restless legs - is this connected to the menopause?

[Mercedes]

for the lst month after 10 pm I just wnat to move my legs. Its a killer when I get to bed cos I'm just so conscious of the need to move.

I had a really heavy period which lasted Oct - mid dec and I flooded and flooded. I'm now experiencing difficulty sleeping and my skin feels so itchy on top of the legs. I'm 47 is this me heading into the menopause?

Advice specially on the legs and inability to sleep please

I'm only (!) 40 and get this. Only late at night when I'm really tired but it IS very irritating.

Bumping for further advice.

I know tingling and strange sensations in the skin can be linked to the menopause,so yes,it could be.

I don't feel ready for the menopause but as I don't have a choice I suppose I'll just have to get on with it.
However is there anything you can do to stop or lessen the restless legs ?
Are there menopuase clinics like the ante-natal ones were you can ask lots of questions?

Not sure that there are menopause clinics,good idea though!

I would say first port of call for you, would be the gp,so they can test your hormone levels (and maybe other tests)and then you can discuss any symptoms you are having.

I hope you get some ease asap-I had bouts of restless legs with my second pregnancy and it's the almost unbearable.

I am on the menopause - I reckon quite near to the end of it - hopefully.

Symptoms I get are jumpy, itchy legs, very itchy eyes. My head feels heavy when I am tired - that sounds so mad but its the only way I can describe it. It has been a 'strange journey' but I am getting there. I had a simple blood test to confirm the fact that I was on the menopause.

I did get restless legs- usually around 9-1-pm and after a bath! Now that I have been on HRT for 4 months I notice they have gone.
There ARE menopause clinics- just google. The Amarant Trust is the main one in London but if you go to their website I amsure there is a list that covers the UK.
You can't hold back the meno- it will come along when it is ready- but you canmake alot of lifestle changes that might help. Ikeep recommending this book, by my gynae, but it is great- Your change, Your choice- which is 50/50 lifestyle nad alternative ways of helping yourself plus all the lastest research and stats on HRT.
I decided to go onto HRT at 53- my periods had just stopped- or so it appears- after a year of light ones and a couple missed- because I couldn't sleep and I was getting mild flushes everyhour- hopeless at work. I feel great and the symptoms went in about a week.
HRT does have risks after 5years, but i think there is too much scaremongering over it- it does have its benefits if used carefully and short term.

I'm not against hrt I don't think things are that bad yet. I'll save it till I really need it.

I have noticed that when you google the menopause the majority of stuff that comes back seems very non scientific with lots of self treatments.
It would be great to get hold of a book or info that is says something about science whilst looking at your lifestyle. Can you get the book on amazon?

That book on Amazon- yes, author is Michael Dooley.

Restless legs are caused by low dopemine levels in the brain. Apparently this isn't widely known apart fron the speciaists who deal with it

It is rectified by very low doese of drugs used for Parkinsons, which work extremely well, and eradicate it completely when taken.

I was diagnosed with this and treated at Papworth sleep clinic who know their stuff. Caffeine, and exercise latish in the evening can exascerbate it, but don't cuase it alone.

It always starts in the evening,and goes on until about 3.00am. One way of dealing with it is to change bedtime to 3.00am (not sure about the practicalities of that one...)

HTH

But it is also a symptom of the meno! self help includes calcium and magnesium supplements, yoga and less caffeine. There is a link with female hormones.

fizzbuzz - that's interesting cos I don't go to bed now until 2am just to make sure I sleep. I get up usually around 8. I think I gave up going to bed at my usual 11 as I couldn't bear the constant desire to sleep with all the restlessness
I can survive on 6 hours but on the nights that I can't sleep the next few days are hell till I catch up.
Do the drugs have any side effects? Can u increase your dopemine levels naturely?

This says it all

I as on tried two until I found the one that worked.

I think the first was called requip. Ican't rememebr any side effects, but that didn't work for me.

The second was called gabapentin (or something like that). That had a very interesting side effect, of increasing sexual arousal and the ability to orgasm (honestly!) Twas great fun.....

I think it sometimes sold on those dodgy websites as a passion pill thing. (Not that I go on these you understand!)

shabster!