RLS for me

[Brooklyn4]

I have had the worst time with RLS and have been trying to give up diet Dr Pepper but I've never connected the two until recently. I have found that if I don't drink Dr Pepper that day I don't experience the horror of RLS, it took awhile to figure out so quitting the soda is easy now that I know!

[Joolsg]

Artificial sweeteners are a known trigger for RLS. Does that mean you will never get it again if you stay off it or does it just make your RLS worse?

[Retren in reply to Joolsg]

It means you have exacerbated the condition .

[painburncry in reply to Joolsg]

It makes it worse, as does caffeine, most any stimulant and Phenergan. When I began breathing treatments with albuterol, my legs would give me fits.

[Retren]

Brooklyn4 The sodas mostly have sweeteners colourins preservatives and caffeine all of which are problems to many of RLS sufferers. It is difficult to find something to drink.Speaking off the point I noticed somewhere someone had purchased the wonderful Pain Pen I was so impresses with mine I purchased it for friends with pain from one thing or another.I have not had any relief from RLS but it no doubt is magical for pain relating to sciatica ,arthritis and the like Perhaps someone else might be lucky with the RLS which is accompanied with pain.I think we all try anything which might help.

[Hidden]

Very interesting. Is there anyone else on this site where certain foods have contributed to the severity of RLS?

[Bferg in reply to Hidden]

I noticed my RLS got worse when I started drinking espresso (8am). I stopped drinking coffee and started sleeping through the night.

[Hidden in reply to Bferg]

Yes I wholeheartedly agree. I absolutely love my coffee but it is a total no go for me after 3pm

[Graham3196 in reply to Hidden]

Yes of course. That's why people get relief by using the FODMAP diet or the low chemical diet to discover their individual triggers. Then they know what to avoid if they want a good nights sleep

Works for some. You won't know if it works for you if you don't try it

[Hidden in reply to Graham3196]

ATM my current and most pressing concern is my apparent addiction to this bloody phone.

I try and try to banish it to the car out in the garage every night so as not to fall victim to its demands, as I am fully aware of what the consequence of using it is but here i am yet again ... and altho knowing full well that it will affect my ability to sleep ... I am still on the thing and it is almost 2:00 am.

What is wrong with me???

[Retren in reply to Hidden]

Phogan if that is all the addictions you have relax and enjoy the splurge it is company and takes your mind off the RLS. Mine is shopping on my iPad.I vow to keep it closed but succumb when I look something up and next thing I have ordered items which I know I am not going to need as ones social life has diminished .

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Phogan,

For me it's my addiction to this bloody computer!

Hey...maybe we should put sticky notes on our respective multimedias that say "stay away -- I turn into the devil at night"

[Ilovespools in reply to Hidden]

I have noticed that I will have an RLS episode approx 6 hours after I consume any foods containing preservatives. So I try very hard to not eat anything prepackaged.

[Hidden in reply to Ilovespools]

Wow! I believe you're onto something. I try-when I remember- to keep track of''iffy' foods and symptoms that crop up. It's amazing how many preservatives and other substances- including unhealthy foods for flavor big food companies sneak into our food. I've made a rule to not eat processed food or anything that has too many ingredients. I don't always stick to this. But usually if I eat out and don't know what's in my food, I end up having a worse 'restless leg symptom night that usual. Not worth a few minutes of yummy food.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hey, good point regarding restaurant food! I never made that connection before. You are right -- we DON'T know what goes into our food there. My husband and I eat out more than we should, but now that you have alluded to this connection, maybe we'll cut back. (Living in Oslo, Norway, we could do without the expense!)

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Sounds like a wonderful place, My father was first gen Swedish American. I love my country but have lived outside the US before and there is so much more to the world besides just us. I won't get into politics but our new president, in his infinite wisdom, !!!!!!! has gotten many americans looking at other places to retire. "Nuff said. Hope I haven't offended.

[Ilovespools in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for responding! I have the exact same issue with all processed food! And it's hard to eat raw and or fruits and veggies ALL the time!- no fun at all!

[Hidden in reply to Ilovespools]

I agree. There are still lots of good things to eat but I have to cook them myself. Don't always feel like doing that. Especially after years of cooking for family members etc. Being retired I don't have to cook everyday if I don't want to. Lovely! Seriously though I do keep homemade foods in my freezer. I just try to cook once or twice a week in big batches so healthy foods are just a 'freezer away.' If I absolutely have to have something unhealthily yummy(mental health food!) I go out and order one serving. Otherwise if leftovers are here they call my name around 4AM.

[Eryl]

It's easy to overlook something so simple. At once, I suspected coffee as a trigger, but now I suspect that it may be the sugar I have in my coffee.