Thanks, folks!
Shwebb, I'm working on the RLS/PLMD chapter right now and I just learned yesterday that pregnancy is highly associated with RLS (sometimes because of low folate or iron levels). The research I read says it usually resolves within about a month after delivery. Are you still pregnant? (Edit: Just looked at your profile and see you're due in Dec. Hey, that's good news! There's hope!
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Jenna,
My RLS and PML started when I was put on the Elavil, and it mostly went away when I stopped taking the med. Ironically Elavil is not just for depression; they prescribe it for fibromyalgia now--and while it does help you sleep, I'd say the quality of sleep from the RLS and PLM wasn't very good. Ironic if you look at fibro from one theory that fibro is due to lack of stages 3 and 4 sleep.
When I had my sleep study done in April, I was told that the PLM did interrupt my sleep--but not to the point that I remembered; my brainwaves during the study clued them in.
My PLM does disturb my husband. He says that I spoon up against him and "jackhammer" him with both my knees--rapidly and repeatedly, often through the night.
I often feel that my energy level is really low. I do best if I can fit in a nap--I have two preschool age kids, and I make them at least have "quiet time" so I can get a snooze. However, I have been diagnosed w/ fibro, and I'm pregnant, in addition to RLS and PLM--so, take your pick! (I might be wrong, but I'm thinking fibro has also been linked to the two, as well. . . okay, I just peaked; found a website w/ that sort of info on it; here's the link:
http://www.fmnetnews.com/pages/overlaps.html. And if you ever do a story on fibro, I'll be glad to give you my two cents.)
And since I'm pregnant, I can't take the Sinemet.
It is interesting that you brought up the folate and iron. My folate is/was normal-to-high; however, I've been having problems getting my iron stores up. Since taking the iron over a number of months, my husband did say he hasn't been "jackhammered" lately. It doesn't necessarily mean I'm not having the PLM, but that it isn't so bad.
When the RLS does get pretty bad and shaking my legs don't help, I will get my husband to massage my low back and sometimes my legs. Having him do this really does help. I notice I wake up the next morning a bit more refreshed. (I just hate asking him all the time!) The RLS feels like my legs are jittery--you know how it feels when you feel fidgety, so you wiggle a foot or cross your leg over the other and shake it up and down? Turn the intensity up to max, just when you're mind and body are exhausted.
Oh, yeah, sometimes visualization helps for me. I imagine I'm traveling right within the muscles of my legs and giving them a massage at the cellular level and increasing the blood flow, encouraging the muscles to relax. It may sound silly, but it seems to work for me. (I used this trick when I was in labor w/ my second child.)
Jenna, hope you can use this info. If you have any other questions or would like me to elaborate on something, let me know.