I'm new here! I have some questions - Restless Leg Syndrome Message Board

chetti · 09-15-2003, 10:43 PM

Hello everyone. First, I have to say that I've browsed this bored for a while and I have cried for you. I too have this annoying and very disasterous condition.
I started noticing this condition when I was 19 or 20 but it was very mild (only about once or twice a month) I noticed it when I took cold medicines really and then it got worse every year. I'm 32 now and have it every night and just recently I started getting it at work after lunch (I work on a computer all day)
the first meds I took were anti inflammitories, quinine and naprosin were prescribed for me, they only worked for a couple of months then I went to another doc who gave me vioxx, which only worked for about two weeks. I have been taking vicodin because nothing else works, but every doc I go to dosen't want me to take it. I just can't stop because it's the only thing that helps me sleep.I have also taken nuerontin and elavil, but they only worked for a bit as well.
I went to a sleep disorder specialist and he was surprised that I had this condition at my age and for as long as I've had it-he gave me ambion-that didn't work, it made me soooo tired but my legs were still annoying as ever, so he sent me to a nuerologist which she did the iron/thyroid and anemia test which came back totally normal. She prescribed miripex and I took it but it didn't work either so I still take the vicodin. I started taking iron and vitamin e this week and so far nothing has changed, I am still taking the vicodin and until someone gives me something that works I have to contiue to take it.
My questions are:
What ages did you start to feel this? Is it weird that I was only 19?
Is miripex supposed to be taken over a period of time before it starts to work?
The doc said to keep taking the vicodin while taking the miripex but I didn't because it didn't work right away.
What can happen if I take iron supplement Ferrous Sulfate when the doctor said my iron level was normal?
Can it hurt me??
Sorry for the long rant, No one that I know understands this condition and it's very hard to talk to people that don't have it.

henninghome · 09-18-2003, 11:24 AM

Wow, lots of questions that I am unable to answer with anything, but second hand information from my sleep doctor and experience. I too was told to try mirapex, but I stopped right away as it gave me huge anxiety attacks. As for how fast, my Doc said right away. It needed no time to build up in the system, but the dose my be wrong and you may need a higher dose. I was taking 1mg tablets 3 times a day. Prior to this I was taking requip for 3 years and it worked only marginally well, 1.5mg half hour before bed, unless I had to take it early to stop the legs while I watched TV. It worked some days better than others. I finally stumbled onto a supplement that I mention in my topic that is really working great. I think that there is something to the mineral deficiency and you should pursue this avenue. As far as your age, my doctor has treated children with these symptoms so I don't think it is age dependent. I am coming up on 38 now and my wife identified my problem before I did at age 34. She told me I was kicking her in the night and that's how my journey began. I think I had it before this, but didn't know it. Loss of memory, no sleeping, tired, irritable. My whole body would spasm on the worst nights.

GenRose · 09-18-2003, 03:18 PM

Yes, You need to take Mirapex for a period of time. At least that was the case for me. I took it for a week with no relief, then had the dosage raised and it is finally working. Now I can stop taking the ambien and the percocet. Best of luck to you.

chetti · 09-18-2003, 08:53 PM

Thanks, I think I'll try the miripex again, (but with the vicodin)I hope it works. The dosage she gave me is 0.25mg but she said I can take two before bed.
I hope it works.
Thank you again for your replies..

Barbara

stacker · 09-19-2003, 05:10 AM

I take Permax. It works as long as I take it. It only takes one day without taking it to have my legs go nuts. I have had this since I was 20 - I am now 41. For me it has got worse over the years. It started when I would get myself into situations that I didn't want to be in or if I felt trapped. I didn't know what it was then. THe only thing I knew to do was to change the situation, shake my foot, hit the nearist muscle associated with the movement or get utterly stoned or drunk.

I'm 12 years sobber now so the latter is out of the question. I get it in my right foot while driving home at night from an hour or longer trip. Try keeping the gas pedal in its proper place with your foot banging around the car.