quilting mum

[Quiltingmum]

I have had restlesslegs for 40 years. After a recent operation, just as I need to recover my legs are so bad I cannot sleep except from about 6am until 10.am. I take Pregabalin 300ng but am so desperate I rang my GP practice to ask for a few sleeping tablets. The doctor said we first need to do blood tests to see if anything is wrong- fine. But no sleeping tablets in the meantime! My surgery recently was major open heart operation to fix a valve so I do, at the age of 79 need sleep to get well.

My question is do heavy blankets help restless legs - I have tried everything else I can think of.Any help would be very much appreciated.

29/09/23

Quilting Mum

[SueJohnson]

Weighted blankets help some people.

There are two possibilities why you are suffering so. One is they gave you opioids for the surgery and you are suffering withdrawal symptoms and the other is they may have given you sedating antihistamines or sedating anti-nausea medications both of which can make RLS worse. In both cases the effects will wear off but you might ask your doctor if either of these are the case. If it was an opioid you might ask that they give you enough so you can wean off slowly and then mention to your doctor that that is the problem and again ask for sleeping tablets until that is resolved.

[purple-flowers in reply to SueJohnson]

I completely agree with you. I’ve had two major operations this year and I was walking up and down the corridor of the hospital floor. The medication’s definitely made my RLS much worse. They told me the anti nausea medication especially makes it worse.

[Madlegs1]

Some people find heavy bedcovers do help _ I find them oppressive

You may well be on medications that trigger RLS, such as statins, some blood pressure meds, antidepressants and so on.

If you could give us a list of what you are on, we might be able to help.

You could try magnesium - any of the -ates are good. Take about 200 mg before bed.

Good luck.

[Allyp69]

Have never tried heavy blankets, but just about everything else apart from prescribed meds. Therapulse and listening to music using earphones work for me. Hope you get some sleep...my sympathies...

[SueJohnson]

This has nothing to do with your current problems and you may already know this but in case you don't: have you had your ferritin checked? If so, what was it? Improving your ferritin to 100 or more helps 60% of people with RLS and in some cases completely eliminates their symptoms. If not when you see your doctor ask for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements including multivitamins that have iron in them 48 hours before the test, don't eat a heavy meat meal the night before, fast after midnight and have your test in the morning before 9 am if possible. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. You want your transferrin saturation to be over 20% but less than 45% and your ferritin to be at least 100. If they are not, post them here and we can give you some advice.

Also you may have seen this in one of my posts: some things that can make RLS symptoms worse for some people are alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, carbs, foods high in sodium, foods that cause inflammation, ice cream, eating late at night, estrogen including HRT, dehydration, MSG, collagen supplements, electrolyte imbalance, melatonin, stress and vigorous exercise. Some things that help some people include caffeine, moderate exercise, weighted blankets, compression socks, elastic bandages, masturbation, magnesium glycinate, fennel, low oxalate diet, selenium, 5 minute shower alternating 20 seconds cold water with 10 seconds hot water finishing with hot water for another couple of minutes, hot baths, distractions, CBD, applying a topical magnesium lotion or spray, doing a magnesium salts soak, vitamins B1, B3, B6, B12, D3, K2, if deficient, and potassium and copper if deficient, massage including using a massage gun, vibration devices, using a standing desk, listening to music, meditation and yoga. Keep a food diary to see if any food make your RLS worse

Many medicines and OTC supplements can make RLS worse. If you are taking any and you list them here, I can tell you if any make RLS symptoms worse and if so may be able to give you a safe substitute.

[Merster]

Did your Rls start after your heart surgery or did you have it before? My Rls started shortly after having bypass surgery . That was 8 years ago

[SueJohnson in reply to Merster]

See my reply above on ferritin and things that can help or hurt.

[Quiltingmum]

Thank you all for your replies, it does help that people here understand. As regards medication I am taking Amiodarone to keep my heart in stable rhythm, (temporary). Frusemide diuretic , Warfarin (temporary) Prozac 20mg Pregabalin 300mg. Stopped statin and antihistamine. Problem really worsened withRLS when I came home from hospital . I really do not know what to try next, and dread night time! Good luck all.

[SueJohnson in reply to Quiltingmum]

Unfortunately you are taking 2 medicines which make RLS worse. All diuretics make RLS worse.

Prozac is an SSRI antidepressant and makes RLS worse. Safe ones are trazodone and Wellbutrin.