Just an update from previous posts. I'm currently in the process of experimentation with my RLS. I have tried to avoid sugar / chocolate and MSG. The MSG comes from eating out ! My Thai girlfriend makes healthy meals for me each day with no added 'stuff' ! I can have nights which are bad for around 3 hours and other nights which are 90% ok and so far it seems to be mainly down to diet. I will post more in time. I should add that I have diabetes and rather worryingly I appear to have increasing neuropathy in my feet - feelings of numbness even though I can feel test prods to my soles. I wonder if RLS may influence neuropathy or vice versa ?! Recently after having my legs crossed for a while, I could not properly feel one of my feet and walked with a limp. It took 15 minutes of movement to restore the blood flow to my foot, something that previously would take a minute or two. Either way, both conditions have worsened, seemingly in tandem ! Below I post names of you tube videos which you may find useful - especially the one about anabolic imbalance and circadian rhythms which may hold some answers for RLS sufferers:-
* Do you have an anabolic imbalance ?
* 4 steps to correct RLS
* The surprising link between cholesterol medications and nerve damage
I should explain that I have recently moved from the UK to Thailand. In the UK I thought I had finally overcome the RLS through use of vitamins B1 and B12, and Magnesium. I had no problems on the 3 flights over either ! (very unusual !). However, within a week or two the RLS was back, which pointed to a change in climate and / or diet. Viewing another video, the presenter / Doctor said that he'd heard a bar of soap under the sheets at night can help, as can taking Folate / Vitamin B9, so you may wish to consider these. I am looking to have blood tests for my diabetes as a matter of course and I plan at that time to have iron and ferritin levels checked also. I'll update again in due course.
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Summer194
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OhNo--- the dreaded bar of soap remedy appears again.
Raff's -- please come back!
(We used to have great fun discussing the various types of soap that were most successful.)
Anyway. It's worth a try. Worked for me for one night.
On the general points you make-
Diet is certainly top of the list for many folk- and for me ,she is top of the baddies.
Neuropathy is often mixed up with RLS, but obviously not in your case. I don't know of any direct connection, but am of the opinion that both are nervous system issues. Inflammation???
Well worth getting iron and ferritin checked. Don't accept "normal" ,get the actual numbers.
Looking forward to hearing from you again, and wishing you both a very Happy New Year.
Best leave Raff sleeping hopefully , we don’t want to upset him over the soap it so non pleased him. 😊 I am sure most of us have had a go with the bar of soap. .
You say that you avoid sugar but do you avoid other types of carbohydrate? I do not find that chocolate makes my rls worse as long as it is very dark (85-90%) in fact the flavinoids might help.
Thanks Eryl, I always have dark chocolate - 74% dark in the UK but difficult to find a high % figure in Thailand - the most is 49% hersheys. I eat rice (brown) and very thin noodles with meals - I need to reduce this a bit and increase veg and proteins. I only have 2 meals a day but you have a point, given carbs turn to sugar if not used up by movement (exercise etc). Last night was not very good despite being careful. It seems that even when one gets rid of RLS it tends to be short lived ! I'm trying to find magnesium oil here so far not found anywhere that sells it. The climate right now in northern Thailand is chilly mornings and warm if not hot days - much like a UK good summer - so the climate doesn't seem to be the main reason some of us get RLS. i'm visiting a good clinic tomorrow to speak to a Doctor about it and the connection with neuropathy. It's a strange condition eh !
Noodles are especially bad if they are made from wheat as ths gluten in it causes to be metabolized quicker which results in a higher spike in blood sugar.If you're type 2 diabetic that can be cured by avoiding carbohydrates.
I’m not saying this is you but metformin sent my RLS off the charts , and it causes neuropathy , I have heard from others who have found there medication was causing them neuropathy, some went on to have gastric surgery which illuminated there diabetes. Everyone is different.
Thanks Shumbah, I don't recall having as much issues with RLS before taking metformin, which I take with the evening meal - I could take it earlier I guess.
This lady only took metformin for 1 week at it has turned her life upside down . She never suffered RLS prior .
I would do some research yourself
Everyone who comes to me for help I ask if they are on Metformin
Perhaps there is a safer alternative for you
I took metformin in the morning and it still destroyed my life , changing time of day will not help, because it is slow release. Thank god I was not on Metformin long enough to suffer from life changing neuropathy.
The new research that has just been released says that Parkinson is caused by the gut and from what has just happened to me it seems for myself there is a connection with the gut and RLS .
Thanks Shumbah, I will try changing the time I take Metformin to see if there is any effect - I'll take it at 12pm instead of 7pm - though I see it did not work for you. In recent years there has been more and more about the gut and how it can be what's behind a lot of health ailments. You may be onto something !
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Pregabalin doesn't seem to work any more and I'm desperate to get a bit of my life back, not to mention some sleep.
MSG - RLS link? Take a look at this once. 
What is it ?
Has anyone had any simular reactions to MSG
