Managing RLS through the holiday season
How do you manage your RLS symptoms during the holidays? Do you have food/drink triggers? Does the stress of the busy season make your RLS worse?
Some people with RLS find that their legs are less active in colder weather! Has anyone else experienced this, or does the winter cold worsen your symptoms?
I have so many triggers it's ridiculous! I think the worst part of winter being cooped up in the house with the heat turned up. My husband gets cold easy.
Usually focusing on something that keeps me busy will give me relief, like sewing or making pottery. If I get too hot, I'll lay under our ceiling fan in the bedroom with the air vents closed.
I have restless legs really bad. It will hit anytime, day or night. My doctor has me on a couple medications which helps most of the time. But when it's bad I can't take extra because it makes me sick.
I guess I'm between the proverbial rock and a hard place!No Alcohol
I live in Minnesota and the cold weather seems to really help me. I walk on our deck in the snow, barefoot when my restless legs really good on manageable. As far as the holidays go, red wine is a killer for me, but I’m not willing to give it up to get relief…
I hear you! At the end of the day, you have to decide what you are willing to tolerate, and we all answer that question in different ways. I think it's fascinating that the cold helps you. Some people are like you, while others turn to heat to soothe the RLS symptoms. Just goes to show how there's no perfect solution for every person. I give you credit for walking barefoot in the snow -- I would be in so much pain! -- but I bet you are used to it as a Minnesotan. 😀 Happy holidays! -Melissa, team member
Also not even a medical novice here, aside from my own diagnoses lol. For me, anything that has anything even to do with 'sleepy' makes my RLS go absolutely @pe$h!t. I can't take anything labeled PM and always have to tell a new prescriber "no benzos please". My trigger is feeling sleepy, which I can only attribute to melatonin (since I can get up and walk around and it goes away, so long as I'm not actively trying to rest). Even passing out due to exhaustion or imbibement will have me awake 30 minutes later with my legs going nuts. 
That has to be maddening,
. I hope you find something that brings you relief soon. Thinking of you. - Lori (Team Member)
