Hi everyone, A while ago I posted about how my RLS had virtually gone following the use of vitamin B1, in addition to the usual magnesium. Fennel also appeared to help. I am diabetic (type 2) and appear to have some form of neuropathy in the feet which can feel numb sometimes but not to the touch - (it's a strange sensation rather like having lumps of cotton wool in my shoes !) so it was quite a victory to have almost eliminated my RLS.... ..... and then I sold up and moved to Thailand, and it has come back with a vengeance ! but it surely shows that factors such as heat / humidity / diet can affect the condition. I can't think what else may be the cause. On the planes over here I had no RLS (which was unusual but very welcome !), but within a week of being here the RLS was taking hold each night as it did on my previous visit.
So it begs the question, what causes it to return when in Thailand. The most obvious conclusion is the different climate and whatever is in the food. I avoid MSG in food here as my girlfriend cooks fresh food each day, although snacks probably don't help, and I need to check if she is adding soy oils etc. I still take my B1 and magnesium, and now also I take Alpha Laporic Acid tablets for neuropathy. I'm on metformin for diabetes and other meds for HBP, cholesterol and blood thinning, and the usual standard vitamins.
I have to wonder if an answer to the problem of RLS may lie in my recent experience because I had cracked it before I left the UK, but something here in Thailand has reversed the progress. It has to be something simple. Any comments / suggestions welcome. Thank you
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Summer194
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You are probably right about numbness in feet being due to diabetic neuropathy but have you checked vitamin B12 levels as something similar happens to me when my levels are low.. I find it best to be near top end of vitamin B12 range as the range is quite extensive and doctors are happy if blood test is within these parameters even if at lowest level.
That's a big change for all the reasons you mentioned. Maybe your neurotransmitters need more time to acclimate to your new environment. The reptilian fight or flight mechanism may have kicked in looking for new threats real or percieved. The resulting stress and anxiety, which you may not even be aware of, can aggravate RLS. Just a wild theory as RLS is such a guessing game at times.
Heat can definitely make RLS worse so that is probably the cause.
What medicines are you taking for your high blood pressure and cholesterol? Many will make RLS worse. If you list them I may be able to give you substitutes that don't make RLS worse that you can discuss with your doctor.
Thanks for all your kind responses. Each made sense and I'm grateful for your input. Sue has asked me about my meds, so as this may help others, I'll list them here and I await your response Sue (many thanks) :-
Sukkarto SR - metformin for diabetes - 1000mg
Atorvastatin - for high cholesterol 20mg
Xarelto - 20mg - following pulmonary embolism - 20mg
Losartan potassium - for HBP - 100mg
Alpha Lapoic Acid - for neuropathy symptoms - 50mg
From 2024 I will be buying Thai versions of them where available
The only one beside metformin that is a problem is the Atorvastatin which can make RLS worse for most. Statins make RLS worse for most. Nexlizet (Nustendi (UK) is a cholesterol lowering drug that is not a statin, but I don’t know if it exacerbates RLS symptoms. Ezetimibe (Zetia) - reduces cholesterol although It doesn't reduce cholesterol as fast as the statins, but according to Chris Columbus it didn't trigger his RLS and then there is Triglide which seems safe. You might want to discuss these with your doctor. A more difficult way to reduce cholesterol is to go vegan. My husband lowered his cholesterol from 221 to 131 this way.
I wonder if it could be the increased sweating due to the climate. I’ve spent time in Thailand and Malaysia and its a continual sweaty business (unlike where I live now in Turkey - a dry heat and only in summer).
When you sweat you sweat out electrolytes - something I’ve realise recently hugely exacerbate my restless legs (discovered after a sickness bug - I was drinking water but it don’t replenish the minerals etc quickly enough)
You can take electrolyte powder daily, it’s something a lot of people are deficient in. Personally when I last went on holiday to Thailand (and this was before the above discovery) all members of the family drank it daily - none of the usual headaches / stomach cramps etc.
I also thought I had cracked the code. For 70 years I've suffered with RLS and took 500 mg magnesium per my doctor. No RLS for one month. I thought about all the years I suffered and all I needed was magnesium. Then one month later with no other changes it came bad worse than ever and continues to worsen. If only I could go back to that one month of relief
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.
You said in a previous reply that you had tried some medicines and they didn't work? What were they?
Hi Sue, Many thanks for the advice re ferritin. I will see if I can get this checked here in Thailand at a local clinic - or it may be the hospital (they don't have GP surgeries or medical centres here - it's the odd clinic or a hospital only). I have never had big pharma meds for RLS and have actively tried to avoid them. I have been trying vitamins and herbs, such as the B vits / magnesium / fennel. I have taken some electrolytes to replenish lost salts in the hot weather here - will see what difference that makes. I am going to start a food diary as suggested. Much appreciated - Many thanks
Hi there, I envy you in your relocation! Having said that I can confirm that, living in Sydney, Australia, I find that heat and humidity are my major triggers for RLS. We had an early, hot and humid spring this year, followed by an early hot and very humid summer - as I write it is 37 degrees and very humid. Even air conditioning doesn't seem to lessen the symptoms much. It has been hell. A consultant I saw said the difference in the amount of sunlight over the year can also trigger RSL symptoms.
Thanks again to members for your comments which are really helpful. I have some electrolyte powders so will see if these do the trick. I stayed in Sydney remember sweating whilst stood up on the phone. A great place but probably as humid as Thailand. I will try the powders and report back - thanks
Well after 30 years of RLS I find anything new works wonders for a while &I think I have found a miracle but sadly RLS, in my experience, always breaks through.I thought magnesium citrate was the answer for 6 months but then ......
Thank you 'Restless Guy' .... This makes sense - I find that by around 4 or 5 am the restless legs are almost no longer restless, which could well be due to the temperature drop at that time of the morning and so I can usually sleep fine from around 3/4/5 am. Strangely there is no problem in the daytime. Clearly temperature is a significant feature of the condition and your confirmation of this will be helpful for many others on this forum. Many thanks
I point to diet more than climate. I live in Florida where heat and humidity are the norm. I moved here a couple years ago and it had no impact on my RLS. However, if you look at my previous post which was nearly a year ago, I declared I was taking a stance against RLS by getting serious with my diet and weight. I am a nurse and I have literally been on every RLS medication and supplement available. Having a strict diet has been the game changer. It’s not easy which is why I think many people have a hard time with it. But I recommend starting a food diary. Start by eliminating all processed food, alcohol and refined sugar. It has made the biggest difference for me. Around holidays and special events when my diet slips, the symptoms show up. Best of luck to you. RLS is terrible.
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