Anyone know about 'restless legs'?

[Sparklingbrook]

My friend suffers, but I don't know much about it. She is seeing a consultant-but what can they do?

My friend is coming round later to tell me all about it.

I take amytriptiline ( cba to spell it) for my restless legs. Low dose.

I get restless legs when my iron levels are low. The lower they get the worse the restless legs get.

I get it while pregnant - always in the evenings. If I eat a banana every day it prevents it. I'm not very keen on bananas but it does work!

I've had it all the way through my pregnancy. At it's worst it's really horrible, feel for your friend OP

I have a hot water bottle under my calves/knees in bed every night, seems to help.

So when she comes I can suggest

Magnesium and or Iron
Bananas
Possibly exercise
Hot water bottle
Epsom salts
Tonic Water
Lay off wine and look into sulphites stuff

Lots to suggest-thanks.

I am interested to see what the consultant said.

My GP suggested mirapex tablets but there were too many side effects that I didn't want to risk so didn't start taking it.

Mind you didn't sleep til after 2am and was up at 630 am today with it

Yes- had it from 16 weeks pregnant with dd. I found that walking 3-5 miles a day stopped the restlessness. I didn't go out walking a few times whilst pregnant and it was awful- couldn't sleep and had to walk up and down stairs about 40 times to get to sleep.

Mine went when I had dd- I really feel for your friend as it is extremely annoying and frustrating. One small benefit was that I was pretty fit by the end of pregnancy and didn't put on much weight!

I had it as a side effect of low haemoglobin. I don't suggest she takes iron until she has had her blood taken, you don't want to mask the underlying issue with some recent iron tablets. Low iron can be a symptom of something more serious so it deserves a proper diagnosis.

Magnesium oil. See reviews on amazon

Hi all. My friend sends a big thank you for all your comments and suggestions.

The consultant was a neurologist-not sure about that, anyway he said she was borderline deficient in Iron and Vitamin D, and she's going back to her GP for a blood test looking more specifically at the iron.

I will have a look Marjie, thanks.

You all are going to do this and laugh here. But will accept that it sounds ridiculous and we did too until desperation made us try anything .
It has worked after years of various meds [Amitryptiline/Gabapentin]....magnesium /epsom salt baths /tonic water /bananas etc . My DH was demented with it in arms and legs.

We googled and found that ivory soap in the bed or next to legs stops the restless legs . Laughed like hyenas but thought hey ho . Got your soap on pet ? jokes as he shoved soap into loose tubigrip .

It works honest .Google it and try it . I have no idea how it works .
just so thankful for now it does and my DH is getting sleep .

I am embarrassed writing this by the way but want to help others suffering. What price two imperial leather soaps eh? .

Try vitamin d. It can apparently help.

It is so horrible, I am over the moon that mine has stopped scared I've cursed myself now. I found a good bit of walking a couple of hours before bedtime helped as did smearing my legs with tiger balm/cold water on them. It can be a side effect of some medications so checking those can help. Magnesium is good but prescription level doses not OTC from the chemist. Also check B12 and folate levels. You are a lovely friend for caring .