New here and have a question?

Hi everyone have to say I do enjoy this Forum! Lots of excellent information on everything CPAP. I have been using CPAP for close to four years now.
I was diagnosed with severe Sleep Apnea, after having a major Heart Attack & Open Heart Surgery. Darn near lost the battle. But that's another different story . Even after being on cpap therapy, I still have problems with engery levels. But my Doctors say it is from the medications I take for my Heart .
The question I have to ask, I was having trouble falling asleep, due to leg cramping. This also happened when I would take my walks. Went to the Doctors, explained what was happening. They diagnosed me with Restless
Leg Syndrome I was told that this was quite common in patients with Sleep Apnea. Who have been on CPAP for awhile . I now take a drug for Parkinson Diaease. Do sleep thru the night now . But sometimes it takes awhile for the Requip to kick in so my legs stop hurting(Like last night)!
Was just wondering if anyone else on this forum has been diagnosed also?

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Sleepybearfuzz,

Sounds like you've been thru a lot before being diagnosed with sleep apnea, but I'm glad you just "darn near" lost the battle, and are still here and seeking even better sleep.

About your leg movements, yes, several of us using this forum have leg movement issues, and there has been lots of prior discussion. Requip seems to be the current treatment of choice for Restless Leg Syndrome. You described "leg cramping" keeping you awake which is not so often heard from persons describing RLS, but is a primary characteristic of Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. Requip is sometimes used for PLMD, but it is marketed specifically for its success with RLS.

Do you have your sleep study results? There may be an indication of LMs (limb movements) or PLMs (periodic limb movements) on your detailed report. BUT, if you had severe sleep apnea preventing you from sleeping at the stages your limb movements occur, they may have manifested after your cpap therapy began. The movements of RLS and PLMD are distinctly different. Did your diagnosis come from you telling the doc your legs keep you awake at nite or from study results?

HOWEVER, one thing you said makes me wonder if maybe there are other contributing factors. You described leg cramping also while walking. This would not be related to RLS or PLMD. My "first to mind" consideration is, how's your circulation in your leg vessels? Has your doc recently felt the pulses in your feet? Secondly, several chemical or mineral imbalances can cause muscle cramping, and with your cardiac treatment, it would be understandable if things are out of balance. Of utmost and immediate importance is your potassium level. I'm guessing you have it checked frequently. And there's a myriad of others - magnesium, calcium, iron... when was your last complete chemical profile? Additionally, a Ferritin level (can affect movements) with a result of >50 would rule out the influence of a storage iron deficiency. (You can have a normal CBC but abnormal Ferritin.)

It's just my opinion, but I think a call to the doc is in order. Maybe you've had all these things checked recently, but if not, ordering some lab tests may be all that's needed to assure that you aren't suffering from something a supplement or dietary change could help alleviate.

Best wishes on your search for restored energy. You've already done the hard part - hopefully just working the kinks out of your treatment will be a non-event.

Kathy