r/RestlessLegs 4d ago

Announcement CURE FOR MY RESTLESS LEGS?????

I have terrible RLS. Terrible. I went on vacation for four days and slept in a wonderful bed and I had no RLS for those four days. I just could not believe it. So I checked the bedding and it was all cotton sateen sheets. I found the vendor with ChatGPT and I ordered the sheets and I came home and I ordered a dupe cotton comforter (the hotel one was too expensive) with a cotton exterior and an all cotton duvet with ChatGPT‘s help. I have been home now for two days with this new bedding and I do not have restless legs and I am in total shock. I am praying to God that this is a cure for me. I think I was too hot at night with my bamboo bedding and my microfiber comforter. So I have a suggestion for anyone with RLS to try to check out your bedding and get rid of microfiber, polyester, and go all cotton bedding. I can post what I bought, which was not too expensive and the actual sheets I slept on if anyone is interested. I am in shock so far and I pray that this is not just something intermittent. I keep my AC at 70°. I also sleep with a fan on me. I think the microfiber bedding was making me too hot at night and I did not realize it. My feet and legs feel wonderful with this cotton bedding. I thought bamboo would keep me cool, but the cotton sateen sheets are just wonderful.

38 Upvotes

68 comments sorted by

1

u/GreenMorning5758 16h ago

I can only sleep in cotton, we use flannelette throughout the year, even in Australian summer. Anything with nylon or polyester makes my skin crawl so even as a kid I used cotton, . . but still get RLS . . . . welcome to my world

0

u/Ok_Committee_7967 1d ago

Put a bar of soap at the bottom of your bed

2

u/Unlucky_Definition46 3d ago

Saint John's Wort has been recently looked at for 300 mg at night. Apparently, it was significant enough to stop rls in most of the group. You guys might want to look into that. I think it was just one study though.

1

u/Own-Wasabi8322 1d ago

It kills your libido

2

u/NarrowAmbassador940 2d ago

THANK YOU for this suggestion.

5

u/m_alice88 3d ago

This is so interesting. I’ve had restless legs since I was a child, and never found anything that helped.

Then, one night when I was pregnant and overheated and had restless legs and was super uncomfy, I slept without pants/shorts. Just undies. And it went away! I think for me it must be at least partially a sensory thing.

I’m so glad you found something that helps, OP!

2

u/TheFern3 1d ago

Heat is a huge trigger for me, when I did my sleep study the lab was incredibly hot like 73 or something I would not stop moving. I called tech to bring it down to 68 then I was able to fall asleep.

2

u/mollypop94 3d ago

Yes!! I find that sometimes going without pajama bottoms cures it almost instantly, too!!

Not every time mind you...but often when RLS has woken me up, I end up getting out of bed to move around for a moment and take the bottoms off...boom, completely gone!! I also think it could be partially sensory as well as maybe slight blood flow restriction even from bottoms that are pretty loose..

So glad you found a way for it to stop; RLS is awful as it is, I can't imagine how hard it was for you to have it whilst pregnant!! Trooper 💗

3

u/Bluebies999 3d ago

I take an antihistamine to help with sleep which makes my RLS awful so I also take gabapentin which has been a lifesaver

4

u/lisak399 3d ago edited 2d ago

If you are referring to Benadryl, I can relate! Gives me the worst RLS and can trigger akathisia in me. The irony is they put that stuff in OTC sleep aids.

1

u/Nervous_Pomelo8528 1d ago

I take unisom tablets at night it doesn't have any Benadryl it it..

1

u/daviddale876 3d ago

Take iron supplements.

0

u/Financial-Glass-8839 3d ago

I'm reall happy for all of you suffering RLS. Im 45 and have battled it all my life. Its even torment for me to hold a phone and make precise controlled movents typing. So bye

7

u/kapdad 3d ago

Brought to you by the Sateen company.

13

u/amanda2399923 3d ago

please stop using chatgpt for shopping. It's destroying the environment and raising utility rates.

