I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Off-Topic => Other Severe Medical Conditions => Topic started by: highlite36 on September 11, 2007, 03:36:06 PM
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Recently, I've been having difficulty with my legs getting severely restless and irritated while I'm down and dialyzing on my machine. My doctor was willing to give me a pill to help with the problem...but I'm hesitating to take it.....It just seems that I'm taking a pill for everything these days and I just don't want to depend on another pill.....Is there anyone else with this problem? And are there any suggestions to help ease the discomfort? Most of the time, I find that the only thing that works is unplugging from the machine and taking a shower..... It's just really inconvenient at 2 in morning when I'm really tired, but I can't get to sleep because my legs have started twitching......
EDITED: Moved to proper section - Sluff/ Admin
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Well Highlite36 , I also have restless legs, and what my doctor did was up my dialysis time to 4:30 hours instead of 4 hours. I HATE the extra half hour but it does seem to make my legs not so twitchy. I see that you get them while you are on the machine, I am not to sure about that.
Good Luck
Kim :canadaflag;
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Here is another thread on the subject of Restless Legs.
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=3325.0
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I take Gabapentin for my restless legs. It helps.
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I take Gabapentin for my restless legs. It helps.
That's the same medicine I take but they claim my leg problems on diabetic neuropathy. 600mg 3 x per day. It helps some but I still have nights when it feels like it does nothing.
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Highlite
I take a sleeping tablet called Zopiclone and it has helped a lot.
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I had RLS both times I was on dialysis, back in 1999 and this time from 2004-2007, I noticed it went away with transplant both times, so im glad for that.
Only medicine helped me when I had it, Clonazepam, Clonodine, and Requip (Made specifically for RLS).
Good luck.
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I have been seeing lots of adverts for Mirapex or Miraplex, not sure. Has anyone used this?
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I have been seeing lots of adverts for Mirapex or Miraplex, not sure. Has anyone used this?
I have not used it, but I know it is used for RLS specifically, just as Requip was made specifically for RLS... so I would say it's worth giving it a shot.
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I'm not on dialysis yet, but I have restless legs. I just read in a book on kidney disease that it's a symptom seen in a number of kidney patients, more so the more your kidneys fail. I get it mostly in the evenings when I'm sitting or laying down. I have to get up and pace the floor for a while just to sit comfortably for 5 minutes. It sucks! This past week, I've noticed the problem every evening and dread evening time. Before it was severe, but only once a week or less. Now it's mild and every day. It drives me crazy now more than it did before.
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I also take tablets for restless legs Co - benedopa , but ..if you really dont want to take tablets try keeping your legs as cool as possible ,try some sort of ice pack (wrapped in a towel/cloth) under your legs. I find the colder i can keep my legs are when it starts the sooner it goes.
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Now . This ,may sound really weird but I had RLS and I put pennies under my mattress pad
and it stopped the RLS . I do not know why it worked for me but it did .
I was on Dialysis at the time and 2 hands full of pennies under the pad where I slept
stopped it . I was having to get up at night and walk around the house to get it to
settle down . I have been transplanted and no longer have the problem.
Katonsdad
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I've finally started on a pill to help with the restless legs. I've been given gabapentin to help me sleep through the restless legs. This doesn't mean that my legs aren't restless when I sleep, it's just that I've realized I'm in such deep sleep, I don't feel the moments. I do have a harder time with the side effects. I find that it puts me to sleep in fifteen minutes flat. And I find that I'm really groggy when I wake up and it's easy to over sleep. I've also read that this medication helps with anti depression and is often prescribed as a mood stablizer. So I guess all in all, it's really not all that bad. We'll see how it keeps going.
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I've finally started on a pill to help with the restless legs. I've been given gabapentin to help me sleep through the restless legs. This doesn't mean that my legs aren't restless when I sleep, it's just that I've realized I'm in such deep sleep, I don't feel the moments. I do have a harder time with the side effects. I find that it puts me to sleep in fifteen minutes flat. And I find that I'm really groggy when I wake up and it's easy to over sleep. I've also read that this medication helps with anti depression and is often prescribed as a mood stablizer. So I guess all in all, it's really not all that bad. We'll see how it keeps going.
Have you actually tried a med specifically made for RLS?
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How in the hell do you get it to STOP?????? It's driving me crazy! Usually I only get it at night, just before falling asleep. The multiple times a night I wake up to use the restroom I never have the RLS symptoms then - only when just falling asleep.
