Crippling Ab cramps - need help

[scmtnboy]

I get them from time to time. I figure it’s due to some electrolyte imbalance but I’m open to any suggestions. Happened today at the gym about 45 minutes after training legs with my son and I was helping my daughter train. Usually I can relax enough after a minute or so and they go away. This was about 10 minutes I couldn’t get them to stop. It’s definitely scary and for other power around me even more. I drink a minimum 1 gallon water. Salt all my meals and take magnesium at night. Currently taking 80mg telmisartan because on cycle but generally take 40mg when on TRT dose. I’m sure I’m leaving lots of important stuff out but I know there are some knowledgeable guys here can probably help. When I get bloods done all the levels look in range but it would be interesting to get blood drawn and tested today when I was cramping.

 

[juiceball44]

Could be potassium, sodium or magnesium deficiency. But since it’s happening at the gym where you are mainly losing sodium from sweating. I’d start with trying 1-2g of pink Himalayan salt preworkout or a couple sodium tablets like thermotabs that runners will take to prevent cramps during long runs

 

[Polska 2]

Make sure it’s not pancreatitis.

 

[bbxtreme]

It’s likely your telmisartan causing excess potassium to build up in the blood.

You can try drinking more water to flush it out along with astragalus to ensure the kidneys are working as effective as possible.

Adding taurine in would be another suggestion.

Of course, the easiest option would be to lower the dosage back down. You could run bloodwork to confirm your minerals levels.

 

[scmtnboy]

It’s likely your telmisartan causing excess potassium to build up in the blood.

You can try drinking more water to flush it out along with astragalus to ensure the kidneys are working as effective as possible.

Adding taurine in would be another suggestion.

Of course, the easiest option would be to lower the dosage back down. You could run bloodwork to confirm your minerals levels.

Kind of what I was thinking and was hoping you would respond. Whenever I get bloods done all minerals are in range but I’m also usually rested and taken in the AM. I have some taurine and I’ve taken astragulus on and off over the years. Was going to lower the dose of telmisartan in a week or two anyways. Thanks

 

[alfresco]

Try taking the telmisartan at a different time . . . and or quite taking it for a few days and see what the difference is. Thats what pops into my pea brain.

It may just come down to, and usually does, a process of elimination. You are a bright guy, you’ll figure it out. Interesting your blood tests are ok.

What kind of medical doctor or ‘person’ would you go to for this out

 

[control]

I get them from time to time. I figure it’s due to some electrolyte imbalance but I’m open to any suggestions. Happened today at the gym about 45 minutes after training legs with my son and I was helping my daughter train. Usually I can relax enough after a minute or so and they go away. This was about 10 minutes I couldn’t get them to stop. It’s definitely scary and for other power around me even more. I drink a minimum 1 gallon water. Salt all my meals and take magnesium at night. Currently taking 80mg telmisartan because on cycle but generally take 40mg when on TRT dose. I’m sure I’m leaving lots of important stuff out but I know there are some knowledgeable guys here can probably help. When I get bloods done all the levels look in range but it would be interesting to get blood drawn and tested today when I was cramping.

Is it only your abs that cramp or sometimes other muscles (like the vastus medialis, calves, etc)?

 

[Reload]

Only time I ever had severe muscle cramps was on Lasix so I assume it was low K+.
It wasn't only my abs though.

 

[aHarness]

I get them from time to time. I figure it’s due to some electrolyte imbalance but I’m open to any suggestions. Happened today at the gym about 45 minutes after training legs with my son and I was helping my daughter train. Usually I can relax enough after a minute or so and they go away. This was about 10 minutes I couldn’t get them to stop. It’s definitely scary and for other power around me even more. I drink a minimum 1 gallon water. Salt all my meals and take magnesium at night. Currently taking 80mg telmisartan because on cycle but generally take 40mg when on TRT dose. I’m sure I’m leaving lots of important stuff out but I know there are some knowledgeable guys here can probably help. When I get bloods done all the levels look in range but it would be interesting to get blood drawn and tested today when I was cramping.

What time of day do you train? Are you fasted?

 

[scmtnboy]

Is it only your abs that cramp or sometimes other muscles (like the vastus medialis, calves, etc)?

The abs are the worst and the only ones that are very concerning. After my pull day it’s not uncommon for me to have some minor cramps in lats and forearms. The Abdominal cramps are so bad it’s hard to describe.

 

[scmtnboy]

What time of day do you train? Are you fasted?

Today was mid day. I train in the morning occasionally. The cramps usually happen later in the day when I’m in bed and maybe try and get up to fast or scrunch my and hard.

