Progress ... ?

[Desperate100]

My doctor refused to give me the tests for iron deficiency that I asked for, saying that past tests showed my iron levels are fine. I contacted her again to explain how the tests I need now are different - copying out for her the relevant paragraphs from two research articles on the matter. I also sent her the research about Ropinirole, again, copying out the relevant paragraphs.

Late yesterday afternoon my doctor texted me to say she is consulting a neurologist about my RLS, and has sent him/her all the info I sent her.

She has also agreed to prescribe Gabapentin for me. I am not looking forward to the possible water retention, and I'm likely to put back on the half stone I've taken off recently. Still, that's better than the long term effects of Ropinirole which she originally prescribed.

Watch this space for how the consultant neurologist responds!

[Joolsg]

I think that's progress. The only problem is that most neurologists in the UK also know nothing about RLS or the latest treatments and advice. I just hope whichever neurologist she has consulted is open to 'learning' something new. In my experience, some of the older neurologists are very set in their ways & refuse to read up on anything new. Hopefully, this one will be knowledgeable.Start the gabapentin slowly and be aware you only need to take in the evening ( as RLS mainly happens in the evening and night) and it takes 3 weeks to be fully effective.

Avoid taking magnesium in the 2 hours before the gabapentin dose. Split the evening dose as anything above 600mg is not well absorbed.

Out of interest, how has your GP instructed you to take gabapentin and what dose?

[Desperate100 in reply to Joolsg]

1 X 100mg pill each evening, which I've written about in a separate post ('Two steps forward')

[Joolsg in reply to Desperate100]

Really?Any instructions to increase?100mg won't do anything. The average dose for RLS is 1200-1500mg. Oh dear.