Aa
Chronic Fatigue / Palpitations / Magnesium - what is wrong with me?
Hi guys,
I'v been sick for around a year now.
I did post here back in June (http://www.medhelp.org/posts/General-Health/Undiagnosed-symptoms/show/2882171#post_13852244) , things have developed a bit more since then.
I'll summarize:
September 2015
- Major hypoglaecemic incident (following a bachelor party - this seems to have been the starting point for all my probems)
- Muscle twitches and spasms
- Heart palpitations, chest pains
- Really weird feelings before, during and after eating
- Burning / tingling sensations throughout my body - kinda "hotspots" - these would move around frequently
- Constant headaches
Other symptoms (cant recall when they started)
- Excessive thirst
- Very sensitive to light and sound (comes and goes)
- Strange sensations as if my blood is stinging me
January 2016
- Diagnosed with Calcium deficiency, given one months worth of tablets
- If memory serves, this did make some of the symptoms marginally better
March/April 2016
- Fatigue. Being on my feet for any period would often make me incredibly tired. For example, being on my feet at work for 30 minutes left me so tired that I had to sit down. I felt exhausted for about 5 days afterwards and was unable to function as normal. I didn't even have the energy to sit in my chair at work, so was pretty much confined to bed / sofa.
- Cardiologist told me to STOP taking magnesium supplements (I had been taking them sporadically for about 3 years, not heavily. This was due to a belief that they would help me with muscle cramps (calfs) whilst exercising).
May 2016 --> Summer
- Fatigue became gradually worse. At first it would only seemingly trigger if I stood up for too long, I'd have good weeks and bad weeks but was generally managing to work full time (office job, sitting down).
- Later summer fatigue became almost a constant, too tired to work more than a few hours a day, and that was a major battle.
- If memory serves me correctly, I believe the heart palpitations and muscle spasms etc had died down quite a bit.
- Hypoglaecemic symptoms persist to this day (if I make a mistake with my eating regime)
- Diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency in June, given tablets for "long term"
Currently:
- It occurred to me that fatigue had only really started since stopping magnesium supplementation. I decided to start taking them again to see what would happen.
- Within 12 hours I felt my energy levels improve. They have improved gradually since, to the extent that some days I feel like I almost have enough energy to go do some exercise!
- Noticed on 1st day of Magnesium that my heart palpitations and muscle twitchiness was back. Makes it incredibly hard to sleep.
- Excessive thirst has got even worse - some nights I'v had to get out of bed due to feeling completely weird and extremely thirsty - I have to drink about 4 or 5 pints of water and sit up for 10 minutes to feel "safe" again.
- Dizzyness during the aforementioned episodes.
- Noticed my tears / eyes watering feels very salty and is burning my eyes.
- Mouth tastes very salty.
I have since stopped the magnesium supplements again as the above symptoms are most unpleasant. I feel like they may be slowly reducing now.
Doctors:
- Have seen Neurologist, had MRI scan - everything fine
- Have seen Cardiologist, had heart rhyhtm recording and echocardiogram - everything fine.
- Have seen Endocrinologist - he had me in hospital for 24 hours without food - bloods were normal (no symptoms that day!)
- Have had 5 sessions with Cognitive Behavioral Therapist; got a little benefit mentally from this, but not much. Currently waiting for Counsilling referral as she believes this would be more beneficial.
- GP believes I have Chronic Fatigue caused by stress (have had a very stressful time the past 14 months)
- I have seen Chronic Fatigue Unit; they didn't know if it was CFS or not, and have referred me to an Immunologist that specialises in Fatigue.
- Nothing else has come to light from many blood tests, including electrolyte levels.
---------------------------------------
So..... anyone got any ideas?
The recent change in symptoms when restarting magnesium has me thinking that there is something wrong with my electrolytes, however blood tests say otherwise.
I'm struggling to believe it's CFS when I noticed such a quick improvement in my fatigue from taking magnesium.
Completely at a loss as to what to do now, I feel like if it's not CFS, then the doctors are never going to find it as I don't even know what kind of consultant I should see or what kind of tests to request.
Any advice would be much appreciated... and sorry for the extra long post :(
I'v been sick for around a year now.
I did post here back in June (http://www.medhelp.org/posts/General-Health/Undiagnosed-symptoms/show/2882171#post_13852244) , things have developed a bit more since then.