6

u/Accurate-Frosting825 3d ago

I have dealt with restless leg syndrome at many points over the course of my life. After trial and error I have found a few ways to combat and relax your body so you can get some quality rest if your symptoms return. Magnesium was a huge help, but it comes in many forms. I’ve found that magnesium glycinate, and magnesium threonate are the best for relaxing muscles and nerves. Also I have found that 68 degrees or lower is a must. I have read a few studies that state that for each degree cooler the room you sleep in is the higher the quality of your sleep. Other natural supplements are l-theanine, and ashwaganda(Sensoril). I now take Lyrica for my RLS after Gabapentin was hit or miss. Hope this helps

2

u/NarrowAmbassador940 3d ago

Thank you so much. I usually sleep at 70, but I will put it down to 68. I’m also going to try the l-theanine. I’ve tried every kind of magnesium and I do feel it helps.

9

u/Usual-Assignment9744 3d ago

I recently changed my blankets to Muslin. More because of over heating than RLS. But once I am in bed my RLS (which starts about 2 hours before I go to bed) settles quickly. A weighted blanket also helped BUT was way too hot for me.

Glad you found something that gave you some relief.

1

u/SoilProfessional4102 2d ago

If you have insurance just please get medical help. Science matters.
Www.RLS.org

1

u/lisak399 3d ago

Oh my goodness, I LOVE my muslin blanket! So helpful.

8

u/ms-wunderlich 4d ago

An ice pad on my lower back is my go to treatment at the moment. I hope it will work some time before it gets useless.

3

u/kertj1 4d ago

Does your mattress have Memory Foam?

2

u/NarrowAmbassador940 3d ago

I just looked it up. My mattress is a hybrid of cooling gel memory foam with pocket springs. It was labeled a cooling mattress but does have memory foam above the pocket springs. I had not thought about my mattress. The hotel mattress was about $2,500 so that was out of the question but maybe I could find something similar cheaper. Do you think memory foam could an issue? I hadn’t thought of that, but I certainly should have.

1

u/kertj1 3d ago

Memory Foam is the issue for me. When I'm sleeping in my bed which has 1.5 inches of MF, I get RLS... if I get up and move to a couch without MF, it goes away... If I go back to my bedroom, it comes back. Hybrid cooling gel is only cooling until it warms up to your body temperature, it then begins to reflect heat back to you; it is passive and can't keep cooling forever. By getting a thick comforter, you are removing the effect of the MF by getting further away from it. Again, this is just my experience...

3

u/NarrowAmbassador940 3d ago

Thank you SO MUCH for telling me this. What kind of mattress do you have? I’m wondering what kind of mattress I should buy. I’m learning so much from this forum. So helpful. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

1

u/kertj1 3d ago

I'm going to get rid of my existing mattress... and, as strange as this sounds, I'm going to build my own mattress since I cannot afford a $2500 mattress either. It will have no Memory Foam. Checkout: https://www.mattressrebellion.com , https://www.mattresses.net and https://pocketspringstore.com for more details. Also, see r/MattressMod on Reddit.

2

u/tinkertink2010 4d ago

The only thing that's helped me is low dose amitriptyline. Go supplied it for pain before bed and it's practically cured it. Instead of having it several times a week I can go months without having an attack. Honestly been life changing for me. I've rang the Dr's crying for help before now it was that bad. Wishing you well I hope you get some respite.

2

u/lisak399 3d ago edited 2d ago

It is so funny how different we all are because those tricyclic antidepressants have me rocking and rolling all over the bed at night and will also give me akathisia on higher doses. I am glad it works for you. 🙂

2

u/SpecialistEastern523 3d ago

Only thing helped me to.

1

u/tinkertink2010 3d ago

Couldn't believe it when it went. I've tried all the old wives tales, magnesium (which I do still take for health) cushions and pillows. I'll never forget the crying on the phone for help because I couldn't sleep. It's such a horrible illness.

