I was reading a past post about magnesium. My husband took it after his stroke to help with leg cramps. He stopped it after that calmed down and hadn't had any issues for years. He's 3 years post-ileostomy and has started complaining of night leg cramps, and yesterday he had a pretty bad charley horse. My question is, how does the magnesium affect your output?
Doe1mama
Nov 14, 2025 4:29 pm
Beachboy
Nov 14, 2025 8:15 pm
Hello,
There is a lot of useful information that can be found using a Google search about magnesium use and its effect on people with an ileostomy.
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Posted by: iMacG5
Hi Crossley. Ya know, I think it’s all about feelings. I don’t mean the pain feelings which could control everything. I mean the feelings inside our heads, our hearts and even our souls. I mean the feelings of who we are now compared to who we were; how we accept our situation or maybe we don’t. My wife asked how I felt and I said, “like crap”. She asked what hurt and I answered, “Nothing hurts, well, everything hurts, I don’t know, It all sucks.” That was a long time ago. You question if your feelings are normal. How normal is it to relocate your butt hole to your belly where it’s usually in the way of your belt and, you know. But that’s where we are and for lots of us we are so much better off than we were before, physically. Emotionally, psychologically, well, that might be a different story. I believe talk therapy is wonderful if we could find a real empathic or sympathetic listener. So guess what! I found MAO and began “talking” with a keyboard with some of the wisest, kindest most sympathetic and compassionate folks on the planet. Regardless of where we’ve been, lots of folks here have been there and worse places and found their way back healthier and happier. We really do help each other.
Keep “talking”,
Mike
Yrsae67
Nov 14, 2025 8:24 pm
Hi Doe1mama,
Magnesium can be helpful against muscle cramps and has a calming effect. There are different forms, of which bisglycinate and citrate are the easiest to absorb. Taking magnesium can cause diarrhea. I take a low dose (100 mg citrate) after a hot meal if I need it. Then I don't experience any problems.
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Jo 🇦🇺
Nov 14, 2025 10:36 pm
I occasionally take a Berocca (magnesium, B and C vitamins dissolvable tablets in water), and as long as I drink it after a meal or a snack, it doesn't affect output too much. However, on an empty stomach, it can go straight through (I have an ileo). Berocca also has a hydration version; the berry flavor is delicious.
TerryLT
Nov 14, 2025 10:54 pm
Magnesium will result in loosening your output, which can be counterproductive, as it can leach the magnesium from your body, along with other micronutrients. I get weekly infusions of magnesium, as I'm chronically low due to a high-output ileostomy. If you take magnesium, use bisglycinate, as it is absorbed the best and is less likely to cause loose output.
Terry
My Ostomy Journey: LeeAnne | Hollister
gentlejohn
Nov 15, 2025 12:03 am
Good question. Magnesium could. It will depend upon what form and how much. Start low and increase slowly.