Restless Leg Syndrome

[ConstanceM 0]

So this is just my random experience, but I thought that it might conceivably help someone else.

I'm pre-surgery, and as instructed, I started all the best practices that you're supposed to do to get used to post-surgery life. I switched to very low carb, ate tiny little bites, gave up caffeine and alcohol, started taking my Vitamins, stepped up my exercise, etc.

About a week into this regime, I developed horrible Restless Leg Syndrome. If you've never had it, count yourself lucky. It's a particular type of nerve damage and it makes you want to jump out of your skin. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't sit comfortably. I had the urge to run up and down the stairs constantly just to make the pain/crawly sensation stop. (I did in fact run around, went to exercise classes, yoga, etc.) It barely made a dent.

Could it be the low carb, I wondered? Lack of alcohol? Was I really so addicted to a couple of glasses of wine per evening that I couldn't give it up without nerve pain? Yikes! I started reading RLS forums, and learned that there's often no solution, but some people get help from supplements.

So I went to the cupboard to get my bariatric Vitamins, looked at the bottle, and thought "Wait a minute! This started when I started the vitamins! It's the vitamins." I dumped the bottle in the trash, and within about four days the problem was mostly gone. By the end of the week it was entirely gone.

So obviously this is an anomalous response to the vitamins. (They were the main Bariatric Advantage daily vitamins, FWIW.) Most people have no problems. But I did, and since it only takes about 15 minutes to type this up and might possibly help one or two other people, I thought I'd put it out there.

[Miss Mac 6,262]

I find that I have RLS the worst if I take any pain med or sleep aid at bedtime. Tylenol PM is the worst for me.

I was on The Bariatric Advantage AE, but they are huge horse pills and leave a nasty aftertaste. I switched to a multi with Iron and have excellent nutrient values in my blood work.

Another change I made was to take my Wellbutrin and Vitamin first thing in the morning.

[StephBtoo 28]

LOL I have RLS and I haven't even gotten to the surgery yet... I've had it for several years (Mom says I was always "wiggly" so maybe I've always had a version?!?) I have had a prescription (sorry I don't remember what it was), I didn't like it so I did some reading and started taking magnesium -- for me it helps tremendously ... my hubby even comments (if I'm sitting around bouncing my leg) that I need to go take my magnesium. I'm not sure you'll be able to not be on Vitamins after this surgery so I hope you can find a solution that works for you!!!

[B-52 7,113]

I had it so bad I could not sleep...would soak in the tub at 3am trying to get some relief....it was nerve damage associated with my Diabetes......

Once I lost weight, the diabetes is gone, along with ANY symptoms of RLS.....it's been a few years now, and it's only a bad memory.

[Daisee68 2,493]

I have 2 thoughts / comments: 1) I seem to (at least pre-op) only have RLS when my thyroid is off. My dr doesn't believe me but everytime RLS acts up, my TSH count is too high. 2) My mom has just started taking Vitamin E as recommended by her liver doctor (as she has recently discovered she has NASH and cirrosis). She mentioned to me how much better she is sleeping and wondered if it was the Vitamin E so we googled it and turns out Vitamin E helps quite a bit with RLS and thus she rests better. She is not a bariatric patient and I haven't looked in to Vitamin E after WLS but if it is ok, it might be worth giving it a shot.

[honeybunz 139]

Like Miss Mac I also have it worse if I take something like Tylenol pm. What helps me if I am suffering from RLS is to get up and do a few sets of calf raises. It stops it every time.