RLS

RLS. WHAT is RLS? My readers probably all know what RLS stands for. Restless Leg Syndrome. What does RLS have to do with marriage? I don’t know except that I first suffered with it in my first year of marriage after I became pregnant! Yes, during the first year… At that time I didn’t know it had a name. I just knew my legs wouldn’t hold still and sometimes I nearly went crazy…

My parents lived in Indiana at that time and I still remember on our way home, after visiting them for a couple of days, my legs started jumping. I couldn’t stop them. I begged Jerry to please stop and let me run around the car a couple of times to give my legs some exercise and hopefully stop their jumping. Well, he was young, he didn’t understand, he couldn’t imagine it, he was in a hurry to get home, etc. so he refused to stop. Now, looking back, he feels bad and would definitely stop.

I’ve suffered for 54 years, off and on! That’s a long time. Over the years I tried everything…laying with my legs propped up, massaging my legs, shaving my legs, soaking in the bathtub, rubbing my legs… You name it, I’ve done it. Soaking in a hot tub worked the best.

Finally just a few years ago I saw an ad on television for Requip, a medicine for Restless Leg Syndrome. It took me several times of watching that ad before I finally realized that’s me they’re talking about! I must have Restless Leg Syndrome! It has a name! The next time I was at my doctor’s office for a check-up I asked him about it. He was surprised when I told him I’ve suffered with it for years but just didn’t know it had a name and that there was anything to bring relief. He prescribed the medicine and we experimented with dosages and times, etc. If I take a pill between 6:30 and 7:00 PM my legs usually stay relaxed. But not always. I should add that I now take a generic brand so it’s not so expensive.

Once when we were in Chicago visiting our daughter’s family I forgot to take my medicine with me. Oh no! Pam has a very, very hot water faucet in her kitchen sink. We wet a small towel and I wrapped it around my restless leg. It was soooo hot! But, oh my goodness! No more restlessness!!!

I heard or read just the other day that possibly when legs won’t calm down they’re begging for water! Oh! So now I try to drink a glass of water just before relaxing for the night. Last night I woke up about 3:00 AM with my left leg out of control! I had neglected to drink a glass of water. I got up and walked a little bit. Then I decided to drink some water…my leg calmed down!!!

Today I’ll take my pill between 6:30 and 7:00 PM and I’ll drink a glass of water before I retire for the night! Hopefully I can get a good night’s sleep!