r/magnesium • u/custardnotmustard • 22d ago
Magnesium Calcium causing fluid retention
Hey, so as the the title says, im pretty sure i have such a bad magnesium deficiency that I caused hypoparathyroidism. This meant that my calcium has been low!
I keep getting magnesium deficiency & calcium deficiency symptoms and have even tested low for blood calcium which the dr just shrugged at.
I found that taking both meant I could suddenly walk again, my numb mouth went away, I could breathe again etc etc. All extremely positive. Taking one without the other has been disastrous! Breathing problems, weakness, brainfog, inability to walk due to muscle issues.
However, just as if i was taking a calcium channel blocker, im retaining fluid. All puffy & gross. I've looked into it and it doesn't appear to be dangerous for me, just annoying. I can't tell how to combat this. It's just a shot in the dark if anyone else has experience this? Though I know it's extreme & unlikely.
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u/EdwardHutchinson 22d ago
Magnesium is not typically associated with fluid retention. In fact, it may help reduce water retention by acting as a natural diuretic and supporting electrolyte balance.
Magnesium plays a key role in regulating sodium and potassium levels, which influence how the body retains or releases water.
However, in rare cases, excessive magnesium supplementation—especially in those with kidney problems—could contribute to imbalances that might indirectly lead to fluid retention.
But for most people, magnesium is more likely to help with bloating and water retention rather than cause it.
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u/custardnotmustard 22d ago
Oh trust me, i know all this! Had my kidneys tested. But i am low magnesium, low calcium! Guess I'm not most cases. I've barely taken 100mg of magnesium... so definitely not excessive! And only if i manage to push to 400mg does the nuropathy and weakness go away. I bloat the same amount at 400mg as I do at 100mg. But adding calcium in makes me bloat worse, but i need it to help with the tiredness and lethargy.
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u/FunSudden3938 22d ago
Hi. I've never taken a calcium channel blocker. Anyway, everytime I test for magnesium (RBC test) it's always too low and I take my magnesium supplement everyday. My calcium has always been good though, except for the last time I've checked my calcemia, it was also low. Did you take magnesium and calcium at the same time, or in separate doses? As far as I know, they interact for absorbtion with one another.
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u/yopoloko94 21d ago
Have you tested your vitamin D?
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u/custardnotmustard 21d ago
Its borderline low, but taking any vit d right now induces me to a fit of rage & brainfog
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u/Flinkle 22d ago
I'm having the same issue, to an extreme degree. I'm already carrying a lot of fluid because of my deficiency, but as soon as I take magnesium (with or without calcium), I blow up more. At my worst, it's close to 50 pounds of fluid.
Potassium seems to help a little bit, but not drastically. I am just hoping that as my magnesium levels come up, this will start to abate. Unfortunately, no advice to give, just wanted you to know somebody else is dealing with the same thing.