Magnesium Wackiness?

KnitOrMiss

So, for about the past week, I've been getting pretty significant headaches that I attributed to sinuses, but now I'm wondering. I've also had a resurgence of my postprandial somnolence (falling asleep after eating anything). It's been annoying and concerning. (For anyone who doesn't know my background, I'm a 38 year old female, 5'4" tall, 240 pounds, with PCOS, hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, and some physical issues as well...just as reference.)

While ranting to a friend about the sleepy issue returning and swearing up and down that I hadn't changed anything, a light bulb went off over my head! I had added a second dose of magnesium citrate (135 mg ) around lunchtime. Magnesium that most people say helps them sleep. I added the magnesium second dose because I was still getting weird muscle soreness triggers. (yeah, so that's only 270 mg a day total, which is a dose said to be safe for most women in my age range - and yes, the bloodwork I had done back in the end of April showed that I was deficient in magnesium but that my sodium and potassium - even after being keto for a few months - was level as before lowering my carbs.)

So I thought back to when the headaches started, and started googling, just to see if it might be related. And I ran across this site:

http://drcarolyndean.com/2012/10/when-magnesium-makes-me-worse/

This site has so much information and such conflicting information that I couldn't even make it through the whole list!! So, I wanted to ask all the informed minds here if you've ever heard of this person. Is she reliable? Is there any truth to the supposed absorption of her special blended stuff? Do you need calcium to absorb magnesium as indicated? Is high vitamin D3 a problem (I'm deficient, so I've taken relatively high doses for a few years now) with it? I'm so confused - and I still have a dadgum headache.

I would say "Calgon, take me away," but I'd really just like some reliable information. Does anyone want to find a doctor to take us on as a study group so we can get legitimate LOW CARB RDA standards?? Mostly I'm kidding, but sincerely, how difficult is it to figure out numbers for a legitimately prescribed way of eating???

Sorry for the overload, everyone... So, magnesium thoughts? And is this chick crazy or making sense???

danidanibobani

I noticed I was feeling really sleepy during the day, so I moved the magnesium to right before I go to bed. That and I take Valerian root before bed so I am sleeping better. I'm not sure if it was one or the other, or both, but I'm staying away from the mag during the day because not functioning sucks.

danidanibobani

Not sure about headaches! I've always heard mag is supposed to help.

canadjineh

Hmmm, interesting read.... Not sure about her, but my MD is also a ND and I've had him for 32 years. I take 750 mg of mag a day (spread throughout the day) without any issues including GI troubles, but I need it for my fibromyalgia. I don't get the sleepiness during the day, and it actually helps with the muscle soreness for me. Perhaps you should give her formula a try? What could it hurt if it is just a mix of minerals and vitamins that you have already been taking? Then again perhaps you should check in with your endocrinologist and general practitioner first. Sorry I'm not much help, but I feel your stress about trying to find the right combo for you. I've been there too with my 'issues.'

DittoDan

Hmmmmm.... I am 232 lbs and I take 800mg (2X 400 evenly spaced) and haven't had any problems. I only take mag and metformin, no other meds. I will say I get very minor headaches if I don't drink enough water. When I feel a little pain on the back of my head/neck, I drink a couple cups of water and the pain goes away within 30 minutes. Probably dehydration.

I hope this helps,

Dan the Man from Michigan
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AreteAndWhimsy

She sounds like a bit of a whackadoo to be honest. Her product sounds a bit like snake oil.

Anyhoo, I'm trying to pull up a reliable source for you, but I remember reading an article that when you are first increasing your magnesium intake, especially one that's quite readily absorbable, it can cause you to dump potassium because of increased movement of salts into and out of the cell walls, though ultimately it will boost potassium absorption. Low potassium definitely leads to headaches for me. Usually you need magnesium to help absorb potassium, and calcium intake affects both potassium and magnesium, though you may not need to actually supplement with calcium.

Here's an article on treating electrolyte imbalance in cardiovascular patients. It's a bit dense, but explains what needs to be monitored or changed when trying to correct specific imbalances: 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care

Also, I use a pill that has a combination of slower and faster release magnesium forms. It took a while for the benefits to show up, but I have no bad side effects to speak of.

AreteAndWhimsy

Also read up on hypoparathyroidism and calcium deficiency just to be on the safe side.

DittoDan

AreteAndWhimsy wrote: »

She sounds like a bit of a whackadoo to be honest. Her product sounds a bit like snake oil.<snip>

Yes, when I looked at that page, the bias came through very strongly when it had links to their EXPENSIVE products. She did have good info, but they all lead to the products. I doubt the drops she was selling for $99 cost $50 to produce (retail is usually 100% markup, I would probably think she could produce that product for less than $10 bucks)...

Dan the Man from Michigan
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glossbones

I can't quote my sources, but I'm under the impression that calcium and magnesium compete for your D3, so that if you take them together you probably only benefit from one supplement. Again, not sure where I've read it, but I have heard it a couple times from different sources.

