Okay. These leg cramps have got to stop. I spent a lot of time last night with my leg straight up in the air until a cramp would subside and within seconds of putting my leg back down on the bed, being careful not to point my toe even a bit, another cramp would take hold. This went on for a few hours in the night. MOST annoying!! And painful! This time the cramps were in my right ankle and up the outside of my leg. Nasty, nasty cramping! I was quite wasted today."Cramping is definitely one side effect of tamoxifen--my onc confirmed that. It also happens on HRT (what I took before bc and tamoxifen, and even on Femara, I think). I found that one glass of tonic water at dinner time (delicious with a slice of lime, and you can add gin or vodka occasionally LOL) really helped. Again, my onc confirmed that this is a good remedy.
I mostly had the cramps at night, in both my calves and my feet. One thing that made a big difference--I trained myself not to point my toes while stretching out in bed. And if a cramp started, I would flex my feet (while massaging the crampy area). This helped stop the cramp."
And here's what another had to say ...
"Hi ladies! I have to jump in here and attest to the soap remedy.....it really works! I would get terrible charley horse and feet cramps on my right leg (always that leg) several times a week. I surfed the web and read somewhere about the soap. I just got a bar of dove, put it in an old trouser sock, placed it at the foot of the bed under the fitted sheet. I had been without even one cramp for about 2-3 months then they started again so I got a new bar of soap to replace it and voila! no cramps!
If it's all in my head that's ok too, it works anyway!"
The continued discussion about what kinds of soap to use and other such details had me laughing out loud. It sounds whacky but there will be a bar of soap in my bed tonight. Call me crazy.
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Oh yeah ... and how did that work for you? :)
ReplyDeleteWell, no leg cramps last night. What does that mean? Hard to say because I also had a banana yesterday and, besides, I don't get cramps every night - only 2 or 3 times a week.
ReplyDeleteI had a brief cramp in my leg tonight when Luke and I were at the theatre (for Harry Potter) and I had to point my toe to let someone get out of our row. I was wishing I'd put a bar of soap in my sock!
Do whatever helps, Heather. It's only whacko if it gets turned around so that the banana goes under the bottom sheet and the bar of soap goes in the mouth. (That is a punishment, right.)
ReplyDeleteCheryl
LOL, Cheryl!
ReplyDeleteI also think it might have been more whacko if, in addition to putting the soap under the sheet, I also had to turn three times to my left and then stand on one foot with my finger in my ear and repeat RUBBER BABY BUGGY BUMPERS three times before getting into bed. Then I might have wondered if someone wasn't pulling a prank on we leg cramping people.