Our nutritionist recommends increased magnesium in general for people with PXE. There is almost no possibility of toxicity with too much magnesium, but it can give you diarrhea. If you take more than your body can absorb, the excess will be excreted in the bowels. Consult your physician or a nutritionist for appropriate dosage. Magnesium rich foods include whole grains, nuts, fruits, and green leafy vegetables. Grains include buckwheat, millet and rye.

Leg cramps are an indication of calcium deficiency; take the RDA of calcium gluconate in the morning.

middot; Yes, you may find that you have an increase in leg cramps in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Get plenty of calcium (three glasses of milk or supplement) and potassium (bananas and oranges). Stretching your legs before going to bed may help relieve cramps.

Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, both because it can cause gastric stomach inflammation, and because it can inhibit the activity of platelets, which help to form blood clots when you are injured. This increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding In PXE. The risk is not high, but such hemorrhages can be severe. If an alternative therapy can be considered, that might be preferable. [March 2006]

Celebrex, is a COX-2 inhibitor, which means it has no platelet effects and appears less likely to cause GI bleeding than standard COX-1 inhibitor drugs, although it is not completely free of such risk. If a person with PXE needs a NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), Celebrex is probably the best choice, although it is not risk-free. Vioxx, a similar drug, has been withdrawn from the market because of an increased risk of cardiac complications such as heart attack.

Disalcid (salsalate) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that does not have an aspirin-like effect on platelets and is somewhat less irritating to the stomach than aspirin, so it is safer than aspirin for someone with PXE. However, as with Celebrex, the risk of GI bleeding is lower but not zero. Nothing is perfectly safe. [March 2006]

LASIK is a laser treatment to improve vision for people with myopia. There are mixed opinions about individuals with PXE having LASIK. One of our advisors suggests that with eyes that are not healthy to start with, why introduce another potential for vision loss. For example, the suction rings that stabilize the eye during the LASIK procedure may increase the intraocular pressure to several hundred millimeters of mercury.

If you are bedridden, use a bed cradle (a support at the end of the bed that holds up the blanket) to protect your legs and feet from the weight of bedclothes Move your legs in bed by bending and straightening them 10 times, twice a day, or as many times as you can

Legs cramps are probably not a sign of dehydration. They are more likely due to over-hydration, which is also a cause of low serum sodium. Again, therefore, I would suggest that your serum sodium (and potassium) be measured while you are having the leg cramps. I had CDI for approximately 13 months and had been using dDAVP My symptoms started 9 weeks after my surgery for a pituitary tumor. I did get dDAVP in the hospital but did not need it when I came home.

Fosamax is not contraindicated in PXE. The class of drugs it belongs to inhibits bone resorption and does not affect mineralization of elastic tissue. The medication can cause gastric and esophageal irritation because it must be taken on an empty stomach, but PXE International is not aware of any reported problem with this in patients with PXE. Evista is a selective estrogen receptor modulator.

No one knows. The artificial retinas or retinal implants are exceedingly primitive at this time. They showed promise for light and shadow and now seem to be allowing some people to distinguish the big E on the eye chart. While this is good news for people with some kinds of blindness, it may be less important for people with PXE, because the macular damage in PXE only causes loss of central vision. [September 2006]

Stem-cell research is an area of science that can assist in understanding how cells in the body develop, and that may help to find ways to reliably grow tissues that can be used for transplants. Stem cells may also help develop other treatments for disorders and conditions, and experiments are already under way to test treatments for vision loss using tissues developed with the help of stem cells.

While 500mg Magnesium has long been associated with improving sleep, it may also help subside light cramps and provide stress relief and not to mention stabilize a heart function. Magnesium and potassium are the major intra cellular anions (positive charged chemicals).

Leg cramps or spasms are a painful tightening of the muscles in the leg. Staying in bed for long periods of time sometimes causes muscles in the legs or feet to cramp. Other causes of cramping are pressure on the calf muscles or on the back of the knee, too much phosphorus, too little calcium, or too little potassium in the body.

Nausea and vomiting are less common side effects of chemotherapy today, thanks to newer drugs that don't cause this problem. In addition, when these side effects do occur, they are much less severe. Talk to your doctor about these powerful anti-nausea drugs. Different drugs work for different people, and you may need more than one drug to get relief.

Nocturnal leg cramps are not a typical symptom of PAD but leg cramps when walking are. Cramps you experience while walking can be a sign that the muscles are not receiving enough oxygen rich blood due to PAD. There are many reasons for leg cramps at night such as exercising without stretching, “restless legs”, or a muscle strain. You should bring any concern about long-term pain to your physician's attention.

It is possible that this may arise from losing too much salt from the body. The Micro Diet is relatively low in salt and that may be a contributory factor. If cramp occurs, a little extra salt should be added to the diet.

Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth, healthy nerve transmission, to lower cholesterol and to reduce muscle cramps.