Surgery and rls

For everything and anything else not covered in the other RLS sections.
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Orrel
Posts: 101
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2014 12:23 am

Surgery and rls

Post by Orrel »

I strongly urge anyone undergoing surgery of any kind, including surgery requiring only a local anesthetic, to show the physician in charge the list of substances
to be avoided as outlined in the brochure Surgery and WED/RLS. I recently had a defibrillator implanted and was apprehensive that I might receive a substance that was
not WED friendly. I showed the surgeon the list and he carefully considered those substances listed in the brochure. He assured me that none would be used. That set
my mind at ease.

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16570
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Surgery and rls

Post by ViewsAskew »

Great reminder, Orrel.

How did your surgery go?
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.

Orrel
Posts: 101
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2014 12:23 am

Re: Surgery and rls

Post by Orrel »

The surgery went great although I'm rather sore. There were no rls issues during the surgery or afterwards. The Canadian health care system is often slow in responding to the needs of
people but not this time. I went to the hospital emerg on Saturday night with what I thought(correctly, as it turned out) was a cardiovascular event. It was determined that I needed a
defibrillator and it was "installed" on Tuesday (Dec.23). I came home late yesterday afternoon (Dec.24) feeling great.

Polar Bear
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Posts: 8798
Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Surgery and rls

Post by Polar Bear »

Very good to hear that you had such good attention.
Betty
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16570
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Surgery and rls

Post by ViewsAskew »

I love stories that have good outcomes!
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.

Yankiwi
Posts: 548
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:20 am
Location: West Coast, South Island, New Zealand

Re: Surgery and rls

Post by Yankiwi »

I had a bad reaction to anesthetics about 20 years ago and my dad and a sister also had serious reactions. When I had subsequent surgery I told the anesthesiologist and wrote on the admitting form that I was very sensitive to anesthetics but couldn't tell them more than that. Luckily he took me seriously and I had no problem. Now that the foundation has a list it is so much better.

Lizette
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 7:00 pm

Re: Surgery and rls

Post by Lizette »

Has anyone had a total knee replacement? I'm scheduled for one later in January and I'm very apprehensive because of my RLS. And a brochure on surgery and RLS has been mentioned on this discussion board, where could I find that?

Rustsmith
Moderator
Posts: 6476
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:31 pm
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Re: Surgery and rls

Post by Rustsmith »

Lizette, if you perform a search of the postings using the Search box in the upper right hand corner of the Board Index page, you will find quite a number of discussions that mention knee replacement and knee surgery. I also know that debbluebird has recently had this surgery and will probably see your note and respond. If not, you should send her a Private Message.

As for the brochure, it can be found on the Foundation's website. It is titled "Surgery and WED/RLS for the Patient" and is located in the Members Only section under Member Publications. So, obviously you will need to be a member of the Foundation to access it.
Steve

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
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.

Polar Bear
Moderator
Posts: 8798
Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Surgery and rls

Post by Polar Bear »

Lizette - the link in my signature will take you to the list of publications on the Foundation website. If you scroll down a little you will come to the RLS and Surgery which does require membership to access.
Betty
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation

badnights
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Posts: 6259
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:20 pm
Location: Northwest Territories, Canada

Re: Surgery and rls

Post by badnights »

/Hi Lizette, I am copying this here from the Just Joined forum, topic called Welcome.

Re surgery, the WED Foundation publishes a brochure on having surgery with WED: Surgery and RLS/WED (Healthcare Provider Series) -Special Considerations for the Surgical Team when the patient has Restless Legs Syndrome . It is very useful since many of the substances that go in an IV during an operation can exacerbate WED; if the anesthesiologist knows which, s/he can avoid them and use other things instead. Be sure to bring 4 or 5 copies of the brochure and checklist with you - you can print them or get someone else to print them. They're PDF documents, and will be worth every penny if you have to pay for them to be printed. (PS I am trying to find the checklist, I will edit this when I do).

Give a copy to your surgeon next time you see him or her. When you meet the anesthesiologist, give a copy to him or her. When you meet the recovery room nurse, give a copy to him or her. A person here even recommended that you place a copy on your chest as they wheel you into the operating room!

I was getting a ligament reconstruction in my knee. I highlighted parts of the brochure, and I went over WED and the list of substances to avoid with each person I met - primarily the surgeon and anesthesiologist. They were all very interested, and took it to heart, and were very careful not to give me anything that might harm, so I had a wonderful experience (as such things go).

Re Requip:
There are lots of people here who have had issues with Requip. Have you read about augmentation? In short, it's a worsening of the WED/RLS disease caused by Requip/ropinirole, Mirapex/pramipexole, Neupro/rotigotine, Sinemet/levo-carbidopa, or another medication of the dopamine agonist or dopaminergic classes. The links below my name, at the bottom of every post I make, take you to a brochure about augmentation (top link - explains what augmentation is) and a number of scientific papers about iron and augmentation (bottom link). Rustsmith, another of the moderators, has a link in his signature line as well, which gives a number of criteria that together can help you decide if you have augmentation. It is probably essential, if you haven't already, to find out what augmentation is, in order to keep an eye out for it or possibly determine if you already have it.

The currently recommended maximum dose of Requip for WED/RLSers much lower than the FDA-approved max - specialists are now saying that 1 mg is probably the most anyone should take for WED, because augmentation increases with dose. It also increases with lowered ferritin, which is a protein that stores iron. If blood (serum) levels of this protein are low (below 100 micrograms/litre), you should supplement with iron (barring any other conditions, that is, so you would have to check with your doctor first). Iron plays a huge role in RLS/WED, and getting your serum ferritin checked is very important.
Beth - Wishing you a restful sleep tonight
Click for info on WED/RLS AUGMENTATION & IRON
I am a volunteer moderator. My posts are not medical advice. My posts do not reflect RLS Foundation opinion.

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