Hi @lisalucier

Thanks for asking again about this. Yes, I'm feeling like I'm making some progress in this direction, but it was not what I thought it is was originally. I see an endocrinologist periodically and was talking about the possibility of malabsorption of nutrients due to several surgeries of the upper digestive tract. I did some research and discovered that the area of my surgeries was where Vit D, Vit A, and Magnesium were absorbed. I was looking through my blood test results (as doctors are always checking them) and my Vit D level (which is always low) as well as the magnesium level. I noticed that while my magnesium level was still within the normal range, it was at the lowest area of the normal range.

She concluded that might possibly be my problem with the unbearable fatigue/pain I experience after exercise. She said that magnesium fuels the muscles of your body (which includes the heart). Since I have a low normal level of magnesium when I exercise I don't have a magnesium reserve and therefore it dips even lower, so the muscles of my body (including my heart) do not have much help. I've begun upping the magnesium supplement but more importantly before I exercise I eat something high in magnesium. This has helped me.

I still use breathing exercises if I'm feeling restless at nights and a heating pad (or now an electric blanket) as well as OTC lidocaine patches for pain. Therefore, sleep is much better now.