Anyone having trouble with restless leg syndrome, but everywhere, including breathing? « Back to Group Discussions

[farmer]

I am getting SO frustrated!  I've gotten to the point that whenever I want to just lay down and rest (I clean houses for a living, so I'm TIRED when I'm done working), I can't relax.  It isn't so much that my muscles are sore, or that my joints hurt--I'm fine in those departments.  Its more like that feeling when you lay flat on your back and can't breathe?  Well I get that way no matter HOW I position myself.  It's like a panic attack sort of feeling.  Oh, and I suddenly need a bottle of water around me AT ALL TIMES.  I've tried sitting/laying on the couch, neither works.  I'm ok right now sitting in the computer chair, but let's face it, that's not optimal and my butt gets sore from that after a while.

I've had awful varicose veins this pregnancy, and I'm on supplements for those, and I'm wearing support hose.  I've noticed a HUGE improvement in my veins lately, so I'm feeling very optimistic in that area at least! :)  I also walk/run almost daily, at least two miles, so I'm getting exercise as well as physical work, so I think that's good.

So basically what happens, is I get into bed with DP......we spoon (facing either way), I get all comfy, and then suddenly I HAVE to move.  Sometimes its just a leg. Sometimes my arm itches. Sometimes the comforter is in my face funny. Or my pillow isn't just right.  Or he's breathing too warm on me. Or I can't breathe. Or I need to stick my feet out because they're too ho OR I need watert.  Usually this doesn't last THAT long and I finally get to sleep.  But over the weekend, it was horrible!  Last night I must have gotten up four or five times to pee in like half an hour. I couldn't sleep for hours!  And to make matters worse, by the time I fell asleep, my alarm went off (at 3:45) because that's what time I get up to get DP off to work.  And I'm one of those people who just can't fall back asleep once I'm up, so that's it for sleep for me.  I did go for a walk this morning, hoping it would help.  So, we'll see.

Only thing that has changed that I can think of is that I did NOT wear the support hose over the weekend--my girls had a swim meet and I had NO desire to wear them at the pool and die of heatstroke!  But I didn't work over the weekend, and took plenty of time off of my feet.  But I wonder if that made a difference?  I've been reading that Calcium/Mag is supposed to help, so I'll ask DP to pick some up on the way home from work today.

Any other thoughts?  I can't imagine going through this for another 6 weeks! :O 

[veganyogamomma]

I think this is pretty common in late pregnancy, unfortunately. Magnesium supplements should help! You can also try putting a couple drops of lavender essential oil into a carrier oil and use it all over right before bed! I love that because its super good for dry/stretched skin but also helps relax your muscles. Good luck! Sleep is rough for me these days, too.

The other thing I would pay attention to is whether or not your body is actually overtired by bedtime. I get ambitious and have some really busy days, and then find I'm sooo sore by bedtime that I sleep terribly. These last few weeks are always a struggle for me to really listen to my body and slow down as much as I need to...

[farmer]

Thanks!  :)  Funny, I posted in a hurry because I had to leave for work.  Now that I've been thinking about it, two more things HAVE changed.  First, I woke up on Friday with a bit of a sore throat and a cough.  I've been a little feverish and runny-nosed this weekend, so clearly THAT could affect my lungs.  Also, we noticed that baby seems to have shifted position.....it had been head-down with its back against my left side, but now I think it has flipped to the right--still head down but facing the other way.  I'm just home from work, and it was only two hours but WHEW.....intense pelvic pressure and breathing issues.  I carried my water bottle with me everywhere and I'm very well-hydrated at this point.  Now I'm back home and things have eased up a LOT....wondering if baby has shifted again and that's why?  I'm drinking pregnancy tea with graham crackers (to avoid nausea) and am going to relax for a bit!

I really do appreciate the advice--I know I've only posted a few times, but I do read here whenever I get the chance, and it is so nice to hear that you are all going through similar stuff!

Much love!

~Jen

[MrsBerkley]

This is the biggest problem I am having right now! It is so frustrating,I just end up in tears almost every night. No matter what position I am in I can't breathe,I get up ten times a night to pee and it takes me a whole minute to roll myself out of bed lol...and the restless legs are terrible,I get it even when I am sitting now! Some nights it takes me two hours to actually fall asleep. I don't have any suggestions obviously but I feel your pain!! Hang in there :)

[withlittlelungs]

I have struggled with restless leg my whole life. It got terrible when I was pregnant with DS and then completely went away after he was born. This pregnancy it has been completely unbearable. It has transformed from restless leg to restless body syndrome. 
I have been struggling to catch my breath for months. I have to sleep propped up on my boppy.
Are your iron levels normal? Taking iron has been the only thing that has helped both my legs and my breathing. 

[chocolatechip]

I notice that I have this problem for the most part under two circumstances: 1) when I'm not getting enough exercise, and 2) when I got way too much exercise and/or am simply over-tired. So at least for me, there's a balance, and I'd echo veganyogamama's suggestion that you make sure you're not over-tired when you go to bed! Since you seem to be doing pretty well in the getting enough exercise department. 

[withlittlelungs]

I third the not getting over-tired suggestion. When I push myself past my limit it the condition is definitely aggravated! 

[storygirlcindy]

I don't know if this would help anyone else, but here's my two cents. I used to have terrible restless leg every summer (not from pregnancy!). It made me crazy. I took calcium, magnesium and potassium supplements which helped (especially if I took them every night before bed with a glass of orange juice for absorption), but I still had problems. A few years ago I switched to using only unrefined sea salt (the kind that's funny colors!) instead of regular salt. I take about 1/4 tsp in water every day and also use it on all my food. I'm not kidding - since a few months after starting it, I haven't had ANY RLS AT ALL. Including all the way through my pregnancy, which has shocked me, since I was so prone to it before! I'm not sure if that would necessarily help anyone else, since my RLS was (I suspect) due to electrolyte imbalance from my genetic disease, which is why the unrefined salt (which contains all the electrolytes and not just sodium) helps... but I thought I'd pass it along anyway. It's been very nice not to be dealing with RLS while pregnant!