Search found 46 matches

by Bjorn
Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:27 am
Forum: General Topics: RLS
Topic: Questions about Certified Quality Care centers
Replies: 4
Views: 522

Re: Questions about Certified Quality Care centers

ViewsAskew
I appreciate the input.
Well, I'll get some info from the Downey office then.
I find it interesting that Dr B has worked with your local docs. Not sure if my doc would be receptive to that but it could happen.
Good to have some idea of the initial costs for this too.
by Bjorn
Tue Apr 12, 2016 5:10 pm
Forum: General Topics: RLS
Topic: Questions about Certified Quality Care centers
Replies: 4
Views: 522

Questions about Certified Quality Care centers

I live in Portland, OR and I'm thinking about seeing a doctor at the Stanford Sleep Medicine Center. I'm not quite sure how this works so I have a few questions. Would I just call the clinic number and make an appointment? About how far out on the calendar are the appointments? Would I need to retur...
by Bjorn
Sat Aug 29, 2015 10:33 pm
Forum: Prescription Medications
Topic: Anyone experiencing cardiac symptoms on requip or pramipexol
Replies: 5
Views: 916

Re: Anyone experiencing cardiac symptoms on requip or pramip

After reading this post I wonder if I didn't have some cardiac effects from pramipexole. Maybe I still do. My dose had increased to 1mg every night around 2004 or so and I'd noticed in my annual physical reports that my resting heart rate had increased into the 90's over several years. Since the &qu...
by Bjorn
Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:32 pm
Forum: Prescription Medications
Topic: Dopamine agonist withdrawal
Replies: 106
Views: 10366

Re: Dopamine agonist withdrawal

JimmyLegs. I didn't taper the pramipexole dosage; I just stopped taking it. I was hoping my dopamine factory would "reset" and I wouldn't have to take the drug any more. And maybe that's the direction things were going, but the withdrawal discomfort ("discomfort" - there's an und...
by Bjorn
Tue Aug 04, 2015 4:01 pm
Forum: Prescription Medications
Topic: Dopamine agonist withdrawal
Replies: 106
Views: 10366

Re: Dopamine agonist withdrawal

I got through my 5th night without pramipexole, but it was very difficult. I couldn't sleep. I thrashed all night long, I walked throughout the house several times. I think it was Dr Buckfuhrer who said you can't really wean yourself off the drug without the help of a strong opioid. (Tylenol 3 certa...
by Bjorn
Sun Aug 02, 2015 2:42 pm
Forum: Prescription Medications
Topic: Dopamine agonist withdrawal
Replies: 106
Views: 10366

Re: Dopamine agonist withdrawal

It's Sunday morning and I just endured my 4th straight night without pramipexole. It was bad. As soon as I lay down, the RLS hit me hard and never let go. The only relief was getting up and walking for a while. So zero sleep last night. It was very tempting to just go ahead and swallow a pramipexole...
by Bjorn
Sun Aug 02, 2015 2:32 am
Forum: Prescription Medications
Topic: Dopamine agonist withdrawal
Replies: 106
Views: 10366

Re: Dopamine agonist withdrawal

Orrel and JimmyLegs44 Thanks for your comments and encouragement! My first attempt at stopping pramipexole was about 5 years ago but I gave up after 2 nights. The withdrawal symptoms were incredibly bad. This time, though, I seem to be tolerating the symptoms better; maybe they're less severe. So fa...
by Bjorn
Sat Aug 01, 2015 7:06 pm
Forum: Prescription Medications
Topic: Dopamine agonist withdrawal
Replies: 106
Views: 10366

Re: Dopamine agonist withdrawal

Just thought I'd add to this subject with my own experiences. I've been on pramipexole for about 12 years and my current effective dose is 1mg at bedtime. I've been getting a lot of RLS symptoms earlier and earlier in the day, usually 3pm or so, but sometimes at noon. My RLS creepy crawly feelngs ar...
by Bjorn
Sun Nov 02, 2014 11:38 pm
Forum: General Topics: RLS
Topic: After visit notes
Replies: 2
Views: 595

After visit notes

Kaiser has enabled patients to read their doctor's after visit notes. Just log in to your Kaiser acct and start reading. This would seem to be a good thing, but it can also reveal what your doctor is really thinking of you. (Until the doctors start being a little more careful) For example, I went in...
by Bjorn
Sun Nov 02, 2014 11:36 pm
Forum: General Topics: RLS
Topic: Do I need to look for a sleep specialist?
Replies: 9
Views: 1192

Re: Do I need to look for a sleep specialist?

I called the Neurology department at Kaiser and asked if any of the staff neurologists specialized in WED. I was told that each of them specialized in a major disease (Parkinson's, MS, stroke etc) but that any of them could help me with WED. I wasn't sure what to make of that. WED is so trivial that...
by Bjorn
Sat Sep 27, 2014 5:22 am
Forum: General Topics: RLS
Topic: Do I need to look for a sleep specialist?
Replies: 9
Views: 1192

Re: Do I need to look for a sleep specialist?

Thank you. I really appreciate the info. I'll let you know how it goes.

Bjorn
by Bjorn
Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:18 pm
Forum: General Topics: RLS
Topic: Do I need to look for a sleep specialist?
Replies: 9
Views: 1192

Do I need to look for a sleep specialist?

My doctor isn't up on WED medications or side effects like augmentation. I'd like to get a referral to a neurologist in the Kaiser system here and there are several, but only one of them mentions RLS as a disease they treat. The doctor is a sleep specialist and I suppose it would make sense the doc ...
by Bjorn
Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:17 pm
Forum: Prescription Medications
Topic: Mirapex and cardiac issues
Replies: 14
Views: 3167

Re: Mirapex and cardiac issues

I'm seeing my doctor next week. I'll ask about an ekg or echocardiogram.
I might be overreacting, though.
by Bjorn
Fri Aug 24, 2012 3:47 am
Forum: Prescription Medications
Topic: WED MEDS: LIST OF ALL YOUR WED MEDS FROM DAY 1 TO PRESENT
Replies: 22
Views: 6900

Re: WED MEDS: LIST OF ALL YOUR WED MEDS FROM DAY 1 TO PRESEN

Sinemet – wonderful drug at first. After about a month it turned into the worst drug ever! Horrible horrible augmentation. Clonazepam – did nothing but make me stumble going to the bathroom at night. Mirapex – been on it about 10 years. Works for me consistently. Also take one or two Tylenol #3’s wh...
by Bjorn
Thu Aug 23, 2012 6:48 pm
Forum: Prescription Medications
Topic: Mirapex and cardiac issues
Replies: 14
Views: 3167

Mirapex and cardiac issues

Hi all. It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. I’ve noticed some swelling in my ankles and feet lately so I’m seeing my doctor in a couple of weeks. In the meantime I received the latest Nightwalker newsletter and there’s a question from someone who has the same problem as me. And it seems that M...