Tests for magnesium in the serum are not really reliable in the "normal" range. They are only good medically for very very low, or very high values to indicate severe deficiency, or poisoning.

The mid range values do not really relate much to functions that can be measured. You can look this up on the net...as many magnesium experts, seem to agree with this explanation.

For therapeutic use medically extremely high doses are given...for chemo patients and migraine treatments. (often IV forms up to 6 grams a bag.)

That does not mean people should self medicate at those high doses, but it does illustrate that magnesium testing is odd in many ways.

This is quite helpful, Mrs.D. Much appreciated. I find it interesting and curious and may look into it at some point. But at this point I'm just glad I don't have to worry about taking too much or some such thing.

If oral supplements don't work for me/cause digestive upset, I'll keep using epsom salts in the bath and/or lotions/creams.

I was able to buy the bath salts cheaply in a big bulk bag intended for spa flotation tanks. I had a huge bag which I slowly used over the year.

You'd have to look around on the internet for a supplier.

For longterm storage don't store the bath salts in the bathroom, they soak up the moisture in the air and do not store well for as long.

You increase absorption if you use a body brush to brush all the dead skin off before the bath. Good to shower it all off afterwards. Don't soak to hot or more than 40 minutes.

Thanks for this. Makes sense. This is the superb product I'm using, and can also ingest, if need be for a serious laxative. It's 100% pure. I started with the 10 lbs bag even though it's not as cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/Epsoak-Epsom-S...som+salt&psc=1

I meant to ask this: is it normal to get more muscle twitches when first starting oral magnesium (glynicate)? Thank you.

No I don't think so. But magnesium can wear off over hours, and need another dose. Alot of biological systems in the body use magnesium. It is a cofactor for energy production in the mitochondria, for example among many other uses.

The RDA is about 350mg-400mg a day.

Thanks, MrsD. The thing is that the twitching was not really returning, as I didn't have twitching before/haven't for a while, but then I woke up in the middle of the night with twitching after taking the magnesium. But it sounds like you're saying it's unlikely, and like I said I'm having new symptoms or increased symptoms due to the allergic reaction over the weekend, so it's more likely that. I'll keep taking the magnesium and upping it slowly. Thanks again.

Your body may just be adjusting to the new flow of magnesium available ....
waking up so to speak.

When I use magnesium, I have much reduced leg cramping, and muscle tension. I don't get much of any twitching, however.

My main twitching may occur on long fasts as required by testing needed at the doctor's. I've a left lower leg achilles/calf muscle area that twitches like mad if I am very hungry or have low blood sugars. I even got to show her that one...she was impressed. But I haven't had it in a while now since using the magnesium lotion.

One day, is not really a useful time frame for supplements. So if the twitching stays for weeks, then I would be more concerned.
Supplements typically are pretty slow to act.

Thanks, MrsD. Perhaps that's it: my body is adjusting. I get that with some supplements.

And yes, definitely need more time to know whether a supplement is working. Unless you have an immediate reaction to something. But the question of whether or not it's working is much more difficult to settle, especially in the short term. Will keep using it and see what happens.

I used to get lots of muscle tension and cramping, especially in my calves, but for now it's mostly gone. I'm glad to hear yours responds well to magnesium.

My calf muscles and forearms have been two of the most troublesome areas musclewise since this all started. Besides supplementing the best thing I have done for them is moderation of activity.

I know too little is bad, but for quite some time I was doing perhaps too much. That lead to extra stress and problems. I used to park a mile away from work and considered that my daily exercise, now I am half that distance, if that.

I spent around two years pushing myself to a limit of sorts, which I think lead to the shingles last year. At any rate it caused me to look hard at how close my foot was to the floor of the car and whether I was getting results.

At the moment winter is kicking my butt. However, I am making it through more days of work than I was at this point last year and while certain symptoms are worse somehow I have managed to develop a system to eek out some restful sleep. Half the time I think it is exhaustion, but I've earned it. Thankfully my wife agrees.