I'll summarize:
September 2015
- Major hypoglaecemic incident (following a bachelor party - this seems to have been the starting point for all my probems)
- Muscle twitches and spasms
- Heart palpitations, chest pains
- Really weird feelings before, during and after eating
- Burning / tingling sensations throughout my body - kinda "hotspots" - these would move around frequently
- Constant headaches
Other symptoms (cant recall when they started)
- Excessive thirst
- Very sensitive to light and sound (comes and goes)
- Strange sensations as if my blood is stinging me
January 2016
- Diagnosed with Calcium deficiency, given one months worth of tablets
- If memory serves, this did make some of the symptoms marginally better
March/April 2016
- Fatigue. Being on my feet for any period would often make me incredibly tired. For example, being on my feet at work for 30 minutes left me so tired that I had to sit down. I felt exhausted for about 5 days afterwards and was unable to function as normal. I didn't even have the energy to sit in my chair at work, so was pretty much confined to bed / sofa.
- Cardiologist told me to STOP taking magnesium supplements (I had been taking them sporadically for about 3 years, not heavily. This was due to a belief that they would help me with muscle cramps (calfs) whilst exercising).
May 2016 --> Summer
- Fatigue became gradually worse. At first it would only seemingly trigger if I stood up for too long, I'd have good weeks and bad weeks but was generally managing to work full time (office job, sitting down).
- Later summer fatigue became almost a constant, too tired to work more than a few hours a day, and that was a major battle.
- If memory serves me correctly, I believe the heart palpitations and muscle spasms etc had died down quite a bit.
- Hypoglaecemic symptoms persist to this day (if I make a mistake with my eating regime)
- Diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency in June, given tablets for "long term"
Currently:
- It occurred to me that fatigue had only really started since stopping magnesium supplementation. I decided to start taking them again to see what would happen.
- Within 12 hours I felt my energy levels improve. They have improved gradually since, to the extent that some days I feel like I almost have enough energy to go do some exercise!
- Noticed on 1st day of Magnesium that my heart palpitations and muscle twitchiness was back. Makes it incredibly hard to sleep.
- Excessive thirst has got even worse - some nights I'v had to get out of bed due to feeling completely weird and extremely thirsty - I have to drink about 4 or 5 pints of water and sit up for 10 minutes to feel "safe" again.
- Dizzyness during the aforementioned episodes.
- Noticed my tears / eyes watering feels very salty and is burning my eyes.
- Mouth tastes very salty.
I have since stopped the magnesium supplements again as the above symptoms are most unpleasant. I feel like they may be slowly reducing now.
Doctors:
- Have seen Neurologist, had MRI scan - everything fine
- Have seen Cardiologist, had heart rhyhtm recording and echocardiogram - everything fine.
- Have seen Endocrinologist - he had me in hospital for 24 hours without food - bloods were normal (no symptoms that day!)
- Have had 5 sessions with Cognitive Behavioral Therapist; got a little benefit mentally from this, but not much. Currently waiting for Counsilling referral as she believes this would be more beneficial.
- GP believes I have Chronic Fatigue caused by stress (have had a very stressful time the past 14 months)
- I have seen Chronic Fatigue Unit; they didn't know if it was CFS or not, and have referred me to an Immunologist that specialises in Fatigue.
- Nothing else has come to light from many blood tests, including electrolyte levels.
---------------------------------------
So..... anyone got any ideas?
The recent change in symptoms when restarting magnesium has me thinking that there is something wrong with my electrolytes, however blood tests say otherwise.
I'm struggling to believe it's CFS when I noticed such a quick improvement in my fatigue from taking magnesium.
Completely at a loss as to what to do now, I feel like if it's not CFS, then the doctors are never going to find it as I don't even know what kind of consultant I should see or what kind of tests to request.
Any advice would be much appreciated... and sorry for the extra long post :(
Hello~
I am so sorry you are going through all this. As I was reading, my first thought was CFS, I also thought of diabetes, diabetes can cause these symptoms as well. Have you had the 6 hour glucose tolerance test? Have they drawn blood for an A1C blood sugar level, this can show what your sugar has been doing in the blood stream for the last three months. The magnesium may not have been the right type, their are many different versions of it. Here is a list of the best and worse for assimilation:
The best forms of magnesium
Magnesium citrate -- Magnesium citrate is the most popular magnesium supplement, probably because it is inexpensive and easily absorbed. Since citric acid is a mild laxative, magnesium citrate functions as a constipation aid as well as a magnesium source. It is a great choice for individuals with rectal or colon problems but is unsuitable for those with loose bowel movements.
Magnesium taurate -- Magnesium taurate is the best choice of magnesium supplement for people with cardiovascular issues, since it is known to prevent arrhythmias and guard the heart from damage caused by heart attacks. Magnesium taurate is easily absorbed (magnesium and taurine stabilize cell membranes together), and it contains no laxative properties.
