Significant RLS improvement!

[RachelMary77]

I have tried soo many things to improve my RLS...taking magnesium, iron, tens machines, ice baths and acupuncture! I’m on Parapexole, but I was sure this was contributing to the worsening of my symptoms, so managed to cut down after a week or two of painful, agonising nights. I was always sure it must be something in my diet, my acupuncturist advised having a higher fat diet (as good fats are good for the brain) so trying a keto diet, but the main thing that has improved my symptoms is taking GENTLE iron 20mg differs from normal iron as it is easier to absorb by the body. I’ve been taking this for three weeks now, and last night experienced by not taking any medication.....no RLS!! Let’s see if it continues, but if it does this could help a lot of others

[Joolsg]

Delighted gentle iron has helped. It improves RLS for 50% of sufferers and I hope you continue to experience relief.

Thanks for sharing.

[DicCarlson]

Iron deficiency is a huge contributor to RLS (in some people) - and it "cured" me in a few months. However, sleep issues remained, now years later. My question, why was I deficient in iron in the first place. (Ferritin level was 49, Ferrous Bisglycinate Chelate raised it to 105 in 3 months). I would suggest you get a full blood test of your Ferritin levels, % iron saturation etc. Read more on Johns Hopkins website... hopkinsmedicine.org/neurolo...

[WideBody in reply to DicCarlson]

I had my first infusion in August, I was chronically low on iron for 10 years.

Anyway legs can be tame, but I am struggling with sleep? Can you sleep? I went to bed at 10pm up at 2am. I take Gabapentin, I have access to Clonazepam .5mg and zolpidem tart 6.25mg.

I took the zolpidem for the first time last night same thing.

I haven’t slept in so long I can’t remember what day it is and people think I am normal!

[DicCarlson in reply to WideBody]

Sleep for me is usually fragmented - asleep at 10 up at 2, then on and off till I get up. I'm convinced it's some dysfunction with Glutamate and GABA. ibuprofen taken at 2AM usually blocks the excitable Glutamate and I get a few more hours sleep.

[WideBody in reply to DicCarlson]

I have read that naproxen work synergistically with gabapentin. Not sure if that helps you but maybe somebody else. I have tried it, maybe it’s a placebo effect but it does seem to help.

I rarely take ibuprofen, so when I do it does seem to help. I forgot about it. Thanks for the tip

[DicCarlson in reply to WideBody]

Ibuprofen and naproxen both block Glutamate. I use a caplet of ibuprofen and break it in half - it's all I need to get back to sleep.

[WideBody in reply to DicCarlson]

Done, I will try this tonight! Thanks

[janland]

Hi..yes..I do believe iron plays a big part in relieving rls..

Iv had the condition for years in and off.. thinking it might be diet or lifestyle..but blood tests have shown in the past that ferritin low..iv tried so many doctors iron medicine..so did take gentle iron bisglycinate..but apparently wasn't strong enough..so now I compromise by taking half dose..100 mg of doctors iron per day..dare I say it..a noticeable improvement..

Hopefully more people will look into their iron levels more thoroughly.

Best wishes

Jan

[dormarpor]

I take pramipexole can't manage without it, it's not just in my legs but shoulders and arms are unbearable, it's like something inside me trying to get out. So much that I can't sit still have to do something to ward it off. The best thing I find for sleeping is acupuncture I go now every 3rd or 4th week, initially I went every week for about 4 weeks then started to space it out a bit. I have never slept so well for years, I can get up and go to the bathroom and back to bed and straight to sleep, I call it wonderful. Hope you get sorted soon.!!

This is a reply to RachelMary77.

[RachelMary77 in reply to dormarpor]

Hi Dormarpor, glad to hear the acupuncture is working for you, yes I was having a session every 2 weeks, it helped with sleep but did not take the RLS away completely, and I found it to be quite expensive. My acupuncturist also tried something called ‘moxi’ which was like burning a little incense on my stomach, sounds strange but I’ve never felt so relaxed!

[Hidden]

Gentle Iron and Magnesium, Mary. That did it for me. Glad you are on the right track!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Do you find that the Gentle Iron only works if taken in the late evening? I've been taking it for years (and magnesium but that is for migraines) and it always works. Worked from first night I took it. Has to be on an empty stomach and about an hour before bed. Do you agree?

[RachelMary77]

I don’t take my iron at the same time every day, but try to on an empty stomach. As long as I take it it seems to be working.

[Hidden]

Amen to that!