Fibromyalgia Support Group

So many thread discussions last weekend reminded me of magnesium and vitamin D deficiencies. Things that can be helped by magnesium: twitches (medical term "fasciculation), sleep difficulties, diabetes, headaches and facial pain, IBS, breathing & allergies, TMJ, anxiety and mood disorders, attention deficits, noise induced hearing loss, tinnitus. Uncontrollable muscle contractions are possible in mag. deficiency, which can result in muscle tremors and spasms. Over 300 metabolic actions depend on Magnesium. Although rare, low magnesium can cause low calcium. (There is controversy over the proper ratio between the two. That is another topic to tackle.)

I hope everyone has read this article by Mark London, who has fibromyalgia. It is well researched, with numerous links.

http://web.mit.edu/london/www/magnesium.html

Please eventually read it through to the end. Within the links are more great info, like a study of vitamin D deficiency in SLE and FM patients, so perhaps bookmark it for thorough viewing over several days. If you do an internet search of "Fibromyalgia study magnesium" you'll find more reading than you want to do.

London mentions ATP deficiencies in fibromyalgia. ATP is in the Mitochondria. Muscle biopsy of FM patients show "red ragged fibres". What this description means is that there is an uneven distribution and proliferation of mitochondria. ATP is referred to as the "battery", that starts off the steps for conversion to glucose6. This ATP step can take place 100 times a second in a healthy person.. Think about that number and your muscle energy if you don't have enough ATP.

A study from Virginia Commonwealth University, presented at the 2010 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, found nearly 75 percent of subjects taking different doses of magnesium experienced at least a 25-percent drop in hot flashes. This does not mean that magnesium prevents night sweats in everyone, including men, however.

Some people feel much worse in hot weather. This can be exacerbated by mineral loss. Excessive sweating can deplete your magnesium stores. Other factors that can lead to a magnesium deficiency include heavy menstrual periods and being overly stressed, as well as consuming large amounts of alcohol, salt, soda or coffee. Medical conditions that affect the bowels, as well as diabetes, pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism and kidney disease can cause a magnesium deficiency as well.

Deficiencies in D can result from dietary malabsorption, celiac disease, inadequate dietary intake, and problems with receptors called steroid hormone receptors. If you have hyperparathyroid disease, do not take D supplements until evaluated by a doctor: D will make calcium levels go to dangerous levels. See parathyroid.com. People with immune illnesses can have trouble with vitamin D dosing.

You must have adequate magnesium to process therapeutic Vitamin D dosing

Vit D plays an important role in regulation of cell growth, immune function, blood pressure control, and insulin production, also.

Vitamin D in depth:

http://intl-ncp.sagepub.com/content/22/3/297.full

Edit: I found out that taking magnesium close to bedtime (or late afternoon) stimulates some people, and keeps them up or wakes them up. Be observant!

Post edited by: Sswelteer, at: 07/17/2012 05:19 AM

What a great article!! I have been taking Magnesium Malate, as prescribed by my grandfather who owns a natural foods/herb and supplement store. I didn't know exactly why I was taking it, but now it makes complete sense! I had NO idea everything that Magnesium affected. Especially the Mitral Valve Prolapse, which I was scheduled to go into surgery for. I am going to try this first! Thank you, thank you for posting this article. I have shared with friends and family.

Ask your doc or someone VERY knowledgeable, if that is a problem that could even be reversed without surgery. .

Thought I'ld try to put in info on Malate --- Malic acid, and then I thought, no, this is getting too long.

(Ooops: someone else got the PM; edited out)

Post edited by: Sswelteer, at: 07/09/2012 08:01 AM

Sswelter, thanks for the thread. Mark London's articles are certainly informative and in depth. And a great reminder for me as my Anatomy and Physiology books are somewhat dusty.

summer, Welcolme to the group! We are glad you are here and are looking forward to getting to know you. Being a cardiovascular R.N., I'm somewhat concerned by your MVP, scheduled surgery and decision to postpone in lue of Mg therapy. I haven't come across any instances where significant, symptomatic MVP, severe enough to require surgical intervention, has been reversed with Mg therapy. MVP involves structural malformities within the mitral valve itself, and surrounding myocardium, leading to regurgitation between atria and ventricle, resulting in dysrrythmias and affected cardiac output. A prolapsed valve, while can be affected by Mg levels with connduction defects and arrthymias, that has become floppy and ineffective would need to be replaced and in some instances, repaired.

