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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on November 7, 2005, at 9:17:37
I've no idea which board this goes on.
But I've started having muscle cramps in my calves and feet. And twitches everywhere, mostly while I'm trying to sleep, or waking up. Or at least that's when I'm most aware of them because they bother my rest. The muscle cramps are more common all day.
Three things happened simultaneously before this occurred. I upped my Risperdal from .25 mg every once in a while to between 2 and 6 a day. My diet changed quite a bit. And I'm under a great deal of stress.
My impulse is to try eating bananas, though where I got the idea that muscle twitching or cramps and lack of bananas came from I don't know.
My nails are also very soft and turning up a bit above the bed. And it seems like I'm bruising easily, although I suppose it's possible that I'm distracted and banging into things without really noticing it.
I suppose that makes me think I'm missing something in my diet, rather than it being Risperdal.
If it's the Risperdal I'm just going to have to put up with it.
If it's a calcium deficiency, I don't know what to do, because I think they told me after the kidney stones not to take calcium supplements. Could be wrong about that. My memory is shot.
Oh, and my dermatologist said that my back rash was either nerves or a mild contact allery, so I'm back on Lamictal. But I've never heard of it being associated with twitches or cramps?
Any ideas about supplements or diet changes that might help?
Posted by spriggy on November 7, 2005, at 14:48:53
In reply to Vitamin deficiency, stress, or Risperdal?, posted by Dinah on November 7, 2005, at 9:17:37
Yes... I would bet it's the Lamictal.
I had muscle aches/twitches when i was on it ( I only took it for about a month).Crazymeds.org has some info on it and it mentions the muscle problems.
Posted by Dinah on November 7, 2005, at 17:03:51
In reply to Re: Vitamin deficiency, stress, or Risperdal?, posted by spriggy on November 7, 2005, at 14:48:53
Wow. That was my last guess. :)
Oh well. I'm so happy with the migraine prophylaxis of Lamictal that it would take a lot more than twitches or aches for me to give it up. Nothing's ever worked before.
I'll up the bananas and yoghurt, just to be on the safe side. (Yoghurt, yuck!)
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 7, 2005, at 22:39:55
In reply to Vitamin deficiency, stress, or Risperdal?, posted by Dinah on November 7, 2005, at 9:17:37
> I've no idea which board this goes on.
>
> But I've started having muscle cramps in my calves and feet. And twitches everywhere, mostly while I'm trying to sleep, or waking up. Or at least that's when I'm most aware of them because they bother my rest. The muscle cramps are more common all day.
>
> Three things happened simultaneously before this occurred. I upped my Risperdal from .25 mg every once in a while to between 2 and 6 a day. My diet changed quite a bit. And I'm under a great deal of stress.
>
> My impulse is to try eating bananas, though where I got the idea that muscle twitching or cramps and lack of bananas came from I don't know.Bananas are good for you, they're cheap, and your intuition might just work.
> My nails are also very soft and turning up a bit above the bed.
Spooning of the nails is associated with iron deficiency or thyroid problems.
> And it seems like I'm bruising easily, although I suppose it's possible that I'm distracted and banging into things without really noticing it.
Or, it could be a sign of something else.
Can you see a doctor, and just ask for a once-over?
> I suppose that makes me think I'm missing something in my diet, rather than it being Risperdal.
>
> If it's the Risperdal I'm just going to have to put up with it.
>
> If it's a calcium deficiency, I don't know what to do, because I think they told me after the kidney stones not to take calcium supplements. Could be wrong about that. My memory is shot.That's an important detail to be unsure about. Magnesium might help with the cramps and twitches.
> Oh, and my dermatologist said that my back rash was either nerves or a mild contact allery, so I'm back on Lamictal. But I've never heard of it being associated with twitches or cramps?
>
> Any ideas about supplements or diet changes that might help?I hope you feel better soon, hon. Vacation time?
Lar
Posted by Jen Star on November 7, 2005, at 23:58:01
In reply to Vitamin deficiency, stress, or Risperdal?, posted by Dinah on November 7, 2005, at 9:17:37
hi Dinah,
I think the idea with bananas is that they contain a lot of potassium, and people often recommend eating them if you're having muscle cramps b/c the potassium does....something...I'm not sure what. :) But I've heard the banana thing, too.Twitches can be caused by stress, in addition to medicine. I know this b/c I suffer periodically from 'twitchies' in my legs, fingers, and other muscles. I thought it was a terrible disease the first time it got really bad, but lots of tests seemed to rule out most stuff, and the Dr. said it was "stress." I do believe that diet and stress can cause and cure a LOT of things in the body.
You have been under a tremendous amount of stress, Dinah. Sometimes that comes out wherever it can - migraines, panic attacks, twitches. The body tries to "dump", at least that's my non-technical explanation.
Potassium & vitamin C, I think are good. Bananas and oranges. Also eat lots of broccoli and garlic and other whole fruits & veggies, if you can.
If you're bruising more easily, I'd recommend seeing a Dr. just to make sure that the meds aren't causing any issues, or that you don't have any other underlying problems.
I hope you're feeling better soon! :)
JenStar
Posted by Dinah on November 8, 2005, at 9:51:27
In reply to Re: Vitamin deficiency, stress, or Risperdal? » Dinah, posted by Larry Hoover on November 7, 2005, at 22:39:55
Hmmm... I'll add iron to my list of things to make sure I'm getting. I probably haven't been getting enough. Fortunately I love spinach. :)
The calcium is hard to remember, because I never saw the urologist *after* the stone was analyzed. It was the run of the mill di and mono something or another. But it had to do with calcium. Before the stone was analyzed, he said it was important to analyze it so that he could make dietary suggestions, and I think one of his examples was calcium supplementation (although that might have been off the internet). But afterwards, he showed no interest at all in having me make an appointment to actually make those dietary recommendations. :)
I have a regular quarterly diabetes checkup with my internist this month, sometime. (That reminds me, better check the bloodwork timing). I'll talk to her about this stuff. But in the meantime, I bought lots of bananas and yoghurt and other healthy things. I'll see if that helps any.
> I hope you feel better soon, hon. Vacation time?
>
> Lar
>Thanks, Lar. I wish! :)
Posted by Dinah on November 8, 2005, at 9:55:47
In reply to Re: Vitamin deficiency, stress, or Risperdal? » Dinah, posted by Jen Star on November 7, 2005, at 23:58:01
Thanks Jenstar.
I think maybe I'm being scared straight as far as my diet is concerned. Last night I was actually munching raw carrots. :)
It's kind of reassuring to see the articles coming out in the newspaper everyday. Apparently it's pretty normal in this city to be exhibiting mental health symptoms right now, and I probably should be more concerned if I weren't showing any! So lots of the things I'm worried about (sleepness, a total lack of short term memory), are showing up in the paper as being "normal" right now. Actually, I'm probably better off than most because I'm already part of the mental health system and am already on meds and already have little tricks to deal with at least some of this stuff.
This is the end of the thread.
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