RLS and Periods

I have really terrible dysmenorrhea (throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen), so I haven't really ever stopped to check if my restless legs syndrome (RLS) was worse or better during my period.

As a matter of fact, my cycle is the only 3 days where I'm in so much pain, it eclipses my RLS symptoms. I was moderating our RLS Community Facebook page recently when I saw our Editorial article on RLS and the menstrual cycle and decided to do my own experiment.

Fortunately, my period was due in a week, so it was perfect timing.

Planning ahead to reduce my painful symptoms

I decided to try my best to reduce the pain as much as possible. I cut out everything with sugary content, caffeine, and anything else that had the potential to trigger really bad period cramps. I got Tylenol, Midol, a hot water bottle, and my tested and trusted lemon tea ready for what lay ahead.

I needed to reduce my pain as much as possible to allow me to notice how my legs were actually feeling. To give this experiment the best chance, I also skipped my ferrous sulfate pills.

Day 1: Cramps and stomach issues

This was the easiest day of all. It started off with mild cramps and diarrhea (TMI, I know, but we keep it real around here). I was feeling very weak and tired, and the fact that I also had a very mentally stressful day at work didn't help.

When I finally got up from my toilet seat, my legs were dead from sitting there too long. I finally made it to my bed and fell straight asleep. I woke up again at about 2 AM.

Day 2: RLS symptoms, sweating, and dizziness

This was the worst day of all. I just couldn't settle down! My legs were out of sorts, and my stomach hurt not just from the period cramps but from sitting for too long on the toilet seat.

My head was pounding, and I was sweating one minute and shivering terribly the next. I was so irritable and kept snapping at everyone. Luckily, they didn't hold it against me.

I couldn't keep anything down and was so dizzy because I had zero food in my stomach; I could only manage a few sips of lemon tea at a time. I kept tossing and turning all day long, and because this is also my heaviest period day, I had to change out the sheets and my shorts at least thrice.

Eventually, I fell asleep. I can't quite remember the exact moment I drifted off, but I woke up again at about 10 PM with the worst hunger pangs to rival all other hunger pangs. Usually, I do not eat after 8 PM, but I haven't had much of anything, so I decided to just have some oats. This ended up being such an awful idea.

Day 3: My stomach pain continued

While the severe period cramps had faded into a dull ache at the point, my stomach was hurting so bad from me eating late. My digestive system wasn't having it and seriously revolted. I wasn't purging and no poop would come out, and at this point, I was begging God and the entire universe to let me purge so I could feel better.

The irony of it all wasn't lost on me. You would think my RLS would understand my pain and relent for a bit, but we all know RLS feels no pity. Of course, there I was, writhing in stomach pain and leg discomfort. I would have given anything at that moment for someone to knock me out.

At about 5 AM the pain gradually subsided and I fell asleep on my bathroom floor.

Day 4: My RLS was back

At this point, my period was almost nonexistent and my legs and I were back to our regularly scheduled programming!

The moral of this story for me: restless legs syndrome is a jerk, periods are quite disrespectful, never eat after 8 PM, and take your ferrous sulfate pills, for Pete's sake.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.