Trying to walk on the balls of my feet

[sovay]

And then later in the evening my body apparently ran out of electrolytes and spent the next seven or eight hours in a nearly full-body cramp, which was much less fun than just about anything I had planned or imagined spending the rest of the night doing. We think I may have accidentally flushed all the salts out of my body. Today I am mostly prone and drinking Pedialyte. I have books and movies, but could use interesting links and also suggestions for electrolyte replacement that don't taste like Mixed Fruit. (No, we have no bananas, we have no bananas or I would have eaten them last night.)

Comments

[davidgillon]

Ouch!

This may interest: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jun/12/sarah-polley-terry-gilliam-run-towards-danger-baron-munchausen-interview

[sovay]

This may interest

It interests; I am sorry it is the case; it looks like a terrific memoir. Thank you.

[gwynnega]

That sounds very unpleasant. My mom used Ultima brand electrolyte powder (mixed in water). It is fruit-flavored, but at least you get to choose which fruit you want.

[sovay]

My mom used Ultima brand electrolyte powder (mixed in water). It is fruit-flavored, but at least you get to choose which fruit you want.

Thank you! It almost certainly cannot taste worse.

[dewline]

Yikes!

Listening to Cross-Country Checkup here at the moment.

[sovay]

Listening to Cross-Country Checkup here at the moment.

Neat! Thank you.

[thistleingrey]

Electrolytes aren't a thing I've needed so far in bulk, but I have heard good (informed) things about https://saltstick.com/pages/vitassium

[sovay]

Electrolytes aren't a thing I've needed so far in bulk, but I have heard good (informed) things about

Thank you! I had not heard of them. I am not traditionally prone to electrolyte weirdness—I had something like this happen once before, but it involved colonoscopy prep made from Epsom salt and potash, so, you know, that was already weird.

[selkie]

From the chat node of the Last Responder!! Conference:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ca4_uGOJSo1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

[sovay]

From the chat node of the Last Responder!! Conference

Hee. Thank you.

[sholio]

That sounds awful; I'm so sorry!

I tend to find myself craving pickles when my electrolytes are out of balance, and they do seem to help, but I haven't experienced anything on that level and I don't know if it would be the opposite of helpful.

[sovay]

That sounds awful; I'm so sorry!

Thank you! It was nuts. I much prefer discovering the weird capabilities of my body that don't hurt.

I tend to find myself craving pickles when my electrolytes are out of balance, and they do seem to help, but I haven't experienced anything on that level and I don't know if it would be the opposite of helpful.

I mean, I like pickles. Significantly more than I like Pedialyte.

[thomasyan]

Ouch, that sounds supremely unpleasant.

Fun links

https://mobile.twitter.com/xkcd/status/1535239035433754624

https://twitter.com/Rainmaker1973/status/1531228929360506880

For electrolytes, you probably already have found or been told better advice. Besides bananas for potassium, I've heard of coconut water and also pickle juice. Googling "oral rehydration solution homemade" suggests sugar and salt might be enough.

For myself as a less serious case, I'm thinking of carrying chips or other salty snacks when doing dragon boat or tennis.

[sovay]

Fun links

Thank you! I especially enjoyed the transparent octopus.

Besides bananas for potassium, I've heard of coconut water and also pickle juice.

I normally keeep coconut water around the house because I like it, I just didn't have any on hand! I appreciate the support regardless of the details of advice.

[choco_frosh]

...Should I drop off some bananas later tonight?
(Also, if this ends up being a multi-day thing, I will try to locate some jerky.)

[sovay]

...Should I drop off some bananas later tonight?

I think I am now good on the front of Things Filled with Potassium, but thank you!

(Also, if this ends up being a multi-day thing, I will try to locate some jerky.)

(I do not expect this to become a multi-day thing! I will end up at the doctor's if it is!)

*hugs*

[shalpacafarm]

Ever since I had C#### I’ve had to eat lots of salty popcorn just to keep from fainting and it sucks.

I’m wondering if it also messes with K because this has come up a lot recently.