Magnesium malate -- Magnesium malate is a fantastic choice for people suffering from fatigue, since malic acid -- a natural fruit acid present in most cells in the body -- is a vital component of enzymes that play a key role in ATP synthesis and energy production. Since the ionic bonds of magnesium and malic acid are easily broken, magnesium malate is also highly soluble.
Magnesium glycinate -- Magnesium glycinate (magnesium bound with glycine, a non-essential amino acid) is one of the most bioavailable and absorbable forms of magnesium, and also the least likely to induce diarrhea. It is the safest option for correcting a long-term deficiency.
Magnesium chloride -- Though magnesium chloride only contains around 12 percent elemental magnesium, it has an impressive absorption rate and is the best form of magnesium to take for detoxing the cells and tissues. Moreover, chloride (not to be confused with chlorine, the toxic gas) aids kidney function and can boost a sluggish metabolism.
Magnesium carbonate -- Magnesium carbonate is another popular, bioavailable form of magnesium that actually turns into magnesium chloride when it mixes with the hydrochloric acid in our stomachs. It is a good choice for people suffering from indigestion and acid reflux, since it contains antacid properties.
The worst forms of magnesium
Magnesium oxide -- Magnesium oxide is the most common form of magnesium sold in pharmacies, but it is non-chelated and possesses a poor absorption rate compared to those listed above.
Magnesium sulfate -- Magnesium sulfate, also called Epsom salt, is a fantastic constipation aid but an unsafe source of dietary magnesium, since overdosing on it is easy.
Magnesium glutamate and aspartate -- Avoid these two forms of magnesium completely. Glutamic acid and aspartic acid are components of the dangerous artificial sweetener aspartame, and both of them become neurotoxic when unbound to other amino acids.
I am so sorry you are going through all this. As I was reading, my first thought was CFS, I also thought of diabetes, diabetes can cause these symptoms as well. Have you had the 6 hour glucose tolerance test? Have they drawn blood for an A1C blood sugar level, this can show what your sugar has been doing in the blood stream for the last three months. The magnesium may not have been the right type, their are many different versions of it. Here is a list of the best and worse for assimilation:
The best forms of magnesium
Magnesium citrate -- Magnesium citrate is the most popular magnesium supplement, probably because it is inexpensive and easily absorbed. Since citric acid is a mild laxative, magnesium citrate functions as a constipation aid as well as a magnesium source. It is a great choice for individuals with rectal or colon problems but is unsuitable for those with loose bowel movements.
Magnesium taurate -- Magnesium taurate is the best choice of magnesium supplement for people with cardiovascular issues, since it is known to prevent arrhythmias and guard the heart from damage caused by heart attacks. Magnesium taurate is easily absorbed (magnesium and taurine stabilize cell membranes together), and it contains no laxative properties.
Magnesium malate -- Magnesium malate is a fantastic choice for people suffering from fatigue, since malic acid -- a natural fruit acid present in most cells in the body -- is a vital component of enzymes that play a key role in ATP synthesis and energy production. Since the ionic bonds of magnesium and malic acid are easily broken, magnesium malate is also highly soluble.
Magnesium glycinate -- Magnesium glycinate (magnesium bound with glycine, a non-essential amino acid) is one of the most bioavailable and absorbable forms of magnesium, and also the least likely to induce diarrhea. It is the safest option for correcting a long-term deficiency.
Magnesium chloride -- Though magnesium chloride only contains around 12 percent elemental magnesium, it has an impressive absorption rate and is the best form of magnesium to take for detoxing the cells and tissues. Moreover, chloride (not to be confused with chlorine, the toxic gas) aids kidney function and can boost a sluggish metabolism.
Magnesium carbonate -- Magnesium carbonate is another popular, bioavailable form of magnesium that actually turns into magnesium chloride when it mixes with the hydrochloric acid in our stomachs. It is a good choice for people suffering from indigestion and acid reflux, since it contains antacid properties.
The worst forms of magnesium
Magnesium oxide -- Magnesium oxide is the most common form of magnesium sold in pharmacies, but it is non-chelated and possesses a poor absorption rate compared to those listed above.
Magnesium sulfate -- Magnesium sulfate, also called Epsom salt, is a fantastic constipation aid but an unsafe source of dietary magnesium, since overdosing on it is easy.
Magnesium glutamate and aspartate -- Avoid these two forms of magnesium completely. Glutamic acid and aspartic acid are components of the dangerous artificial sweetener aspartame, and both of them become neurotoxic when unbound to other amino acids.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Undiagnosed Symptoms Community
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.