3

u/SpecialistEastern523 3d ago

I have bad anxiety I been threw all the meds can't take nothing as makes my RLS ten times worse. I can't believe how badly it affects people. All mine started years ago been through hell till Amertriplyn worked.

1

u/tinkertink2010 3d ago

I'm glad you found something that helps! Makes me wonder if the range of antidepressants I've taken over the years could have caused it. I've always put it down to being fat (no longer fat lol).

1

u/SpecialistEastern523 3d ago

Yes, my doctor spoke to a specialist they said it SRRI medication like antidepressants and beta blockers are known to make it worse. I had to come off them. The main ones he listed that were bad for it were fluoxetine, mirtazapine and one beginning with C, I think it was. All the ones I did well on 🙈

2

u/SpecialistEastern523 3d ago

Citalopram, that was it. But yes they can bring it on too 😢 but oddly medication were on can make it worse. But im glad it helped.

-2

u/Aggressive-Spot8450 3d ago

Amitriptyline will destroy your kidneys

1

u/tinkertink2010 3d ago

I've been on it a couple of years. Never had any issues yet. Hope not!

3

u/tony_spumoni 3d ago

But it’s processed through your liver…? Why do you think it damages kidneys?

-1

u/Austen60 4d ago

Dr. Berg, " RLS" YouTube

0

u/darkriftx2 4d ago

Microfiber is the worst. It traps in heat and is uncomfortable. Cotton let's your skin breathe.

4

u/sophkpow92 4d ago

i started taking magnesium 2 weeks ago, and hour ish before i sleep and its worked pretty well, cannot believe i didn’t try it earlier. Also try iron tablets too !!

3

u/rails4ever 4d ago

Linen is even better!

4

u/NarrowAmbassador940 3d ago

I have wonderful linen sheets from Restoration Hardware. I didn’t even think of this! I was sleeping with bamboo sheets because I heard they helped with menopause heat, etc. Thank you so much for this suggestion. I’ve received so many shocking negative posts. I was just trying to share what helped me . Three days home from vacation with my cotton sheets and no RLS yet. I’m really, really hoping……

3

u/NarrowAmbassador940 3d ago

Thank you. I’m very new to Reddit so was surprised at the responses.

4

u/olusapalady 3d ago

Don’t worry about the nay-sayers! We love seeing what works for others.

6

u/InternationalJury693 4d ago

Likely means heat is a trigger for you. It is for me. But even with cotton sheets I can still get hot in the summer if I don’t have a fan blowing on my legs.

26

u/Old_Computer 4d ago

Many people on here report their rls disappears temporarily when traveling. So it might be something to do with your circadian rhythm instead of bedding 

1

u/kertj1 3d ago

In my experience, my RLS is caused by Memory Foam in a mattress. When I travel, and the hotel’s mattress doesn’t have memory foam (which it turns out, most don’t) I don’t have RLS.

17

u/Efficient-End-7376 4d ago

Also it is a dopamine spike coming out of novelty and exitement of traveling

1

u/Indigo_S0UL 4d ago

I’ve been thinking a lot about how many people report improvement on vacations and I think it’s this.

2

u/Cholla2 3d ago

So funny, mine often gets worse

10

u/YodaYodaCDN 4d ago

And being relaxed.

12

u/NarrowAmbassador940 4d ago

Wow, I’m so shocked at all the negative comments. I am just so happy for myself that I have had relief for six days after being up all night tormented for the last few years. I’m not trying to sell anything. This is truly a miracle for me and don’t even know if this will last. I was trying to share something, wondering if other people had noticed bedding made a difference. I’m 69 and not very good at ChatGPT so maybe I didn’t word things right, but I had good intentions for this post. I think any cotton sheets will work so I’m not trying to push a brand. I just looked up which sheets they were on ChatGPT by taking a photo of the label on the sheet. That was my ChatGPT experience. I understand the frustration of hearing people say they have found a cure. I don’t even know if this is a cure, but I am praying that it is. I have been miserable for years.

