Hashimotos and RLS - how long before i feel better?

[alysa]

Ive been diagnosed Hashimoto's for 3 years and RLS 1 year. We tried natural remedies - no caffeine, alcohol, increase exercise, quinnine etc to no avail so I'm now on Requip too. I take 400mcg tramadol to help with the leg pain daily but recently my RLS progressed to my left arm, making sleeping unbearable. The doctors put me on Requip and I was wondering how long before I will start to notice any difference. I'm on 200mcg levothyroxine.

[Hidden]

I take it RLS is restless legs syndrome?

Doc gave me Ropinirole ('requip') too but didn't take it - I am always spooked by reading side-effects, and the fact it is a drug for Parkinson's. Anyway, for me it was calf/shin pain, constant, not so much 'restless' however mine was reduced when I found out I was low in Vit D & supplemented. (also avoided carpal and cubital tunnel surgery )

So... have you checked your vitamins & minerals? (irons folate, B12, ferritin, Vit D etc.) I'm looking into B12 with B complex which can all have similar symptoms - just a thought in case it helps. (I'm not on Thyroxine or other hormone replacement) J

[Heloise]

I found some relief from RLS by taking a 500 mg calcium-magnesium tablet at bed time. Even the oxide form which is not expensive worked pretty well.

[Marz]

...I'm a Hashi's girl too and long before I was diagnosed in 2005 I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Pleased to report everything has improved. What are your FT3 levels like ? Sometimes Hashimotos people have a problem with converting T4 into the active hormone T3.

Hope you feel better soon.....

[alysa]

My hashi's is not the problem, I feel amazing and have been on the levo for quite sometime now. its the RLS ( restless legs syndrome) thats the issue. im new to the requip and so desperate for sleep, i want it to work yesterday! I just wondered if anyone else had been in this situation. Most people think Im putting it on and im weird, but they are not the ones that live with the constant need to move and how it controls your life. I have it in my arms now and its really agressive. I even felt like my doctor thought I was a weirdo! Ive never felt so alone! I had all my bloods checked and all my levels are spot on!

[Hidden]

My restless legs improved at higher doses and taking armour. It's still not 100% comfortable, but improved. I've also upped my B12 and Vit D3 considerably during this time.

[Hidden]

Despite it being touted as a "cure" for RLS, mine was FAR, far worse when I took Tramadol, and I often wonder if that was the initial cause for me as I am not quite sure if it ever happened before!

Also your GP is hopelessly out of date, quinine sulphate for this is as up to date as bloodletting and not as safe as it sounds!

Pramipexole is more the route now, but Ropiriniole is a similar type drug, bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut though

My big improvement came from Magnesium supplementation... it had even more effect on cramping. I supplement transdermally using Magnesium citrate and my symptoms are barely there now, especially since I moved to other opiates instead of Tramadol. Might not work for you, but cheap and easy, some quote 65% of the population as being deficient in magnesium, so worth a try.

Would agree with comments on vit B12 and Vit D3 too...although if you supplement D3, I suggest also taking vitamin K2 to prevent calcium being deposited in arteries. Folate might be safest supplemented using 5-methyltetrahydrofolate though, rather then folic acid though.

[Willowluv]

Rls is a symptoms of low ferritin so get all your vitamins etc checked. I get it and is much better when I take iron tablets due to low ferritin. Codiene is suppose to help too.