leg cramps

[gothique11]

Since starting the HRT (8 months ago), I've occasionally had leg cramps. I was told it has to do with dehydration. I try to drink lots of water, which sometimes works. How much water should I be taking in? And are there drinks better than water that help better with dehydration.

I don't think it's blood clots -- my tests come back okay for that. Although, I'm going in on the 28th to see my GP again for the standard blood tests and I'll ask him about it again as well. I'm not seeing an endro because he refused my GP and psychiatrists referral because I need to see a certain psychiatrist in another city -- the gatekeeper -- before I can actually see the endro. It's frustrating. The wait list to see the gatekeeper psych-doc is about a year and a half, I've been waiting 8 months so far. Sometimes I worry -- I trust my GP and he seems good, but at the same time I worry about these leg cramps and not knowing what they are for sure, especially when the blood tests come back fine.

I know the spiro that I'm on is supposed to cause dehydration. I'm not on lots of spiro (I'm on a pretty low dose of everything, actually).

At first I though it was because I stand a lot at work, but now that I'm not working they cramps continue. Several people I know in town suggested that it's dehydration and so did my doc once, so since then I've been drinking lots more. Other symptoms I get are dry mouth/throat, not peeing much (or when I do, it's very dark), and so on. So, it seems like it's the problem. But, since I've been drinking lots it really hasn't changed much -- I keep drinking and still feel dehydrated and thirsty no matter what. It's like the water just goes through me (and it does, peeing constantly), but doesn't seem to hydrate my body at all. I've also tried stretching and moving around and so on, too. Still get the cramps, feeling constantly thirsty even with drinking tons of water, and feeling tried lots. *Sigh* it sux.

Anyway, any suggestions on something better than water, or maybe changing my diet, or something would be helpful. And I can try that until I see my doc on the 28th and see what he suggests.

Thnx for your help,


--natalie


PS my diet is pretty good, I eat lots of veggies and fruits -- mostly a non-strict vegetarian diet. I don't exercise as much as I should, although.

[Steph]

Hello Natalie.

You also need to monitor your potassium intake as well.  Spiro increases potassium levels so if you are eating food high in potassium such as bananas, oranges/orange juice this may be a contributing factor as well.

Just something to check out - remember I am no a Doctor.

Steph

[LostInTime]

Liquid is liquid, as long as you do not take in too much of the sugary stuff.

How much is a lot?  Do you keep a food diary?  How often do you eat?  Do you spread your water intake across the entire day?  How much do you sleep? Multi-vitamin? Low dose aspirin?

Be sure that your doc checks for diabetes as well, if that has not already been done, the next time you go.

[ssindysmith]

Sipro is a potassium sparing diuretic it will deplete your hydrolysis very quickly, a rule of thumb drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water, take me for example im 130lbs half is 65 so I need to drink 65 ounces of water everyday to stay hydrated. OH ya and banana's are good for releaving leg cramps

[Suzy]

Since starting the HRT (8 months ago), I've occasionally had leg cramps... Other symptoms I get are dry mouth/throat, not peeing much (or when I do, it's very dark), and so on. So, it seems like it's the problem. But, since I've been drinking lots it really hasn't changed much -- I keep drinking and still feel dehydrated and thirsty no matter what. It's like the water just goes through me (and it does, peeing constantly), but doesn't seem to hydrate my body at all. I've also tried stretching and moving around and so on, too. Still get the cramps, feeling constantly thirsty even with drinking tons of water, and feeling tried lots. *Sigh* it sux.

--natalie

Natalie,

FWIW, these were precisely my symptoms last fall when I discovered I was a diabetic.  I let it go too long and I very nearly died.  Please, Please, Please ask your doc about this.

Kristi

[Steph]

A good article on Spironolactone:

http://www.medicinenet.com/spironolactone-oral/article.htm

Steph

[LynnER]

I agree with Steph... it could be too much potassium in your system...  I work in the sun and I used to take potassium suplements to off set for all I was setting out and to keep from getting cramps all over... I started getting cramps anyways one day and found out that too much potassium in your system could be a factor so I dropped my suppliment intake in half and they went away.... granted this was all before HRT... I havnt touched a supliment pill in like 2 or 3 years LoL.

