Cleve Clinic RLS specialist, Dr. Walter

pedrime · Post by **pedrime** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:19 pm

I am happy to report Dr. Benjamin Walter seems to be an excellent doc! Normally when I see a doc for myself, 3 kids, or with an elderly relative we are ushered in and out within minutes. So you can understand why I wasn't expecting much from my appointment.

Dr. Walter and his assistant took an hour to evaluate me and allowed me to ask many questions, treating me with respect. After reading about all the negative side effects of Requip (which he prescribed for me) I was quite leery of starting it until he emphatically told me 90% of his patients do well with it. He's starting me at .25 mg and wants me to increase .25 each week until the RLS is gone. Also offered an antinausea med to take should I need it in the beginning while my body adapts.

I haven't started it yet...am trying to overhaul my diet per the advice on these boards...also awaiting the results of my iron and thyroid bloodwork.

But I feel Dr. Walter will work with me to treat my RLS should I need further medication tweaking.

becat · Post by **becat** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:45 pm

Wow, impressive post. I love sucess stories like that. Gives us all a reason to have hope. Sounds like my new OBGYN, he loves to PRACTICE Medicine. He told me that it's the stuff you have to figure out that makes this fun.

Yeah for you Pedrime.

Well, I think he has done well by you. You do need life style changes, just check your blood, all your doing is what has to begin the process.

His numbers are most likely right. Many people are somewhere in the middle of the scale on RLS have great luck for years. Sometimes board like ours is more likely to have regulars that aren't that lucky. I say only to remind you that you have all the good chances that this will work well for you.

I hope that you know whether it works or not, seems like you have a good handle on thoughts about treatment. That is good to have.

Can't wait to hear what you think about things in a week or so. But heres to good results and soem peaceful rest for you and your body.

Lynne

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:46 am

P, Great news about you doctor app't. Nice to hear good news about them every now and then! Good luck with the requip. The advice seems good...that is, increase slowly and stop when you have relief. No need to try to get up to a specific dose as some of the starter packs and doctors advice you to do. As has been said many times by others...only take as much as you need. Best of luck

M.

ctravel12 · Post by **ctravel12** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:50 am

Hi Pedrime what wonderful news that your dr will work with you. That is definitely a plus in the right direction. Please keep us posted on how you are doing.

pedrime · Post by **pedrime** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:40 pm

Thanks for your support everyone!

I failed to mention I located this doc through this wonderful site...just wanted to reaffirm he deserves to be associated with rls.org.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:41 pm

This just reinforces what we already have talked about a lot here...many of us who post are NOT what you would consider "average" regarding RLS. Not that we have it less or worse or whatever, but that our responses to medications are not average. So, we end up with problems and find this site and hang here.

Those who come here for the first time may think, by reading the posts, that ALL people have the problems that are listed here. But, that truly isn't the case.

We just don't hear from the 88% that didn't have trouble with these drugs.

I'm so glad to hear that Dr Walters did a good job with you. He regularly publishes in the field, so from that I assume he really does know what he's talking about. But, people skills are completely different! Sounds like he can walk, talk and chew bubblegum at the same time :wink: