Keeping my mind and body active

[jollyjune]

I have noticed that keeping busy helps, as the day goes on and the more tired I get so the legs (and the awful feeling that comes with them) begin. Even in bed if I can really get thinking and interested in a subject, the feeling subsides. The moment is fleeting!!!! As a child I was described as "highly strung" which is exactly how I feel with the RLS. I am struggling to come down off ropinirol and have managed to get down from 2mg to 1mg, but I am stuck. Keeping busy is a two edged sword the busier I am the more tired I get and there is no doubt tiredness and RLS go together.

[RLSofManyYears]

HiThis is one of the clear signs of RLS: it hits when our minds are not active. You can be absolutely dog tired but as soon as you nod off then you are immediately woken again by the RLS. I have experienced walking around in the middle of the night and literally falling asleep on my feet and then being jerked awake by my legs. It is a dreadful thing.

However one has to find ways, and they all vary from person to person, that help us get at least some sleep. Whenever I am jerked awake at night then I have to get up. I will then do something for about 30-60 mins and then get back to bed. Things I would do could be: have a cup of fruit tea, watch TV, work on balsa model planes, walk about the house, go outside and walk for a bit, etc. One thing I do have in my armoury is a vibration plate. I find that 10 minutes on this gives me a good workout which seems to calm my legs and make me tired enough to be able to go back to sleep.

The other aspect is the medications that we take, which again vary tremendously from person to person. You say you are on 1mg Ropinirole. The key is to reduce in small steps over several weeks. Folk say minimum of 2 weeks between steps but I think that 3-4 weeks is better. Unfortunately the last steps are the worst and you will experience probably about 2 really dreadful weeks. There's no easy way out of dopamine agonists but it is worth it in the end. I suggest that you try to plan ahead so that the worst part is not at a crucial time in your life.

Also, look at starting Pregabalin at that point. That will help but it needs time to fully kick in.

I do hope this helps.