Deffinatly follow everyones sugestions here and have your GP check for everything listed... its allways better to be safe rather than sorry.

[gothique11]

Thanks for the info, I'll bring up the information with my GP when I see him in a couple weeks (he's on holidays now).

Yeah, I should probably avoid eating too much sugar. My roommates and I had our own easter day egg hunt thing, so I've been eating chocolate lots more than usual. But, I usually try to avoid eating too much sugar most of the time. I should probably exercise more, too -- especially with all of the easter chocolate.

[Judge Yourself]

Leg cramps were something i had as a teenager but not so much now. I was told to eat bananas - apparently i lack potassium or something...

[Renae.Lupini]

When I was in boot camp (yes, i was a Marine) I had terrible leg cramps that would wake me up in the middle of the night. I was also drinking enough water to drown fish because we were made to do so. What was happening is that i had low sodium and so i increased my salt intake a little and the cramps went away.

Just another thought in the pot.

[Kate]

Leg cramps were something i had as a teenager but not so much now. I was told to eat bananas - apparently i lack potassium or something...

EEEK! NOT IF YOU'RE ON SPIRO!!!

Spiro flushes out salt and fluids, leaves potassium behind, so it can build up if you're not careful.... and kill you.

~Kate~

[Renae.Lupini]

Leg cramps were something i had as a teenager but not so much now. I was told to eat bananas - apparently i lack potassium or something...

EEEK! NOT IF YOU'RE ON SPIRO!!!

Spiro flushes out salt and fluids, leaves potassium behind, so it can build up if you're not careful.... and kill you.

~Kate~

That goes back to my boot camp salt theory.

[Kate]

That goes back to my boot camp salt theory.

I'd agree... I eat salt like a crazy woman, and yet my sodium level is STILL low. Within bounds, but barely.

I get leg cramps when dehydrated, overly-caffeined, and/or super-tired.

~Kate~

[Lori]

Premarin has been known to cause serious blood clots as well, so it may not be just the sprio. If you are on premarin it could be a more serious issue.

[Maud]

Back when I was on a stack of premarin I got leg cramps, I switched to 17b estradiol and they went away.

[Terra]

Well, as for water intake, if urine is clear then you have enough water. In fact, drinking lots of water is good for losing about 8ibs on average. 

As for leg cramps, revaluate what you ate, the other ladies got it right. I they continue you probably should consider asking your doctor about it.

Hope this helps. ^^

[gothique11]

I'm not getting them anymore, I switched to Estrace. The Doc said it wasn't clots or anything, but probably my salt balance... Switching form premarine (Yay, horse pee!) to estrace has been pretty good for me so far.

[Berliegh]

I occasionally get leg cramps at night in bed. I've been on hormones and anti - androgens for 7 years. I do a lot of excercise everyday so I'm surprised I get them. I have been pushing myself lately with jogging,tennis and general excercises.

If your on hormones it's best to try and keep fit and active and eat a healthy diet.

[Lisbeth]

Bear in mind that spiro is a diuretic, aside from the patasium sparing part.  That means it sucks water out of your system, sending you to the bathroom frequently.  Also remember that estrogen can cause constipation.  Between the two of those that means drink! 

There are a number of other vitamins and minerals involved in leg cramps.  Make sure you are getting enough calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and B complex vitamins.  The reason is the muscle spasms that cause cramps operate through the Calcium Channel, a secondary channel for firing nerves.

[Melissa]

I had one of the worst charley horse leg cramps last week.  I woke up in the middle of the night with my calf contracting and it stayed that way for about 20-30 minutes.  I was screaming in agony.  Fortunately Rashelle was there to help massage it out.  Plus I drank a bunch of water, which helped.  I had drank some alcohol and ate a bunch of potato chips before going to sleep, so I'm sure mine was caused by dehydration.  Now I'm reticent to even drink alcohol at night.