My talking out loud

Hi all! I am not a big one for writting a blog but today I felt the need… Maybe someone out there can help… You see I know I am not crazy, there is something very wrong with me but I think its as simple as a deficiency, but in what is the question….

Im a 34 year old mom of 2 with Celiac disease (have to maintain Gluten free), who has lost 95lbs over the last 3 years. No big deal with any of that but starting back in Nov. crazy stuff started. I have always had muscle cramps, you guys know a charlie horse here or there is no big deal but I also got them in my feet and my abs (ouch, abs hurt) But that was a syptom/side affect of Celiacs, again no biggie . However one Nov. night after a REALLY bad sugar binge (that included 2 DD Caramel lattes) I woke up drenched in sweat and with a charlie horse cramp from my inner thigh down to my foot, i was paralized and in so much pain, it came and went in waves of a spasm that I can only describe as childbirth contractions…omg it hurt! Finally went away after about 10min of pure panic..the next day I was so sore and limping. Most would think maybe I should drink more water…trust me I drink plenty! After that episode I stayed away from binging for a while but the cramps started in other parts of my body..Abs became a hit or miss thing with me, sometimes i could work them other times they would lock up and cramp on me. (kinda gross actually, you can see it get all twisty when i lift up my shirt) Then started the pec muscles, i would move a little then here comes a charlie horse..ouch. ( i am a sight as I walk around massaging my chest at the gym and breathing heavy trying to get through it…lol!) Calves are impossible for me to flex with out cramping, same with my hamstrings. I was actually in Contest prep trying to pose and i started with the back cramps( no i am not kidding..) I  stopped with contest prep like 10 weeks ago (not due to this but me just wimping out) and thought it would be better with out all the working out but it has actually gotten worse! I am not crazy with my workouts, I am sure there are many of you that train harder or more intense than me so i know it isn’t overtraining.I went to the dr’s who of course told me i was over exercising and needed to stop and be happy with what I have accomplished…lol Is she crazy or what?? She humored me and ran some blood panel of test, I was sure I would get a call that said I needed to supplement, Iron,calcium, something..but no I got a call that said all is fine, im overtraining…pure crap! Well the cramps keep on…At this point I never know where or when but thinking its just gonna be a fact of my life.. Then we take the boys camping (in a camper of course) and after enjoying a couple smores we turn in for the night only to wake up the campers to me screaming in pain as both legs spasm and cramp from the inner thigh to my feet..omg, i would birth another baby, drug free before going through that pain again! I can’t move my legs when it happens and it comes and goes in a wave of pain and tightening..they are lasting longer now, that was about 15 min.

The next day i can barely walk from how tender they are and I feel like i got hit with a truck, this was the 3rd time for that specific cramp (thank goodness, cause it HURTS!) but the others are averaging daily. I teach group fitness and its embarassing when I so much as pick up a dumbell and my pec muscle cramps.. Went back to the dr’s but requested a diffrent dr. Explained it all again and she pulled up my last blood work…low and behold..there was a problem…Seems my Creatine Kinase is "above high normal" from what I was told this has something to do w/muscle breakdown..Also my ALT levels were also flagged as "above high normal"this has something to do with my liver…so off to more testing I go.. This time I am dr ordered rest before the test..(the muscle breakdown being high could be do to working out close to the test)so here I sit on day 3 of total rest and its killing me! I hate not doing something, but I know my health comes first. I am having a battery of blood work taken and I am doing that sugar test thing where you fast for 8 hrs then drink pure sugar and see what it does to you….fun! So i have to sit in a lab for 4 hours while they monitor me…even more fun!

Meanwhile my muscles are still cramping and stiff, i walk like I am 80 (no offense to you 80 year olds read this!)and I can’t get cold cause the whole body turns into a pretzel then…that is embarrasing, I know first hand, just happened at my sons little league game. I was freezing and went to stand only calf muscles said no thanks, and down I went..lol! Only to have to keep walking the rest of the 2 innings cause if I stopped something cramped…ever had a charlie horse in your Lat muscle????It’s not fun!

Anyway…Sorry for all the drama and long post but I am sure there is someone…anyone out there in this workout world that could shed some light or offer advise..again, i think its as simple as a deficiency somewhere but where??????

Happy weekend all!

Mende