Restless Leg Syndrom

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:38 pm

According to the sleep study, RLS was not present.

HOWEVER.....

the questionaire that I filled out asked an incredible array of things that might potentially keep me from getting a good night's sleep. or any sleep at all. among them was "spouse snoring", "spouse RLS"... etc. That is when I first learned there WAS such a thing as RLS. Until then I thought it was just like every 16 seconds (almost exactly) everyone's legs just kick in their sleep. I recall countless nights counting to 16, *kick*, 16, *kick*. I guess I thought it was normal. Like some hangover from fetal development, or whatever. Funny how we rationalize the irrational.

Interestingly, I get diagnosed, SHE gets treated! I learned there is a simple treatment, some traditional meds, some new meds just out, that work for SOME people. It's not that simple of course, but she just earned her own sleep study which has yet to be scheduled.

Maybe if I get a REALLY NOISY machine that keeps HER awake all night... oh WAIT! cancel that thought. I've already spent too many nights on the couch for lesser offense... <backspace> <backspace> <backspace> <backspace>

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:10 am

My doc said "inconclusive" for me. Some sleep studies showed twitchy legs and others didn't. Iron levels are OK.
I have a prescription for Gabapentin, but I just don't like how it affects me even at extremely low doses.

Sometimes giving myself a leg massage just before going to sleep helps reduce the twitchiness.

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 5:12 am

[quote="allen"]Hmm. My first reply got lost or I pushed a wrong command. Here goes again...

I was diagnosed with RLS during the sleep study. Like Lori, once they had me on CPAP for titration, the episodes went down to zero or very few.

Just this morning, I made a connection between two dreams that have recurred over the last several years and RLS.

In one of the dreams, I'm trying to start jogging, but my feet won't work. I can walk, but I cannot run. Sometimes, in that dream, I'm already running and then, suddenly, I realize that I can't run. The feet just don't know what to do. It's a very perplexing feeling.

In the other, more frequent dream, I'm driving a car and apply the brakes. Not only does the brake pedal go straight down to the floorboard, it goes right through the floorboard. I keep pushing the brake pedal and it keeps going forward. My foot stays connected to the pedal and I'm pushing it "into infinity". It's a very strange and physical feeling in the dream, accompanied by a sense of panic from not being able to stop the car.

I'd bet a lot of money that when I dream those dreams, I'm having some pretty big episodes of RLS.

I don't think I've had either dream since I began CPAP, but I've been dreaming so much that I'm not sure.

Allen

TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:30 am

I had a split night study and after they strapped a mask on me, next thing I knew it was morning and the tech was waking me up. I felt great and remember saying "I GOTTA get me one of these things!". Amazing what 3+ years of OSA did for me and finally getting something to take care of it.

But no, no restless legs, no tossing and turning. Just blissful sleep, wired up worse than Frankenstein's monster, tv camera staring at me, tech listening for any and all sounds!

This therapy WORKS!!! (Nope, I gots no dignity left, not that I had much to start with! LOL)

Colorado Jan · Post by **Colorado Jan** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:57 am

Someone mentioned Iron levels.....I forgot to say I have no iron. My bloodwork was really, really low. Why oh why do they not just automatically put you on iron after surgery? So I'm taking two iron pills a day now and have to have blood drawn again mid-December.

But I have always had RLS ad PLM...since I was a child. Highly doubt I've been anemic my entire life.

Jan in Colo.

Apneaat22 · Post by **Apneaat22** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:58 pm

OOPS my fault, now that I start this going, I guess I shouldnt have used RLS over any other kicking disorder. I do not believe RLS was ever mentioned, just that I kick quite a bit when I sleep. What is bothering me is that while the technician mentioned it both times, there was never any mention of treating it so I will keep looking into that.

I have the "I cant run " dream all of the time, weird.

In terms of blood work, that was my first step before my sleep study, my blood work is almost disturbingly good. Meaning I dont belive it is mine since I should have high blood pressure of some sort, or bad cholesterol or something like that, everything was spot on. But either way that part was good. Guess I need to get back with the doctor or switch doctors.

I just really don't want to start taking medications other than something temporarilly though. As mentioned I do not have much knowledge on treatment but all I have heard is that it is generally medicated.

Adam

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:00 pm

Adam,

How did you sleep last night? Any 3 AM wakings?

Apneaat22 · Post by **Apneaat22** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:15 pm

2:55. Then another at 5:15. They seem to be 4 hours after going to sleep and then like 2 hours later. I really think it is me hitting a sleep stage but its just a personal feeling. Hitting my ramp really helps me get back to sleep.

I have been using the Medium pillows the last two nights and yeah my nose does hurt now. I think I am going back to the smalls.

All and all I am doing ok, but I still assume I can do better. Still want my Auto. Waiting for my doctor to call.

