Saw Doc, got reports, got meds for PLMS -- there's hope!

skits · Post by **skits** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 12:45 pm

Saw my doc today (although he's actually a APNP). Got the narratives of my two sleep studies (by the MD). I'm feeling hopeful. Evidently I have some Scottish or Irish background. I jig the night away. 427 periodic leg movements, at least 44 associated with arousal. PLM index was 75 events per hour. Gee, and I don't sleep? He gave me a trial of Requip. I took Mirapex on the second sleep study and my legs DID NOT MOVE but once. Everything was better the second test. I also took some ambien that night. I hope I don't have to do that. My sleep efficiency didn't improve a great deal.

Anyway, as I weave through all this info (and the forums help and encouragement) I'm trying hard to join the club. New attitude I hope.

Maybe with the requip I'll stay asleep and be able to keep that mask on longer, and wake up BE&BT.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 12:52 pm

Well, here's wishing you GOOD LUCK!!

curtcurt46 · Post by **curtcurt46** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:12 pm

Many times the PLMD is secondary to the sleep apnea. The Requip should help. The problem is you don't know whether the PLMD is primary or secondary. If it's secondary (caused by sleep apnea) then you need only take the medication long enough to allow your body to adjust to therapy. The trick is how do you determine if it's primary or secondary. This is something you should definately discuss with your doctor. Requip is great but you should stay on it only as long as needed.

I used to take Requip for PLMD and I got lucky. A couple of times I forgot to take my Requip and strangely I seemed to sleep more soundly. This happened several times before it made me do the logic thing and ask myself if I really needed the Requip. I used a low tech method to determine if I was still kicking about. Each morning I would look at the bed sheet and blanket to see if it were kicked out of the tucked in position with the mattress. I found that the covers were no longer a mess in the morning. In the past pre-treatment I would kick the covers completely loose from its tucked in position at the end of the mattress.

There is no easy answer to whether the PLMD is primary or secondary and I doubt if your doctor would even discuss this aspect. Good luck with your therapy.

skits · Post by **skits** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:07 pm

I've had the kicking for the last 30 years -- that I know about. I get it awake sometimes if I'm extremely tired. At this point I don't care if it's primary or secondary. I may get to sleep!

Mask

Mask