Talk about a pain...........yes lets!

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:17 am

This is a continuation of an old them for me. I did very well on CPAP for the 1st 9 months but now in the last 3 months it has gone to you know where in a hand basket. Lately I have trouble feeling like I can't breathe well enough, I wake up at least every hour. I toss and turn and in generally feel like old kitty litter.
To make matters worse for the last couple of nights my hubby has been jumping out of bed in the middle of the night with terrible leg cramps. ( You know the kind that require screaming and walking to ease the torture )
So here I am just managing to doze and Hubby goes off like he is shot out of a cannon!
The worst part is that I have to quit feeling sorry for myself until I can help him. Now how inconsiderate is that ? LOL Just kidding but does anyone have any ideas on leg cramping and what might alleviate them other than eating banana's? He already does that and drinks tons of water.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:27 am

Have you tried Dr. Gott's trick of the bar of soap under the sheet?

Don't know if it works or not.

jimbassett · Post by **jimbassett** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:39 am

If he is drinking lots of water as I do, then more than likely he is washing the Potassium out of his system. This causes me serious leg crampa that will not go away unless I immediately take a couple of 595mg Potassium Gluconate tablets. In about a minute the pain starts to let up and within 5 minutes it is gone. It certainly wouldn't hurt for him to try this even taking one every evening before going to bed. They are OTC at walgreens for $7 for 300 tabs. Hope this works for him as it does for me. jim

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:42 am

Here's some ideas, from http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/legcramp.asp

&#56256;&#56442; Stretching one's calf muscles prior to going to bed.
&#56256;&#56442; Swearing off caffeine in the evening.
&#56256;&#56442; Increasing one's intake of potassium, magnesium, calcium or Vitamin E.
&#56256;&#56442; Sleeping on one's back with toes pointed towards the ceiling.
&#56256;&#56442; Taking quinine (now available only by prescription) or drinking tonic water (which
contains small amounts of quinine).
&#56256;&#56442; Increasing one's intake of water during the day.

Regarding what to do about an existing leg cramp, folk wisdom once again offers a
variety of potential answers:
&#56256;&#56442; Ingest a teaspoon of yellow mustard.
&#56256;&#56442; Drink a glass of water that has a quarter of a teaspoon of baking soda mixed into
it.
&#56256;&#56442; Pour salt into your hand and lick it.
&#56256;&#56442; Pinch the skin between the nose and the upper lip.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:46 am

RipVW wrote:Here's some ideas, from http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/legcramp.asp

&#56256;&#56442; Stretching one's calf muscles prior to going to bed.
&#56256;&#56442; Swearing off caffeine in the evening.
&#56256;&#56442; Increasing one's intake of potassium, magnesium, calcium or Vitamin E.
&#56256;&#56442; Sleeping on one's back with toes pointed towards the ceiling.
&#56256;&#56442; Taking quinine (now available only by prescription) or drinking tonic water (which
contains small amounts of quinine).
&#56256;&#56442; Increasing one's intake of water during the day.

Regarding what to do about an existing leg cramp, folk wisdom once again offers a
variety of potential answers:
&#56256;&#56442; Ingest a teaspoon of yellow mustard.
&#56256;&#56442; Drink a glass of water that has a quarter of a teaspoon of baking soda mixed into
it.
&#56256;&#56442; Pour salt into your hand and lick it.
&#56256;&#56442; Pinch the skin between the nose and the upper lip.

Regarding what to do about an existing leg cramp:

You left out poking your eye out with a stick and dropping a ten pound hammer on your middle toe

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:24 pm

My leg started jumping just reading the post! I haven't had a leg cramp since starting xpap. I have found nothing that helps except to walk it off.
I can just imagine walking it off dragging a hose behind me!!!

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:25 pm

Hi dieselgal,

I used to have leg cramps, until I started taking calcium and magnesium supplements on a regular basis. Sublingual B12 also helps, but mostly the cal/mag combo.
Tell your husband that as soon as he gets the spasm, to dorsiflex his foot really hard (bend the foot so the toes are trying to point towards his head). That can help alot.

Does he drink alot of soda? I've heard that can mess up your calcium/magnesium.

Sounds like you might be both disturbing each other right now. Can one of you sleep in a different room for awhile?

