Losing my.......magnesium!

[Hainesyboy]

Hi All,

It's been a little while since I posted about my liquid output from my ileostomy and dehydration. I'm still using the St Marks solution but not limiting my fluid intake and things are definitely getting better. The problem I'm having now is lacking in Magnesium, infact a few weeks ago I had to be rushed to the hospital in an Ambulance because I'd collapsed, was hyper ventilating and had loads of muscle cramps, including my throat, my chin, arms and legs etc, it was extremely frightening not only for me but my family too. All it was was because I was low in magnesium. Now I've been having magnesium infusions every couple of weeks and the rate that the levels in my blood are dropping is getting a lot slower.

The question I'm asking is have / do any of you guys have this issue with losing magnesium? The rest of my blood results are the best they ever have been, B12 great, Iron stores great, Haemoglobin way better than ever but the magnesium keeps dropping.

Any info would be greatly appreciated, I had my op in February, my Gastro Consultant has never come across this before, which ain't too handy!

Many thanks - Paul

 

[2thFairy]

I only experienced a major drop in magnesium about 5 days after surgery when my output went wild and I got dehydrated.

You have my sympathies...not that it helps any. Wow, I'm glad you are doing better at the moment. That must have been hella scary!

 

[bigtruck]

Hi there I had this problem after my ileostomy to such an extent I had to have it reversed at the 12 week mark, are you on vitamin d? To you take a proton pump inhibitor ie lansoperazole for indigestion? Has anyone discussed giving yourself sub cut fluids at home, loosing magnesium and letting it get so low is very dangerous and lead to heart rhythm problems.

 

[sanni]

For me my main problem is low potassium but my magnesium is low too. The potassium has been an issue for some years allready ever since i got my ostomy 5 years ago and I take large amount of supliments of it (up to 6-8g per day) but the doctors are starting to fuss about my magnesium too now. I take a large amount of magnesium by pill. We just upped the dose to 3 grams this week so I yeat dont know if it will help or not. I have not had storekes or seisures because of any of this but I do get very tired and weak muscles sometimes and cramps in my legs and numbnes in all my limbs and an ocasional fynny beat in the heart.

For me an interesting thing I read about just yesterday that low magnesium can inpact and even cause low potassium so I gues in terms of hydration magnesium is really important. Also I read that magnesium can be low in your body even before it shows low in your blood tests. In my case I am now wondering if this has been the case for me and is perhaps a reason I cannot get my potassium to rise up.

Having a stoma and high output is a big strain on the body. Hope you get your levels fixed and can feel better soon. Your body can also some what adapt to lower levels but this will happen over time.

 

[Hainesyboy]

Thanks guys.

Bigtruck - We've stopped the PPI I was taking because of the mag issue. I know it's not good to be low hence me having to keep getting the IV infusions. Up until now the only route has been via A & E which takes forever (you know the situation, even tho we know more than anyone about our our bodies / illnesses you always find some new doctor who's never met you before that goes through every problem that you know it isn't!) Luckily I suggested regular infusion, just incase and my Consultant said it was a great idea, Gees, not exactly rocket science I thought!

So I'm having one this Friday at the unit where I have my infliximab so I know the team and they're a great bunch. I've also discovered that you take on mag better transdermally than you do orally (especially with insides like ours) and it seems that my Epsom Salt baths and Magnesium Oil spray on lotion may be helping.

Sanni, the transdermal route is well worth a try as your symptoms were exactly what I had a week or so before I ended up as I described in my original post, look after yourself.

On the plus side though after the op I can eat everything I never used to be able to, beans on toast, fajitas, peanuts and I'm out for a Mexican tonight with my Fiancé. So so far the ups nearly weigh up with the downs!

 

[2thFairy]

On the plus side though after the op I can eat everything I never used to be able to, beans on toast, fajitas, peanuts and I'm out for a Mexican tonight with my Fiancé. So so far the ups nearly weigh up with the downs!

Being able to eat again without worries of pain and 'where is the nearest toilet' is definitely one of my favorite things of having a stoma!

 

[sanni]

Where do you get these transdermal products from. I know here we don't have them at the pharmacy so my doctor cannot really set me on them. I think some are sold at natural product stores, but at least here its not then considered a medication and I cannot get financial support on them. Silly system.

 

[Hainesyboy]

Sanni - Google is your friend, I got Magnesium oil and Epsom Salts both from Amazon. I pay for them myself but they're inexpensive and both products last quite a while. Epsom salts will definitely be available at most pharmacies and many supermarkets. I'm sorry but I'm not up to speed on suppliers to Finland!

 

[sanni]

Ok.. I am confused. With the risk of sounding stupud: Do you bathe in it??? lol.. this is something totally new to me.

 

[Nyx]

The oil and salts are topical (salts you bath in) and the transdermals are injections or infusions like remicade...you'd have to have a doctor or nurse administer them.

 

[sanni]

Thanks for clearing this up for me.

In that case those are not a option for me right now because the idea is to keep me off iv-infusions. I used to have to get potassium several times a week and not i get it in my ORS drink. But ofcourse it the levels dont improve the iv-will be done. But doing everything to avoid it.

 

[2thFairy]

Transdermal is on the skin. There is magnesium oil that you can order through Amazon. I don't have any personal experience with this or know anything about it other than you can get it. You rub it on.

 

[Hainesyboy]

Hi Sanni, sorry I didn't reply last night, I was out and about.

As Fairy says, Transdermal is via the skin which means you rub the oil on the skin and its absorbed into the bloodstream that way, supposedly a lot quicker and in greater volumes than orally. Epsom Salts dissolve in your bath and enter via the same route. If you google 'magnesium skin' you'll find loads of info, the vast majority of people who have used it transdermally report good results.

 

[annawato]

Hi Paul and Sanni, (and everyone else ), I always have a problem with my potassium levels and have had to have magnesium infusions to help with the potassium levels. So magnesium is essential for you to be able to keep your potassium stores up.
I also have a high output and take magnesium supplements everyday and potassium when I feel the cramps etc. I also take calcium 1g/day and loads of vitamin d because those levels are always low. I've also had to have iron infusions but interestingly, like you paul, my B12 levels are good - yet this is meant to be absorbed in the missing part of my intestine. i do take a PPI, does this interfere with absorption?

 

[sanni]

I am a bit suprised about this thing between the magnesium lowering the potassium. My doctor never mentioned it to me. I don't like that cus it either means she does not know this or that they just dont explain all the stuff they do to me. I would prefer to know the reasons for doing sertain things. Also she was very keen on adding more potassium to my daily intake and even she did also add magnesium, it makes me wonder if I now am taking too much potassium. I have labs in a couple weeks so I gues I will know what the blood is looking like then.

 

[Hainesyboy]

Yes Anna, PPIs effect the body's ability to absorb magnesium, annoyingly though PPis are also supposed to reduced high stoma output! So on one hand I need them and on the other I don't! My consultant stopped mine.

I had another mag infusion yesterday, will see me right for a good couple of weeks. :smile