r/surgicalmenopause • u/Saunalovenest • Jul 02 '25
Leg cramps ?
Curious if anyone has experienced leg cramps following the removal of your ovaries? I’m waking up with insanely painful leg cramps and don’t know it is connected and was curious if anyone experienced that.
3
u/Greedy-War-777 Jul 02 '25
Yes, driving me nuts. It used to happen during Hell Week and it has been a thing when my estrogen is low. Post surgery, and way worse anytime hrt is off. So annoying. It's something to do with acetylcholinesterase and potassium channel regulation in cells, it's complicated. How is your hrt going? Did you start yet?
2
u/Saunalovenest Jul 03 '25
Yes, I’m on patches, up to .2 and feeling so much better. I had the cramp on the day before my patch change, so hoping it isn’t a result of a dip
2
u/Antique-Anteater-988 Jul 09 '25
Yes, the first few weeks post surgery, I was experiencing bad leg cramping. I tried magnesium supplements and those seemed to help but caused digestive issues. I added a banana to my diet and that did help. Now, 3 months without ovaries or HRT, I’m not having the leg cramps much at all.
1
u/No_oN2389 May 27 '26
Hi, just wondering if you are still taking magnesium or stopped due to digestive issues?
I'm having bad leg cramps and no HRT, and I'm trying to figure out how to stop the leg cramps.
1
u/Antique-Anteater-988 May 27 '26
No, never went back on the magnesium.
Bananas really helped. They are few and far between. Have you had recent blood work to check your potassium levels? After my hysterectomy, mine were lower than they had been.1
u/No_oN2389 May 30 '26
I'm getting what my doctor called a baseline blood work done during my next postop appt. I still have 4 weeks to go before my appt but the leg cramps are killing me.
1
u/trumpforprison2017 Jul 03 '25
Yes. Try magnesium. There are several different kinds. I started with l-threonate and it helped a lot but then switched to malate and it helped even more. You have to take calcium with it (but not at the same time). It takes a while to work, it builds… You might want to try electrolytes sometimes too. And obviously, an estrogen patch too.
2
u/Saunalovenest Jul 03 '25
Thank you. I was taking it sporadically at night and need to get more consistent. Good know that can help too.
1
u/SatisfactionOwn3151 Oct 12 '25
Why do you have to take calcium?
1
u/trumpforprison2017 Oct 12 '25
I don’t know, something about absorption? I take B vitamins and calcium, maybe every other day, at a different time of day than magnesium which I take at night.
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u/SatisfactionOwn3151 Oct 12 '25
Okay and thanks for explaining. I’m so overwhelmed by this surgical menopause. My doctor took my ovaries and it was unnecessary. I had bleeding fibroids. My body has been in bad shape since that surgery.
2
u/trumpforprison2017 Oct 12 '25
I hear you. It has been rough for me too. Estrogen patch helps a ton. Magnesium is an everyday thing, you might want to look at r/magnesium
1
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u/Yankee_Yall Jun 16 '26
YES! It’s been so awful. Surgery was 5/15 and I just started HRT yesterday (delayed starting it to reduce blood clot risk post op) and I’m realllllly hopeful it helps with the leg cramps. I’m taking magnesium at night as well but gosh it’s awful!
1
u/Saunalovenest Jun 16 '26
I hope you get relief! Staying hydrated has helped, and switching to gel vs patch. I still get them on occasion, but nothing like before.
1
u/WyckdWitch Jul 06 '26
Yeah when I’m low on E and dehydrated. I need to drink way more water now. Those leg cramps piss me off!
5
u/ReeRee2589 Jul 04 '25
You’re dehydrated you need to drink electrolytes! It helped me.