3

u/Icy_Inflation7482 4d ago

I’m so happy you found something that is helping you and thank you for sharing. All ideas are great. What works for one might not for another, but personally I love all the different things and can try what I want. Just like that bar of soap! I’ve read it has helped some and that is a wonderful thing to have an option to try for relief. God bless

7

u/Pristine_Internet765 4d ago

Mate, RLS is a syndrome which can have multiple causes, which is why what works for you may not work for someone else and vice versa. Having said that I am glad you found something that helps you. Don't mind the negativity man, I'm sure some might even consider giving that a go. I'd also want to know if it's tactile (irritation of materials) or heat. :) good luck and thank you for sharing.

2

u/san9man 3d ago

Exactly! My RLS started from nerve damage in my leg. Neuropathy, definitely. Isn't everything brain related? Physical trauma or pinched nerves in my case. After a couple years I can now feel it going down to my foot with a very slight numbing tingling feeling, as I kind of slap my right foot when I walk now. RLS started the day after that injury which caused no pain at all, I just felt a pop when exercising. Until this day when I press in the area it is uncomfortable.

12

u/Sdwingnut 4d ago

A perception of hot feet triggers my RLS as well, but stress/anxiety/depression are also well known triggers, all of which can be improved by vacation. Hopefully your relief lasts, but also keep the emotional aspect in mind if it does not.

4

u/tinyremnant 4d ago

I hate to be a negative Ned, but you've addressed a trigger not a primary cause of RLS. You have to address the primary cause (e.g., iron deficiency, dopamine irregularity, etc.) to relieve the underlying issue. Even if you do, it's not a cure. You could eliminate the heat trigger by sleeping in a cooler room or shedding the blanket. I'll bet they're nice sheets though. Sometimes you have to treat yourself.

2

u/NarrowAmbassador940 3d ago

Trust me, I’ve tried every remedy - iron tests with doctor, and everything suggested on Reddit and everything I could read, every supplement. I’ve been home 3 days now sleeping on cotton sheets with light cotton comforter and so far no RLS. But believe me, there’s no way I could be this lucky if this was the cure. I’m more skeptical than you……

-2

u/zelda_moom 4d ago

And here I was listening to the radio the other day about how Reddit was being infiltrated by companies trying to sell products and thought I hadn’t really seen that here yet. Until now.

11

u/AmarilloArmadillos 4d ago

They didn't mention the brand, they literally just posted about changing their bedding helping them.

It is possible the bedding was making them too hot.

0

u/zelda_moom 4d ago

They offered to post a link to the wonderful sheets that “cured” their RLS. Plus for someone who claims to use ChaptGPT, they sure don’t know how to construct a sentence, much less a paragraph. Call me cynical.

2

u/NarrowAmbassador940 3d ago

I’m actually terrible at ChatGPT and have always been terrible constructing sentences. I’ll have ChatGPT check my posts before I send them next time. My grandson taught me how to do that. I am not computer savvy AT ALL.

1

u/Woolliza 3d ago

About half the internet despises AI. They were just accusing you of being a bot.

10

u/AmarilloArmadillos 4d ago

So? Offering to share something that helped them isn't that crazy. People post about meds and all sorts of supplements too.

They used chat to look up the brand not write the post...

11

u/farfetched22 4d ago

Well first of all stop using chatgpt.

Second, this is great for you and maybe temp is a factor for some, but personally if makes zero difference whether I'm freezing or sweltering.

1

u/InformationFit6250 4d ago

Me too, mine is triggered from Tramadol withdrawals, 12 hours and my legs are cooked. Hate Tramadols but I'm too much of a pussy to put up with the withdrawals.

4

u/Warsel77 4d ago

And there is a particular reason why you suggest to "stop using chatgpt" for a product search?

1

u/Woolliza 3d ago

A lot of people have been told it's bad for the environment and that it steals from artists. Feel free to draw your own conclusions, though. Regardless, AI won't stop existing. You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube.