I have restless leg syndrome, and since I am 31 weeks pregnant I can't take anything for it. My midwives did put me on Vistarel to help with it, but it just makes me sleepy/knocks me out (not good for the day time). It doesn't matter what I do. It never stops. I need help. What else can I do other than stretching? (cause that's not working either.
Thank you all for your wonderful advice. I do not agree though with one person who wrote me a message stating that she feels that doctor's and pharmacies are just drug pushers. Sorry. Not trying to be publicly rude, but I the doctor is there to help you, they aren't going to give me anything that they think will harm my baby. I spoke with my doc today about Requip. He checked into it and said no. He also said that he is going to speak with the neurologist and contact me tomorrow. That makes me happy. He said he doesn't know much about the disease, so he wants to look into it a lot more. As far as sugar and caffeine go - I don't do either. I have diabetes, so sugar is out of the question. I am on a very strict protein diet with very very very few carbs in it. So, I know that is not the problem.
i have found that Chammomile tea and Valerian Root tea help out for all of you other mothers experiencing the same problem as me. It doesn't make it go away, but it relaxes them enough to where I can sleep and SOMETIMES not wake up. Hope this helps everyone!
Hi J.,
I had the same problem when I was pregnant with my son. My doctor prescribed a Magnesium pill to take everyday. It didn't stop it entirely, but did help a little. Fortunately, after I had him it went away!
Good luck!
Ask your mid-wife if it is ok for you to drink tonic water. The quinine (not sure of spelling) in it helps with RLS. It used to be prescribed for RLS before the new medications came out. The amount of quinine in the tonic water is not as strong as it is in pill form but it does help. My mom is a dialysis nurse and people on dialysis have problems with RLS. They very often can't take the Restasis because it can be hard on the heart and they can't take that risk but a lot of her patients will drink tonic water before bed and it really seems to help. Good luck. If you have any other questions about it just send me an email and I can check with my mom for you!
Also, I was reading the other responses to your question and I think the idea that Dr's and pharmacists are "legal drug pushers" is a little extreme...well a lot extreme in my opinion. But regardless, you should trust your doctor. Medical professionals go to school for a long trime to do what they do and they take an oath to be a public servant and help others at all costs. Going to extremes in either direction is dangerous. Listen to your doctors and your body and do what works for you!
I wish you the best of luck with your preganacy and your other little ones! It seems God has truely blessed you with a beautiful family!
Hi J.
I have the same symptoms, different reasons. I have MS and I have to take a lot of medecines, including some that should help with restless legs. For me this works best, medicine doesn't do it for me either, exercise and hot whirlpool bath.
I walk a lot, twice a day about an hour each time, it stretches my legs and keeps them moving and my legs don't bother me quite so much afterwards. Swimming is good to, or walking in a pool. I take hot bath in my bathtup with jets in it, when I can't stand it, I also get cramps real bad sometimes. I don't know if you can or will be able to do this since you are pregnant, but if your doctor says its O.K. try it, its worth it. It takes sometime to take effect, so you have to do it for a few days before you will see a difference. Beleave me I know what it feels like and when I haven't walked in a while I can tell a difference, its a lot worse then normal.
Good luck and I hope everything goes well with the Baby in September.
M.
Hi Jennifer,
I am so sorry you are dealing with this. Rest is so important for you both. I have heard of people getting help with RLS with a certain brand of Vitamin E. I can say personally my vericose veins are better by half since doubling my E. Just any brand won't do it because the purity is lacking in most supplements. Please contact me off site if you want to know which brand works - ____@____.com of luck in your quest.
Eat your bananas! THe potassium in them is supposed to help... and it's is natural. Also drink a lot of water.
J. L.
Stop eating sugar and get some exercise. Most people can GET RID of their systoms of Restless Leg if they would do more activity, and watch their diet.Eat more WHOLE FOODS, and see a differnce in you and your baby = HEALTH!
TRY it for a WEEK or TWO WITHOUT the UN-necessary and RISKY DRUGS you are putting into YOUR BODY AND RISKING UNKNOWN HEALTH ISSUES WITH YOUR UNBORN CHILD.
RESEARCH SHOWS- that in the PAST MILLIONS of Doctors thought it was OK to Drink Alcohol while pregnant-TODAY WE NOW KNOW BETTER!
Doctors thought it was OK to use medications for sinus issues-WE NOW KNOW BETTER! The list goes on and on. And the damage is IRREVERSIBLE!!!
NINE MONTHS IS A SHORT TIME OF PUTTING UP WITH A FEW INCONVENIENCES IN OUR BODY TO ENSURE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY BABY!
ON THE FLIP SIDE A LIFETIME OF PROBLEMS DUE TO OUR BELIEVING THE MEDICAL FIELD- THAT ALL IS WELL-WHEN IN DEED FDA DOES NOT KNOW ALL RISKS WHEN APPROVING ANY AND ALL MEDICATIONS. THE PEOPLE TAKING THE MEDS ARE BASICLY A CONTROL GROUP THAT IS WATCHED AND WHEN ISSUES ARISE THE GROUP IS NOT NOTIFIED UNTIL MAJOR PROBLEMS HAPPEN TO QUITE A FEW PEOPLE AND A WITCH HUNT PREVAILS!!!!
Recent issue the VIOXX Drug!
Then and only then is something done to remove the medicine or put warning signs on.
I'm sure your Doctor will tell you that some people like myself are crazy or worry unnecessarily and you are fine to be on such-& Such, but REMEMBER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS are just like any other DRUG! AND IT IS A BIG BUSINESS!!!!
Doctors and Pharmacists are just LEGAL PUSHERS!!!They Do not know all the issues either it is a Crap Shoot!
God Bless You,
I hope I have helped clear up a few misconceptions.
If your afraid- I'm sorry but you should be for your unborn child!As well as Yourself.
NO THIS IS NOT INAPPROPRIATE TO WARN SOMEONE!!!
IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE.
You can always look up everything you are putting into your body BEFORE you actually do so by going to the web.
Never using is something foreign to our body is better than risk.
C. Balante
Have you tried extra calcium? My doctor told me about that, since my hubby has RLS--he said to take 1200 mg a day. You could ask your midwife but I dont' see any reason that would be bad to take while pregnant.
Sorry if that doesn't help!
Lynn
J.,
Try Chiropractic care. I've seen Dr Valentine (Montgomery area) & Dr Uhl ( Tri County/Fairfield area). They both were WONDERFUL during my pregnancies or when I just plain HURT. Good Luck to you & your new baby!
Being that you are pregnant only makes matters worse. The medication that was given to you is supposed to make you sleepy, it is only for nightime use and i can't believe that they said to take it during the day. The only option there is, is to stretch your legs often. Try some leg excercises that you don't normally do during the day, I had the same problem with both my kids and I still deal with it. Any drink with sugar or caffeine in it seemed to make my symptoms worse. Hope that helps you, good luck!
