Magnesium and Calcium for CFS

Magnesium and Calcium Benefits

For symptoms of CFS, I now currently take magnesium and calcium. I can honestly say that I sleep better now and do not get as "tense" and have near as many muscle spasms in my neck and shoulders. I also do not fatigue as easily and recover faster from exhaustion. I also do not have near as much nervous energy and feel calmer. I found this article written by Dr. Natasha Turner and copied excerpts pertaining to CFS .

Magnesium Reduces Fatigue

(by Dr. Natasha Turner)

For a long time now it has been suggested that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is related to persistent magnesium deficiency, which may improve with magnesium supplements. Magnesium is a wonderful mineral that is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. When we are magnesium deficient, our bodily functions slow down at the cellular level, causing everything to become sluggish until physical or mental fatigue eventually ensues.

 

Magnesium eases anxiety, improves sleep and stabilizes mood!

Individuals with anxiety have been found to have lower levels of magnesium. This may be linked to the fact that a magnesium deficiency causes the release of adrenalin. Also, other studies have found that magnesium supplements reduce the release and effect of stress hormones on the heart, which is an indirect measure of the mineral's effect on the brain.

In the elderly, magnesium supplements were found to improve sleep by decreasing the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which is known to cause sleep disruption. Magnesium glycinate (400 to 600mg) at bedtime is my favourite starting place for most cases of sleep disruption, for all ages.

 

Magnesium reduces muscle cramping !!!

 

Ever get those irritating little twitches in your eyelid? Or maybe painful muscle cramping, waking you at night or ruining your workout? These are both possible signs of magnesium deficiency since it is closely involved in proper muscle relaxation and contraction. Try taking 200 to 600mg of magnesium at bedtime and you may be surprised at how quickly these symptoms may respond to your efforts.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. Supplementing with calcium helps the body in many ways. Calcium builds and maintains bones and teeth. It regulates the rhythm of the heart, eases insomnia, helps regulate the passage of nutrients in and out of cellular membranes, and assists in blood clotting. Calcium is also very valuable in maintaining proper nerve and muscle function, as well as normal kidney function. Current scientific research shows that it reduces the occurrence of colon cancer and reduces blood cholesterol levels. Calcium deficiency can result in arm and leg muscle spasms, softening of bones, leg and back cramps, brittle bones, rickets, poor growth, osteoporosis, tooth decay, and depression.

My suggestion is that you see your doctor or  nutritionist concerning the level or amount your body needs at this time! I am not a doctor or nutritionist~ I am simply sharing what supplements have been suggested to me by my doctor/nutritionist for chronic fatigue and adrenal burnout!

The Things People Say
When You are Ill ...

Having been diagnosed with a disease such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA~an autoimmune disease), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and extreme adrenal fatigue was bad enough but when I actually told people that I had been diagnosed, I was completely astonished by their responses. I really did believe that people that knew me and "loved" me would respond with support and interest (or at least ask me questions about the situation) but I was never SO wrong! 

Many people have been down~right thoughtless and casual in their remarks about the diagnosis of RA, CFS, and adrenal fatigue It was as if I had told them I had stumped my big toe. (Like I could just put a band~aid on it! LOL) While I am personally realing in the devastation and changes are happening in my body and in my LIFE.

 The first experience with this kind of dismal scenario was one week after the dx. I was at the restaurant with a group of family members and I told a relative I had been dxed w/ the autoimmune disease (RA) and had been prescribed chemotherapy (MTX). She said, "Oh," and immediately continue a conversation with another relative... I had been completely dismissed! I couldn't believe it! I felt like I had been slapped!!! But that was only the beginning of  MANY ignorant, degrading, and inappropriate comments that would come from relatives, friends, and people that I thought loved and supported me.

I will preface this by saying not ALL people have responded this way... but the people that have been supportive have been few and far between.

