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Welcome to Keepwellusa

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2017 1:56 pm
by Rustsmith
Friday, November 17

Welcome to

Keepwellusa, who suffers with restless legs syndrome and it spread to the hands and arm.

Are you currently taking anything for your RLS? Spreading from the legs to the arms is one of the criteria for augmentation due to dopamine agonists. Please post a note telling us about your RLS treatment and asking any questions that you have.

Welcome to dboy

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2017 11:17 pm
by Rustsmith
Friday, November 17

Welcome to

dboy, who has had RLS for several years, but got worse after a couple of surgeries last year. dboy has tried to narrow down what causes it but nothing that has been cut out of diet or lifestyle has made a difference.

After you have a chance to take a look around, please post a note telling us a bit about your symptoms so that we can offer some suggestions. For some of us, RLS just happens and there are no apparent triggers.

Welcome to Sas

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 3:57 pm
by Rustsmith
Monday, November 20

Welcome to

Sas, who has always had RLS since childhood. Sas has been on medications for the last 5 years and is now experiencing augmentation. It is causing Sas to wake up every night and to overeat.

Please take a look through our forum on Augmentation, and post a note telling us if your doctor has a suggestion on how to address the augmentation and eating issues.

Welcome to Fredanderson

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 2:07 pm
by Rustsmith
Tuesday, November 21

Welcome to

Fredanderson, who doesn't sleep because of RLS. He needs to get proper meds. Tramadol works, but the VA won't prescribe it.

Please take a look through the Prescription Medication forum to get an idea of your options, and please post a note so that we can provide you with specific suggestions other than Tramadol.

Welcome to nadra

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 8:52 pm
by Rustsmith
Wednesday, November 22

Welcome to

nadra, whose RLS is very serious. She is taking ropinerole and it's not working. It is causing weight gain and she wants to lose weight.

Weight gain is a frequent side effect of dopamine agonists, like ropinerole. Take a look through our information in the Prescription Medications forum to get an idea of the alternatives, which you can discuss with your doctor. And feel free to post a note with any questions that you have.

Welcome pattyann!

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 7:14 am
by badnights
Today we welcome pattyann, who has had WED/RLS since she was young, when her doctor told her it was growing pains. What she has been through since will sound familiar to most of us. She's desperate for a solution, has tried meds some of which helped for a while but they always quit working - when you say they quit working, is that because the symptoms started getting worse?

There is something a lot of doctors don't know about the so-called "front-line" medications for RLS/WED, the dopamine medications (ropinirole/Requip, pramipexole/Mirapex, levo-carbidopa/Sinemet), and that is that they usually end up making the condition worse, after working for a time. This is called augmentation. The unknowing doctor will increase your prescription when your symptoms get worse, this then makes the symptoms even worse after a time, so the dose gets increased again, and on the cycle goes. The only way out is to quit the medication,which is painful because the body freaks out for a while and has even worse symptoms (it's a withdrawal phenomenon). But it's totally worth it, because symptoms subside to something much better than when you were augmenting.

I hope you will post about yourself, what medications you're currently taking and their doses, and what you have tried for WED/RLS in the past.

If you want more information about augmentation, search in the search bar (top right), or check the Foundation's brochures on augmentation (see the link below my name below this post for instructions on how to get them).

You should also check out the Topic called A Good Place to Start (because it's just that!)

You'll find a lot of support and knowledge and experience among the members here. I hope you soon feel at home.

Welcome to barrybush

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 10:04 pm
by Rustsmith
Friday, November 24

Welcome to

barrybush, who hasn't had a full nights sleep in seven years.

Sleep is a major problem for us. Please take a look at "A great place to start" at the top of this forum and then post a note telling us about your RLS and what you are currently doing to manage it.

Welcome to HGSolo

Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2017 6:05 am
by Rustsmith
Saturday, November 25

Welcome to

HGSolo, whose RLS causes problems mostly at night. Some late afternoons when tired and trying to sleep, HGSolo's body, arms and legs start to move and feel uncomfortable. And this probably prevents a full night of sleep!

Please take a look around and then post a note telling us what you are doing to manage your RLS and asking any questions that you have.

Welcome to Kady75454

Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2017 7:31 pm
by Rustsmith
Sunday, November 26

Welcome to

Kady75454, who says that this disorder, syndrome, whatever, seems to affect everyone differently. Finding similarities for successful management would be greatly beneficial.

Take a look through our discussions to find out about others and then please post a note telling us what you are currently doing to manage your RLS and asking any questions that you have.

Welcome to Gr8tmommy

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2017 1:20 pm
by Rustsmith
Wednesday, November 29

Welcome to

Gr8tmommy, whose RLS not only keeps her from falling asleep, but by virtue of her flailing legs she keeps her husband awake as well. She often goes to the guest room to “rock” herself to sleep.

That is something that we can all relate to. Please post a note telling us what else you are doing to manage your RLS and asking any questions that you have so that we can provide answers or suggestions.