Hello, Linda @lioness, Thanks for the tips. I drink 64 oz daily, have for several years as I have had many years of fluid retention problems, sometimes serious. I recently last year received a legitimate diagnosis for the first time since high school.....I have primary aldosteronism, my aldosterone hormone doesn't work like it should. Thus, my blood potassium was always very low, at times dangerously so. I have sodium blood retention causing too much sodium causing high blood pressure; actually, several hormones are wonky and cause several issues like this. Add to that the thyroid issues and I must be very careful what I put into my mouth/body.....no added salt for over 50years, when pregnant with my son. None!

This edema problem caused me to spend 4 days in hospital in 2019 for CHF, then during a year long recovery I was diagnose with MS for the 3rd time, which was again a mistaken diagnosis. The problems at the time were largely hormonal, discovered at Mayo thankfully. Now, with daily meds and life changes my heart is better - have an aortic aneurysm, but not CHF.

I still work with edema problems, so I can't drink too much water, have to be sure to keep it in the right range as I take diuretics daily for the primary aldosteronism. Make sense??? Things get complicated, at times, eh?

Love pickles....BUT, were I to drink pickle juice or eat a pickle or eat anything with any vinegar in it, I'd be in hospital ED ASAP! I have bad reflux, Gerd, and vinegar is a dangerous thing for me. So is mustard or any such food stuff. You are drinking a lot of sodium with that pickle juice BTW, which may not be a good thing for fluid retention, high blood pressure, heart issues....just be careful with all these kinds of things when we have so many issues combined. Never know what balance in our bodies we may be upsetting. I've found it's very much a balancing act, watching what goes in and what goes out!

Also, I'm sure your doctor told you when he put you on iron supplement that you should add C as well. C helps the body accept and better use the iron, keeps it from upsetting your tummy if it might. The iron I take is called Vitron, Iron+C, over the counter but prescribed by name by the Mayo doc. It is working so well. I'm much better, that plus Requip as a dopamine enhancer in the brain have truly saved my life!

Love hearing from you. Hope some of this makes sense and helps with your cramping....blessings, and stay well. elizabeth