Well, it’s been awhile…. I have been busy dealing with a bunch of stuff and haven’t written like I have wanted to.
I have spent the last few months dealing with the Restless Leg. The vitamin B stopped working after a few months which is typical of my attempts to find a way to relieve this awful thing at night. Nothing has ever worked for long. I was really encouraged by the B vitamins because they seemed to work the longest.
After all of that – my doctor decided that it wasn’t restless leg syndrome at all. He says it’s diabetic neuropathy. Oh, great. Just great. Now what? That was 2 months ago. It has gotten progressively worse over that time and is now in both legs and feet.
I wish I had good news. I don’t. Nothing I have tried is working. The dr. put me on Lyrica and has even upped the dose. To no avail. I have been patient since I understand that sometimes it can take weeks for the Lyrica to kick and and begin working. How long do I have to be patient? Time for another visit. Drat! I hate fiddling with this stuff but I also would like some relief. Is this what happens as you get older? You feel the same on the inside but the outside doesn’t cooperate. I am not really good at dealing with frustration.
So, if you have Restless Leg and diabetes, it might pay to speak to your doctor about it. You might be misdiagnosed and need to rethink things as I have.
I’ll let you know my progress. I only write about this because maybe there is another person out there that is experiencing the same things and can get some ideas about relieving their pain.
I have been dealing with some health issues for awhile now. But, would you believe they have all been fixed by a new prescription for my eyeglasses! Who would think a change in sight would cause so many issues?
There is a little trick to my secret relief for Restless Leg Syndrome.
I have restless leg syndrome like over 5 million other people. Many people think that it’s not real but if you suffer the restless legs pain, then you know it is very real. The causes of RLS are understudied and poorly understood. It’s like an orphan disease – there are not enough people with the disorder to make research and treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome profitable. So we suffer, trying “cure” after “cure” for rls. Everybody claims they have the treatment for restless leg that works. We suffer with the leg pain, the insomnia, the nightly agony.
People with RLS feel uncomfortable sensations in their legs, especially when sitting or lying down, accompanied by an irresistible urge to move the affected limb. Because moving the legs (or other affected parts of the body) relieves the discomfort, people with RLS often keep their legs in motion to minimize or prevent the sensations. They may pace the floor, constantly move their legs while sitting, and toss and turn in bed.
A classic feature of RLS is that the symptoms are worse at night with a distinct symptom-free period in the early morning, allowing for more refreshing sleep at that time. Other triggering situations are periods of inactivity such as long car trips, sitting in a movie theater, long-distance flights, immobilization in a cast, or relaxation exercises. Many individuals also note a worsening of symptoms if their sleep is further reduced by events or activity.
RLS symptoms may vary from day to day and in severity and frequency from person to person. Individuals with mild RLS may have some disruption of sleep onset and minor interference in daytime activities. In moderately severe cases, symptoms occur only once or twice a week but result in significant delay of sleep onset, with some disruption of daytime function. In severe cases of RLS, the symptoms occur more than twice a week and result in burdensome interruption of sleep and impairment of daytime function.
Individuals with RLS can sometimes experience remissions—spontaneous improvement over a period of weeks or months before symptoms reappear—usually during the early stages of the disorder. In general, however, symptoms become more severe over time.
People who have both RLS and an associated medical condition tend to develop more severe symptoms rapidly. In contrast, those who have RLS that is not related to any other condition and experience onset at an early age show a very slow progression of the disorder; many years may pass before symptoms occur regularly.
I have tried everything to relieve this torture: quinine, magnesium, niacin, gabapentin, herbal treatment for restless leg, wrapping, rubbing, heat, cold, soaking, exercise, no exercise, elevation, diet, immobilization, massage, iron supplements, pain relievers, different drugs for rls, acupuncture, even medical marijuana. At one point it was so bad that I thought maybe if my leg was broken that would help. I was crazy and asked my husband to run over my leg with his car. That’s how insane this thing is sometimes!
I think I have found a solution that I have never read about in all of the research.