 

[control]

The abs are the worst and the only ones that are very concerning. After my pull day it’s not uncommon for me to have some minor cramps in lats and forearms. The Abdominal cramps are so bad it’s hard to describe.

I can't remember what it's called, but there's something you can get where an abdominal muscle has a small tear and it causes the other abdominal muscles to overcompensate, and they cramp up. A lot of times the abdominal wall becomes distended if you have it

 

[Neuro1234]

As stated, probably Telmisartan.

I used to get terrible ab cramps, they stopped when I increased my taurine and magnesium.

It’s usually easier to move your Telmisartan dose, lower it, or hold it for a few days before trying to build your mag tolerance up.

 

[hawkmoon]

I used to get this years ago. Incredibly painful and hard to shake. I got them during cable crunches and the visible distortion of the abs during the cramp was remarkable.
Mine went away after adding sea salt into my intra. YMMV.

Disclaimer: I am now, but was not on telmisartan at the time.

 

[TheOtherOne55]

I get these all the time @scmtnboy
Onnnly my abs, and basically in any hard ab work annndd then it might hit later in the day too. I have noticed that it’s much worse in the morning (say I’m doing cardio + abs) versus if I try and add some ab work later in the afternoon. I DO take my telmisartan ED upon waking AND I do have the high potassium from telmi.

It’s debilitating and painful lol. Makes me not wanna train my abs at allll. I’ve upped my magnesium and sodium because of this, which doesss help some. I’m actually waiting for some bloodwork results so it’ll be interesting to see where potassium is at the moment.

 

[cage99]

The abs are the worst and the only ones that are very concerning. After my pull day it’s not uncommon for me to have some minor cramps in lats and forearms. The Abdominal cramps are so bad it’s hard to describe.

I get abdominal muscle cramps from time to time. I can confirm they are pretty brutal!!!! Thankfully they dissipate after a minute. Ten minutes would be really bad!

Can’t offer any advice other than what’s been provided. I just know they really suck!

Cage

 

[scmtnboy]

I get these all the time @scmtnboy
Onnnly my abs, and basically in any hard ab work annndd then it might hit later in the day too. I have noticed that it’s much worse in the morning (say I’m doing cardio + abs) versus if I try and add some ab work later in the afternoon. I DO take my telmisartan ED upon waking AND I do have the high potassium from telmi.

It’s debilitating and painful lol. Makes me not wanna train my abs at allll. I’ve upped my magnesium and sodium because of this, which doesss help some. I’m actually waiting for some bloodwork results so it’ll be interesting to see where potassium is at the moment.

I just happened to have an appointment this morning for bloodwork. Will be interesting to see. I’m guessing it’s high potassium. I’m wondering if it will show in labs. Will update when results come in.

 

[Bio]

@scmtnboy How much magnesium are you taking? I can tell you this from experience, ab cramps are the worst cramps hands down! I got stuck in the ab machine about 20 years ago...brutal. I bring 200mg of magnesium glycinate with me, to the gym. If I start getting any type of cramps, I take it and it works incredibly quick.

 

[bbxtreme]

I just happened to have an appointment this morning for bloodwork. Will be interesting to see. I’m guessing it’s high potassium. I’m wondering if it will show in labs. Will update when results come in.

I should have added that I was speaking from personal experience as I dealt with the same issue a while back when I bumped my Lisinopril. I was OCD and went and had blood drawn after training so I could get a closer look.

Of course my numbers were off as I expected, but my potassium was higher and out of balance compared to when I have blood drawn 24-48 hours away from training. My eGFR of course was lower as well.

I eliminated it by using 2 servings of electrolytes early AM (BodyBio E Lyte) and another in my intra drink. I also ensured I got in 200-400mg of mag glycinate and 4g of taurine in my AM drink mix as well. Of course I use astragalus daily and pushed fluid intake up. Ever since then I have had zero issues with it.

Sometimes in this sport it’s a fine balance of factors as we need to manage BP so meds are a must like an ACE or ARB, but we also want to ensure we aren’t damaging our kidneys by having excess potassium in addition to all the other things that stress them in this sport.

 

[scmtnboy]

@scmtnboy How much magnesium are you taking? I can tell you this from experience, ab cramps are the worst cramps hands down! I got stuck in the ab machine about 20 years ago...brutal. I bring 200mg of magnesium glycinate with me, to the gym. If I start getting any type of cramps, I take it and it works incredibly quick.

I take one scoop of Calm every night. I think it’s possible I could add to this in the am and also possibly bump sodium as well. I’m interested to see what my labs show. Will take the advice in this thread and see if I see any improvement. Appreciate everyone chiming in