However, I'm still awake, working on the computer, watching TV, etc. and I can feel my legs jumping inside. It's as if every nerve is dancing. :bandance; Before bed if it's bad I'll take a sleeping pill to help me fall asleep fast, but what can I take now that it's happening during day/evening hours? Should I discuss this with my neph? :thx;
EDITED: Merged threads same subject - Sluff/ Admin
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There are several medications that help. Call your Nephrologist.
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Yes, call your neph. There are several meds you can take. Hope you find a good answer and get some relief.
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I have restless legs at night most of the time that keeps me awake for hours. I was diagnosed with the restless legs in a sleep study, but that was just before I was diagnosed with the kidney failure, and I haven't really discussed it with a Dr. I wish they would give me some valium to help me relax enough to go to sleep at night, I really have a rough time night after night.
Loretta
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Restless legs are no fun.
Sometimes I have to just get up from bed and read a book or surf "the net" for a while. Of course, that means I don't get the sleep I should.
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i suffer most nights with restless legs.
What i found that helps, for me anyway is to take a Strong aspirin tablet and in about 20 minutes it stops. i don't know if its just a placebo effect or what, but it works everytime. the drawback there is when i go on dailysis the next day i cant stop bleeding when i come off. my blood is too thin.
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Requip is a medicine especially made just for RLS. I use it, it works. I have also used medicines made for Parkinsons Disease before they made meds for RLS, and they work too. Talk to your doctor about it and get on something. Sometimes going for a lil walk before your going to settle down for the night eases it, but I still need meds for it. Now that I have a working transplant I rarely have to take my RLS meds, but I keep them b/c I sometimes do need them.
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Angela515,
I do walk my dog before I go to bed. Lately because of my several stays at the hospital and other problems I have kept that walk fairly short. We are dealing with very hot temperatures. Even if I wait until 11:00 it is often still over 100 degrees. (Phoenix AZ) I do need to get me and the dog out more. It would help to be able to sleep at night so I could get up at a decent hour. I guess I will be talking to the DR about the restless legs deal. I am worried about the side affects that could make people compulsive. I fight that every day without those meds.
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I can not believe how bad my RLS has been. I have been sick a lot and think I have mono on top of being week. I just don't have the strength to walk around the house at night. I do have to take my dog out for a short walk in the late evening, but the RLS lasts for hours! I usually get to sleep around 3:00 after going to bed at about 11:00.
I am going to talk to a Dr about it when I get a chance.
Loretta
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I have RLS BAD, I went to the doctor today as a matter of fact and got something to help me sleep, its been really bad the last week... I am exhausted
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I have it sometimes but I never notice it until I go to bed and try to sleep.
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Damn -
Seems like you guys came through again for me. My Restless legs have increased in intensity lately and I can't sleep at all. At first, I thought it was my mattress. I've changed beds, tried sleeping on the couch, slept with & without the dog. By the way, my dog used to sleep with our daughter, but the dog has decided she likes sleeping with "Mommy & Daddy" The dog is able to go from awake to snoring in 4 minutes. A while back I was given a prescription for some sleeping pills and they tend to "help." I don't feel I'm addicted to them because of the infrequent nature I take them.
I guess it's off the Neurologist I go. Dammit.
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The FDA has approved Requip and Mirapex for treatment of RLS. You might ask your doctor about them.
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I think I'll mention it to my neph at my next appointment. However, I'm going to try the penny treatment first. I don't want to have purchase another script if I can avoid it.
I first thought it might be a phosphorus thing. I noticed that if I had a lot of cheese late in the day I had it really bad. I started taking my Tums regularly and stopped eating cheese after lunch if at all possible and it seemed to help. But lately I've been really holding off totally on the cheese and it's still bugging the crap out of me. It feels like I'm vibrating internally. I just kick and arch my back all day & night. Oh yeah, and scream. It's the most odd and frustrating feeling!!!
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Yeah... like I said... since I started Requip when it first came out, my RLS has not been a problem. Great stuff.
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I got a new script today for RLS. It's Sinemet. I'll try it tonight and let you all know how it does.
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For those of you who are on Requip, How long did it start before it started helping?
Does it work kind of like anti-depresaants where it has to build up over time?
Thanks,
Loretta
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The Sinemet started working on the second day and I haven't had a single twitch since.