I have been testing this for about 10 weeks or so and it has worked every time. Restless Leg is a weird syndrome since what works for many will not work for you – I say that because of the many things I have tried. The experts will suggest B vitamins. Did that to no avail. But one night I noticed that when I woke up with rls that it went away quickly when I drank a bunch of PowerAde. I thought at first that it was the sudden infusion of liquid – maybe dehydration was causing the creepy rls. But then I ran out of PowerAde so I tried Gatorade. That didn’t work. So, what’s the difference between the two? B vitamins! PowerAde has them,. Gatorade does not. Eureka! Right away I ordered some Vitamin B complex. It doesn’t work if you just take it as a supplement during the day. I have adjusted the original
trick to this secret – take a vitamin B complex just before bed.
I take just one tablet.
Super B Complex
As of now, taking the B complex is working – longer than anything I have ever tried.
Do you suffer like 5 million other people with restless leg syndrome? Many people who have not dealt with this problem do not think it’s real. It is a neurological disorder that is under-studied and poorly understood. It’s an ‘orphan disease,’ meaning there are not enough people with the disorder to make further research profitable.
But people with this condition will tell you that it is very real. Very, very real. They suffer with the tortuous effects of restless legs continually. Many, like myself, have been unable to find help – something, anything, that will relieve the nightly agony. How many tears of pain and frustration have been shed? How much explaining to doctors and loved ones? How many remedies have been tried? How many sleepless nights searching the internet for answers?
It all started in my mid-30s which is typical. But at the same time, I was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. Here lies the first of my dilemmas. Is this restless leg due to age and heredity or the brain injury? Does it make a difference? I have come to the conclusion through much research that it really doesn’t matter. The symptoms and so-called treatments are the same.
People with RLS feel uncomfortable sensations in their legs, especially when sitting or lying down, accompanied by an irresistible urge to move the affected limb. Because moving the legs (or other affected parts of the body) relieves the discomfort, people with RLS often keep their legs in motion to minimize or prevent the sensations. They may pace the floor, constantly move their legs while sitting, and toss and turn in bed.
A classic feature of RLS is that the symptoms are worse at night with a distinct symptom-free period in the early morning, allowing for more refreshing sleep at that time. Other triggering situations are periods of inactivity such as long car trips, sitting in a movie theater, long-distance flights, immobilization in a cast, or relaxation exercises. Many individuals also note a worsening of symptoms if their sleep is further reduced by events or activity.
RLS symptoms may vary from day to day and in severity and frequency from person to person. Individuals with mild RLS may have some disruption of sleep onset and minor interference in daytime activities. In moderately severe cases, symptoms occur only once or twice a week but result in significant delay of sleep onset, with some disruption of daytime function. In severe cases of RLS, the symptoms occur more than twice a week and result in burdensome interruption of sleep and impairment of daytime function.
Individuals with RLS can sometimes experience remissions—spontaneous improvement over a period of weeks or months before symptoms reappear—usually during the early stages of the disorder. In general, however, symptoms become more severe over time.
People who have both RLS and an associated medical condition tend to develop more severe symptoms rapidly. In contrast, those who have RLS that is not related to any other condition and experience onset at an early age show a very slow progression of the disorder; many years may pass before symptoms occur regularly.
I have tried everything to relieve this torture: quinine, magnesium, niacin, gabapentin, herbal treatment for restless leg, wrapping, rubbing, heat, cold, soaking, exercise, no exercise, elevation, diet, immobilization, massage, iron supplements, pain relievers, different drugs for rls, acupuncture, even medical marijuana. At one point it was so bad that I thought maybe if my leg was broken that would help. I was crazy and asked my husband to run over my leg with his car. That’s how insane this thing is sometimes!
I think I have found a solution that I have never read about in all of the research.