For nearly a year I have listened to comments such as "You need to just get out and get the blood flowing" ~"You need to take honey" ~ "You should drink green tea" ~ "The magic of dealing w/ RA is to JUST PUSH THRU IT" ~ "Oh, I have that in my elbow" ~ "You are not EVEN trying to get well" ~ "At least you don't have cancer!" ... (the list goes on....)

These flippant, waggish remarks have left me bawling, angry, degraded, and down~right steaming!

What's worse is that these "ignoramus, unintelligent remarks have come from people who do NOT have an autoimmune disease, RA, CFS, or adrenal fatigue. But for some reason they feel that they have the "right" or "position" to give me advice. Hmmm.... and usually that advice is NOT based on research, experience, or knowledge. It's just an "off the cuff" opinion. And as we all know, opinions are like armpits. Everyone has a couple and usually they both stink!

I have made a simple decision.

Out of respect for MYSELF, I will no longer tolerate impish, ignorant, degrading, ill~informed remarks from people that have stinky armpits! I finally confronted  someone who made a remark to me not long ago. The remark was "The magic of dealing w/ RA is to JUST PUSH THRU IT."

The next morning, I made a phone call to this person after prayer and making sure that my attitude was in check. I was not angry when confronting or stating my feelings. I asked if I could have a moment of his time. I explained (in a very calm and nonthreatening tone and voice) that the remark that he made had insulted me. Even though I figured he did not mean for it to be demeaning, I told him I still felt belittled. I stated of all the many hours of research that I had done on the Internet, of the six doctors that I had seen for my health condition, of all my personal friends that have RA and CFS, not anywhere had I read or been given the information of dealing with RA/CFS  by "just pushing thru it."

He did apologize and I accepted his apology kindly. He stated that maybe he should be more careful about how he says things and says he didn't even understand my condition. I stated, "Exactly!".... and I told him it would be wise for him to consider his words before speaking about a condition he has not diligently studied or experienced personally.

The scene did not turn ugly, nor did it leave a friendship marred. But I have decided that I will no longer go home angry and cry about something that someone has said to me out of sheer stupidity or ignorance. I will confront them kindly and tell them that I will receive medical advice only from my doctor, nutritionist, and  those that are suffering the same tribulations.... !

I am learning that speaking my mind in love is empowerment and even courtesy toward others!

Speaking my mind does not have to mean I hit them with a car or run over them w/ a bus to get my point across! It simply means I can state my feelings (in love and respect) and ask for them to kindly consider their words before giving advice! For when information is exchanged in kindness and not in a way of demeaning another, knowledge advances and can benefit everyone!

Rate Your CFS

Keeping a Journal of Activities

The severity of CFS varies greatly. Some people’s lives are touched lightly, while others have their lives disrupted moderately and still others are housebound or even bed bound. The bottom line: each person's illness is different. To treat your condition effectively, you need to understand the severity of your CFS.

Rate yourself on the CFS (below). Your rating gives you an idea of the severity of your illness and of the activity level your body can tolerate at present.

Your rating also gives you a baseline you can use to compare with later on.

100 Fully recovered. Normal activity level with no symptoms.

90 Normal activity level with mild symptoms at times.

80 Near normal activity level with some symptoms.

70 Able to work full time but with difficulty. Mostly mild symptoms.

60 Able to do about 6-7 hours of work a day. Mostly mild to moderate symptoms.

50 Able to do about 4-5 hours a day of work or similar activity at home. Daily rests required. Symptoms mostly moderate.

40 Able to leave house every day. Moderate symptoms on average. Able to do about 3-4 hours a day of work or activity like housework, shopping, using computer.

30 Able to leave house several times a week. Moderate to severe symptoms much of the time. Able to do about 2 hours a day of work at home or activity like housework, shopping, using computer.

20 Able to leave house once or twice a week. Moderate to severe symptoms. Able to concentrate for 1 hour or less per day.

10 Mostly bedridden. Severe symptoms.

0 Bedridden constantly. Unable to care for self