TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
The most common cause of this in a lyme patient is magnesium deficiency. You are probably not taking enough mag yet or your mag is poorly absorbed because of the type of mag it is. Many forms of mag are poorly absorbed, especially the cheaper pills you can buy.
The blood test you had will not reveal a magnesium deficiency. You have to have a special, expensive test to show it. Much easier and cheaper just to take lots of magnesium and see if this problem goes away.
Here are some quotes from Burrascano:
"Magnesium deficiency is very often present and quite severe. Hyperreflexia, muscle twitches, myocardial irritability, poor stamina and recurrent tight muscle spasms are clues to this deficiency. Magnesium is predominantly an intracellular ion, so blood level testing is of little value. Oral preparations are acceptable for maintenance, but those with severe deficiencies need additional, parenteral dosing: 1 gram IV or IM at least once a week until neuromuscular irritability has cleared." (p. 6)
"6. MAGNESIUM (required) Magnesium supplementation is very helpful for the tremors, twitches, cramps, muscle soreness, heart skips and weakness. It may also help in energy level and cognition. The best source is magnesium L-lactate dehydrate (�Mag-tab SR�, sold by Niche Pharmaceuticals: 1-800-677-0355, and available at Wal-Mart). DO NOT rely on �cal-mag�, calcium plus magnesium combination tablets, as they are not well absorbed. Take at least one tablet twice daily. Higher doses increase the benefit and should be tried, but may cause diarrhea. In some cases, intramuscular or intravenous doses may be necessary." (page 28)
Many, many people have come on this site over the years complaining of muscle cramps and spasms, and nearly all of them were surprised when they took lots of mag and the symptoms went away in a few days.
So, get the good mag that Burrascano recommends (Mag-tab SR) and take about 4 per day, spaced out over the day or in 2 doses of 2 each. WalMart should have them.
Bet you will be back in about 4 days saying the problem is resolved.
Lyme makes us deficient in magnesium. So, we have to take lots of it as long as we have this illness.
Here is a quote from "The Lyme Disease Solution" page 121:
"The usual serum magnesium level is of little value because the vast majority of magnesium is inside of cells. Better tests would be red blood cell magnesium or ionized magnesium and these are the ones you should request."
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
When the soles of your feet hurt, that is a classic symptom of bartonella. Read it in Burrascano, page 24:
"Indicators of BLO [bartonella-like organism] infection include CNS symptoms out of proportion to the other systemic symptoms of chronic Lyme. There seems to be an increased irritability to the CNS, with agitation, anxiety, insomnia, and even seizures, in addition to other unusually strong symptoms of encephalitis, such as cognitive deficits and confusion. Other key symptoms may include gastritis, lower abdominal pain (mesenteric adenitis), sore soles, especially in the AM, tender subcutaneous nodules along the extremities, and red rashes. These rashes may have the appearance of red streaks like stretch marks that do not follow skin planes, spider veins, or red papular eruptions. Lymph nodes may be enlarged and the throat can be sore."
I had a few episodes of this, and it was very difficult to walk.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I appreciate all your input TF-you are a great source of information and inspiration.. especially when i can barely think straight rightnow. It's soo distressing.
I have a lot of tummy troubles (before I was diagnosed) so ... I wonder which Mag is best absorbed and easy on the tummy?
TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
You want to get the MagTab SR. Mag is easy on the stomach.
If you take too much, you can get diarhhea, but that isn't going to happen, believe me. Diarhhea is a sign that the bowels are emptying too frequently. So, if you really mean stomach ("tummy") and not intestines, you don't have to worry about stomach trouble with mag.
Maybe if you took 10 at a time, but otherwise it won't happen because this is a sustained release (SR) magnesium, so it will be fine.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
the spasms are classic bart along with the soles of the feet;....you must get to a lyme dr. you have exact same symptoms i had..the cramping spasms and eyes...the stomach problems..BARTONELLA. BARTONELLA BARTONELLA!!! you sound like your reciting a list of my symptoms 2 years ago.
Posts: 38 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2012
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Ellen101
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35432
posted
mahalo what meds worked for you?
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
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@ellen..there are so many different strains of bart and there is no 1 recipe for everyone. i have use biaxin xl, rifampin, levaquin, bactrim, zith, and combinations of those with minocycline, or doxy.. its a tough bacteria. you must be persistant with abx. good luck!
Posts: 38 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2012
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