The RLS returns

Posted on | February 18, 2010
by | Kim

I’m happy to say that today has been oodles better than yesterday. I still am not sleeping very well (which may be part of the reason why I feel so unsteady lately), but fidelity to my little prayer routine has really been beneficial in getting through the humps of hormones and whatever the Other Side cares to launch at me. And a little pity party doesn’t always hurt, either.

Part of the reason why I am not sleeping well is due to Restless Legs Syndrome. Long-time readers/people who know me well know that I have RLS, quite badly; as well. At the worst, I was seeing a neurologist to manage it and it absolutely interfered with my life, being the key factor as to why it took me six years to finish my Bachelor’s, and why my GPA is so horrifically low. When I was pregnant with Elise, it basically went away and hadn’t really been a problem. Until now. Every single night is basically an RLS hell, to the point where I am almost in tears and seriously do dread going to bed at night.

Whether or not my RLS is back to stay is unknown. Pre-pregnancy the neuro diagnosed my RLS as idiopathic, aka, she had no idea what was causing it. Why it went away during Elise’s pregnancy until now is beyond me, but I’m hoping maybe this is more of the RLS that is tagging along with the pregnancy, and once I deliver I can get some relief. I can manage it by extreme amounts of pressure (as in, tightly wrapping my legs up) but 99% of the time it’s not effective enough to help me sleep. It basically takes the edge off. Kind of like Vitamin B6 and my morning sickness.

Something that I’m trying not to think about is what if it doesn’t go away once Little One arrives and I am stuck in severe RLS land. The medications used to treat RLS (at least, the kind that I needed and would most likely need again if this continues) are not at all baby-friendly. Not to mention, I am so tired of taking various medicines, I’m ready to be done!

I should interject here that the RLS I did have and currently am experiencing is too severe to be affected by including various vitamins in my diet or whatnot. Been there, tried that, doesn’t work. The neuro believes my RLS is caused by something in my brain that is hindering the proper absorption of iron. Interesting, no? And yes, I just had my anemia check with Dr. M and I’m peachy-keen in that department.

The nice thing about the resurgence of my RLS is that I’ve returned to having some fascinating conversations with St. Bartholomew the Apostle. I’ve made him the unofficial patron saint of RLS sufferers, given his current patronage of against neurological disorders and twitching. Not to mention being flayed alive can’t feel very comfortable; so I reckon he has an idea of what it’s like to have RLS.

Comments

6 Responses to “The RLS returns”

1. Nicole
   February 18th, 2010 @ 5:03 pm

   Definitely keeping this in prayer!! St. Bartholomew, Pray for Us…and anybody else (sweet communion of saints) who wants to interceed:)

2. Gae
   February 19th, 2010 @ 6:06 am

   Dear Kim,
   I guess not seeing the one aboe.
   i am sure I have had what you call RLS I have had it with each of my pregnancies and it goes away each time some months after the baby is born. I also have Capral Tunnel with has gotten worse over the years and is worse as I am pregnant. It has not really gone away since Corbyn was born this time.
   I am so sorry for your lack of sleep and pain and wish I could do something to help. Alll I can offer is prayer.
   Ican’t believe your little one is so close to being born. I am so excited for you.
   By the way I love your header it is so calm and peacful, just haow I envision you.
   Much love and prayer.
   God Bless

3. Kim, Obl.O.S.B
   February 19th, 2010 @ 8:01 am

   @ Nicole, thank you so much for your prayers.

   @ Gae – I have my comments on moderation so I can keep up with them (and reply to them as they deserve!). So, that’s why it looked your first two comments didn’t go through.

   Your prayers mean more to me than anything – that’s about the only thing anyone can do.

   It’s hard to believe there is less than 4 weeks now until the due date, I really hope the babe comes early like Elise did (well, she was early by 3 days, lol). I love being pregnant (even with annoying RLS goodness) but by around this time, I’m ready to deliver and meet our little one.

   Prayers right back at you, and hugs as well.

4. Belle
   February 20th, 2010 @ 8:20 am

   Sorry about the RLS. I get the standard preggo leg cramps at night but I’m sure that’s nothing like what you’re going through. I hope you get some relief soon!

   I’m using Father Peyton’s Rosary Prayer Book this Lent (and hopefully after Lent too) to help me in praying the Rosary daily again. Part of the reflection for the Ascension today made me think of you and I wanted to share it:

   “Jesus told His disciples that He must leave them ~for their own good~. In time of trouble, when God seems to leave me, it is for the same reason.”

   You’ve mentioned a spiritual darkness and when I read this I thought maybe it would be helpful to you in some way. Then, this from the reflection on the Coronation:

   “While there’s hope, there’s life. Mary was an optimist, even on Calvary, because she saw God’s will in everything. Hopeful optimism is a virtue God expects of me.”

   I’ve always loved the Pieta, but I’ve never looked at it and thought “that’s hope.” I’ve always thought of Mary’s acceptance of God’s will and Jesus’ great love for us when looking at it, but not necessarily hope. Again, I just wanted to share these with you.

   I didn’t know how to leave a general message for you (hence why I’ve left this under your RLS entry). I hope that’s OK.

   Get some rest if you can and I can wait to hear of Little One’s arrival!
   A friend in Christ,
   Belle

5. Transitus Tiber − Insomnia + RLS = Sleep FAIL
   February 20th, 2010 @ 1:43 pm

   [...] I have slept for 10. I wish I could say it was due to labor but alas, it’s due to insomnia + RLS. The worst was waking up Friday morning at 5am and not falling asleep until … 2am, this [...]

6. Kim, Obl.O.S.B
   February 22nd, 2010 @ 8:09 am

   Thanks Belle, I really appreciate it. I like the quotes as well – I’m going to print them off and add them to my spiritual journal to re-read when I’m feeling especially abandoned. *hugs*

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  Transitus Tiber is my horrible mistranslation of "crossing the Tiber". Obviously, I haven't had any classes in Latin.
  
  I'm a Catholic wife and Mama with two kids on earth and one in Heaven. A former Lutheran, I was received into the Catholic Church in 2006. I became an Oblate of the Order of St. Benedict in 2008.
  
  My patron saints are St. Bernadette, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, and St. Benedict.

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