Restless Legs Syndrome About This Page:

[GoofyMom]

Who else has it? And what do you do to help it?

[Colexis Mom]

Not here, but sending you tons of pixies

[korki-rad]

DH has RLS and sleep apnea -- he takes Mirapax and is on a cpap machine. On the nights when he forgets his meds, he jerks all night long!! Have you been diagnosed by a doctor? If not, get thee to one ASAP! DH was diagnosed after passing out at work, one time at home and then WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE!!!!! The combined RLS and sleep apnea were not allowing him to sleep at night and his body couldn't handle it any more...his body was so exhausted it would just collapse!

I've heard people on TV mock RLS, but it really can be a serious condition! Get your doctor's advice ASAP!

[TinkerBelz]

RLS is VERY common with Fibromyaglia. Thankfully I don't have it but I know there is an actual prescription just for RLS - go and talk to your doctor - although be aware, just because you have RLS does not mean you'll have sleep apnea - it's a totally different syndrome.

[korki-rad]

Sorry -- didn't mean to insinuate that RLS and sleep apnea go hand-in-hand...just sharing DH's experience, and he has both.

However, I DO want to emphasize that RLS can be very serious. I've found myself shouting at the TV when talk shows joke about how "dumb" RLS is...what's the big deal about jittery legs, they say. Well, if those jittery legs are making it so you can't sleep at night, the consequences *can* be very serious!

If you think you have RLS and haven't been to a doctor, GO! The prescription medication is very effective.

[doctorhead]

people w/ restless leg syndrome typically get blood work done to see if they're Fe level in the blood is low. that can sometimes cause it. if not, physicians can prescribe anti-parkinson meds to control it.

[disneydani]

No advice but pixies...I understand it can be quite uncomfortable.

[luvdduck]

I totally have it!

Until the drug ads started a few years back, I just thought it was some freaky thing that only happened to me. I've never sought treatmemt for it, because it only happens once in a blue moon-thank goodness. When it does happen, it is very uncomfortable and makes it impossible to sleep. An episode for me only last 15 or 20 minutes though and then I'm able to go back to sleep. They say it can get worse with age, so eventually I may have to speak to my dr about it. If it gets severe, I can definitely see it causing serious sleep deprevation.

[Cam22]

My DBIL has it, but I've no idea if or what he takes.

[NanaTink]

Originally Posted by luvdduck

I totally have it!

Until the drug adds started a few years back, I just thought it was some freaky thing that only happened to me. I've never sought treatmemt for it, because it only happens once in a blue moon-thank goodness. When it does happen, it is very uncomfortable and makes it impossible to sleep. An episode for me only last 15 or 20 minutes though and then I'm able to go back to sleep. They say it can get worse with age, so eventually I may have to speak to my dr about it. If it gets severe, I can definitely see it causing serious sleep deprevation.

I thought it was just me......Sulley and I used to call it my jumpy legs! I rarely get it and find that if I get up and walk around our bedroom for 5 minutes at a good pace, it takes care of the problem pretty well. If I try to ignore it, it will get worse. The next day I make sure I eat a banana and do so for a few days. I don't get a back to back attack this way. Why? Low potassium causes leg cramps, maybe that has something to do with RLS, I don't know. All I know is it works for me! I don't want another prescription med if I can take care of it this way! So far, it's worked!
Donna! I KNOW how creepy it feels!

[pparm]

I would chime in with other posters about going to the doc. It seems there are a few meds out now, just for RLS.
Good luck with it.

Paula

[Happymommy]

I've had it since I was a kid. The only thing that has ever helped me is to just go to sleep. The worst is in movie theaters or at parties--- I know that I tend to get it when I'm really tired. If I get it in the movies--- I'll actually let myself doze for 10 minutes, and when I wake up its gone-- I know that's weird, but it's just what I have to do.It runs in my family. My mom has RLS bad and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia a few years ago as well--- I didn't realize they were related though. But I remember getting jimmy legs even as a young kid, and it's terrible. Joe always knows when I have it. I've never spoken to a doc about it, but the only thing that helps is to either go to sleep (not always easy when it's a bad episode) or to get up and move around. My mom pretty much refuses to go to the movies anymore, and sadly I'm getting to that point (which is hard for me, because I love the movies). Caffeine seems to make it worse for me. Sometimes I can go to sleep with it (which I know is unusual), and I'm good, but sometimes I'm sleeping and wakeup with it--- and that's hard. That's usually when you'll see me posting here at 3 in the morning.

[TinkerBelz]

Originally Posted by Happymommy

My mom has RLS bad and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia a few years ago as well--- I didn't realize they were related though.

Yes, it's one of the "sister diseases" - along with IBS, UC, migraines....hmmm the list goes on and on. Luckily and THANK GOD I only get the migraines - which are bad enough, but I don't have all the other problems and hope to never get them. RLS sounds REALLY tough.

BTW - no harm done about the sleep apnea. I just know some about it, as it's common in the obese (not saying you DH is fat or anything - cause I have no idea and man this sounds wrong - just know I don't think he's fat or anything) because some do get it thin, but it's more common with the obese - of which I am so that's how I know about it. I had weight loss surgery a few years back and I had to go through a test for sleep apena! I thankfully did not have that either. Did you say your husband uses a CPAP machine? I know they're a pain in the patootee but people seem to LOVE the results. Good luck to him!

[Happymommy]

Huh--I have migraines too (so does my mom)--- I wonder if that's related to the RLS? I know she also had to do a sleep study at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia.

I'm also one of those people who just thought it was this weird thing that just happened to them until my grandfather was dying and was in the hospital, and my mom was telling me about his jimmy legs--- lightbulb moment for me--- it wasn't just this weird thing.

[TinkerBelz]

Dina - It's more likely related to Fibromyalgia - but look I have FABULOUS book for you and/or your mother to read. It's called: "It's my Ovaries Stupid" by Elizabeth Lee Vliet. I think ALL women - especially around 30+ - but earlier if you're having health symptoms should read this. It addresses all of these things and then some. I have gotten some SERIOUSLY great help from it.

She is a physician (GYN) and she believe so many things are tied together - especially for women. It's very 'meaty' but pretty easy to read. I took a copy to my GYN and my GP. They LOVED it.

You can get a NEW copy at Amazon for $2.79 from one of their alternate book sellers.