Test for Doctors: While up last night... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Test for Doctors

Dogdoo profile image
21 Replies

While up last night with my legs, it got me thinking.

I vote they should develop a pill that every medical student must take that will give them 8 straight hours of pure, unadulterated, RLS.

Take it at 8pm with the knowledge you have to get up at 6am to go to work.

I bet we'd all have a plethora of cures available to us pretty fast!

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Dogdoo profile image
Dogdoo
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21 Replies

Aw, I thought it was a test for flammability :)

I would go a step further and give them a month of it - too easy to make it through one night. Got to have an idea of the long haul. I also vote that it causes plenty of pain so they can understand that aspect of other conditions while it also occurs during exam times so they understand how huge an impact health conditions have on peoples real lives.

It would make them fantastic practitioners.

Lapsedrunner profile image
Lapsedrunner

Of course doctors are not immune from health issues, so in all probability around 10% of them get RLS to some degree!

Blueeyes5265 profile image
Blueeyes5265

I'm here 😊 to completely agree with you, my friend!

As raffs says one night wouldn't be enough. They would know it's only one night and they know they can avoid it again by not taking the pill again. They won't know what it's like to have it for days, months, years and having to do all sorts to try and avoid it.

Then I really wouldn't want to deliberately inflict that on anyone.

byrnzy4 profile image
byrnzy4

yeah, it is the hopelessness of not having any end in sight.

Yes but as other responders have said drs aren’t immune. I’m one of the afflicted 10% but it got worse after I retired. I managed to keep going till 59 with the aid of Pregabalin till it stopped working.

It’s not just drs, it’s scientists & funders too who need to understand & one thing is certain, once they’ve got it their brains won’t function well enough to work out a cure. Working out simple day time tasks is hard enough.

Folk in general just don’t have the sympathy & understandings as it’s so alien to ‘get’ for anyone without it.

Even family don’t get it as they’re asleep when you’re pacing about.

And friends who have if mildly try to give you their simple answers. One of mine said ‘you just walk round for 300 steps. Have you tried that? Then you can sleep for the rest of the night’. As we say in Scotland ‘aye right’!

We need drs & researchers as allies, not enemies

Marvene1942 profile image
Marvene1942 in reply to

If you live in California you should try to get a appointment with Dr. Buchfuher. He is great. I have been off Primapexole for 2 month. I am sleeping and loosing weight. I sleep at night so I do not eat at night. He put me on Methadone. I take a small amount but it really helps

Dogdoo profile image
Dogdoo in reply to

My mom suggested i should try to 'relax', that should help, right?

Why didn't i think of that?!

Y'all, my mom found the cure!!

😂🤣😂🤣

in reply to Dogdoo

Problem is it comes on when you try to relax. It’s a real pain. I think it’s a good idea not to dwell on it too much when it’s not there but when it is present it’s impossible to ignore!

Parminter profile image
Parminter

I vote they actually study RLS first - I don't think it is in the curriculum.

Then they can take all the pills they ever prescribe.

Dogdoo profile image
Dogdoo in reply to Parminter

Agreed!!

Thought their suffering might speed up the research!!

Or at least loosen the reins on what they prescribe.

I really want to try methadone but i live in Masschusetts in the States and we have an 'opiate crisis' so they won't prescribe any opiates. Then, if they do, you have to fight your insurance to pay for it.

At least i have legal cannabis and a dispensary 2 miles away. I've found a couple strains that do help my legs a bit. Its just not consistent relief.

Parminter profile image
Parminter in reply to Dogdoo

Methadone is quite extraordinary. I take 6mg in a syrup - and methadone in syrup form has no patents, so it is very cheap. It is the sort they give to addicts, and they give it to addicts because it causes little or no euphoria - none at all at RLS doses.

I pay for it myself, and it costs about $22 per month, as my insurance will not pay either.

It was initially hard to get, from both doctor and pharmacy, but I prevailed over both.

Insurance happily paid for dopamine agonists which very nearly ended my life.

Idiots, idiots, idiots.

Do the silly b....rs never read?

Dogdoo profile image
Dogdoo in reply to Parminter

I'm prepared to go in armed with evidence and pretty much demand it.

I have a mile long list of things I've tried thst haven't worked.

I've taken suboxone before and have heard that works as well.

I'll take whatever member of the opiate family he'll give me.

I live 20 miles north of Boston. I asked my dr for a referal to Dr Winklestien (think that's his name) and she tried but my insurance won't pay and I've not the money to pay for it.

The neurologist I'm seeing next week is in the mass general hospital network so I'm hoping he's up on the methadone research.

I'm NOT taking another DA and won't entertain the thought.

I'm truly at my wits end here so I'll communicate that to him as well.

Fingers crossed.

Btw - I've seen methadone in pill form before; is that not available to you?

Or is the liquid less expensive/more effective?

Parminter profile image
Parminter in reply to Dogdoo

Doctor John Winkelman at Massachusetts General - that's your guy. Try to get an appointment directly - no harm in that.

I think the pill forms are more expensive, and the blessing of the liquid is that you can titrate in very small amounts - I titrated down from 15mg by small increments, with ease. I use a pipette, which is much more accurate than a sharp knife on a slithery pill, whooshing all over the kitchen floor.

I wish you luck.

It changed my life overnight, literally. I was amazed. Why is this such a forbidden secret when it can so easily save lives?

Dogdoo profile image
Dogdoo in reply to Parminter

I'd have to pay out of pocket to see him.

I'll see what happens on friday.

The neuro I'm seeing is part of MGH so hopefully the doc I'm seeing will be up on his methods.

If not, I'll have to scrounge up the money.

its not the doctors who can "cure" us they can only prescribe meds for it which are available to them to use Its research we need lots of it, but that cost money and we are down the list of conditions which get much in the way of funds for researching.

bedith6 profile image
bedith6

Hi I have often thought of this on my lonely, tearful nights kicking and walking

CAZ33 profile image
CAZ33

That is probably true it would certainly give the condition more attention than it is currently getting but one night would be nothing as they could "catch up" on their sleep the next night - with RLS sufferers we don't get that opportunity it's just night after night after night of the same.

Icansawmyfeetoff profile image
Icansawmyfeetoff

I agree.. but there can't be not 1 doctor out there that does not suffer from this??? I always wonder I mean thousands upon thousands have this from some degree to extreme. How can doctors not be among them or at least a loved one?? Where are they trying to help or st least raise awareness. This is debilitating

Mona7 profile image
Mona7

I fully agree that doctors need to experience the torture that comes with RLS !! Most physicians even specialist have no clue.

1234kids profile image
1234kids

I like that idea...walk a mile in my shoes. Although I’m sure there are med students who have RLS

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