An Interesting Personal Sleep Study

[questor1]

Jay, that's interesting. Whatever the reason for working, I would think we can safely rule out the placebo effect, unless of course RLS is a psychological condition.

[VVV]

questor1, What is your serum ferritin level?

[questor1]

To vvv, as far as I know, I have never had my serum ferritin level tested. I had no idea that it was related to RLS until your comment. After doing some research on the topic, I would say that most likely, genetics is the primary driver of my RLS. My sister has it. I just called and found that she has been tested and her ferritin is fine. It never consciously disturbed my sleep and I didn't even realize I had it until after the sleep study. However, after finding out and researching it, I realized that I have had it for as long as I can remember. As a child, at the dinner table, my knee would be bouncing non-stop. I can still hear my parents telling me to stop. Though not as prevalent today, I still find it happening from time to time at meals or while seated at the computer, or for that matter, seated anywhere. One final observation is that as far as I know, it is my left leg only.

[VVV]

You can do what you want but I will give you some advice anyway.

I had no idea that it was related to RLS until your comment. After doing some research on the topic, I would say that most likely, genetics is the primary driver of my RLS. My sister has it. I just called and found that she has been tested and her ferritin is fine.

You cannot know that genetics is the cause of your problem until you rule out some other things the first of which is a low serum ferritin level. This is a simple and inexpensive blood test.

If your level is below 50, you should supplement daily, preferably on an empty stomach, with 325 mg ferrous sulfate and 500 mg vitamin C. (The vitamin C is to bring your digestive system to acidic pH which makes absorption of the iron easier.)

After six months the blood test should be run again and you want to maintain a serum ferritin level of 90 or higher but never above 300. Of course your doctor should be in the loop on what you are doing.

Like you, I was given several toxic drugs over an extended period of time for RLS. None of them worked well and all of them had bad side effects.

Thanks to a tip from the internet I checked my serum ferritin level and found it was 22. I began the supplementation routine and within three weeks my RLS was gone. I checked the ferritin level again in six months and it was 166. The doctor acts thrilled with this result and says I will probably need to continue the supplementation for the rest of my life.

Some other tips from the RLS Foundation website:

8. Are there any medications that can make RLS worse?
Yes. These include:
Antihistamines (like Benadryl) found in many cold, allergy and over the counter sleeping pills.
Anti-dizzy, anti-nausea medications like meclizine, Compazine, Phenergan and Reglan.
Antidepressants such as Elavil, Prozac, Lexapro, Effexor.
Psychiatric medications that treat bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and other serious disorders such as haloperidol and phenothiazines.
Always be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of all the medicines you are taking, including herbal and over-the-counter medications.

______________________________

9. Are there any substances that should be avoided?

The use of caffeine often intensifies RLS symptoms. Caffeine-containing products, including chocolate and caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks should be avoided. The consumption of alcohol also increases the span or intensity of symptoms for most individuals.

[kteague]

To vvv, as far as I know, I have never had my serum ferritin level tested. I had no idea that it was related to RLS until your comment. After doing some research on the topic, I would say that most likely, genetics is the primary driver of my RLS. My sister has it. I just called and found that she has been tested and her ferritin is fine. It never consciously disturbed my sleep and I didn't even realize I had it until after the sleep study.

About the ferritin level - it can be within the normal range yet not be at the level recommended for people with RLS. It's one thing to be told the result was normal, another thing to be told it meets the recommendations of being in the higher end of the normal range.

I think the potential benefit of being sure about your ferritin level makes getting it checked worth the effort.

[questor1]

OK. On Monday I will call my Dr. about checking my Ferritin level, but the good news is the Ivory soap seems to still be doing the trick for me. I did another trail camera night two nights ago and had only a handful of movement. Last night I had he best night so far. I had over 7 hours of sleep and an AHI of 1.4. Previously, I was getting between 3 and 4 hours of mask time and an AHI of about 4.5. I would wake up between 3 and 4 AM, not be able to go back to sleep and would have to remove the mask to sleep. Even then I would wake up between 6 and 7 AM.

I now realize, it may have been a case of not seeing the forest for the trees. I had often noted on my charts, that many of my events were associated with leak periods and between my facial creases and moustache, getting a tight mask fit can be problematic.

As usual, last night I woke up at about 3:30 and tried to go back to sleep. After about unsuccessful 10 minutes, I realized there was a leak and I tightened the mask straps. The next thing I knew it was 6:45 and the cat was bouncing on my chest. I shooed her away and went back to sleep until 8:15 when she made pass number two.

I think the images speak for itselves in terms of what I observed, including the cat. The cluster of events took place while I was awake and trying to go back to sleep. I'm wondering if many of the events here are more artifact than actual fact.

[Pugsy]

The cluster of events took place while I was awake and trying to go back to sleep. I'm wondering if many of the events here are more artifact than actual fact.

The machine just reports what it senses...so in one sense what it is reporting is actual fact but we consider it an artifact because we are awake. The machine just doesn't know if we are asleep or not. All it does is report the reduction in airflow in some fashion.
When we are awake our breathing is not nearly as smooth or stable as asleep breathing but when we are awake we just don't notice the pauses in air flow.

So the machine is correct when it reports what it senses but we have to discount the awake stuff because it doesn't count when evaluating sleep apnea events.
It won't just make up a totally falsely reported event. It senses something and simply reports what it senses.
But it does report awake stuff...a drawback that it can't tell if we are asleep or not and not be able to just throw out those events it senses. Just a limitation of the machine that it doesn't have access to anything that would help it differentiate between awake/semi awake or asleep breathing.

[questor1]

Agreed and understood. My use of the term artifacts is due to the fact that the machine is sensing the event and labels it the only way it knows how. It is up to us to interpret whether it is true apnea or something created artificially. Besides, I like using the term, artifact.

[Pugsy]

Besides, I like using the term, artifact

Understood.
I like to use the term false positive. While not probably exactly accurate it is just a term that suits my needs for setting aside those times when the machine reports stuff that I know are not a real factor.
Or I will blame really whacko reports on aliens.
Like the time I had 17 centrals in 17 minutes. While I don't remember being awake I am 99.9% certain I must have been or at least semi awake because that cluster was so totally uncharacteristic of what I normally see.

[The Choker]

2. An inaccurate observation resulting from the technology used.

[questor1]

Choker, I'm not sure to what observation you are referring. However, with all due respect, any observation could only confidently classified as inaccurate if the technology was of sufficient quality to crate a reading that could be classified as accurate with a significant degree of confidence.

[The Choker]

... any observation could only confidently classified as inaccurate if the technology was of sufficient quality to crate a reading that could be classified as accurate with a significant degree of confidence.

That is about as accurate as your observation that Ivory soap cured your RLS. But hey, the placebo effect is known to be powerful.

2. An inaccurate observation resulting from the technology used.

Merely definiton 2 in several internet dictionaries for the word "artifact".

You are arguing with the dictionary. However, that is OK for you to do so.

[questor1]

LOL! Point taken. I have a rule that says it's OK to talk to yourself. It's also OK to argue with yourself, but you are in big trouble if you lose the argument!

[Starlette]

I love this thread. I'm am very much considering doing what has been suggested. I did the ivory soap thing near my ankles. No RLS noted.
However, my RLS is not on my legs, but on the right side of the lower part of my abdomen. QUESTION: The soap will still work for the abdomen even though it is placed near the ankles?

Starlette

[chunkyfrog]

I wonder if the cat thought the 'stache was a shaggy mouse.