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Uncontrollable shaking legs

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/17/2015 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Have any of you had this happen? It has only happened to me twice and oddly around the same exact date. Both times I had an accident where I couldn't make it in time and had to hastily change and clean up, both times the weather was rather warm and humid - I wonder if the weather has something to do with it or not? I've had accidents before, but not with these symptoms. This is what i felt like:

The minute I would stand up after changing, I just feel my legs shaking uncontrollable and I felt weak. Both times I had some cold water and had a little food which seemed to help gradually. Seems these particular accidents drain me and I need instant nutrients. Weird...
Posted 5/18/2015 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Are you on prednisone? Could it be muscle spasms? Prednisone can drain potassium and magnesium from your system, causing muscle spasms but usually they can be quite painful. If that's what it is the cure is eating foods high in potassium, such as bananas.
Posted 5/19/2015 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry for the delay in response, no I am not on pred. Definitely muscle spasms though. Currently on:

4 Lialda
Dicyclomine as needed
Humira injection every other week
Imodium as needed (GI approved)
Posted 5/21/2015 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Are you taking a daily multivitamin? I'm thinking along Gary's line-- that you may have a vitamin or mineral deficiency. It could be potassium because docs generally check iron, calcium, & vitamin Bs, but may forget about other vitamins/minerals when ordering blood tests. But you are right to break for food/water when you feel shaky/depleted. / Old Hat (34 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 5/22/2015 12:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Old Hat,
Currently I drink Ensure (I know, I know, there is a lot of bad stuff in there) for nutrition. I originally took One a Day vitamins, but i started to get bad gas from them,so I stopped. Maybe, I can look into a potassium supplement.
Posted 5/22/2015 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
sounds like you might just need some real food - are you eating on a regular basis ? cuz I know when I was feeling sh!tty, it was hard to find the energy to fix something - but ya, I would just dump the ensure down the toilet and save yourself a step - there are much better things out there -

and yes, if you haven't had blood work done in a while, it may be time -

hang in there -
Posted 5/22/2015 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Potassium supplement is not a good idea. You should get your potassium from foods because you can easily overdose on potassium which can bring on major heart problems, including death. I agree with Juststud. It sounds like you might need some real food.
Posted 5/22/2015 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
“Potassium supplement is not a good idea. You should get your potassium from foods...”

I agree. The most potassium available in an otc supplement is around 100 mg. Perhaps you can get much more from a prescription supplement but there is no comparison with what is available from real, (not processed) food.

Check out this food table. The RDA for potassium is around 5,000 mg/day. In order to increase your potassium intake you must also avoid processed foods that are saturated with sodium. Sodium and potassium are antagonistic with each other. It doesn't help to get your 5,000 mg of potassium if you are also getting 6,000 mg of sodium.

This is one time when I agree with some others here that supplements, with only 100 mg of potassium, are a waste of time in comparison with getting your nutrition from real food.

Food (amount) Milligrams of potassium
Acorn squash, cooked
(1 cup) 896 mg

Potato with skin, baked
(1 long) 844 mg

Spinach, cooked
(1 cup) 838 mg

Lentils, cooked
(1 cup) 731 mg

Kidney beans, cooked
(1 cup) 713 mg

Split peas, cooked
(1 cup) 710 mg

White navy beans, cooked
(1 cup) 669 mg

Watermelon
(1/16) 560 mg

Orange juice, frozen
(1 cup) 503 mg

Banana (medium) 451 mg
Posted 5/22/2015 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Magnesium deficiency is also sometimes involved with restless leg syndrome. But the good news is that most of the foods abundant in potassium are also abundant in magnesium.

Try staying away from processed foods and see if your symptoms lessen.
Posted 5/25/2015 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Adding 250 mg of magnesium aspartate helped with my restless legs.
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