What is the deal with RLS (restless leg syndrome )

[gorilamom 3]

Help! I'm 8 weeks post op and my RLS is worse than ever!

Why and does anyone have any ideas what to do?

Big thanks in advance.

[Daisee68 2,493]

I don't know if this has anything to do with the WLS, but when my thyroid is messed up and I am hypothyroid, I have severe RLS. Do you have thyroid issues normally? If so, maybe you need an adjustment in your med? I am told it may change after surgery as we may have trouble absorbing the synthroid.

[gorilamom 3]

Daise68, thanks for the info. I DO have hypothyroidism. I will have my levels checked out.

[AutumnPunkin 313]

My rls has gotten severely worse since surgery. I am almost 1.5 years post op.

I know for me, it is likely Iron related. My thyroid is fine.

[cindyh95 21]

Have your Iron checked. I have lo iron and RLS is a symptom of it and being post-op you're probably not absorbing as well.

[annebqui 21]

It is thought that there are two kinds of RLS; one type that you have genetically and one type that people get after surgery, while pregnant etc. The second type most often will go away after time, or after correction of things like thyroid issues. Unfortunately, I have the other kind. I take medication for it every evening before bed, and that really helps me to sleep.

There is a lot of good info here on medications, physicians who treat this, and more. http://rls.org/

By the way, they have now changed the name from RLS to Willis-Ekbom Disease or WED. It was felt that Restless Leg didn't describe the seriousness of the disease.

I've had this all of my life, but was not diagnosed until in my 30s. Iron did absolutely nothing for me, and my thyroid tests are always normal.

If anyone wants to chat about it, just let me know.