THE CREATIVE GENE

[TEAH35]

Since becoming a member of this site, I have been fortunate enough to be contacted by a few, (7),, like-minded folks and I have had the pleasure of being able to communicate with them thru the pm option. I now have friends in seven different countries. We have discovered that not only do we all suffer from the hideous RLS, but we have many other things in common. With one in particular ... being that we are all artists.

Which has led me to question, are there other peeps on this site who also have the creative gene, and maybe even painters. (I am talking about canvases Raffs, not houses). And just recently I have been in contact with a lady from South Africa, and lo and behold, before she had to give up her work, (like many of us have had to), she was an art teacher.

I have actually sold several (13) of my paintings so I guess that makes me a professional. But unfortunately, because of my struggle in dealing with the obsessiveness that comes with Sifrol, I have had to give it away. Occasionally I give in, and hit the paint and paint brush, it seems to be the only time I am truly happy.

[Hidden]

When I was younger, for a brief period, I drew the dole - does that count as artistic? If not I was always a bit of a piss artist when younger too , that surely counts.

Damn you P you got in there before I could about the houses

[Allyp69]

Interesting idea but sadly does not apply to me and my RLS! Not at all artistic! Had RLS on and off since my 20s and now 72.... Don't take medication as not prescribed much in UK? Basically now I stand more in the evenings and sit less...but would love to know what causes it...take folic acid, magnesium and wear copper bracelets if really bad. So sorry your RLS has affected you so badly.

[Twitchytwitchylegs in reply to Allyp69]

Hi, just to let you know that in the UK the prescriptions are good, it's just getting the right doctor and specialist. I had it so bad it was keeping me up most of the night, coming to me at work, stopping my social life and my memory was badly affected. But now after seeing the consultant, he put me in iron tablets and gabapentin and my life is good (for the time being) and my memory is slowly improving. So don't give up, get a doctor to send you to a specialist.

Also I am a painter, but my uncle had it and he wasn't artistic, my brother has it, but he doesn't draw any more, but was a great cartoonist.

[TEAH35 in reply to Allyp69]

Thanks but I am not alone

[Carlief in reply to Allyp69]

I’m sorry to hear of your lifelong suffering. My dad is 88 and has suffered a lifetime too. I want to know what the cause too. I posted latest evidence of infections being found in gums from prior dental work. My dad had his teeth removed for his dentures. I’m wondering if there is something to it. Some on here frown down on sharing new information that might explain things about rls. The medical people have no answers so I will continue to question all possibilities and leave no rock unturned. Thank you for sharing what works for you I will try them all!! It can’t hurt to try!!

[wantmysleep]

I picked up my first oil painting brush about 5 years ago and now I spent hours whenever I can painting. I have done one where the money goes to a youth charity and now doing a second one for the same cause. At a recent exhibition, I had a painting NFS, but had attracted my interested parties. I am still learning, so think I can’t quite call myself an artist, but I find painting most therapeutic! I am sure it helps calming when I am feeling desperate and miserable.

I am 65 years old, living in UK and had suffered rls for as long as I can remember, but only learn that this is called RLS for the last 12 years or so. Like many others, I have given up telling people how living with rls is like. At the moment I can taking Gabapentin, I am not getting much sleep. I am reluctant to see my GP. During my last visit, he said “nonsense “ to almost everything I said. Rls has affected my life badly in many ways, I am so thankful to these messages here which I read first thing in the morning. Now to find fellow artists, I am so grateful. 😃 you made my day.

[TEAH35 in reply to wantmysleep]

Oh my ... you are telling my story. To the extreme.

[TEAH35 in reply to wantmysleep]

There's been mention on this site about a program that has been on TV pertaining to RLS. The program is on a TV channel 5. I am in Oz and had not heard of it. So I looked it up on YouTube. Not only did I find that program but I also found many other very informative posts. May I suggest that you inform your doctor and request that he too checks it out. It is disgraceful that in this day & age that any GP should still think it to be nonsense.

[rkatt]

I’m an amateur photographer. Does that count? I’be had one exhibition in London. Also a writer. Though that isn’t my day job.

[TEAH35]

Or course it counts. Several of us (myself included) are writers.

[Carlief]

I like your open minded approach to rls. I agree that there has to common denominator with all of us. On fb the so called pain in the ass experts on rls that run the groups I joined, will at all cost deny any out of the box thoughts. Makes me wonder if they are working for big pharm being that result of the rant always ends with pushing pills to rid the symptom while continuously trying to debunk any cause the group may suggest. Well here’s one,, watch the film called Root Causes on YouTube. Think you will be compelled to look further into it once your aware of the dental practice and procedures they discuss that causes a multitude of aliments. I have read accounts of RLS being one of them for sure.

[Anne_liz]

I studied art for over 2 years when I left school, but later became a scientist! Have taken up painting again since retiring and have even sold a few.

[iRobot]

I have RLS and am an artist. My ideas for paintings, though just sit there because I also have Parkinson's disease and it has stripped me of my motivation. I take 8 mgs ropinerol per day to control the RLS.

[TEAH35 in reply to iRobot]

May i ask please, which came first, PD or RLS. Not sure if I read it somewhere ... but I believe if you have PD the other will follow. But with RLS one will not be afflicted with PD. Hardly seems fair hey. But then ... what is!

[iRobot in reply to TEAH35]

Hi, yes, my my PD was diagnosed first, with RLS about 6 months later. It all just kind of stinks.

[RLSgirl]

Nice to meet you TEAH35 ! I did go to art school to study graphic design and photography, both of which I do for a living. But I find that I always need some sort of creative outlet other then what I do for work. I've done some painting (oil, acrilic and water color) and drawing. When in art school I fell in love with ceramic sulpture. It would be fun to get bak into that, but it is too time comsuming for my current lifestyle. I also, love to crochet and sing!