Re: restless leg syndrome/melatonin

[Guest guest]

Hi Fay,

I have restless leg syndrome, and the only thing that helps is a whopping

dose of Calcium/magnesium when my legs act up. Of course, this only happens when

I forget to take my ca/mg. Since I don't drink milk or eat dairy products

much, I have to take 2,000 mg calcium/1,000 mg magnesium to avoid RLS. If I skip

a

day or two and have symptoms, I have to double this dose.

I was once prescribed potassium for this and it didn't work. Same thing with

quinine, which used to be a standard therapy for RLS. Some people have

mentioned also needing B complex, and this could be. Since I take at least 100

mg B

complex daily, I might have just missed the connection.

I work graveyards and take melatonin everyday. It's also a good antioxidant.

There are reports advising not to use melatonin with lupus and certain

autoimmune diseases, but I have never had problems. I take between 1-3 mg daily.

When

I'm particularly keyed up I take tylenol pm, which has 25 mg diphenhydramine

(Benadryl) along with about 325 mg acetaminophen (tylenol). Many people with

GD are sensitive to meds, so you have to be careful not to take more than 1 or

you'll have insomnia. Diphenhydramine, like barbiturates, is a sedative at low

doses but a stimulant at doses that are too high.

I've used 500 mg valerian capsules too and they work but make me groggy upon

rising and I'm not too fond of their earthy taste. Take care, Elaine

[Guest guest]

Fay,

sorry, forgot to mention the most important part here.

Hypothryoidism does cause sleeping disturbances, especially insomnia and

middle of the night wakefulness. About 20% of people with GD develop hypoT after

being in remission. It's usually a mild form of hypoT unlike the ablative

hypoT, but it still requires treatment. Take care, Elaine

[Guest guest]

Hi Fay,

Pardon me if this is obvious, but reading your post, I'm wondering if you

know WHY you have RLS and insomnia. I had insomnia (but not RLS) for years,

and it was a mystery until I stopped taking Claritin D! Insomnia gone,

mystery solved. Maybe best to find the root of your insomnia than trying to

medicate it (tho if you can relieve it, that would make sense while you're

searching). I'm sure you've thought of this, but that was my reaction.

Maybe an iron or B12 deficiency, or aggravated by some medication(s) --

esp. if they contain caffeine? Stress? I really don't know much about this

topic, but found a couple of articles:

http://www.healthysleeping.com/sleep/articles/legs-awake.asp

http://www.1uphealth.com/health/restless_leg_syndrome_info.html

I would also get a thyroid panel. I don't know much about melatonin, so

can't comment.

Hope you get the relief you're seeking,

At 08:22 AM 8/1/2003, you wrote:

>This isn't totally OT. I've been trying to find out about restless leg

>syndrome (RLS) and there is a possible link to hypothyroidism (one more

>for the symptoms list). I don't have the cramps that seem to go along

>with it but am sometimes woken up by it.

[Guest guest]

Hi Fay,

Your insomnia is easily assisted by a good Chinese herbalist. Don't even

need to do acupuncture for it. And the herbs are very safe, have no side

effects at all. And, if you find a good one, they will give you a combo of

herbs (usually a lot--my formula probably has 20 or so) that address all of

your bodily ills and makes you feel generally much better than before. Mine

are powdered herbs not raw, so I don't have to cook 'em up--just stir a

teaspoonful into a couple swallow's worth of water twice a day.

I've heard good and bad about melatonin, and it certainly isn't something

you want to do long-term. I've been taking my herbs daily for years now, and

honestly think it's the main thing that's eased the course of GD for me.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 08:22:55 -0400

> To: graves_support

> Subject: restless leg syndrome/melatonin

>

> This isn't totally OT. I've been trying to find out about restless leg

> syndrome (RLS) and there is a possible link to hypothyroidism (one more

> for the symptoms list). I don't have the cramps that seem to go along

> with it but am sometimes woken up by it.

>

> I guess that the first thing to do might be to have a thyroid panel. Now

> that I'm in remission (sometime this month I reach the 2 year mark off

> Tapazole) I only need to go in once a year. My blood pressure and pulse

> are fine, just had cholesterol testing done and that came out ok. My only

> thyroid symptom seems to be goiter, which never went down to normal and

> has got slightly larger since I went off Tap.

>

> Assuming the tests show I'm not hypo, which is a safe assumption, I need

> to figure out something for my insomnia. I'm looking for a new internist,

> one who will take this more seriously than I think the group I'm with now

> will. Barring treatment for underlying causes - hypoT, nerve problems,

> and other possibilities that are said to be remote - the only " treatment "

> for RLS is stress reduction and tranquilizers. I'm at the point where I

> really do need sleep aids and here's the question: is melatonin safe to

> try? The brand of supplements I take has a few sleep aid preparations

> containing valerian and/or melatonin, and/or another product I forgot.

> I've tried valerian alone and it hasn't worked. I also take 500 mg. of

> calcium (which comes with slightly half as much magnesium) and I've never

> noticed it helping either as far as sleep goes.

>

> The silver lining is that I'm not functioning well on little sleep, which

> I did when I had active Graves, and that I'm able to keep some sense of

> perspective, which I was totally unable to with active Graves. Which is

> why I doubt I'm hyperT again. Also, the insomnia isn't a new symptom;

> I've had it intermittently for quite some time.