I have been testing this for about 6 weeks or so and it has worked every time. Restless Leg is a weird syndrome since what works for many will not work for you – I say that because of the many things I have tried. The experts will suggest B vitamins. Did that to no avail. But one night I noticed that when I woke up with rls that it went away quickly when I drank a bunch of PowerAde. I thought at first that it was the sudden infusion of liquid – maybe dehydration was causing the creepy rls. But then I ran out of PowerAde so I tried Gatorade. That didn’t work. So, what’s the difference between the two? B vitamins! PowerAde has them,. Gatorade does not. Eureka! Right away I ordered some Vitamin B complex. It doesn’t work if you just take it as a supplement during the day. The SECRET is taking it right when you feel the rls coming on. You know the feeling. I take just one tablet
Super B Complex
I haven’t finished my experiment – I am going to try sublingual B complex. That way it will get in your system even faster. As of now, taking the B complex is working – longer than anything I have ever tried.
I was shocked, absolutely shocked, when I went to the doctor for a routine check-up and they told me I had diabetes type 2. I cried for two days. All I could think about is how my life would now be ruled by food. What a depressing thought! What to eat? When to eat? How to eat? Now I have to take medicine every day: for me an awful thing. I have a hard enough time remembering to take my thyroid medicine even after 28 years (that’s another whole problem I will talk about in a later blog). How am I going to manage all of this stuff? Testing my glucose levels at least once a day; more often if problems arise? What am I looking at long term? What’s going to happen? All of these questions and more just overwhelmed me, hence the crying. Has this happened to you? What did you do?
Once the crying was over it was time to face diabetes head on. These are some things you can do to alleviate the worries you have when first diagnosed and desire to get your diabetes under control. This post contains affiliate links.
Educate yourself. This is the most important thing you can do! The doctor recommended that I go to my clinic’s diabetes education class. At that class I learned about the disease and how to get it under control. I researched diabetes type 2 on the internet. There are a lot of crazy things out there so be very careful about what they are saying. Here are a few of the best sites: WebMD American Diabetes Association Healthline
Get Your Diet Under Control: This part was not too hard for me. It’s one of the reasons I was so shocked I had the disease. I didn’t eat all that bad, did I? I didn’t eat a lot of fried foods, bread, processed foods, fast food, pasta, etc. But, I do and did have a sweet tooth although I limited my sweets because of weight concerns. So, what was I doing wrong? I started reading labels and was dismayed at what I was really eating! I recommend that you start reading the labels of every food you buy and make eating decisions based on that information. You have to pay attention to calories, fat, and carbohydrates. The Best and Worst Foods 22 Foods to Avoid American Diabetes Association
Take Care of Yourself. Now you really have to pay attention to your eyes, oral health, skin, and your feet. One of the worst effects of diabetes is nerve damage, especially in your feet. MedicineNet NIH Keep Your Feet Healthy
Exercise. This is the hardest thing for me to do even though I feel better when I do it. I can always think of an excuse not to exercise: I’m too busy, I don’t feel like it, the weather is too hot or too cold, it’s too boring. Somehow you must motivate yourself to move. Not only will it help with your glucose levels but it will help with the depression that so often accompanies diabetes. So get up! Here are some suggestions: Walking – A Great Place to Start 27 Habits Exercise Tips from WebMD
It’s a lot to deal with. I sometimes still feel like a slave to this insidious thing. It takes constant monitoring and perseverance to keep it under control. If you do, you will avoid major trouble down the line. It’s imperative that you take control. You can do it! You’re over 50 and fine!!!!
If you are anything like me, you find yourself stressed out all of the time. Our busy lives make us so stressed: Family, Work, Technology, Money Worries, Body Image, Commuting, bad habits you can’t seem to stop (smoking, drinking too much, excessive spending) and on and on and on. My head hurts just thinking about it.
Stress causes all kinds of physical problems.
-Obesity
-Sleep Problems
-Depression & Anxiety
-Headaches
-Heartburn and other GI problems
-Accelerated Aging
-Premature Death
.
The first and biggest way to relieve stress is PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. Physical activity increases your overall health and your sense of well-being, which puts more pep in your step every day. But exercise also has some direct stress-busting benefits.
