Restless legs syndrome - what to do? Please advise

[MForMed]

Hi, I'm 37 weeks pregnant and have been struggling with RLS for about 8 weeks now. That, topped up with SPD since first trimested and painful leg cramps every night means I've been getting very, very little sleep for months now and I'm on the edge of going insane!

I had RLS before as I suffered from anaemia - I stopped my last iron supplement treatment some 2 months before I got pregnant, which is why my first bloodwork was ok. The second one, at 27/28 weeks was worse and if I hadn't been pregnant, it would have meant iron deficiency. I was told though that such blood test results are ok during pregnancy and I've been brushed off when I suggested another blood test recently.

What to do? Take iron supplements on my own? Try to speak to a GP instead? I know I have little time left before the delivery but I'm completely at the end of my tether here, I just need to get some sleep!

I wish I had the answers as I’m a long time sufferer of RLS so you have my sympathies. My dh has to rub my legs when we’re relaxing to stop me losing my mind, I also sometimes as him to clamp my legs with his in bed as the weight seems to help! It may be worth looking into spatone iron sachets though, I get the apple ones and they work really well at maintaining my iron levels and are absolutely fine to use during pregnancy. I hope you find some relief soon!

Hi op, I sympathise! I had horrendous SPD and RLS with my last pregnancy and I took floridix iron supplement liquid. My blood work was always ok, but my god did it help!
Obviously run it past you gp or speak to the pharmacist beforehand, but definately worth looking into. Doesn't taste great but worked after 2 nights and it was a small price to pay...it was then just the SPD that kept me awake!
Good luck.

Definitely speak to the GP. As you said it is probably down to anaemia. They can give you iron infusions during pregnancy if that’s what’s needed. I hope you get it sorted soon so you can catch up on some sleep 🤞🏼

I had rls in my first pregnancy and I found eating a banana before bed really helped! Worth a try

Hi,

So I too had RLS but this was throughout the whole pregnancy so I get how your feeling. It was mainly at night and all i could do was walk around the house, tried ice packs or showering my legs with cold water and stretch my legs when it occurs. If you can try to take a nap in the day do so to catch up on sleep xxx

have you tried an epsom salt bath? RLS can be caused be a magnesium deficiency. epsom salt baths can also help you sleep better.

Sympathies I had this with my dd from 26 weeks until birth.
It literally disappeared the second I gave birth. I slept better with a newborn.
I'm 22+6 with my second and really hoping it doesn't happen again

My iron has been really high with both pregnancies so not sure why I had it

Magnesium supplements, magnesium spray & a weighted blanket were the things that helped me.

Hi ladies,

Thank you so much for your advices!!! 🥰❤️❤️❤️
@Humpty11 I have now filled in a GP contact form and will wait for someone to get in touch (it's virtually impossible to get through to the surgery by phone) and see what they say.

@mariebaby3 @Candyflosscrochet thank you for suggesting these low iron supplements, I'll order them unless GP strongly objects.

@workingmummyof2soontobe3 @wimblerI tried bananas and soaking legs in epsom salt and Ive been taking magnesium supplements for months , but no help unfortunately, which is why I think it's down to iron deficiency.

@KellyAndThomas I've just started annual leave so will try to have a nap during daytime

Once again, thank you all very much!!!

I had RLS in the third trimester of my last pregnancy. I found for me that baths and bouncing on my ball helped. I did have low iron, not critical levels but still quite low... I took supplements prescribed by the GP but it didn’t help (but did get my iron levels back to normal which is the most important thing I guess!)

That's kind of crap they won't offer you another blood test. I had anemia in pregnancy and got an iron infusion in the 3rd trimester and it made a world of difference with restless legs (and also some very weird non food item cravings I was having!) I was unable to keep iron tablets down but if you are able to take supplements and include more iron in your diet I would do that as it does sound like the source of your symptoms. Hope you feel better soon.

@Babykoala1 Non food cravings - I've managed to stop myself from eating chalk or soap, so just sniffing everything obsessively instead . I had pica with anaemia before as well, which is another reason why I think this is iron deficiency. Ensuring more iron intake in my diet unfortunately didn't work before, and I had to take pills eventually.
I'm still waiting for my GP to contact me. Hopefully I can get a few nights' sleep before delivery!

Thank you for your advice!

Update: just got a message passed on from GP. They refused blood tests and referred me back to MW even though I said she had already refused one.
I've ordered low iron supplements recommended in the posts above, guess you can't rely on NHS to help

Have you spoken to a physio?

I am 19 and a bit weeks and see a physio for SPD. I also get restless legs so asked physio about this and she suggested an exercise to do during the day - sitting on a chair slide one foot forwards and at the same time other foot back then alternate so feet are sliding alternately. I haven't tried it properly yet. Being active during the day can be said to help.

There are other things that are supposed to help to help that I remember reading in my first pregnancy but need to look up again.

Try sleeping with your legs raised above your heart, it worked wonders for me.

@Phoenixrising2020 How do you do this? I feel like it would irritate my hips trying to raise up my legs while sleeping on my side

Hi Alice, try using a body pillow for support and experiment with different positions. My hips were more uncomfortable but before that I was kept awake with restless legs. Hopefully some of the suggestions on here will help.

Thanks @Phoenixrising2020 I have a long body pillow. I wake up sometimes with pain in my hips on the side I'm sleeping on or pain in my leg on the side I'm sleeping on so I find myself turning every couple of hours and then moving my legs in between with RLL.

I read somewhere sleeping on top of a duvet can help so I may try that and some of the other suggestions here

Epsom salts were a real savior for me. The WholyMe salts have some really ingredients like camomile oil which will help relax your body and mind. The best thing before sleep - wholyme.com/pages/pregnancy-bath-salts/

I've heard eating a banana helps.

I’ve had RLS for years and they are particularly bad the more exhausted I am. I find the only thing that works is putting a hot water bottle under my feet.

I've struggled with this since being a child once it gets to a certain point I have to get up and walk around once the initial itch have worn off I lie in bed with one foot one the other and sort of rock the top one with some soothing mediation and I usually fall asleep x

Magnesium supplements - disolvable powder in the morning and afternoon and a table a bed time.

Rub magnesium oil on before bed ( Karma oil).

Take your iron tablets .

Epsom salt baths.

I've had 4 pregnancies and get restless legs every time. This kept it at bay with No. 4 .

Hi all, new to mums net so hope I'm doing this right! I'm a few weeks pregnant, suddenly started to get RLS a few weeks ago.. i didn't know at the time but I was in the VERY early stages of pregnancy when it started. Could this be pregnancy related RLS? I've never had it before.

Tonic water.