RLS - Restless Leg Syndrome

I just have to write about RLS.   It does have a name now.. it didn't used to.  No one knew what it was and no doctor knew what to prescribe for it.

Some thought it was all in the imagination.  Some thought it was just a nuisance.. and annoyance.  One doctor said to take aspirin until your ears started ringing.  It's for sure all who thought these things did not have RLS.

I've had it all my life and am going to share what I know about it.  There is a site on the internet that is a great source of information.  I haven't been in there for a long time, but I presume it still is available.

Here is the link:     http://www.rlshelp.org/

Some have RLS to a lesser degree than others, and some have it in stages.. it comes and goes... it's better and then it's worse.  For some, it's a job killer and a life changer.  If you can't sleep, you can't function or have a life.  And it usually gets worse with age.

It's been described as having to move the legs all the time.  Can't get to sleep.  Can't sit for long.  All signs of RLS.  If it is bad enough, it would make you want to scream to get relief.  You walk, stand, do anything, but you cannot sit down.

Let me tell you what to avoid.. what makes it worse.
     1.  caffeine
     2.  vitamin C
     3.  antihistamine
     4.  some antibiotics
   
Don't touch caffeine.. don't drink regular coffee or tea (when eating out, it's sometimes hard to find caffeine free drinks), don't drink regular coke/soft drink (if you want a soft drink choose caffeine free or root beer or any that does not have caffeine), don't take vitamin C (take Ester C), don't take a cold medicine with antihistamine in it, don't eat a lot of chocolate, and know when you have to have an antibiotic, it will make the legs worse... but sometimes it has to be taken.

When RLS gets so bad that something has to be done, the doctors know what medication will help... a neurologist is the best doctor to see, but by now, surely most doctors know what RLS is.  If one medication doesn't help, try another... one of what is available will do the job for you.