Anyone else with RLS??

bostongrl23 · January 2014

Ahh the past week or so, the RLS has been really bad! My legs feel like they are super itchy and achy and I have to get up and try to stretch them out. I'd love to hear any tips someone else might have!

Katrinamu · January 2014

I've had it my whole life and it's gotten worse since being pregnant. My midwife ND told me to get a calcium magnesium supplement in addition to my prenatal. Specifically Thorne Cal-Mag Citrate powder. Just saw her and got it today so here's hoping it brings relief!

jenb_99 · January 2014

I had it throughout the last half of my first pregnancy and it just started with this one. For me it almost always corresponds with the baby's growth spurts. I take extra calcium and magnesium when I notice it starting, I drink more water, and I avoid salt in the evening.

lauralou3x3 · January 2014

I've had it for years. But it got worse during pregnancy. I take a potassium pill everyday and it's helped so much!

Ziegeficker · January 2014

No tips from me, but I had it during my last pregnancy and have noticed it flaring up a few times already with this one. I'm going to take some of the advice here, because it's miserable!

MamaLlama14 · January 2014

Same as the other ladies- I've had it for years and self-diagnosed, which makes my husband think I'm a hypochondriac. It's definitely worse during pregnancy. I prop my legs up with a pillow under my knees and during my last pregnancy I even put a rolling pin on the pillow so I could rub my legs over it and get a little mini massage to help me fall asleep. Weird? Totally- but effective!

mnmello · January 2014

Yep - I've had it since high school but it's DEFINITELY worse during pregnancy. I try to stretch them out often throughout the day and get a rub-down from DH on the really bad days with a mint lotion that seems to help calm them.

vszapp · January 2014

For me it corresponds to low iron.

sthomas1222 · January 2014

I have severe RLS. I did a sleep study & they stopped counting around 40 movements an hour. I went in b/c I would wake up with my legs & arms moving so badly it would look like a seizure. It would wake me up & I'd just start crying b/c it was painful in a way I couldn't describe. My iron levels are normal (though it gets worse with anemia). I take mirapex at night before bed. It's a category C but I continue taking it throughout pregnancy. Whenever I've tried to stop it's not pretty. I cannot function on the lack of sleep that occurs with the RLS unmedicated. I tried Epsom salt baths & lotion this time for magnesium. It did nothing. The only other thing they could do is give me ambien nightly which isn't healthy or recommended.

fyafighterwife86 · January 2014

sthomas1222 said:
I have severe RLS. I did a sleep study & they stopped counting around 40 movements an hour. I went in b/c I would wake up with my legs & arms moving so badly it would look like a seizure. It would wake me up & I'd just start crying b/c it was painful in a way I couldn't describe. My iron levels are normal (though it gets worse with anemia). I take mirapex at night before bed. It's a category C but I continue taking it throughout pregnancy. Whenever I've tried to stop it's not pretty. I cannot function on the lack of sleep that occurs with the RLS unmedicated. I tried Epsom salt baths & lotion this time for magnesium. It did nothing. The only other thing they could do is give me ambien nightly which isn't healthy or recommended.

We're in the same boat.
I've been diagnosed with it for years and I also take a medicated category C drug to help. I tried to wean myself off during the first tri but the lack of sleep and discomfort was unlike anything I has every experienced.

During that time, I did find that a hot bath and eucalyptus oil helped a lot. MH would also sit at the end of the bed with his back to me and I would push and stretch my legs as hard as I could on his back. I have also heard putting a bar of soap under the covers helps but I've never tried it.

ladywolf1313 · January 2014

The only thing that I find to actually work for me is Tylenol. I only take it before going to bed about 30 mins or so before hand so it gives it time to work.

Mwyld · January 2014

My doctor recommended benedryl, which works about as much as it doesnt. My at home remedy? Place a bar if soap under your fitted sheet near your feet. I know it sounds weird, but i read an article that it keeps rls at bay and for a few months it definitely helped me! Google it, theres tons of info!

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Anyone else with RLS??

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