what are cramps?

[Guest Nostros]

Okay, so I started spiro and now after like 3 months of using it I do get some sort of sensations in my left leg that is very hard to describe what they are, but I'm not sure if those are "cramps" - could you please explain to me in detail what do cramps feel like? Sorry im foreign, I don't even know what that word means, I just know it has to do something with legs. At first when I heard the word "cramps" I thought of little crab-like creatures living on the legs of people O.o (don't laugh thats what it sounds like!!)

[Guest chngnwnd]

The short answer is cramps are something you don't want. Once in awhile I get them - lord knows why becuase I don't have the right body parts. The bulk of the discomfort with cramps are in the pubic area. The first time it happened - I called a GG friend since I had no idea what was going on with my body and it was a strong enough dull ache I thought I needed to see a doctor. She started laughing at me and explained it all. If it is your leg, most likely it is just a muscles cramp. Make sure there is enough potassium in your diet as a lack of potassium can cause the kind of cramps you are describing.

hugs

Bobbi

[MackenzieB]

Involuntary muscle contractions. Is in you lose control of your fingers, your foot gets totally extended at the ankle in the middle of the night so much that it's total agony. Your body either just causes you a lot of pain, or becomes so inept that you find it hard to function. Those are my experiences anyway...

[Guest Nostros]

Make sure there is enough potassium in your diet as a lack of potassium can cause the kind of cramps you are describing.

hugs

Bobbi

Thanks. But I thought that actually from using spiro you get even too much potasium in your body, because spiro holds the potasium which makes the testosterone stop too? Okay I'm not a medican student or anything, that's something I read on wikipedia about spironolactone, don't know if I got it right. Thought that too much potasium is the thing causing "cramps" (Although i still have no idea what cramps are.. Yeah I feel something in the muscles or the blood vains (not sure witch one) but it's nothing too bad, and since it's nothing too bad i thought that those are not cramps

[Sally]

OK, here is the answer to your question - what are cramps?

They are a very severe tightening of the muscles, most often in the legs but other muscles are subject to this as well, the muscle is actually attempting to form into a knot - when you have a severe leg cramp you can massage the calf and you will actually feel that lump as the muscle tightens - continual message and heat help to relax the muscle again.

I am very experienced with cramps from long before I started HRT.

To reduce the occurrence and severity of cramps, drink lots of water (spiro is a diuretic and requires that you drink more water) also reduce salt intake and eating broccoli is also supposed to help.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest]

Hi Nostros,

Painful! For me, they almost always happen in my calves, but sometimes in my stomach muscles too.

They occur for me whenever I eat too much salty food. The salt triggers the diuretic effect of the Spiro, and leaves me dehydrated.

When they happen, I usually will drink 16 oz of water and walk around a bit to try to loosen the muscles up as well as get normal circulation going.

Love, Megan

[~Nova~]

Actually, if your cramping, your sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) are "probably" low. Spiro is a diuretic, a potassium sparing diuretic. Basically that means that you will lose Na and Cl when peeing, but the potassium (k) is left. All muscle work on a complex series of electrical impulses. The electrolytes (Na, Cl, K) play an important part.

Without trying to get to complicated, the more you pee, the more you pee out Na and Cl. If you drink water, you are diluting the Na and Cl in your system more. Think about it this way. If you have a cup of koolaide and you pour half out,(pee out the electrolytes) then pour plain water back into the cup (drink water) you are diluting the koolaide. It is very important to get salt back into your system. Eat a pickle or use a touch more salt on your food.

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT your doctor and I highly suggest you contact your physician if the cramps persist. Even if they don't, I would suggest you mention the cramps to them. A simple blood test will test your electrolytes.

Autumn

[Guest Sascha]

I had only one leg cramp episode on spiro, and some nearing ones that didn't quite came through.

I do eat salty, and I heard that helped against cramps. And I banned all potassium rich foods from my diet. My potassium levels were normal on my last blood test. If you have a lot of extreme cramps I should take caution. Also do not up the dosage. I am not allowed to post dosages here, but I know that using more than two to three dosages could inflict a cardiac arrest. Remember, potassium (K) is used in lethal injections on death row to stop the heart. I'm don't like scaring people, but I know what temptation feels like.