Kim M- Drinks

[Guest guest]

Hey Kim M,

Still need to try my own electrolyte drink. Which brands of vitamins

do you use? And what is the ratio of vitamin to water? Do you heat

the water at all?

Also, what is the online source for the E-Lyte and Propel that you

buy? Are these both legal?

Thanks,

Jodi

SCD 9 months

Crohn's/Colitis

[Guest guest]

Jodi

I've been getting E-Lyte from this source:

http://www.elytesport.com/products/products.html

I get the green-labeled bottle, the plain E-Lyte, as it has less salt than the sport version. As it is, I have to use less E-Lyte than is recommended on the bottle to keep the salt content low enough to get it successfully past my stomach.

I do find that my low-electrolyte symptoms recede more quickly using E-Lyte than my homemade electrolyte drink. I still make my own electrolyte drink though, mostly to get the extra magnesium my body needs successfully past my upper GI and kidneys.

I had to purchase 2 bottles of E-Lyte at a time. I keep one at work, and one at home. I'm still using the same bottles I bought 13 months ago; I'll probably need to get more in another month, as I've only got a 2 inches of liquid left. It's concentrated, so it lasts a long time, especially as I have to dilute the drink more than usual. I've kept expecting the E-Lyte not to work as efficiently as it's more than a year old, but it's still just as effective. So I feel I've gotten my money's worth, and then some.

I have a bottle of E-Lyte prepared when I'm doing yard work or other physically-demanding activities at home or at work. I generally mix it in one of my 32-oz water bottles, and keep it nearby and drink every 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how strenuous the activity, or how severe my symptoms. With E-Lyte you don't have to use hot water, so you can make a batch very quickly. I always drink water at room (or outside) temperature so I just mix the E-Lyte concentrate in when I need it. No preparation is required, which is very useful as I sometimes have to hurry to get a batch made up before I collapse. I generally continue to drink E-Lyte after a session of physical activity until I feel my body recovering and returning to normal.

I often have a glass of diluted fruit juice about 30 minutes after a session of yard work. My body also needs the sugar. And sometimes I need more salt, but since my stomach doesn't tolerate salt in liquid, I have a small bowl of heavily-salted cooked vegetable leftovers. I always keep a few containers of cooked veggies in my refrigerator for snacks and low blood sugar emergencies.

I usually mix up a batch of my homemade electrolyte drink every 2 to 3 days, and have a glass in the evening. Keeps me from getting severe tendon/muscle cramps during the night, and helps with my digestive motility. My homemade electrolyte drink contains water, magnesium and potassium and a few grains of salt. I generally don't have a glass of my own electrolyte drink on days I've had one or two water-bottles of E-Lyte, as I can tell my body doesn't need the extra boost.

I let my symptoms guide me on how much electrolyte drink to have, and how often. I've learned to recognize the onset of an electrolyte "crash", and have become proactive so I don't hurt myself or others.

You may need to experiment with your own electrolyte drink. I spent about a year testing different combinations of minerals until I had the right balance for my body -- alleviates my low-electrolyte symptoms, yet doesn't aggravate my upper GI.

My recipe is:

32-oz water (about 1 quart), brought to a boil for 1 minute, then allowed to cool for about 5 minutes

1 100-mg capsule of magnesium, emptied so I just use the powder

1 50-mg tablet of potassium, crushed

few grains of salt, less than a pinch, probably about 1/32 tsp. [iodized salt works best for my stomach, but sea salt is OK]

I stir the minerals in the hot water until completely dissolved. Then let the water cool to room temperature. Sometimes I'll double the recipe. I put it in a glass pitcher and keep out on my kitchen counter. Since there's no honey or fruit juice in it, and it will be gone within 2 days, there's no need to refrigerate it. Also my stomach and upper GI doesn't tolerate anything too cold or too warm. You can refrigerate it if you prefer.

I get my magnesium from Kirkman Labs; magnesium glycinate, in a capsule form. The potassium I can find in one of my local pharmacies, a brand that doesn't contain any illegals; potassium glyconate.

Let me know if I need to explain more. Figured this is enough of an epic saga!

Kim M.

SCD 5 years

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction 5+ years

ongoing neurological deterioration 2+ years

>>>>>>>>>>>

Hey Kim M,Still need to try my own electrolyte drink. Which brands of vitaminsdo you use? And what is the ratio of vitamin to water? Do you heatthe water at all?Also, what is the online source for the E-Lyte and Propel that youbuy? Are these both legal?Thanks,JodiSCD 9 monthsCrohn's/Colitis

Kim- I remember you telling me about this but how long does a bottlelike this last you? Also, how do you use it during the day?

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim M,

First of all these posts are absolutely BRILLIANT for me, thanks so much!

> I often have a glass of diluted fruit juice about 30 minutes after a

session of yard work. My body also needs the sugar. And sometimes I

need more salt, but since my stomach doesn't tolerate salt in liquid,

I have a small bowl of heavily-salted cooked vegetable leftovers. I

always keep a few containers of cooked veggies in my refrigerator for

snacks and low blood sugar emergencies.

Do you make all of your own fruit juices? If so which ones do you

make most of the times since I understand you follow low fructose

guidelines as well. I just bought the Omega juicer so I am planning

on making my own juices as store bought ones usually make me sick.

Also, I cannot tolerate salt water WHATSOEVER!! It makes me so

nauseous it isn't even funny. I end up putting a bunch on my chicken

and feel much better. Hubby laughs at the amount of salt I will put

on food sometimes. I use grey sea salt that I buy from an online

source as I don't really like table salt. I was wondering if you can

explain what happens to you when you try and drink salt water? What

is this need for salt associated with? Electrolytes? Or is it also

part of a blood sugar thing? (so much to learn, my goodness! Here I

have been told for years and years that all of this is no big deal but

this stuff totally contributes to my discomfort and feeling winded)

> I let my symptoms guide me on how much electrolyte drink to have,

and how often. I've learned to recognize the onset of an electrolyte

" crash " , and have become proactive so I don't hurt myself or others.

What would you say is the difference between an electrolyte crash and

a sugar crash??

> You may need to experiment with your own electrolyte drink. I spent

about a year testing different combinations of minerals until I had

the right balance for my body -- alleviates my low-electrolyte

symptoms, yet doesn't aggravate my upper GI.

All of this testing and figuring out the right combo is -exhausting-

although I am happy I can finally be proactive with something that

helps it is just overwhelming at times!

> Let me know if I need to explain more. Figured this is enough of an

epic saga!

>

Sure is a saga, but it is so helpful.

Thank you so much your wisdom truly helps me navigate in all of this

insanity!

Jodi

SCD 9 months

Crohn's/Colitis