Advice on a glass of wine

[Whymelord]

Hi, I'm sure this is a very trivial question as I'm aware how bloody devastating RLS and how alcohol can make it worse, red wine drives my legs crazy, I love a wee glass with dinner, does anyone know is there a wine that doesn't make symptoms worse.

[involuntarydancer]

I don’t think it’s trivial at all. I too find red wine an exacerbant. However, I can drink quite a lot of spirits - especially, for some reason, if they are made into a cocktail with fruit juice - and not experience any worsened symptoms. I also notice that some varieties of wine are worse than others so would suggest a trial and error approach. I very rarely drink red wine now so can’t make specific recommendations and anyway we are all different. I have not found organic wines to be any better than regular wine however.

[Whymelord in reply to involuntarydancer]

Thanks for your reply, I do try white wine, think your right though different types can affect me, would be nice to have a glass without wondering if it will set the legs off. Even to be able to go out with friends and not worry about having a drink.

[Hidden in reply to Whymelord]

Hi, i have given up drinking alcohol. a few years ago now, i had some white wine at my daughter's over Christmas and Boxing day, which resulted in both the following nights i had awful RLS. So, never tried since to try ANY alcohol. But that is my experience, maybe you can find something that wont bother your RLS.

[Jules1953]

I can not drink any type of alcohol as I suffer terribly with my RLS after doing so. I also avoid sugary drinks as much as possible as they set my legs off too.

[Joolsg]

It’s different for everyone. I can drink most alcohol and it doesn’t affect my RLS at all. I suggest you try your favourite tipple and note whether your RLS kicks off within the next 12 hours. I hope you find something that doesn’t make it worse.

[Whymelord in reply to Joolsg]

Good advice, I don't drink much but I do like to be able to socialise with my friends.

[Spencer1958]

Can't drink white or red - although I do occasionally and suffer that night as a result. Spirits are less of a problem. A wonderful alternative to alcohol is a product called SEEDLIP - made in the UK and distributed to USA, Canada, Australia - and maybe more - you'll have to check. Basically its distilled non alcoholic spirits - somewhat like gin but better. Check it out at seedlipdrinks.com. and grab yourself a bottle. They have some great mixer and cocktail recipes online also. You could be fooled you are drinking alcohol - no RLS nor headache to follow.

[Whymelord in reply to Spencer1958]

Hi, I do exactly the same, have a glass of wine in the hope that it might just be the one that doesn't affect my rls but alas I'm wrong every time.not sure if I can get this Seedlip but I will check it out. Thanks for the advice.

[Sampsie in reply to Spencer1958]

It sets my legs off. Most alcohol free stuff does, as well as alcohol. Meh!

[Spencer1958]

Everyone I've introduced it to falls in love with it - and I'm talking about hardened consumers that don't suffer as we do !

[Whymelord in reply to Spencer1958]

Hi, I've just checked and see that Holland and Barret sells Seedlip, I'll be giving it a try.

[Spencer1958]

Let me know what you think Whymelord !

[Spencer1958]

Forgot to mention - Seedlip Garden is my fave - for what its worth....

[Eryl]

I haven't touched a drop since Christmas. Then a couple of glasses would start off mild symptoms. All carbs add up till you reach a threshold when the insulin levels trigger rls, so if you could minimise carbs the rest of the time, it may be possible that you could socialise without repurcussions.

[Whymelord in reply to Eryl]

Hi, didn't know that carbs may make rls worse. Is this what you do and does it work?

[Eryl in reply to Whymelord]

It certainly makes many people's rls worse. I avoid sugar and anything made with sugar, like cakes and biscuits. I also avoid fruit juice as it has none of the fibre of whole fruit, and fibre creates a filter to slow absorbtion of the sugar by the small intestine. I also avoid bread as the gluten speeds up absorption of the highly refined starch in modern flour. (white bread has a higher GI than pure sugar).

[Graham3196]

I can drink a glass of whiskey or rum and coke but wines and other usual spirits set of my RLS. If you don't get RLS it could be a long and cheerful process to try every available alcoholic drink to see if anything affects you.

When socialising I enjoy some chilled water.

[Tennis52]

What about beer. Any experiences. ?

[Whymelord in reply to Tennis52]

Would you believe I just tried a glass of beer with my dinner about 3 hours ago and I feel a bit restless in one leg so I would say beers out.

[marsha2306]

I drink a glass of Chardonnay around dinner time most nites. It has never had an effect on my rls.

[Lapsedrunner]

Makes no difference to me (which is nice!) We truly are all different.

[marsha2306]

White

[Stdorn]

Thanks to RLS I havent had a drop in years. It makes mr rls so bad I wouldn't even think about risking it. When my insomnia made it so I lost my 18 year carrer repairing life support equipment not a drop. When disability said there was no proof of disabillity after reviewing 15 years of records from my sleep specialist not a drop. When the city condemed my house boarded it up and kept me from retreiving any of my possessions not a drop. When I lost my house and became homeless not a drop. Maybe its a good thing since with what rls has done to my life I would like to drink myself in to oblivion. Thanks RLS!

[Whymelord]

Red definitely makes my RLS worse,I’m gonna try Chardonnay,if tha doesn’t work then it’s teatotal for me😩