Chronic bowel problems, Magnesium and Side effects

Thank you @claytamos
I finally got the papers for the blood tests. It was too late for the magnesium since I stopped using it after getting sick each time I retried. But when I finally felt better, I went to the lab for the tests.
The blood was fine, although my vitamin D was way too low, it was even lower than the minimum requirements, so I had to quickly start with supplemented D. Which I am taking each day, except when I forget 🙄
I seem to feel better overall now, although I am still not the way I used to be. But I am hanging in there!

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Thank you! I will keep taking it, it is not yet in my daily routine so I sometime forget it. But I will create a reminder in my cell phone, this is getting ridiculous, right? Why not make good use of these cool gadgets 😀

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Hi @ellamster,

Magnesium is one of the more abundant minerals in the body, which reflects its importance. Studies have shown that your pulse/heart rate is impacted by the amount of magnesium in your body, and deficiency can result in arrhythmias. It plays a role in hundreds of chemical reactions, many of them having to do with changing food into energy. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/magnesium-supplement-oral-route-parenteral-route/description/drg-20070730

However, as @hopeful33250 mentioned, you are taking a rather high dose. The recommended daily allowance of magnesium for adults is 320 mg for women and 420 mg for men. The upper intake level from supplements is 350 mg per day, and excess intake of supplemental magnesium may result in toxicity with symptoms like lethargy, confusion, abnormal cardiac rhythm, muscle weakness.

Here’s a fact sheet from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) which notes:
"Very large doses of magnesium-containing laxatives and antacids (typically providing more than 5,000 mg/day magnesium) have been associated with magnesium toxicity. Symptoms of magnesium toxicity, which usually develop after serum concentrations exceed 1.74–2.61 mmol/L, can include hypotension, nausea, vomiting, facial flushing, retention of urine, ileus, depression, and lethargy before progressing to muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, extreme hypotension, irregular heartbeat, and cardiac arrest. The risk of magnesium toxicity increases with impaired renal function or kidney failure because the ability to remove excess magnesium is reduced or lost.” https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/#h8

I’m tagging @personalhell @sue225 @irenec @tiss as they may be able to share their experiences with you.

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IBS-C or CIC is challenging. I was taking two Sennokot every second or third night and started to be concerned that because it's a stimulant it might be aggravating my arrhythmia. Switched over to Milk of Magnesia (every third night) around 2 tbsp. Will see if the excess magnesium does anything heart wise. Filled a script for Linaclotide but can't bring myself to take it yet.
Have you tried the safer over the counter osmotic laxative Miralax? It worked for me for quite a while. Also one gastroenterologist recommended taking Miralax everyday in addition to psyllium powder stirred into a glass of water Did that around four years ago and it works but caused other IBS symptoms.

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Miralax works well. Colace also works ok. With the Colace I'd take 2 at bedtime.

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@claytamos I have also found that a combination of products works well for me. Taking Colace one night, Miralax another night, Milk of Magnesia other days, etc. Sometimes one product that has been used for a long period of time is no longer effective. So, I've found that changing it up on a regular basis helps a great deal.

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It is cherry season now and for me, cherries, which are high in fiber and contain sorbitol which has definite laxative effects also do the trick (better than prunes, for me) And unlike all over-the-counter remedies, cherries are very good for you. Google cherries and check out the nutritional benefits.

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It is cherry season now and for me, cherries, which are high in fiber and contain sorbitol which has definite laxative effects also do the trick (better than prunes, for me) And unlike all over-the-counter remedies, cherries are very good for you. Google cherries and check out the nutritional benefits.

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