I go through alot of different sleep cycles. I can feel like I toss and turn all night for a couple weeks, then it calms down and I seem to get good sleep. Hopefully you're just going through a bad cycle and it will change soon.
Have you been doing anything differently since this bad cycle started?

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:51 pm

Here are some more details. My hubby is 57 but very active. Still works a very physical outside job in all kinds of weather. He is in great shape but he does have some bad habits. One is drinking LOTS of coffee even as late as 10 at night. He doesnt' drink soda but as I have said he gets his caffiene overdose in coffee. He also doesn't eat much fruit but I have encouraged him lately to eat bananas.
Fortunately he doesn't need CPAP but lately his moaning has cut into my
momentary fits of sleep!

About my sleeplessness there have been no changes that I can pinpoint. That is what is so frustrating.

I will pass on the tips though and I appreciate everyone's input.

_________________

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TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:16 pm

Unwrapped bar of Ivory soap under the covers, just below his feet. Cheap, effective and easy. I've been using this for months now and it sure has helped!

Good luck.

Kajun

goose · Post by **goose** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:41 pm

Caffeine is a diuretic as well as stimulant. He could be peeing all the potassium and other good stuff right out....

I have leg cramps at night myself, especially since I started xPAP. Don't think it's related, but.......
I drink a lot of lemonade and limeade (non-carbonated, non-sugared)....if I get a cramp I tend to run for the Gatorade which is really so high in fructose that the body can't deal with it straight. I've been told that Gatorade needs to be diluted 50-50 so the body can deal with it.....

I'm going to have to try that Potassium Gluconate pill....I do eat banana's a lot, but again I drink a lot of liquids.....
I will say that since xPAP I don't get up 4-5 times a night to use the bathroom....once at most and most of the time, not at all.....
I'm starting to have leak issues with all 3 of my masks, but that's another post.....

Take care
cheers
goose

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:59 pm

dieselgal......has he voiced a desire at all to cut back on his coffee? If so, he should take a least a month to slowly cut back on it.......otherwise, you'll both be even more miserable! Try to get hubby to take at least 500mg of calcium and 250mg of magnesium both morning and night. I think he'll see a difference.

Goose.....are you drinking artificial sweeteners? I don't think they are as benign as they are advertised as being......especially neutrasweet.
I have more morning stiffness now too, but I think its because we don't move around as much at night, because we're sleeping more deeply. I guess its a trade-off.

deerslayer · Post by **deerslayer** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:04 pm

ok, this has worked for me & believe me i know first hand about leg(quadriceps) & ham string) cramps. if you say he is staying hydrated then he may need electrolytes-Gatorade--and not to wait until they have gotten bad. emergency help--a big dill pickle has worked very quickly to lessen the baseball size knots. also keep muscles warm. cold environment will make him tighten up. ibuprofen or Tylenol before bed . also cut back on caffeine & alcohol as they will dehydrate. good luck! my heart goes out to anyone who has experienced such cramps, there are no words to describe the pain *

LavenderMist · Post by **LavenderMist** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:20 pm

I recently was waking up with very painful calf and foot cramps. My PCP told me to get Barefoot brand Coral Calcium. They obtain it from the waters off Okinawa, Japan. It naturally has the trace minerals and the "Complete formula that I buy also contains some vitamins and has a natural 2:1 ration of calcium and magnesium. She told me to only get that particular brand and take one in the morning and two at night before bed. I don't have the cramps any more. It can be purchased at Walgreens or you can get it online. It is about $20 for 90 pills.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:41 pm

I would say this could be a symptom of a bigger problem. He should see a doctor to rule out an underlying condition. While my personal guess is that all the coffee he is drinking is preventing his body from absorbing much calcium and magnesium (it does that!) which could lead to the cramps, I would let a doctor make that call.

This kind of coffee drinking could also be a symptom, really. Any kind of immoderation is not healthy. I would wonder why he felt the need to drink so much--he may be subconsciously trying to compensate for something. He needs to see a doctor to discuss these two things and any other symptoms he is having.

Jen

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:46 pm

Thanks everyone, great ideas and tips. I did call today and make an appt for him to have a check up but they can't see him until April 11th. I will pass on the suggestions and hope they help until then.

I keep suggesting he drinks to much coffee but he looks at me like I have 3 eyes!

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