When you visit with your doctor about RLS do you wait for him/her
to suggest a medicine or do you ask for a specific rls medicine, and
or pain pills, muscle relaxers? How does the doctor react?
How does your family (those who live with you) take it when you are
up dealing with RLS at night? Did it change your relationships with
your family?
I am one of the lucky ones in that my RLS has not gotten worse with age and has actually disappeared from time to time and I have not suffered for a long time now. I have never had the need for meds for RLS. When I go to the GP about other symptoms I read up about it and I would suggest medications if I felt one would help and my GP does not come up with it. Not in a demanding way but at the same time enlightening him about things that I have learned from forums or the net in case he is not aware. Often I find GPs are not aware. It is good if one can work with one's GP as a team. I find anyway.
When I was suffering in the evenings and night, nothing changed in the relationships with my husband or children. They were aware though, as often I could not sit and watch a film or TV programme. First I would start to fidget, move to different parts of the room or lie on the floor and eventually walk out of the room. Night times, me walking around the house never really disturbed anyone. They knew I was often in discomfort on long car journeys too, especially my husband.
My GP and I also work as a team in terms of medication.
I'm not sure what's going on but my RLS is getting worse and the med doesn't seem to work as well as it did. When I got the leg pain the med would eventually help. Is RLS supposed to get worse with age? If so, I guess that's what happening to me.
During the last 2 weeks no matter how many pills I take, the pain doesn't subside. Or, it goes away and starts up on the other leg. I am very discouraged since I feel that I don't have a life. My entire being is controlled by this RLS. It's been 8 years now - however it has become worse these last few years.
God Bless us all!!!
Jenny
Maybe it's time for you to pick another treatment?
Have you considered taking any other drugs? I'm
interesting in knowing what drugs you did try..
I love hearing people's stories.
I live with my cousin, and we both have RLS, so its not a problem for us, not any more.
At least you have someone to do jumping jacks with or
have a midnight snack with. It does really get lonely when
it's just you and the radio playing soft music...
Yikes, we usually end up argueing over the computer 
I am very lucky my family are very understanding and used to me fidgeting and walking around the lounge whilst everyone else is watching tv. Luckily they are all good sleepers I never wake them. My husband had Rls for a month whilst he had a thyroid problem and although I would not wish this on anyone he had a taste of what my life is like and it drove him nuts!
Am happy for your husband - however, I didn't know that RLS can be the result of a thyroid problem. I will mention it to my GP next time I see him.
Jenny
We are all learning things at the same time. I read that
same thing that bvgari just said in a magazine. I also
found out that antacids will block out the iron that some
of us take. I also found out that fatty foods taken with
a narcotic gives the painkilling an extra punch.. I am
reading up in a woman's health magazine for this information.
and in the early morning when you finally do doze off.. the
alarms start ringing and everyone else wakes up totally
refreshed and ready to start their day? =O
I have been very lucky with my doctors. I find that the younger ones are more willing to listen and admit when they dont know enough. My practice has about 4 doctors and the one i am seeing now (i can choose who i see) is really happy to listen. I asked about changing my anti depressents and she helped me decide. together! when i first saw her, she told me to make another appointment a week later so she could go and find out more information as she didnt know any more than me! its the older doctors and consultants often that think they know it all and are not willing to listen. That obviously is a generalisation!
family wise, they are all pretty understanding, my daughter who is a physio, tries to help, and we discuss options and she tries to find information for me
the worst bit is when Ive not slept and others want to do stuff the next day and Im too tired to do anything. it upsets me as much as them!
my partner of 4 years tries hard to understand and help, but i think he is getting fed up with it all.
Bella5, how are you doing with rls. Last time we talked you
were not finding a way to get any relief... are you finding something
that works?
This and That RLS
RLS UK CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION OF GPS IN THE UK
