Thank you for this discussion board. I know that aspartame has come up in several posts, but I wanted to tell you about my experience.
I've had RLS symptoms as long as I can remember, but they started getting worse a few years ago. (I'm now 32). About one year ago, they got way out of control and crept into the middle of the day. A twitch started in my left arm that got out of control, too.
I went to the doc and he had me try Sinemet first. No good. Had the augmentation that so many have described. So, he had me try Requip next. I didn't like the side effects of that either, and they started right away. I was having very shallow sleep and getting up several times a night. The legs weren't bothering me, but what does it matter if I can't sleep?
The doc asked me to recount everything that had changed in the last year. I started exercising more regularly, and eating better. I lost weight because of that. And I started drinking diet soda. There it was.
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
I stopped taking anything with Aspartame (that I know of) about two weeks ago. I've already had a drastic improvement. I still twitch a little while trying to get to sleep, but it is nowhere near as bad as it was even two weeks ago. Everything feels less tense, less twitchy, and so on.
Anecdotal evidence? You bet. Will I ever drink diet soda again? Never.
While I'm here, I'd also like to share two things that always help me. Swimming and sitting in a sauna. Even better: both in the same day. My legs are never as still and calm as they are after 15 minutes in a hot sauna, especially in the evening.
Thanks again for this resource, and get some sleep everyone!
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
RF