There was a blurb about American soldiers donating their banana rations to English hospitals which saved hundreds of childrens’ lives, I think you wrote about it or perhaps one of the other 5 million sciency people I follow? Thinking is so hard!

[sovay]

There was a blurb about American soldiers donating their banana rations to English hospitals which saved hundreds of childrens’ lives, I think you wrote about it or perhaps one of the other 5 million sciency people I follow?

I don't think that was me! If you happen to remember where you read it, I'd love the information. (Or, you know, I could just search "banana rations English hospital donations" and proabbly find it.)

My serious sympathies on your salty popcorn diet.

[radiantfracture]

What the hell bodies and their terrible poetry.

*careful hugs*

[sovay]

What the hell bodies and their terrible poetry.

Terrible, no-good, very bad poetry.

*hugs*

[julian]

Neolithic Sheep over on Twitter recommends Skratch Labs for various purposes, including ORFs. https://www.skratchlabs.com/pages/hydration-mixes

[sovay]

Neolithic Sheep over on Twitter recommends Skratch Labs for various purposes, including ORFs.

Thank you! selkie also recommends those. This just isn't a problem I have often had before.

[nineweaving]

Yikes! I hope your salt levels are rising.

Here, have some sea-creatures.



https://nautil.us/what-merpeople-say-about-us-11819/

https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2021/03/25/merpeople-splash/

*hugs*

Nine

[sovay]

Yikes! I hope your salt levels are rising.

Yes, fortunately, but at what cost!

Here, have some sea-creatures.

Thank you! Rackham draws rusalky?

*hugs*

[minoanmiss]

Jesus haploid christ that sounds unfun. *all ssympathies*

[sovay]

Jesus haploid christ that sounds unfun.

Sub-optimal! Speaking of, I hope you are being taken care of.

*hugs*

[pameladean]

Owww, cramps are their own particular horror. My own accomplishments are less terrifying but involve, I think, the periformis muscle, which is very hard to stretch out; also some muscle on the front of the shin. I would prefer a simple Charley Horse, thanks.

In my case V8 juice and something with magnesium in (almonds, often) will usually help, but so many missing things can cause cramping that it's hard to know what to stock up on.

P.

[sovay]

Owww, cramps are their own particular horror.

I have not often been afflicted with them outside of my menstrual cycle and I don't appreciate it!

My own accomplishments are less terrifying but involve, I think, the periformis muscle, which is very hard to stretch out; also some muscle on the front of the shin. I would prefer a simple Charley Horse, thanks.

Seriously. I knew abstractly that any muscle in the body could cramp, but I really didn't need some of them to prove it quite so vociferously.

*hugs*

In my case V8 juice and something with magnesium in (almonds, often) will usually help, but so many missing things can cause cramping that it's hard to know what to stock up on.

The most closely analogous time anything like this happened, my potassium and magnesium had been stripped out, so we started there. I was definitely thinking about vegetables today, though, and how since the start of the pandemic I eat a lot fewer of them than I used to.

[mrissa]

You already have all the suggestions I would have made, but you also have my sympathy, just so's you know.

[sovay]

You already have all the suggestions I would have made, but you also have my sympathy, just so's you know.

Thank you. I appreciate knowing.

[oracne]

Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. I am hoping things are better today (the 13th).

[sovay]

Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. I am hoping things are better today (the 13th).

Thank you! Knock on wood, yes, they are. I would have been calling doctors like whoa if not. (As it is, I am just e-mailing a bunch.)

[asakiyume]

Coming at this late (and after seeing the next entry, cursed-be-the-name-of-your-landlordproperty-manager-forever), so I'm glad that you're recovering, and I'm fascinated by the responses you've had, especially as Wakanomori's mother was just talking to him about how, when she was a young mother and he was a very little boy and they moved to Singapore, their English doctor had them take salt tablets--I guess for fear they would sweat a lot, drink a lot of water, and, as you did, flush all their electrolytes. I guess salt tablets are still something endurance athletes take.

Bodies, man. So weird. And your readers and friends: so well-informed.