Restless Leg Syndrome?

[joyfulmother]

If it wasn't for those silly prescription drug commercials, I probably would've not even thought to ask if there is a name for what I am experiencing!  I looked it up on the internet and I think I might have RLS.  It's driving me crazy and is the reason that I am not sleeping at 1am in the morning.  I actually went to bed at 8:30 pm and slept till now.

I just keep lying there jerking my legs.  It's the URGE to move them that makes me crazy!  I think, surely I can just resist moving them.  Nuh uh (how do you spell that?).  I wonder if there is a such thing as restless shoulder syndrome??  AArgh!

Anyone have this?

[Jean]

I dont know if I have RLS, I just know that without a muscle relaxer 2 hours before bedtime, I will jerk myself awake one hour after another. PLUS!!!! The Charlie horses are killers. Any one have those also??

[KICKSTART]

Restless leg syndrome is VERY common ! If you do a search of the forum you will find lots of info on this. Yes you can get it all over , your arms etc. Most of us take something for it as it does drive you mad! I take Co -beneldopa but im in UK so you might have something different?  but for me it works brilliantly!

[draven]

RLS is the worst.

i found that taking a very strong pain pill helped. it basically knocked me out for the night. The Symptoms went away instantly once i had my transplant, so its definitely dialysis related.

[hurlock1]

Up until recently,, there was no such thing as 'RLS" Every time the commerciial came on it'd make me giggle. I'm wondering how you catch restless legs syndrome. did you know someone else with RLS? could the virus, or whatever be in sheets or bedcovers at a hotel you stayed at? Or, have you always had it? Recently, you couldn't turn the TV n wwithout seeing a commercial for some medication for the dreaded "RLS". Lately there hasn''t been any. So possibly, the epidemic has been queld, and you may have to go to another country to get the medicine. . Or possibly a Witch Doctor. . .

[willowtreewren]

According to our neph, potassium build-up is one of the causes of RLS. And after we have gone Sunday without a treatment, my husband has RLS during the night. I get very lttle sleep that night, but he is able to sleep through it! 

Aleta

[KICKSTART]

Up until recently,, there was no such thing as 'RLS" Every time the commerciial came on it'd make me giggle. I'm wondering how you catch restless legs syndrome. did you know someone else with RLS? could the virus, or whatever be in sheets or bedcovers at a hotel you stayed at? Or, have you always had it? Recently, you couldn't turn the TV n wwithout seeing a commercial for some medication for the dreaded "RLS". Lately there hasn''t been any. So possibly, the epidemic has been queld, and you may have to go to another country to get the medicine. . Or possibly a Witch Doctor. . .


Where have you been ? RLS has been around for years and is VERY common in renal patients!! I have had it for 3 yrs plus !!!

[angellady07]

Mirapex has helped  me tremendously with restless leg. I like you was awake at 1 with a jerking leg. Now I'm able to sleep at night. What a relief. Hope you find something that works for you.

[petey]

My Marvin has had RLS since he went back on dialysis this second time (over 5 years now).  Funny, but when he was on dialysis the first time around, he didn't have it.  When it first started with Marvin, Hop-Sing (the dog) and I had to start sleeping in another bed.  It was like Marvin was having a soccer (football to you, RichardMel) game in our bed every night -- running and kicking all over the place.  Marvin takes Requip now, and it usually keeps his RLS in check (and the three of us can sleep together again  ).  He also gets serious RLS when he's on the machine for those three hours every day. 

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I take clonazapam and a sleeping tablet called Zopiclone at bedtime with varying results. Sometimes they don't work and I'm awake for hours but most of the time they reduce it so that it only lasts about 20 minutes or so.
I seem to get it pretty bad at dialysis. Usually I am going stir crazy with it during the last hour.

Here in the UK you cannot get 'Requipe' on pescription. There are no drugs available here which are specific for restless leg syndrome which is typical of the NHS. The only treatment available are drugs normally used against Parkinson's Disease! 

[kellyt]

I, too, had RLS before transplant, but I wasn't on dialysis.  I think it was the potassium, as well.  Drove me nuts!  I didn't take any medication for it, though.  However, there is an IHD member who gave the suggestion of putting pennies under my mattress pad on the side of the bed where I sleep.  I would have tried anything at that time, so I did.   I grabbed a handfull of pennies and scattered them under my mattress pad from about where my hips were down.  I honestly don't know if it actually helped or it was mental, but I had less symptoms  - didn't have RLS every night.

Actually, even after transplant I still have the pennies there.  Now it's become a very small savings account. 

Try that.

[Jean]

Went to see my Neph today and he says it is possibly due to taking lasix for high blood pressure, or not drinking enough water. so try taking the lasix every other day. Okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. And, if that doesn't work, I will dump pennies under my mattress.

[kellyt]

Not under your mattress, but under the mattress pad.  I tried just under the fitted sheet, but I could feel them, so I put them under the pad. 

Good luck.  I know RLS is annoying as heck!

[KICKSTART]

I take clonazapam and a sleeping tablet called Zopiclone at bedtime with varying results. Sometimes they don't work and I'm awake for hours but most of the time they reduce it so that it only lasts about 20 minutes or so.
I seem to get it pretty bad at dialysis. Usually I am going stir crazy with it during the last hour.

Here in the UK you cannot get 'Requipe' on pescription. There are no drugs available here which are specific for restless leg syndrome which is typical of the NHS. The only treatment available are drugs normally used against Parkinson's Disease! 

Ken , hiya , do you have a problem with taking the drug for Parkinsons ?  I have been on it for about 2/3yrs now its called Co-beneldopa . Im very sensitive towards alot of medication but i find this fine and it DOES actually work ! Might be worth you trying it ? 

[peleroja]

My RLS pretty much went away after I lost 60 pounds.  Don't know if there's a correlation or not.

[willowtreewren]

Hi, Peleroja,
My husband has always been underweight and still has RLS. If he lost 60 pounds it would definitely clear up the problem because he would disappear! 

Joking aside, anything that changes metabolism could have wide-ranging effects on the body.

Aleta