RLS and OSA

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:21 pm

I went to the doctor this past week and she went over my report from my two sleep studies. Of course I had some idea I might have OSA since they were doing the sleep study so no surprise on that. The RLS -- which I am told is moderate was a complete surprise to me. I just thought everyone experienced it and I have never complained and do not feel as though it is a problem. Doctor wants me to take Requip but I hestitate to because one of the side effects is fatigue and I am trying to get more energy after being zapped by the OSA. Anyone else have RLS and OSA and did the xpap treatment help both?

Wyl · Post by **Wyl** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:28 pm

I've been on Requip since my most recent sleep studies in July turned up PLMD. I'm on 1mg, and can't say that I've noticed any kind of side effects from it.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:30 pm

What is PLMD? Thanks.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:33 pm

sleepycarol wrote:I went to the doctor this past week and she went over my report from my two sleep studies. Of course I had some idea I might have OSA since they were doing the sleep study so no surprise on that. The RLS -- which I am told is moderate was a complete surprise to me. I just thought everyone experienced it and I have never complained and do not feel as though it is a problem. Doctor wants me to take Requip but I hestitate to because one of the side effects is fatigue and I am trying to get more energy after being zapped by the OSA. Anyone else have RLS and OSA and did the xpap treatment help both?

I'm sure that this is TOTALLY a coincidence, but-- my RLS has actually gotten worse since being on xpap therapy.
I don't take anything for the RLS though, I just deal with it, for now anyway.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:55 pm

PLMD = Periodic Limb Movement Disorder.

Not everyone needs treatment for RLS or PLMD. If it significantly disrupts one's sleep then it's time to weigh the risks/benefits.

CPAP can help movements that are associated with the body's struggle to breathe during apnea events. RLS and PLMD are thought to sometimes be associated with a low Ferritin level, but so much is still not understood.

I have OSA, RLS and PLMD. CPAP did not help my movements.

Kathy

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:27 pm

i have rls and plmd...i was prescribed requip, .25 mg at 6 p.m. and .25 mg at 9 pm...i can't say i usually remember to take them at those exact times, it's usually somewhere around 8 and 11, but i do take them both every night; i don't know if the medication addresses the plmd, since my plm's occur during sleep and i sleep alone most of the time, but i do know that it helps with the rls--easy to tell since i'm awake during those symptoms...i still experience fatigue, but i also have OSA (and no real way of knowing how my therapy's going since i have no data collection capabilities) and fibromyalgia; so i don't really know if the fatigue is caused by one (or all) of those disorders or by the requip...but the pharmacist tells me that the only dose lower than what i'm taking is no dose at all, so i guess it's pretty low; i also had terribly low ferritin, and have been taking prescription iron since may...my level was 6 (normal is 10-250) when i started and it's now up to 30...my sleep doc tells me that if we can get it up to 60, i can try going off the requip, and see if low iron was the culprit...if i still have plmd at that point we'll know that in my case it wasn't caused by low iron, so it's still up in the air...but low iron causes fatigue too, so it's a real potpourri of fatigue inducing disorders i've got going on ! hopefully one of these days we'll nail it and i'll feel better

like kathy, cpap did not address my rls or my limb movements

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:31 pm

I really appreciate your input. Possibly mine may be more PLMD since I feel most of mine seems to be while I sleep. Although even awake I always have a leg bouncing, foot tapping, etc. so that my counselor contributed to hyperactivity. Next time I go to the doctor I will ask more questions so I really appreciate everyones input!

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:35 pm

i would suggest you search both rls and plmd on-line, such as the search feature on this forum, http://www.about.com or even google ; you will get comprehensive explanations of each

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 6:19 pm

I recently had a CPAP study, in other words--after over a year of CPAP use, another sleep study WITH a mask and CPAP machine was performed. I was discovered to have PLMD, which had been disguised in my original sleep study and titration because of the apnea, or sleep disordered breathing.

I, too, tend to bounce my leg(s) as a result of taking medications that cause this. I, too, never would have thought that I would have had any unusual leg movement during sleep.

However, I knew that something hadn't been identified that was wrong with my body. There may be more, but so far, this is IT! I have taken Mirapex (0.125 mg) for 5 nights, and the result has been sleeping "hard" for 3 of those nights. I have also experienced some fatigue, but that is starting to recede.

So, while xPAP has been a major contributor to my well-being, had there not been another study at a year this might not have been identified. If this improves my quality of life even a little, then it has been worthwhile.

I wish you, and everyone with RLS or PLMD, the best and hope that the medications are going to be the answer for all of us.

floppysleeper · Post by **floppysleeper** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:40 pm

I just have to share this with you guys........My husband had a sleep study done and no apnea at all.....but he has RLS. I woke up one night at about 1 AM and he was sneaking in the house. I was mad and asked him where he had been. he was out dancing he said " because his legs were restless"

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:18 pm

" because his legs were restless"

http://www.internetstart.se/download/ljud/breath.wav

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:35 pm

Soooo, RLS could get one out of all kinds of situations. Let's think...

When caught by the boss out of your cubicle AGAIN - No, Boss, I'm not taking another break, I've got RLS.

When doing the 'gotta potty" dance but trying to be cool about it - My RLS is acting up.

When caught with your pants down - When my RLS is real bad I can't stand for anything to touch my legs.

When busted sneaking to the kitchen for a midnight snack - Just walking off those restless legs.

When your spouse wants you to just sit down and talk about a problem - Sorry, Honey, can't sit still with this daggone RLS.

When talked into dancing at your class reunion and you dance like a chicken with it's head cut off - Can't keep a beat with this RLS.

When others comment on how much you eat - My RLS uses up more energy than exercise so I need the extra calories.

When you purposely kick your spouse to make them stop snoring - Sorry, Honey, my RLS is acting up.

Okay, I've milked this for all it's worth.

Kathy

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 9:09 am

Love the comments!!

Sammy_J · Post by **Sammy_J** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:36 pm

Vader wrote: I'm sure that this is TOTALLY a coincidence, but-- my RLS has actually gotten worse since being on xpap therapy.
I don't take anything for the RLS though, I just deal with it, for now anyway.

I am not so sure. I believe there is a neurological component with RLS and PLM. If you have an auto CPAP then your body may be reacting to the pressure changes in the form of RLS or PLM.

As far as meds go for treating RLS and PLM, that's what doctors do and they experiment on you until they find a dosage or drug that improves your initial symptoms but with all drugs, the side effects may be a problem sooner or later.

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 9:32 pm

As far as meds go for treating RLS and PLM, that's what doctors do and they experiment on you until they find a dosage or drug that improves your initial symptoms but with all drugs, the side effects may be a problem sooner or later.

i know this is definitely true, and a concern of mine...however, with my limb movements occuring approximately every 17 to 30 seconds throughout the night, causing arousals about 1/4 of the time, i would go back to getting no sleep at all without the meds, even while on cpap...this is why i'm hoping that my plmd and rls are caused by my terribly low iron and that getting the iron to where it should be will address these issues, allowing me to give up the medication...otherwise we have to assume it's neurological in origin and that would just suck

CPAP

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