New member

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone!

I am new at this. I just joined this support group and I am introducing

myself and I hope to hear from you, too.

I am a 57 year old female. I have experienced restless leg syndrome since I

was 24 years old. I had no idea what it was. I came to call it my " crazy

legs " . It occurred very infrequently at first and I had no idea what this

strange sensation was. The problem worsened gradually. For awhile, taking an

aspirin at night seemed to help but lost its effectiveness. Then I would try

to sleep with my legs raised. Taking hot baths before bedtime helped some.

Needless to say, and I am sure you understand, that I lost a lot of sleep.

Then I heated my " Bed Buddy " , you know, that commercially made white " sock "

with blue handles on the ends....filled with rice .and you heat it in the

microwave for about 3 minutes and it produces moist heat. I put it under my

feet and took it to bed with me. Really helped for awhile. THEN I started

getting " restless BODY " that same sensation crept from my feet and legs to my

hands, arms, and upper body. Then, I REALLY got mad!! My doctor heard of

these symptoms from other patients but knew very little about it. He

suggested I take my calcium pills at night.....didn't help. We also tried

Klonopin with no success.

THEN, my wonderful, concerned husband read in the JAMA (New England Journal)

about this condition and that Levodopa has been helpful for many sufferers.

SO, I shared this with my doctor and after a lengthy discussion, he started me

out with a prescription of 15 pills ( Carbidopa/Levodopa 25/100

tablets...generic form of Sinemet..). IT WORKED the very first night!!!!!.

The only side effect I experienced was mild headaches after taking it for 4

nights. They lasted about a week and then stopped. No problems since. If

the symptoms begin before I take the pill, I take the pill and within 15 to 30

minutes, the symptoms go away and I fall asleep!!! And I sleep all night.

I have not talked to anyone who has taken this medication. If any of you

have, please write to me.

Thank you for listening. I am so glad to have found this support group. I

came across it yesterday.

Gloria