Tapering with Mg levels, as well as other electrolytes (Ca, NaCl, K), can lead to life threatening dysrrthmias and conduction defects in patients with documented MVP and disease. So, Please discuss your desire to postpone your surgery in hopes of a resolution with Mg therapy. Inquire as to your electrolyte levels and ascertain direction from your Cardiologist before beginning Mg supplementation or any supplements for that matter. Balancing and maintaining a cardiovascular patients electrolytes is a critical and delicate process, requiring monitoring by your Cardiologist.

I offer this purely out of concern of your wellbeing and health. Best wishes and Bless your heart!

Lisa

Post edited by: Dodson, at: 07/09/2012 02:41 PM

Hi Lisa-

I sincerely value you taking the time to reply. I will certainly take your advice to heart and talk to my cardiologist before I further any supplementation. Thanks again!

Summer

I'm still working on my insomnia problem, which I've fought with for years, but which is much worse lately.

I began using magnesium at bedtime because I was having muscle cramps at night, and it was definitely stopping them.

Tonight I decided to read up on whether taking magnesium in tge afternoon or at night interferes with sleep. I found something called the paradoxical effect. For some people Magnesium keeps them from sleep, or wakes them up after a couple of hours. Bingo.

Also this, written on a forum:

Beginning-----If people are using magnesium to solve fatigue, seeing as how magnesium increases the bodies ability to use proteins as energy, this could be a very likely reason for you to stay awake.

"Magnesium: The crucial health benefits of magnesium include solving or preventing osteoporosis, heart attacks, hypertenstion, constipation, migraines, leg cramps, kidney stones, gallstones and more. Magnesium is an essential part of the alternative health approaches of alternative medicine. It also is effective to help with inability to have a BM during the low calorie phase. Formula to calculate magnesium daily requirement: 2.5-4.5 mgs per day per pound of ideal body weight. Calculation not to be used for children, children are calculated differently.

IMPORTANT: If you have any kidney disease or kidney issues, do not supplement with magnesium. It can cause more problems, can cause kidney shut down, and be life threatening. Be very aware_ that if you supplement with magnesium and are taking any prescription meds, i.e., thyroid, insulin, blood pressure meds, anti-depressants, statins, and other meds, magnesium supplements can alter how these drugs work in your body. You need to keep a close eye on yourself and talk to your doctor in case you need to reduce or stop any meds. Also, don't take it too close to bedtime. It can keep you awake.

You can use magnesium for help with constipation during the low calorie phase. It is also good for other phases and general use when not dieting. It can be very helpful for muscle cramping and pain during menstrual cycles and excessive exercise."

^ and again, it's mentioned elsewhere. Many places I've been reading about it have said, (and I am most certainly paraphrasing) "(it)'s a known muscle relaxant." However, this says nothing about perhaps how much your brain metabolism is working, until I found...

"Proper brain function depends on a constant supply of biochemical energy. When magnesium is chronically deficient or depleted, then brain metabolism and power suffer.". -----End

The implication being that taking the magnesium at night can stimulate brain function.

Someone else wrote that as an aid to having bowel movements, it can draw water to the bowels, creating a need for more fluid intake.

So much great information in here that I wish I had had to take to my doc today! I'd like to try taking magnesium but am reluctant to try self-dosing b/c I am on a couple of anti-depressants and a thyroid-supplement. However, I will do my homework on this so that the net dr.'s appt I will have all the pertinent info and questions for him regarding magnesium supplementation.

So much great info for sure! I am new to my diagnosis, and had been recommended to take magnesium from the local support group here, and also by my pharmacist who also has fibro! I have yet to get some and try it. I keep forgetting when I am out of the house. It hits me at the weirdest times when I do finally remember! I think I will send hubby out next time I do remember.

Welcome Summer!