Hello,
I take Hydroxyurea for Essential Thrombocythemia.
Since taking it I’ve suffered terribly with cramp.
Anyone else or just me?
Any ideas on how to relieve it would be appreciated.
Thank you
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Hi @Mel1967.
Cramp must be so uncomfortable! Does your medical team say it is a side effect of the medication? I have a different blood cancer but know lots of people on here take the same medication as you and they will be able to share their experiences.
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Hi @Mel1967 I hate cramp, for me it is usually in my legs at night or when doing Pilates.
Now this is really difficult, but personally I find it helps to ‘try’ and relax and then flex my muscles, I know, it is the last thing that I want to do.
This is a non medical opinion and as @Nichola75 says it is best to let your medical team what is going on and ask for their help.
I will copy your post to the Blood Cancer UK nurse advisors to see if they can add anything @BloodCancerUK_Nurses
Take care and please let us know how you get on.
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Hello @Mel1967 - yes leg cramp can be a side effect of Hydroxy, sometimes it’s an ET thing too - I had 13 years on HU for ET and would sometimes wake up in the night with a scream from such painful leg cramps - not nice at all is it!! As Erica said trying to flex and rub the muscles until it passes is good as well as some warmth, heat on it like a wheat bag. I did find my cramps were sudden very painful and would go quite quickly, rather than all night. BUT the biggest thing that’s needed for Hydroxy to prevent cramps is LOTS OF WATER - in case you haven’t been advised when starting as to how important this is - Hydroxy is very dehydrating and you really need to take in water all day, it makes a huge difference and once I knew that and did it, I rarely got cramps just an odd occasion. It’s that sort of awareness of the need for hydration, having a little water bottle with you always for sips as you go and you will find it helps with quite a lot of the Hydroxy side effects. And as others mentioned do tell your consultant too re the cramps as they will probably pop a couple of other checks in your next blood tests too. All the best.
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Hello @Mel1967
So sorry to hear that you are experiencing cramp, may I ask if you have reported this to your Haematology team? This is worth while as they can often help manage this, here is the advice from NHS Leg cramps - NHS (www.nhs.uk). I would also say that good hydration is key and regular movement. Before taking any medications please do speak to you GP or Haematology team.
Take care and I do hope the cramps improve soon,
Gemma
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Sorry you’re getting cramp; such a painful thing! I find that stretching the muscles daily, or a couple of times a day, helps me to keep cramp at bay. My weak spot is the back of the thigh.
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Hi @Mel1967, if the cramps are disturbing your sleep I would speak to your GP or consultant. I experience bad cramps in my calfs and feet but have a different blood condition from you. I now try to stretch my calf muscles before going to bed. If my feet cramp I try to flex them and if that fails I stand on the cramping foot with the other foot. I try to keep feet warm in bed with bed socks.
Helen
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Oh @helenfwallace I have a lovely set of bed socks and I find it sure does work keeping my feet and legs warm too plus your other advice. Look after yourself
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Hello all, just been catching up with the forum and saw this about cramps. I know that Magnesium helps and you can get it in topical / cream form (I got mine from Holland and Barrett) and I also take it as a supplement (as always please double check with your consultant if you’re on any kind of treatment). I did a lot of research into it and there are several different types so you need to make sure its the right one, some of the cheaper ones don’t have the effective type in them.
Also Vit D, I have it on prescription which was started by my consultant, because most people with cancer or post cancer are deficient (my level was very low) so may be worth getting your levels checked and taking this too.
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When I was teaching swimming at my local adult disability swim club the doctor used to suggest a drink of tonic water with fruit juice and a big pinch of sugar and a small pinch of salt for swimmers who suffered from cramp. The quinine in tonic water salts and sugars can help with balance in your blood. I do realise that cramp can come from nerve and muscle damage from your medication and this might not help in that case but it is worth a try. It did seem to help the stroke patients.
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Hi @Annaman and GrandmaJo,
I am experiencing increasing problems with cramping in hands, feet and calves, and having had my serum magnesium levels on three occasions went to see a GP. He said most people these days are magnesium deficient because of intensive farming. He also said blood tests for magnesium are of little value because so little of the bodies magnesium is in the blood. So this doctor is recommending halfing my statin medication instead, with a three month trial. Will let you know if it works.
My pilates teacher has recommended the holland and barrett magnesium spray, which I havent tried.
I guess GrandmaJo’s doctors remedy will work with cramping brought on by exercise.
Best wishes
Helen
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