Bone-crunching tiredness caused by Restless Leg Syndrome.......

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Heeeelp..... I have spoken to GP AND MW about how much this is driving me nuts in the evenings (am 30 wks pg) and was sent packing with a patronising "oh, that must be awful" and no constructive advice whatsoever. I am neither iron deficient nor do I drink too much caffeine and have already had 3 Dc with no problems at all.

Any suggestions would be gratefully recieved as I am struggling to cope due to fatigue.

TIA

case in point, my spelling is crap as I am typing with half-shut eyes

Oooooh, I really sympathise with you, Ive been there done that, it was awful, would never want to go through that again, I got it worse when travelling in the car, but at least it was only for an hour or so.

Hopefully though, I can be your saviour. As strange as it seems, put a potato in bed with you tonight, believe me it works, well it did for me.

Old wives tales are the best

Just make sure your DP/DH doesnt kick it out of bed

Thanks cheekster..... not sure if you are yanking my chain tho! lol.

DH works abroad on a 28 day rotation, so I guess it's just me and a Maris Piper tonight... ooh la la.

No seriously, it worked for me

Let me know how you get on

oo render I do sympathise, I had this too, also when not pregnant and rather irritatingly it seemed to get worse the more exercise I did. So . .. I went to the pharmacy and they suggested I take magnesium supplement. Not sure if this is ok whilst you are pregnant so do check but it did work for me.

I am in Australia and bought something called Ultra Muscleze - it's a powder and you have a teaspoon in a glass of water. Tastes pretty odd but it WORKS!!!

Thanks folks,

I will go and find a potato and will definitely let you know how it goes Cheekster.... and a visit to the pharmacy first thing is in order to sound them out about Magnesium supplements during pregnancy.

fingers crossed that this torture will soon be at an end!

Well RMS - did you sleep with the potato last night? I shared my bed with a nice clean spud but experienced no benefit, I'm afraid. I just kept rolling on to it which was not comfy!
I have RLS with Involuntary Limb Movements and my pregnant daughter (due this Sunday) had it a bit last pregnancy and unbearably this time. Medical professionals do not want to know because they have little knowledge of the condition and although there are various medications which claim to help they do not so they have nothing really to offer. There seems to be more than one kind of RLS. One type can be caused by prolonged sitting (e.g. car journey, long flight) and conversely by over excercising. That kind may well respond to Muscleze, etc.
The other type is the one you are experiencing, caused by an inbalance of Melatonin which is triggered by hormonal changes during pregnancy or in my case after menopause. Melatonin controls Circadian rhythms and should help people to wind down and close down some systems at night so that the body can rest and sleep and then switch systems on again in the morning. When Melatonin goes to pot you get these jerking movements in the limbs which are designed to waken you up, usually most strongly between say 7.oopm and 7.ooam. I find I can usually sleep soundly in the daytime but pregnant DD is afflicted all day and all night and can only snatch an hour or so of sleep at a time.

Sorry about the lengthy explanation but many web sites/HPs are still advising cut out caffine, take iron, take melatonin tablets as if it was your own fault. You cannot help it. All you can do, and I know this is not the answer you want, is accept it for the time being and adjust your bed times to suit - either day time sleeping or lots of naps. Try not to think about it or lie in bed kicking and cursing, best to get up when it wakes you and do something nice or useful. I play on computer (standing up) or iron, put on a washing, start a loaf in the breadmaker - anything to distract and try back to bed when the feeling passes. On childminding days I sleep when the DGs have their nap and tidy up in the night.
Finally - I so, so sympathise. RLS is a curse - endured by many, understood by few. BTW There are whole communities online of what the Americans call'Night Walkers' who chat back and forth to keep their spirits up and suggest ludicrous remedies which are worth a laugh if not a trial.

Hi there, firstly thanks for taking the time to answer.... much appreciated at this time.

Unfortunately the potato remedy did not help and I had a very unsettled night. I have made another appointment with my MW as I am like a zombie during the day - but you are right, the condition is not something that can easily be diagnosed or cured, so many health care professionals just don't want to know.

Ah well, only 10 more weeks hopefully.... and at the end of the day, I will have a beautiful bundle to remind me that it was all worth it.

thanks again to all x