new to rls...only 23

Whether new to RLS or new to the site, we welcome you and invite you to share your history and experiences with RLS/WED, introduce yourself, and ask questions. Successful treatment starts with a solid understanding of this disease.
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alyseeber

new to rls...only 23

Post by alyseeber »

Hi everyone- I have been diagnossed w/ restless legs and I'm only 23. My doctors have been switching my medications but nothing is really working. I tried the newest requip and had a really bad reaction to it. I feel like I've been through all the tests and I'm getting pretty discourged. This has been the hardest time in my life and I'm severly depressed. I'm taking Klonpin and paxcil at the moment and I noticed a little relief. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I'm new to this website and I'm open to any suggestions /support. Thanks for reading.
alyse

Penguinrocks
Posts: 703
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:03 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Post by Penguinrocks »

Hi Alyse

Welcome. For support you've come to the right place! We are full of support. Also, a lot of suggestions have been made here. Take some time and read posts like under the prescription med site....take a look at the antidepressants see if the one your on makes the symptoms worse. I'm currently taking Neurontin and right now, things seem to be ok.

Will talk more later....gtg to work...ugh!

Penguin
Beware the Penguin

jan3213
Posts: 1706
Joined: Wed May 26, 2004 8:46 pm
Location: Illinois

Post by jan3213 »

Hi Alyse

I'd like to offer my welcome to this site, as well. You have found a great place for support, as you've already heard from our Penguin.

I'd like to offer this bit of reassurance. When I was first diagnosed and my doctor (a neurologist) was having a difficult time finding the right combination of drugs, he reassured me that there ARE drugs available that will help me. It may take awhile to find the right one for me. It's trial and error and every one of us is different. Even though the main symptoms for RLS are the same, it effects each of us a little bit differently. Therefore, we all don't react to the same treatment--whether it's medicaton or something you would do that might not involve medicaton--in the same way. Check out the non-pharmaceutical section in this site.

I still have problems, occasionally. But, since I've been a member here, I've learned so much more about RLS and myself. And I've been given the courage to talk to my doctor about my RLS--I'm determined to be a partner with him in my treatment. That's what this group has done for me.

Don't give up, Alyse. There is help and HOPE.

Jan
No one is alone who had friends.

Penguinrocks
Posts: 703
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:03 pm
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Post by Penguinrocks »

As Jan said, there is always hope.

I totally agree with the trial and error thing. It brings truth to the statement that everyone is different.

One more statement that I agree with, this site and moreover, the people on this site have given me the courage to speak up. To make the doctors that I deal with KNOW what's going on and make them know I know more than what they would try and make me feel.

For that, eternal gratefulness to everyone here.....

You've found a wonderful home Alyse.

Love
Penguin
Beware the Penguin

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16599
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Post by ViewsAskew »

Hi Alyse - RLS can be terribly difficult. We have had many people stop by in the last few months that are in their teens and twenties. Many of us who are older also had it then.

Here is my best advice. Go to this link:

http://www.restlesslegs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1068

In here you will find life style management advice, drug advice, and links galore to help you find out what you need.

This may seem overwhelming, but spending some time reading about this and finding out as much as you can from existing posts and sites will pay off immensely over time.

Welcome.

Ann
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

Mylo
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:29 pm
Location: Montana

Post by Mylo »

Hi Alyse,

I'm 23 with RLS, as well. My doctor started me on Clonazepam. That stopped being effective, so he had me up the Clonaze some. Eventually that stopped being helpful to me.

Next, we tried Sinemet 25/100. This actually worked for about 4 months, which was fantastic for me. However, it started to be less effective, so now I'm on Sinemet 25/250 (going on 2 months now) and it's working like a charm.

I just started Wellbutrin (200mg) for depression. It's doing what it should, minus some mild side effects (dry mouth and shakes). My doc and I are hoping that both go away in a couple days, but if not we'll need to tweak the dosage. He's going to have me try the Wellbutrin extended release stuff, just to see if getting a steady amount will help (right now I take it at breakfast and dinner).

I've been rather frustrated, mainly when my drugs stop working as well as they should. It's frustrating trying to explain to collegemates why I take the RLS drugs, and sometimes I feel a bit self conscious in my relationship.

The point of my jibba jabba is that you're definately not alone in feeling frustrated and discouraged. There are a lot of drugs available to try, and it's pretty common (at least on these boards) to go through a host of drugs before finding something that works. If you wanna vent or whatnot, feel free to give me a holler.

And not to sound like a broken record, there is always hope. *hug*
Diagnosed RLS in February 2005.

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