Do my symptoms match RLS?

[Anonymous]

I am a 51 year old male living in Upstate New York. Up until three years ago I felt like I was 20 years younger than my age. Now I feel like I'm 10 to 20 years older than my age.

In the past three years I have diagnosed with Raynaud's, Asthma, Reflux and an unknown cause of fatigue. My wife also claims that in the past two years or so my legs thrash around at night.

The fatigue became a major factor this past winter after a bout of pneumonia. At times, the fatigue can be completly debilitating. Fortunately, I'm self-employed, so taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon is always an option. Sometimes a short nap helps, other times I'm wiped out for the rest of the day.

Since last winter / spring, the pain in my legs has gradually become worse. The pain can best be descibed as internal vibrations, like when someone is carrying a teacup & saucer and it starts shaking. There is no outward sign, just internal, especially in the muscles. The legs especially hurt when I lay down, whether for a nap or at night. I feel no urge to move them, just pain.

What is most confusing is that my legs are the strongest part of my body. My only form of exercise is walking and cycling. While I am no means fat, what fat I do have is least present in my legs.

Six weeks after going on Zoloft at the beginning of April, I woke up one morning in early May feeling great. The fatigue, for the most part was gone until early August when it came back again.

None of my Doctors have any ideas what's going on.
Most blood work comes back great. (The only exception is a consistent false positive test for Lupus).

So my question is, other than the leg thrashing at night which my wife reports, do the symptoms I describe match what those with RLS have?
The faq on this site seems to say no.

[sardsy75]

Hi Da

Simply put ... no they don't, BUT ... I do think I know what you might have, and you're probably not going to like it.

In the past three years I have diagnosed with Raynaud's, Asthma, Reflux and an unknown cause of fatigue. My wife also claims that in the past two years or so my legs thrash around at night.

I can sympathise greatly with your Raynauds ... I have a chronic form of it myself. I live in a sub-tropical climate in Australia and am everyones "best friend" in the middle of Summer with my freezing cold hands. I have found a rather helpful site which I hope you will also find useful

http://www.raynauds.org/index.htm

The fatigue became a major factor this past winter after a bout of pneumonia. At times, the fatigue can be completly debilitating. Fortunately, I'm self-employed, so taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon is always an option. Sometimes a short nap helps, other times I'm wiped out for the rest of the day.

This sounds like a classic case of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) which is better known as Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome(CFIDS). I have ME and have had it all my life, since the day I was born; and you are right, you get so fatigued it's beyond a joke. I got to a stage where I could not even lift my arms to wash my hair. I am 29 years old, and had to "retire" from full-time work as the Financial Accountant for four (4) university campuses in February this year, simply because I was too fatigued to work. I now run my own bookkeeping business from home; so, like you, when I'm having an "off" day, I can rest.

Below are some links to some ME/CFIDS sites which you might find useful:

http://www.cfids.org/
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cfs/
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/cfs.htm

Since last winter / spring, the pain in my legs has gradually become worse. The pain can best be descibed as internal vibrations, like when someone is carrying a teacup & saucer and it starts shaking. There is no outward sign, just internal, especially in the muscles. The legs especially hurt when I lay down, whether for a nap or at night. I feel no urge to move them, just pain.

What is most confusing is that my legs are the strongest part of my body. My only form of exercise is walking and cycling. While I am no means fat, what fat I do have is least present in my legs.

Jumpyowl (if/when he reads this) may be able to offer a better insight into this. What you are describing here could be a form of Fibromyalgia (FMS), or Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome (CMP).

Some links below may be of use to you:

http://fmaware.org/
http://www.afsafund.org/
http://www.sover.net/~devstar/

Six weeks after going on Zoloft at the beginning of April, I woke up one morning in early May feeling great. The fatigue, for the most part was gone until early August when it came back again.

As a general rule, anti-depressants such as Zoloft, are an RLS sufferers worst nightmare. If you had RLS and are on Zoloft, your legs would surely let you know about it!

None of my Doctors have any ideas what's going on.
Most blood work comes back great. (The only exception is a consistent false positive test for Lupus).

So my question is, other than the leg thrashing at night which my wife reports, do the symptoms I describe match what those with RLS have?
The faq on this site seems to say no.

My advice to you is that you should probably book yourself in for a sleep test to see if you have PLMS (Periodic Limb Movement Syndrome), also known as nocturnal myoclonus. The late night bed thrashing that your wife is describing kinda points in that direction.

Below are some links to some sites which might help you, your wife, and your doctor/s out:

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/publicat ... t_plms.cfm
http://www.wemove.org/myo/
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleepdiso ... intro1.htm

Our "family" here knows the frustration you are feeling about your doctors not being able to find out what's wrong with you and you have our sympathy and support.

I sincerely hope that I have been able to provide you with at least one place to start in your quest and wish you and your wife all the best.

Take it one step at a time, one day at a time, and most importantly STAY POSITIVE!

[Guest]

Thanks for the quick response.

Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome(CFIDS) is something that I've never heard of before. A very quick look through the site makes for familar reading. Perhaps . . .

Fibromyalgia has been raised as a possibility by my family physician. But the rheumatologist she sent me to said he saw nothing wrong. According to my ENT, that rheumatologist has a reputation for not taking fatigue seriously. I have an appointment in December with a rheumatologist who does. I've tried those 18 pressure points myself and didn't feel any pain. While I'm not a doctor, I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. Wait never mind, you're from Australia and haven't seen those ads.

Interesting that you've been battling fatigue for so long. 17 years ago I had a mono-like disease. The doctors were not able to come up with a specific diagnosis. Some of friends started calling me "The Tired Man" years ago. And my mom says I've always been tired.

One thing I'll do pronto is to start taking Zoloft in the morning instead of nighttime. Not willing to give it up yet. Not after my youngest son told him how much happier I've been, now that I'm no longer grumpy all the time.

Love your cat reference. We have three tabbies. One cool male, one tiny female found half dead in the road, and one female name Trouble who sees objects in different dimensions.

Thanks again for all the links.

da

[nephriticus]

While I'm not a doctor, I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Well, whatever your nemesis might be, da, it sure hasn't affected your sense of humor.

Thanks for the laugh.

Neph