>

> Thanks for making it through the rambling and a great weekend to all, Fay

>

> ________________________________________________________________

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>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

>

[Guest guest]

On Fri, 01 Aug 2003 10:34:20 -0400 Conner

writes:

> Hi Fay,

> Pardon me if this is obvious, but reading your post, I'm wondering

> if you

> know WHY you have RLS and insomnia.

Hi . Thanks for the leads - I'll check them out.

I think I also need direction in finding the cause of my insomnia. My

current internist and practice are definitely not the ones to do this.

You know, I'm very open to alternative medicine but am leery of some of

the nutritionist types my friends go to. I may just try to get into a

top-notch holistic practice in the area but it takes months to get in and

I don't know what to do till then.

About caffeine: when I first started ATDs I was totally off caffeine for

a few months. I was so scared of it that i would eat a quarter of a choc.

chip cookie - and spit most of it out. (Reminds me of my

great-grandmother's diet advice - Eat anything you want, just don't

swallow.) Now I have a fairly mild coffee (1/4 - 1/3 teaspoon regular

mixed with decaf.) and some choc. but not later than early afternoon and

frankly I don't want to give it up. I actually did try cutting caff. out

of my diet but didn't last longer than a few days - didn't seem to have

an effect. I can easily give up coffee but need some choc.

Take care, Fay

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

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[Guest guest]

At 11:18 AM 8/1/2003, you wrote:

> I was so scared of it that i would eat a quarter of a choc.

>chip cookie - and spit most of it out. (Reminds me of my

>great-grandmother's diet advice - Eat anything you want, just don't

>swallow.)

Fay,

LOL! Great granny was a trip, huh! Technically, she's correct...though

wouldn't want to follow her advice in a fancy restaurant.

I do hope you find the root of the symptoms. Keep up the good search. Like

with Graves', I believe there is a cause and we just need to find it (tho

it can be hard, or obscured by so many factors). I would make sure I'm not

anemic or deficient in iron or B12, and also get thyroid checked, at the

minimum. I drink no caffeine now (even my green tea is decaffeinated),

don't eat much chocolate, and find that if I stay away from these items I

lose my attachment for them.

Best wishes,

[Guest guest]

On Fri, 01 Aug 2003 07:51:44 -0700 Terry ding

writes:

> Hi Fay,

>

> Your insomnia is easily assisted by a good Chinese herbalist. Don't

> even

> need to do acupuncture for it.

Hi Terry. Thanks for the suggestion. I want to try medical professionals

covered by insurance first because there are some qualified holistic MDs/

DOs on the list and we can't afford to go outside it. Just in case, is

there anyone your husband might recommend in the Detroit/ Windsor

(Ontario)area?

Take care, Fay

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

[Guest guest]

On Fri, 01 Aug 2003 07:51:44 -0700 Terry ding

writes:

> Hi Fay,

>

> Your insomnia is easily assisted by a good Chinese herbalist. Don't

> even

> need to do acupuncture for it.

Hi Terry. Thanks for the suggestion. I want to try medical professionals

covered by insurance first because there are some qualified holistic MDs/

DOs on the list and we can't afford to go outside it. Just in case, is

there anyone your husband might recommend in the Detroit/ Windsor

(Ontario)area?

Take care, Fay

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

[Guest guest]

Hi Fay,

I'm afraid not. We're way out in CA, and don't know a soul in your area. But

if you go through the phone book there must be someone, and then ask

questions. Hope the holistic route works in the meantime, many of them have

Chinese herbalists on staff these days. Insurance--can't live with or

without it, huh?

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 12:36:07 -0400

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: restless leg syndrome/melatonin

>

>

>

> On Fri, 01 Aug 2003 07:51:44 -0700 Terry ding

> writes:

>> Hi Fay,

>>

>> Your insomnia is easily assisted by a good Chinese herbalist. Don't

>> even

>> need to do acupuncture for it.

>

> Hi Terry. Thanks for the suggestion. I want to try medical professionals

> covered by insurance first because there are some qualified holistic MDs/

> DOs on the list and we can't afford to go outside it. Just in case, is

> there anyone your husband might recommend in the Detroit/ Windsor

> (Ontario)area?

>

> Take care, Fay

>

>

> ________________________________________________________________

> The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

> Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

> Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

>

[Guest guest]

On Fri, 1 Aug 2003 14:05:24 EDT daisyelaine@... writes:

> Fay,

> sorry, forgot to mention the most important part here.

> Hypothryoidism does cause sleeping disturbances, especially insomnia

> and

> middle of the night wakefulness.

Thanks for your suggestions. One of the articles I read suggested

deficiencies such as Bs, Iron, etc. that sound mainstream enough that I

think I can get my GP to test for this. BTW, dh signed me up for the RLS

support group, over 900 people world wide. I'm not sure if I'll last long

on it though. It does make me realize that it could be much worse!

I wonder about medication sensitivity. Maybe it's because I'm plus size

but I always need maximum doses for anything to take effect. Maybe I

should give valerian another chance also; the company I got what I have

now from is reputable but maybe the tea would be better. OTOH I don't

like drinking a lot just before bed because that'll keep or wake me up -

I've had that for years, well before Graves, pregnancies, etc.

Take care and a great weekend to all, Fay

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!