Adam

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:54 pm

My CBC came back normal with my physical. It was not until the sleep doc. ordered a ferritin specific test that my levels showed a low, almost anemic level.

allen · Post by **allen** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:56 am

SleepyRed and Adam,

How bizarre, and yet cool, too, that we'd have the same dreams about our feet and/or legs.

Allen

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:47 pm

I was diagnosed several years ago, switched from Sinemet to Mirapex in 2004. In regards to the news reports about Mirapex and addictions...the news report mentioned 4 kinds - Gambling, Shopping, Eating, & Sexual. I have always hated shopping at "real" stores, but I have always enjoyed thrift shopping as a hobby when time and money allowed. But the last couple years something changed. My friends have challenged me on all the "junk" I'm accumulating - to the point there was nowhere to sit except my computer chair. In my thrift shopping I've often "hit gold" in that I've made small purchases that turned out to be worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars. But I knew something wasn't right when I began to skip important events to thrift shop (I'd be ashamed to tell you the things I've missed), rearrange my schedule to acommodate store hours, and spend bill money. My budget showed I should have $600 extra to save each month, but I was living chasing checks at the cash advance places, utilities and phone repeatedly turned off, etc. When I heard the news report, I dumped my purse and pulled out all the receipts from my two favorite shops that had not been stuffed in the shopping bags. Those receipts alone, not counting garage sales, showed 18 visits in the month of last July totalling over $300. I was relieved to hear the report - I can't tell you how bad I'd felt about who I'd become. My little treasure hunts had turned into a gambling addiction manifested in thrift shopping. I still take the Mirapex, but awareness and understanding have been half the battle. I work at a rehab center for addicts, and I figured if those addicted to hard drugs can change their behavior, certainly so could I. I'm glad not everyone experiences those side effects. It just pays for family to be aware to watch for trouble signs.
Just sign me,
On A Leash
P.S. And since 2004 I gained 45 pounds. Not so sure if it's related.

gasp · Post by **gasp** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:12 am

tlc95066 wrote:Ok I didn't exactly sleep like a baby, but I wasn't told that I was a kicker. As a matter of fact I had a very difficult time falling asleep. Go figure
I ended up taking some ambien and fell asleep in about 20 mins.

Take care.
Teri

Ditto for me. (I didn't vote since neither fit my response : )

georgiaboy · Post by **georgiaboy** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:37 am

I note some have mentioned "low ferritin" levels associated with RLS or PLMD. I just had my physical and all my blood counts were great, however my Ferratin level was very low normal at 26(normal for me would be 22-322). Anyone have any experience with this type situation?

My MD said not to worry about it.

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:03 am

i have RLS and PLMD...i think it's important to differentiate between the two, for better understanding of symptoms and treatment

RLS occurs while awake...it can interfere with falling asleep, but for the most part, the disorder is described in folks when they are awake, relaxing, not moving around for a period of time, sitting for a while ie. movie theatre, restaurant, on the couch, reclining in bed reading or watching tv and while it is not restricted to evenings, this time is most prevalent

PLMD occurs while sleeping...sometimes it's referred to as Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep...it is usually a rhythmic, cyclical movement of one or both legs...more extreme cases involve the other limbs and/or all over body twitching, but for most people, the movement is similar and happens regularly, with 15-30 seconds between movements...some people's movements vary depending on sleep stages, but in my case, the 15-30 seconds thing is pretty much all night...they estimate that about 1/4 of the movements cause an arousal, though for some people it's more often than that...

i experienced almost constant sciatica and extreme pain in my entire right leg, which mystified me for the longest time, until my sleep study...then it all made sense...

at my psg i presented with plmd, and as usual they were hoping cpap would address it, if it was indeed related to apneas...no such luck...in fact, at my titration i logged more limb movements than the 1st psg...like sleepyred, my iron level was extremely low (6) and my sleep doc is hoping that the low iron, combined with fibromyalgia, is the cause of the limb movements...since may my ferritin level has risen from 6 to 30 with prescription iron supps...he's hoping to raise the level to 50 or 60 which is necessary to treat the movements; otherwise it has to be assumed to be neurological in origin

for the time being i'm on low-dose 'requip' (ropinerole) which is a parkinson's med used to treat RLS and, more recently, PLMD...it has definitely addressed the RLS, but i don't know for sure about the PLMD as i mainly sleep alone and still have daytime tiredness...i don't suffer from gambling addiction or hyper-sexuality either , though these are some side effects of requip; however the sciatica has eased up and so has the pain in my right leg, so i'm hopeful

catbirdgirl · Post by **catbirdgirl** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:24 am

for me they diagnosed the PLMD first... I was on mirapex for ages... it apparently didnt work that well, or I had PLMD as a result of UARS then sleep apnea. I went off the Mirapex after getting the machine and don't miss it.

Restless Leg Syndrom

Were you told you were kicking during your sleep study, even on CPAP?

Enlightenment !

RLS

Iron

RLS & PLMD

Mask

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