Problems and taking it easy
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
April 26, 2009 at 8:27 am
Elevated blood glucose levels can cause severe cramping. Did your doc check that?
April 26, 2009 at 8:49 am
I am sorry to hear about all that you are going thru. It sounds painful. I know you are strong mentally and physically. It is time to take those 3 days of rest…as hard as it is. Your health comes first and you need to take care of YOU! I will pray it all turns out ok and they find you the right answers. HUGS to you my friend.
April 26, 2009 at 8:51 am
potassium levels ?
April 26, 2009 at 9:07 am
Potassium levels were normal…Blood glucose levels..not sure about that one, my glucose serum level came back on the higher end of normal but normal none the less, However that test was not done fasted. So I have some fasted tests coming up as well as the sugar drink test coming up..
You all are the best, thank yo for helping!
April 27, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Bummer. Sorry to hear about the cramping! I get cramping and spasms in my muscles every once in a while, but when I do- they are HORRIBLE…I cry out in pain and writhe around…helpless. It’s really scary not knowing HOW long they will last. I have gotten them in my feet (often) and in my calves, neck, obliques and quads…I think I may be a celiac though…I read that you are..any advise?
April 27, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Have they checked for Muscular Distrophy(MD). My brother is have test for this and he has same symptoms
April 27, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Hey Sugar, thanks for the response…Sounds familiar…Mine are becoming so much more frequent and not my lower legs and feet get all tingly all the time. Cramps are a side affect of celiacs, due to malabsortion issues but cramps this often and this extreme are beyond my Celiacs…You notice other issues that make you think you have Celiacs? If so just get a simple blood test, if positive they will confirm w/an endoscopy for an official diagnosis. But remember you have to have it in your system (gluten) for it to show in the blood. Alot of us clean eaters tend not to ingest gluten anyway, so eat some wheat bread and get a blood test…good luck, and congrats on the wedding, you make a beautiful bride!
April 27, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Hi Linda , Thanks for the reply…ok, you just got me worried…
I am going to go google it and read…Is it a blood test or other type of testing?
How is your brother doing?
April 27, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Have you had your magnesium level checked? If it’s low (and usually is for most folks), the best way for a person with celiac to get it in you fast is to use transdermal magnesium. You can rub it into your skin or soak your feet in water and magnesium oil. Another possibility is that your ratio of Omega 3’s to 6’s might be off (which can cause lactic acid buildup in the muscles). You should maintain a 2.5:1 ratio of Omega 6’s to 3’s (that would be one teaspoon of organic flaxseed oil and 3 teaspoons of either organic safflower oil or grapeseed oil). Just mix it in a glass of juice or a smoothie, and if this is the problem, it should resolve fairly quickly. These are my best guesses as to what ails you, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.