Sleep apnea?

[LanaCSR]

So it seems like when a person thinks they have RLS and goes to doctor to rule in or out, that they are told to have a sleep study...I guess saying that sleep apnea could be the reason for RLS. I was told the same thing recently but haven't had the sleep study yet. My question is: For those who have RLS, were told to have sleep study, got diagnosed with sleep apnea, and started wearing a C-pap, did your RLS go away? If not, then why are all these doctors making us get sleep studies?

[sweetiepye]

This is the reason I have to have a sleep study and also a c-pap machine. I do have severe RLS and I have augmented on ropinirole.I have to withdraw from the ropin. and will be given an opioid to help me through it. I could stop breathing and die from the opioid and the c-pap is to prevent that from happening. This is only my reason so don't anyone go thinking you are facing the same problem. I have other health issues that play into the mix. If you have RLS, you probably also have sleep issues and a sleep study will tell doctors many other things as well.

[LotteM]

I think we get referred to a sleep specialist to get a sleep study, because in most if not all countries, RLS is still classified as a sleep disorder. Of course, WE know better, and although RLS affects our sleep, it is a neurological disorder. Still, with a sleep study focussed on RLS, meaning that also leg movements get recorded (not in a standard sleep study), it can be assessed how much the RLS affects our sleep. I assume this helps the doctors with assessing the severity of the RLS and gives them the required substantiation to prescribe medicines, if warranted by the results of theb sleep study.

[LanaCSR in reply to LotteM]

Makes sense. Thank you Lotte!

[RWick]

Have a friend that as long as she uses her C-pap it stops her rls completely.

[LanaCSR in reply to RWick]

OMG that is awesome to hear!!

[Hidden]

Here in the UK RLS is generally classed as a "neurological" disorder. My GP told me that, she said RLS is not a sleep disorder. This was when I went to see her because of sleep deprivation!

It appears to me that RLS is more likely to be classified as sleep disorder in the US. In any event, if you have PLMD as well, which is often associated with RLS, the polysomnography test (technical name) will pick that up as well as sleep apnoea.

You could coincidentally have both.

It does appear as if RLS can be associated with sleep apnoea.

openres.ersjournals.com/con...

Some evidence that CPAP can improve RLS

erj.ersjournals.com/content...

I suspect that RLS associated with sleep apnoea is secondary RLS.

[LanaCSR in reply to Hidden]

Interesting! Thank you Manerva!

[Jphickory]

Have OSA and RLS. I use a cpap nightly. I still have RLS.

[LanaCSR in reply to Jphickory]

I am so sorry to hear that...

[Katti703]

A sleep study is another way to diagnose RLS. My sleep study determined that I also have mild sleep apnea, so I'm now using CPAP therapy. After my study, my doctor was able to prescribe Mirapex to treat my RLS.

[Hidden in reply to Katti703]

A sleep study could only diagnose RLS if you are awake, so they can see you are awake, and you are probably wanting to pace but cant as you are all wired up, you are moving your legs because keeping them still is impossible.

[Katti703 in reply to Hidden]

Not true. I kick all night, not just when I'm awake. When I was really young my Grandmother told me that I would kick her in my sleep. My surgeon also kidded me that I kept kicking him while I was under anesthesia. Even on Mirapex I still have mild RLS, but I can fall asleep. Maybe it's different in the U. S.

[Hidden in reply to Katti703]

If you are kicking all night and you are asleep, then that is called PLMD , periodic limb movement disorder, which happens while asleep and you dont know you are doing it. So, a sleep study will pick that up while you are asleep and you would be diagnosed with PLMD. People can suffer with both, RLS and PLMD. which sounds like you have both. Its the same in all countries.

[Katti703 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for letting me know as I had no idea! More research is on my horizon for sure.

[Hidden in reply to Katti703]

You can find lots of info about PLMD online. Will explain more for you.

[Katti703 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! 🤗

[Abookwriter2]

Try elevated 4-6 inch blocks under head of bed before CPAP!

Because I have reflux again, I took my doctor’s advice and put the 6 inch blocks under the bed to elevate it. WOW! What an amazing difference in sleep and RLS seems diminished (I take a half to one .25 mg ropinole nightly and if I feel any RLS, a 100 mg gabapentin maybe once a week).

My hubs has apnea and his snoring also woke me often BEFORE the blocks. He doesn’t snore now and his sleep is better as well as mine. He was headed for a CPAP.

My doctor just prescribed gabapentin when my rare, late afternoon coffee-related RLS turned into full-blown nightly attacks. No sleep study but the RLS quickly destroyed my sleep.

I’m grateful to no end for the advice of using the blocks and have lowered them to 4 inches.

[LanaCSR in reply to Abookwriter2]

Awesome!!

[Pippins2]

Neither myself, my mother or my daughter ever got sent for a sleep study when we saw our GPs about RLS. I knew I had RLS and PLMD and told my GP that is what I have.

I was however given alimited at home sleep study to confirm apnea. Again I knew it was apnea but had to have the study to "prove " it

I have both central and obstructive sleep apnea but have never snored but wake up gasping for breath and my heart pounding out of my chest!

I started on Cpap but it didn't control the Central apneas so I was "upgraded " to a Bipap which helps alot with the apnea.

Now onto the RLS -my RLS is pretty much controlled by my meds but I used to get maybe one night every 10 days or so of RLS (obviously an average ).Since going on Bipap I now get RLS maybe one night every 6 weeks or so.

In my case I don't think it's the Bipap itself that is giving me more RLS free nights I think it is the following. ...

Being overtired is a massive trigger for my RLS so because I am not waking and stopping breathing every few minutes (I stopped breathing 172 times on my sleep study ) I am obviously sleeping better so I am nowhere near as tired -so my main trigger is removed.

Secondly because I am going into a deeper sleep maybe I am not being woken by very mild RLS which I was when I didn't get into deep sleep? Of course if RLS is anything more than very mild it still wakes me up but like I said this is not so often

Hope that helps -Pipps x

[Muftah36]

I also have CPAP . I got it when I had a severe bout of RLS after coming off Ropinarole and went on opioids. But I was much too tired and fatigued during the day , so dr. Recommended sleep study to rule out apnea, but I have apnea hence the CPAP . I think my quality of sleep is better and RLS is improved but still exhausted during the day , I’m also on B12 and Bcomplex which I think is helping that , Live in hope !

[KickininAz]

I have sleep apnea, I use a CPAP machine, and I have RLS. When you have a sleep study you are watched all night long...you are hooked up to multiple electrodes attached to various places on your body including your legs. The technician is there all night long, and if you speak to the empty room, they will answer you on a speaker. If you were thrashing about due to RLS, it will show up on both the readouts from the electrodes attached to your legs as well as the technician will notice it.

[Shumbah]

I did my sleep study John Hopkins

It helped me in the fact I know I don’t have sleep apnea and I know in a good night that I wake 48 times per hour . That is powerful scientific info when seeing doctors for meds

[LanaCSR in reply to Shumbah]

Good to know!

[Arkangel]

I have sleep apnea and RLS. I can't wear the mask (C-PAP) because I'm too restless.