arms too.
I just had a thought. I have Reynaud's disease. I have to watch my feet and hands when it gets cold. Does anyone else have it? No doctor has ever connected it to the bruising. Could they be connected?
I just had a thought. I have Reynaud's disease. I have to watch my feet and hands when it gets cold. Does anyone else have it? No doctor has ever connected it to the bruising. Could they be connected?