Understanding the RLS Signs

Before I had any type of diagnosis, I had symptoms. It dawned on me the other day that maybe it might be helpful for me to outline my initial signs. You never know – somebody may stumble upon this description and their disturbed nights may become clear.

RLS symptoms were infrequent at first

At the very beginning, I suffered from restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms infrequently. There was the odd night of broken sleep, or my husband telling me I had been kicking him to death in bed – not just telling me, he showed me the bruises to highlight the issue too. Does your partner tell you that you have been disturbing their sleep as well as your own?

Relocated because of my involuntary movements

Infrequently soon turned into frequently. By the end of that year, I had been relegated to the lounge, sleeping on an inflatable mattress nightly to enable me to flail my legs around whilst not turning my husband into a battered partner. Have you accidentally bruised your bedfellow with your nighttime involuntary moving?

Getting an RLS diagnosis

Feeling hard done by, I booked an appointment with my doctor. For once in my entire medical experience, a professional knew exactly what I had been experiencing – and even rarer, knew what it was and how to treat it!

Walking into an appointment with symptoms, then walking out 10 minutes later with an RLS diagnosis, plus medication! Colour me surprised!

Sleeping separately from my husband

Six months later, we were lucky enough to move into a property with 2 bedrooms. The downside is that I no longer sleep with my husband. A fair few of you might throw a party at the absence of the duvet hogger or the starfish in the bed. Believe you me, when it is enforced upon you, it gets lonely very quickly. Has your cuddle monster been relegated to another room so they, or you, can actually achieve some unbroken sleep?

Identifying my RLS triggers

It was at this point I started to pinpoint what was affecting my symptoms nightly. I tried to steer clear of "www.doctordoom.com." Taking my medication had calmed my RLS remarkably. Only every once in a while do I experience a breakout night, usually when I have been doing too much activity. It seems caffeine is my main trigger. Also stress. Is that because my mind will not shut down?

Lonely nights, RLS, and mental health

Unfortunately, RLS is confined to the nocturnal hours, turning you into a vampire without the added benefits of staying young or being able to hang around with Brad Pitt. The dark hours are my worst mental health hours. I can go from 100 percent stable to -80 percent unhinged in a matter of hours, beating myself up about missed opportunities, people's opinions, and the state of my life. Add in legs that I would quite happily rip off, coupled with arms that are trying to recreate the macarena dance, and by 5:00 AM, I am a wreck.

In summation, if your legs feel like you have an involuntary urge to move them along with ants crawling the length and breadth and/or arms that would like to boogie all night, you may wish to make an appointment to see your primary medical provider. Fingers crossed you find yourself with an experienced diagnostician.

Sending love to you all. Contact me if you would like a chat.