Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:35 pm
Just my 2 cents worth, and this is only my point of view, but I reckon that by the time most people have found this forum they have tried just about everything there is that is non pharm. I know that I did, and absolutely nothing made any difference...... I had suffered for 30 years before resorting to drugs. So I don't like anyone inferring otherwise! I was at the end of my tether when I came to this forum and the people on it have answered so many questions for me, have helped me so much.
It was this board that advised me to have my ferritin levels checked, which my doc did at my behest and the information to do so having come from this site, and my levels are ok. I have been to a neurologist who confirms that I have very severe rls. I have had tests done for circulation, the legs in particular, all ok. I have gone privately to alternative therapies and consulted with regard to possible food allergies and deficiencies. I was actually told to stay away from wheat.... this made no difference to my rls symptoms.
My primary doc relies on the information that I bring to him cos he is no rls expert and tells me this himself. My information is gleaned from this forum and the wonderful supporting members.
Perhaps there are those who look at this forum and read the posts and wonder why we 'depend on medications'. Perhaps these same people with rls do not have it as severely as others. If anyone has rls as severely as some of the members of this site they would not so readily condemn the use of meds/drugs. If someone has early evening symptoms of rls which they can deal with and then they can sleep at night.... then great/brilliant and I envy that person greatly. This however is very far removed from perhaps the next rls sufferer who is 24/7 and whose body is literally screaming inside for relief, getting no sleep night after night, and also having to do a day's work also.
Remember the saying.... walk a mile in someone else's shoes'
My lifestyle was at times unbearable with rls. I had tried all of the iron supplements, magnesium etc. etc. blah. blah. blah.... I could go on and on!! It is great if someone can give a non pharm method a try, maybe for several weeks or months... I could do this no longer. I would not have been able to continue work. The meds have improved my life beyond belief.
I apologise in advance if I have misunderstood this thread anywhere, and also if I have offended anyone here, but I feel quite angry at the moment... I feel that our efforts to find relief and in particular those of us who have had to take meds, are being looked upon as tho we do not have the determination to seek the alternative/dietary solution.
Someone rap my knuckles if they feel I deserve it.
Betty
It was this board that advised me to have my ferritin levels checked, which my doc did at my behest and the information to do so having come from this site, and my levels are ok. I have been to a neurologist who confirms that I have very severe rls. I have had tests done for circulation, the legs in particular, all ok. I have gone privately to alternative therapies and consulted with regard to possible food allergies and deficiencies. I was actually told to stay away from wheat.... this made no difference to my rls symptoms.
My primary doc relies on the information that I bring to him cos he is no rls expert and tells me this himself. My information is gleaned from this forum and the wonderful supporting members.
Perhaps there are those who look at this forum and read the posts and wonder why we 'depend on medications'. Perhaps these same people with rls do not have it as severely as others. If anyone has rls as severely as some of the members of this site they would not so readily condemn the use of meds/drugs. If someone has early evening symptoms of rls which they can deal with and then they can sleep at night.... then great/brilliant and I envy that person greatly. This however is very far removed from perhaps the next rls sufferer who is 24/7 and whose body is literally screaming inside for relief, getting no sleep night after night, and also having to do a day's work also.
Remember the saying.... walk a mile in someone else's shoes'
My lifestyle was at times unbearable with rls. I had tried all of the iron supplements, magnesium etc. etc. blah. blah. blah.... I could go on and on!! It is great if someone can give a non pharm method a try, maybe for several weeks or months... I could do this no longer. I would not have been able to continue work. The meds have improved my life beyond belief.
I apologise in advance if I have misunderstood this thread anywhere, and also if I have offended anyone here, but I feel quite angry at the moment... I feel that our efforts to find relief and in particular those of us who have had to take meds, are being looked upon as tho we do not have the determination to seek the alternative/dietary solution.
Someone rap my knuckles if they feel I deserve it.
Betty