Twibbly

KnitOrMiss wrote: »

Is high vitamin D3 a problem (I'm deficient, so I've taken relatively high doses for a few years now) with it? I'm so confused - and I still have a dadgum headache.

There have been studies with really freakin' high doses of Vitamin D3, and no reported issues.
The Vitamin D Council says that it may be a problem taking high doses like over 10,000 IU every day for MONTHS (but probably not if under 40,000 IU) or 300,000 IU in 24 hours, but they do list parathyroidism as something that can make the symptoms appear even if your VitD is low.

150 ng/ml seems to be the place where they start saying your 25(OH)D is too high.

http://test.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/am-i-getting-too-much-vitamin-d/

Even the most conservative estimates I'm finding indicate that up to 4,000 IU per day provides benefit with no detrimental side effects.

KnitOrMiss

It isn't dehydration - I've been well over 100 ounces daily for over a week, hitting my goal or just over 3-4 days. Urine has been in the good coloring.

I did add my lite-salt back in last night because I read that potassium bit, too.

Lowered my D3 today (also not taking the magnesium in the morning until Tuesday to check the effects Monday/Tuesday). I take it in the last dregs of my LOADED TEA (which does have heavy cream, so I'm assuming some calcium, right?). But my calcium levels were down this last test, too... *sigh* just too many factors.

I always get skeptical when people tell you theirs is the only product you can use and it costs and arm and three legs. I makes me laugh when others talk about things "absorbing on a cellular level." Everything eventually absorbs that way. No other way to observe.

Blood pressure was up slightly last night, 134/80 or so when it has been like 128/75 more recently, so something was off, but not enough to cause headaches.

I've also cut my iodine supplement in half per my Endo due to high levels (and I felt at first some of my thyroid symptoms flare up a bit) and so I'm going to read up on that, too. Did this a month ago.

Yesterday, it had gotten so bad I was about to leave work sick (even after adding sinus meds and ibuprofen), then I had some tea (part herbal, part black) with heavy cream, and felt better. I don't know if that means it was the heat, the fat, something in the tea, caffeine, etc.? I had my first broth in weeks yesterday trying to help... Nothing helps for more than a few hours.

It isn't there as soon as I wake up, and it isn't stabbing. It is a slow build and it SUCKS.

Oh, and I was taking a variation of the 5-hour energy drinks (doc approved) in the mornings, but with my LOADED TEA, I haven't taken them in weeks now (like 6-8), and I'm wondering if this is the B vitamin thing my doc talked about - that if you supplement with B12 but don't take other B vitamins, you'll end up deficient? Can low B vitamins cause headaches??

Going to play around with stuff again this weekend after reading he articles above. Otherwise, I'm at a loss.

KnitOrMiss

AreteAndWhimsy wrote: »

Also read up on hypoparathyroidism and calcium deficiency just to be on the safe side.

My thyroid numbers were almost perfect for the first time in years, so I would think this would have shown up in my recent bloodwork in end of April... I was low on calcium, but I really don't have any of those other symptoms...not even close.

Sk8Kate

I find when Hashimoto's gets bad, headaches are first symptoms. If I miss Synthroid dose in am, by noon headache reminds me to take it. My levels can be so off, we don't trust numbers any more. Dr goes on how I feel. I'm not sure what ranges are where you live, but in Sask, they are a bit misleading & my Dr said the "normal" range can vary in different areas.

KnitOrMiss

Sk8Kate wrote: »

I find when Hashimoto's gets bad, headaches are first symptoms. If I miss Synthroid dose in am, by noon headache reminds me to take it. My levels can be so off, we don't trust numbers any more. Dr goes on how I feel. I'm not sure what ranges are where you live, but in Sask, they are a bit misleading & my Dr said the "normal" range can vary in different areas.

Yeah, I found that I"m definitely not normal by any charts. I wonder if after this weekends, the headaches don't ease, I might try upping the iodine/iodide pill again.. I'll check in with my endo. Thanks for the suggestion. I haven't missed a pill, but I'm sure my body could be wonky on absorption.

danidanibobani

When I started taking a high dose b vitamin supplement, I finally got some control of my migraines. At one point, after being vegan for a year to try to get my migraines under control, I started having them weekly and the worst pain I had had. My mom gave me a bottle of her high dose b vitamins and within a month, I was back to one migraine a month and I wasn't in as much pain. I have been taking a regular b supplement since. I'm hoping the b vitamins and keto will help with the one a month I still get, but we'll see.

wheatlessgirl66

Sometimes my non-stop headaches have been due to a sinus problem that I wasn't even aware of. Taking a decongestant cleared them right up. Just an easy suggestion in case it fits. Magnesium has always helped me, too, so not sure about problems it would cause. Hope you find an answer and feel better soon!