Daily telegraph

[Mum007]

Just seen this in the Daily Telegraph.

[Madlegs1]

Thanks. Interesting and confirming what comes up on this site constantly.

I reckon it is the lack of sleep and consequential inability to cope, that tips people over the edge.

[Kaarina Administrator]

Thank you so much for sharing, Mum007.

[Hidden]

Thanks for posting. They used sleep deprivation in wars, keeping soldiers awake for hours and hours to get them to talk. Sleep deprivation is torture, as WE well know. We will do almost anything to get some sleep, its not surprising that people do go over the edge.

[pilateskid]

If only people understood what we go through.....

[Matrix]

I think the problem is at first glance some of us may look ok but if they spent the day with us they would unduly.. Ii hardly sleep,if I’m lucky I may get an hour dozing around 6–am .. xxx

[LotteM]

We understand!

And lthough it is no ‘fun’ news, at least it has attracted attention. Which is important. Not-knowing is the biggest ‘enemy’ of RLS.

Thanks for posting.

[martino]

Thanks for posting. 7.2% is interesting as many people seem to be ignorant of the condition. Perhaps it shows that there is quite a spectrum of sufferers

[Annieapple]

Continuous sleep deprivation over many years, is to me the most obvious answer as to why mental ill health & suicide are high in RLS sufferers!! Many of us use opioids to control the pain of RLS & continuous use long term has an effect on the liver...another good reason for RLS sufferers to have a shorter lifespan than non sufferers. When you have severe RLS, go through the hell of augmentation, go through the hell of sleep deprivation, go through the hell of drug side effects, go through the hell of medical doctors who don’t have the first clue how to help you, & face the hell of knowing there is no cure, no magic pill, cream or trick that will take it away permanently who wants to live longer any way. HOWEVER we thank God for the support we do find in some medical staff, THIS FORUM, researchers trying to help us & friends & family who love us. We live with the hope that we will be taken seriously & that research will find both the true cause and cure. We are grateful for the medications that bring us a measure of relief even if short lived. Any minute without RLS is a treasured happy moment!

[Noddedoffagain in reply to Annieapple]

Your last sentence really sums it up. My husband lives with the fear of finding me dead because I can stand RLS anymore

[Annieapple in reply to Noddedoffagain]

We feel so for each other because only we who have it truly understand. Hugs dear Nod!

[Parminter]

Too true.

[Parminter]

Mum, do you have the date of that paper?

[Mum007 in reply to Parminter]

Yesterday. 24th

[Parminter in reply to Mum007]

If evreybody with RLS took this to their doctors we might get a little more respect.

[Parminter in reply to Parminter]

And thanks - I have found it on their website now.

[Kaarina Administrator in reply to Mum007]

Thank you Mum007. I thought it was probably the 24th but it is good to know for sure.

[Anne_liz]

This does not surprise me at all. Luckily my rls is pretty well controlled these days, most of the time anyway. But during times when it was not I did feel suicidal.

Lack of sleep is the reason. I felt the same when I was menopausal and up most of the night with hot flushes every half hour.

[Parminter in reply to Anne_liz]

Isn't it strange - and dumb - that they are searching for all sorts of arcane reasons for this, when it is just about chronic, relentless insomnia, month after month after month after year.

[DicCarlson]

Original research paper from JAMA jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...

[camperqueen]

I would suggest the suicide rate is not down to mental health but to doctors being unaware of the seriousness of RLS and how debilitating it is, so that their patients are being driven to take the only way out - in the most extreme cases. If we all had a Dr B who could sensibly prescribe Methadone or suchlike so that we could lead normal lives I dare to say the suicide rate amongst us would plummet.

[Sara_2611]

OMG!! Actually that programme that was on about the RLS -That pensioner who suffered so bad he put his feet under the oven & thought about killing himself-it reminded me of that