OUR SIMILARITIES

Evening all. Joining this group has been one of the highlights of my life. To be in contact with so many like minded people is an amazing feeling for me after a lifetime of having absolutely no one to discuss what I am feeling and what I am going thru. I no longer feel alone in dealing with this disease and I thank you all so much for your willingness to share and the information that I have gained has been absolutely invaluable. I have learnt so much thru this site regarding this disease.

Eg: For years I have been convinced that the falls I have been experiencing have been a symptom of RLS, however I now understand that they are actually a consequence of the continual kicking that I endured thru my childhood. I have also learnt just recently of a side effect of Siffrol, being UTIs ... does it ever stop!!

Last night I remembered something that I find somewhat humorous and I immediately wondered if my fellow RLSers would understand what I was talking about. It goes like this.

Over here in Oz, just before the Christmas break (which is 6/7 weeks) there is an ad on TV warning of the dangers of driving while fatigued.

'If you have the following symptoms, it means that it is time for you to pull over and have a break and a cup of coffee.

Then the following warning signs of fatigue are explained .... if you find yourself yawning, having trouble keeping your eyes open, if you find that your mind is wandering etc etc etc. Then they say that if you happen to find yourself slipping into 'the zone' then it is definitely time to pull over and have a break'.

I can remember sitting with my family while the ad was being aired and it just came out. I stated quite matter-of-factly, 'Is there any other way'?

Gosh I thought, did I actually say that out loud?

Does anybody else drive in the zone? I'm afraid I do, every single time I get behind the wheel. I can't help it. It’s a habit, it feels quite natural, and I've been driving for 45 years and not had one accident.

[Hidden]

I used to drive in that state until I realised I was! I rarely drive now as the consequences of an accident would be too much for me, I don't think I could cope if I hurt or killed someone and I suffer enough as it is to risk any more.

I tend to live my life in a fugue state. I have done/do lots of things in a semi concious state that I can't remember afterwards, thankfully my wife keeps me up to speed with my life

[Izzybelle22]

Hey Raffs. Great to hear your input on what Phogan was saying. (Hi Phogan.) It just happened to me again last week and it is the scariest feeling in the world! I am so damned tired all of the time. Right now it is 12:07am EDT here in the US. I think I get maybe an hour or two of sleep a night after watching "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "King of Queens" and it just goes on from there. I would pay good money just to get a good night's sleep but I have no idea in hell what that is anymore. Ugh!

[Hidden in reply to Izzybelle22]

Thank God for American comedies, they keep me company at night (don't have the concentration for movies or reading - the short comedies hit the spot - btw have you checked out Modern Family, Angie Tribeca, Brooklyn 99, The Middle and Santa Clara Diet? All very goo, no GREAT shows. There's the cartoon ones too like Family Guy, American Dad, Cleaveland Show and Bordertown, (I like a good sick cartoon )

I do get an odd good night but because of the ME it never feels like it. I can't remember what it is like to not be tired!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Being an ex-country girl, (born and raised), who has lived the majority of her life on a farm, (rice, crops and sheep), quite isolated, being 30 miles from the closest shops, school and recreational activities, 90 miles from the closest large country town and 150 mile from the closest country city, long distance travel was inevitable, (and as was the norm), the responsibility for the majority of the driving fell into the hands of the farmer's wife.

I was fully aware (at the time) that my driving was being conducted 'in the zone', and when the realisation would actually dawn on me, I would make a conscious effort to immediately rectify the situation.

But unfortunately, this decision did not sit well with me as it felt somewhat unnatural to me and extremely unnerving and uncomfortable.

I would soon find myself unconsciously slipping back into the more comfortable state of driving that I was accustomed to .... which was back 'in the zone'.

I now reside in a very small country town where there is no need for long distance travel, but I still continue to drive 'in the zone', where I feel most comfortable and have extreme confidence.

[mantel in reply to Hidden]

Love Modern family. Jay is my fav' character but love all of them. One thing, and this is just my personal opinion, I think the lad that plays Luke was better at acting when he was little than he is now. His acting now seems forced, not natural . He is super intelligent though , a member of Mensa and graduated from high school at 13. Maybe that is why. Any thoughts?

[Hidden in reply to mantel]

Yeah I agree about Luke, he definitely was better. Hard to pick a favourite but would lean towards Phil.

[mantel in reply to Hidden]

funny how we all have our fav's one both my husband like me loves Jay one sone Phil another Cam but they are all utterly brilliant. Both my sons like Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia but I think it's a generation thing as neither me or my husband can get into that one.

[Hidden in reply to mantel]

Sorry, but Modern Family irrits the bejesses out of me.

[Pippins2]

I am glad that you are enjoying the group Phogan. It does help tobe able to talk to others who have the same problem x

[Hidden]

It certainly does. The satisfaction I receive from corresponding and sharing with like minded people is sometimes quite overwhelming, especially when you have not experienced so much understanding, compassion and empathy before.

As we all know, it is virtually impossible to successfully describe RLS to the majority of folks in a format that they will understand, especially when they have not experienced it themselves.

My utmost gratitude goes out to the people on this site for their opinions, openness, advice, their willingness to share, and their confidence to call 'a spade a spade', when the need arises.