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Leg cramps

I have been getting a lot of leg cramps . Not Charlie horse status but feel like it might be heading that way . Side effect? TX with peg RIBA and sovaldi. Any suggestions would be helpful . Drinking plenty of water
    





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1961140 tn?1450738712
Hey, I'm a little late to the game on this, I know. If you load up on OTC potassium before bedtime, that might help. Some have mentioned Quinine water, but I don't know how much you would have to drink in order to get any Quinine like effects. If you can find an understanding MD, there are plenty of reputable companies in Canada, dealing with drug mfrs. in the U.K., who sell 300 mg. Quinine Sulphate tablets for dirt cheap. That is the only real, sure-fire cure to rid yourself of these. Mine wake me up with their twitching, like they are trying to go into a full blown, rock hard spasm. If they do, it is pain for hours after you finally walk them off. Good luck with it, most people don't realize how incredibly annoying it can be if you suffer with chronic PM leg cramps.   mac790
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Avatar universal
Interesting about the cocoanut water and oil.  Someone on on ? about about gatorade as a source of electrolytes, said that cocoanut water was a good hydrating drink - that must be why.   Pat

PS Bought some this weekbut haven't tried it yet.
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Avatar universal
Kinda funny, but I was just reading an article from a well known oncologist regarding leg cramps while on chemotherapy.   He tells all his patients to drink coconut milk or cook with coconut oil.   He stated it has the highest amount of potassium ( 14% ) of any known natural substance.
....Kim
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Avatar universal
I normally have low magnesium and was getting terrible leg cramps until I started taking 400 mg magnesium nightly. I seldom get them now but did get a horrendously terrible one in my inner thigh the other night. I think I may have been dehydrated and so have started drinking a glass of water close to bedtime. I'd much rather get up for the BR then have another cramp like that.

My doctor suggested tonic water for the quinine. I by no means drink it regularly but have a bottle on hand for emergencies. My cramps can get so bad that I could care less about low platelets at the time.

I am sadly still tx naive but do have cirrhosis.
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Avatar universal
Me too on the blueberries!  Yikes!
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Avatar universal
B:  Did I understand you correctly that blueberries, cranberry juice, etc can conteibute to lower platelets?

Here I have been eating blueberries for breakfast everyday because I thought they were good for my liver!!  Pat
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Avatar universal
Right can you believe it . Guess what my favorite cocktail used to be ,back when a cocktail could be lol vodka and tonic talk about shooting your self in the foot ! Great news about potato skins though . Love my potatoes





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Avatar universal
OMG.  I am totally blown away from what I've just read regarding low platelets.  I think everyone should google the offending agents, as we with liver issues tend to fall short in the quest for raising our platelet counts.
Including just a few as I sit here drinking my favorite beverage, which is included in the list Green Tea.
Chocolate
Blueberry s
Cranberry juice
Milk
Tylenol
On and on.  Buba was going to advise you to take tonic water for your leg cramps, but not any more.   Actually banned for leg cramp Tx as some were having Spleenectomys from consuming quinine (tonic water)
pills that in itself were the culprits.
Thanks for the eye-opening info!
BTW.  The skin of potatoes has more potassium then banana hands down.
....Kim
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Avatar universal
OOooh, I did not know that about the platlets.  Very interesting.  Thanks for the info!!

But do try the electrolytes.  P
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Avatar universal
The electrolyte drink sounds like a good idea. FYI I just read about tonic water remembering it had quinine for leg cramps ,and stumbled onto this interesting fact. It can actually lower platelets. I def need to stay away from that .many others here might also have platelets issues . Better safe than sorry☺️Thanks for the info .
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Avatar universal
B:  Can-do is right.  However what one person considers enough water isn't always.  Are you getting 1 oz per day per pound od body weight, up to 1/2 your weight?  If so, you are getting enough, but your body may want more.  The, as C said the potassium, but it is also magnesium and a mall amount of sodium in that mix.  My best suggestion is to get an electrolyte drink to sip on on the days you get too much water.

I am fine w/water to about 120 to 140 per day (my lower limit is 96 oz), but above that, I need between 1 and 2 oz of electrolytes over the day.

I was using Tonic water, as it has qunine in it and that also worked, but I had to have 8+ oz a day and ai am trying to eat and drink 'liver friendly.'

Hope this helps.  Good luck and keep on keeping on!  pat
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223152 tn?1346978371
I had a lot of leg cramps on treatment.  They got pretty severe but I never found a good solution for them.  Drinking a lot of water was always my doctor's answer, but I suppose, as cando says, you might end up short on potassium.
frijole
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Avatar universal
Since you say your drinking plenty of water you might have them check your potassium level. In the past some have had this problem. And it just might be a typical side effect thanks to good oh Riba and interferon. Best to you.
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