Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[HannonNY]

Hello All,

I went to the neurologist to talk about the internal vibrations (and muscle twitching) that I've been experiencing and he diagnosed me with Restless Leg Syndrome.  A lot of my symptoms do get worse at night and I do at times feel the need to move my legs to get relief.  Ironically, after he diagnosed me I've had a few terrible nights with this so not sure if it's just my brain being cruel   I'm wondering if anyone else was diagnosed during peri AND if the symptoms got better once you were through menopause.  Of course, I googled the condition and it can be quite bad for some so that kicked my health anxiety back up.  It's always something!  Thank you!

[MrsMitch]

Hello HannonNY. I can't answer your question as such but just wanted to say I'll be watching this thread with interest. My husband suffers from RLS and sometimes it's just dreadful. I did read an article on the Mailonline recently and someone said Kratom can be very helpful. I did Google it and it is controversial so please don't think I'm endorsing using it. But a number of people have had success with low doses. I did contact a company that sells it online and it appears to be a reputable business. I've also read Amitriptyline can be helpful too.
I do hope you manage to find something to bring you relief,  I'd like to get my husband help with his because I know it can be a horrid condition. Obviously his can't be treated the same as yours beung he isn't menopausal!!!
Sending you a virual hug.

[HannonNY]

Thank you both!  I'm sorry to hear about your husband.  Has he had his Iron levels checked?  My ferritin levels were within normal levels (37) but on the low end and my Dr. suggested taking Iron supplements which COULD reverse the effects.  I started today but I'm not getting my hopes up.  All the best to you!

[CLKD]

Eat bananas.  EVERY DAY.  It cured my RLS.  I began eating them to stop that awful energy drop = nausea  and within 5 nights my legs had settled.  I am aware of them 'pulling' in the day and now, if they are troublesome at bed time, I take 2 Nurofen.

My cause is lack of potassium.  Years ago I would raise my legs up a wall which eased symptoms.  I also slept with 2 double blankets under the mattress to keep legs elevated, OK until I rolled over in my sleep! 

Some find magnesium spray on the legs helps. 

[MrsMitch]

No HannonNY he hasn't had his levels checked. He's due for a health check at GP so we'll get them to test, thank you. Hope you sort yours, too.

[HannonNY]

CLKD - thank you for the tip with the bananas.  I'll give it a try along w/ my Iron supplements!

MrsMitch - let me know how it goes with your husband.  Make sure they specifically test his ferritin levels.  My Iron blood levels were perfectly fine but ferritin indicates the actual iron stores in the brain which can cause this issue.  My level was on the low end at 37 and after reading up on this condition there are many who believe one should between 80-100.  Fingers crossed this helps sort out the problem!

[Ali P]

Hi. I started with heavy legs that turned into big spasms in my legs and body with aching arms. They also twitches through the say.  I had other symptoms that they ignored.  GP diagnosed restless legs and i was put onto medication for it, neurologist agreed. Medication made me very depressed and suicidal because it wasn’t true restless legs. It is the menopause for me.  HRT stopped it  Loss of estrogen can cause these symptoms having done some Googling.  Have many other symptoms going on now but that’s another story on another thread.
On restless legs Mrs Mitch when I was told that was what it was magnesium was mentioned as a possible relief for it  Your husband could maybe try it
Hope you’re soon sorted

[HannonNY]

Thank you Ali P - I'm hoping in my case it's the same.  It just too coincidental that this also popped up at the same time I'm in the thick of peri.  I will continue on the Iron supplements though as I figure that can't hurt at this point. 

[Taz2]

My dad suffered dreadfully from restless legs syndrome (as did my mum putting up with endless, sleepless nights due to his legs kicking out all the time  ) but menopause was definitely not to blame.  He did get some treatment in the end but sadly I can't remember which it was. His iron levels were found to be low and this did improve things a bit and then the neurologist added in something else. Have you had a look at this link? https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/restless-legs-syndrome/. What treatment did your neurologist recommend.

Taz x

[HannonNY]

Hi Taz2 - I'm sorry that your Dad had such a hard time!  My Dr. didn't recommend anything at this point - we left it at trying the Iron supplements to see if that corrects the issue (that could take a month or so to notice the effects.)  If I'm still having major issues then we start talking about some type of treatment.  There are a few different drugs that they use to treat the symptoms.  I honestly would like to avoid drugs if at all possible however, if I'm not sleeping well regularly then I'll need to look into it.

[CLKD]

Ali P : onto medication for it, neurologist agreed.. which medication has been suggested?

[Ali P]

Hi CLKD
just to be really clear it wasn’t true restless legs for me. It was the menopause.  I’ve had tests less legs from some of the antidepressant I’ve tried and for me it was a totally different feeling

But the medications they tried me on were
 Ropinirole   Nupro patch and pramipexole.  As soon as either of them  were increased to a strength that would work I was on a high for a couple of days then crashed to depression.  They increase dopamine. Don’t know the medical term for what they do
I think I read at the time that potassium can help, as well as magnesium, which it has done for you x

[Ali P]

Ali again   I just came off the antidepressant when I developed restless legs from them. They were really painful  I feel
So sorry for those of you have have it x

[Minusminnie]

But the medications they tried me on were
 Ropinirole   Nupro patch and pramipexole.  As soon as either of them  were increased to a strength that would work I was on a high for a couple of days then crashed to depression.  They increase dopamine. Don’t know the medical term for what they do

They are dopamine agonists.  Amitripyline is a dopamine antagonist.

pasting this ....

Agonists are substances that bind to synaptic receptors and increase the effect of the neurotransmitter. Antagonists also bind to synaptic receptors but they decrease the effect of the neurotransmitter.

[CLKD]

As far as I know there isn't a clinical test for restless legs syndrome.  How was your condition diagnosed?  I had RLS from a child: 9ish : looking back it could well have been hormonally related. 

Let us know how you get on.