Pelvic Floor & Restless Leg

[sami4]

Went to the sleep clinic last night for evaluation of a possible sleep problem. Have been trying to sort out the night time peeing thing, how much of it is sleep disorder related and how much bladder related. While all hooked up to wires all night the tech told me that everytime I asked to go to the bathroom, I had an episode of moving my legs or restless legs syndrome. They woke me once to put a sleep mask on right during the leg movements and I could feel this crawly, nerve sensation on the back calf of my right leg which went up into the hip, then into the pelvic floor, then to the urethra which made me think I wanted to pee.
This astounded me! I never knew I had restless legs, but even more important is this just another link in the neurological component of pelvic floor disorders and just how one problem with the nerves can cause the whole nerve tree to react? Think about it?
Sammi

[rachann]

I agree with you. Ic has been thought by some docs to be a nervous system disorder. I was and still slightly having RLS in my legs and arms. I posted about the strange sensations and Katrina came to my rescue. She posted about RLS being related to anemia. I am anemic and never take iron and I had just had a very heavy, crampy period. I went to the store and got iron and started taking it. My symptoms have subsided greatly.:smile tee I hope they find a solution to your sleep problems. I wish you many sleep filled nights!:kissing:

[Trishann]

Sammi, I believe you are right on. I believe this IC is more than what we know. There is just to much stuff going on and doctors can't figure it out. The leg thing is horrible. Can't lay to long or sit to long, without feeling you just have to get up to get some comfort.

I did not know sleep study would show this information. Did they let you take all of your medicine during this time even if it is pain medicine. Did they have a bathroom near by without having to ask to go? I am sorry for asking all ot these question, I am just curious about it.

Usually if you have a test done they tell me I can't take my medicine, so I don't have the test done.

I like the one about the bladder thing. You have to drink 32 oz. of water and hold it until the test is over. Duh I am in there because I can't hold urine for that long.

I wonder if anyone ever connected all of this stuff together, because it is odd that most of us have the same problems.

Well blabbling again, hope you sleep well in your own bed.
Sending hugs, Trishann

[dminton]

Definitely get your iron checked; get an entire iron lab panel done. My RLS was due simply to low iron, and disappeared completely a few weeks after I started a supplement. This is one of the causes of RLS.

Diana.

[sami4]

Unfortunately my RL symptoms were not due iron deficiency, in fact my blood levels are on the high side.
The sleep clinic was like going to a motel, you have your own room with a bathroom that is private. They hook up the wires and there is an open mike in the room, so when you have to pee you just speak out loud and in the blink of an eye, a person appears, unhooks you and you pee. When you are ready for bed, you just tell them and they rehook the main stuff. I told them I had nocturia and showed them a page from my "night time pee time" diary so they were prepared. They were top notch professional and very, very nice.
They video you and monitor breathing, brain waves, leg movements. I was not aware of the leg movements and the pain path from the calf to the urethra was news. However, I called my accupuncturist, Dr. Pearl Sun and she said that was a classic bladder meridian.
I think my IC, and VV was the result of a bout of shingles two years ago. I also believe that IC is as much a neurological disease as a bladder lining problem. The body systems dont work organ by organ only, what happens to the liver effects the stomach and so on.
SAmmi

[dminton]

That's fascinating. I'm glad the sleep study folks were nice.

I too am beginning to wonder about this lining stuff, since I'm so tuned into neuro stuff now due to the recent discovery of having pernicious anemia, and being so low on B12 that the soles of my feet were burning and very sensitive. I am also wondering if the shooting pains that started in October that I called vulvodynia were really due to the lack of B12. They have cleared up already, hopefully for good. So then could IC also be due to this? Is there a connection? I just don't know yet.

That's interesting about the meridian.

Sorry I didn't have a quick fix for you with the iron.

Diana.

[sami4]

The B-12 idea is really interesting, a lot of people run around with low levels of B-12 and probably could use a shot if their IC can handle it. I think I will try a shot and see.
Sammi

[dminton]

Sami,

I thought you got a B12 injection once a month?

Diana.

[sami4]

Diane:
Yes, last year I tried the shots for about three months but didnt see much difference in anything and stopped. Maybe they were doing more than I realized in the area of nerve regeneration. I think I will try them again.
Sammi

[dminton]

Did you start with them once a week?

I have a friend who started getting them 1 1/2 years ago, and she is still noticing improvement slowly over time.

Diana.

[sami4]

Dr. Levy, my VV specialist has referred me for another set of PT to see if they can determine the nerve path that is causing the problems. I am also going to see a accupuncturist, as I have good luck with them.
Sammi

[dminton]

Sami,

I wish you the best!

Diana.

[Trishann]

Sammi, you are pretty good about finding things out. I would like to ask you a question. Do you think, maybe a possibility, that medicines we are taking can cause restless leg?

I am not sure but I was thinking about something and I am going to try to keep track of it and see what is going on. It seems like after I take the detrol la, an hour on so goes by and then my legs hurt so bad. Maybe it is just because it is evening time and I'm not on my feet as much but now I am beginning to wonder about it.

I wish we can understand better about these things, so that maybe we can do something about it. I have my vitamin B-12 tested to and everything came out fine.

Glad to hear that the sleep testing wasn't hard on you.
Hugs, Trishann

[sami4]

If you suspect a connection with Detrol, you are doing the smart thing and trying to test your therory. Everything we ingest has some type of effect on the stomach, nerves, and body chemistry. People also react differently to the same substance.
Most people say Atarax makes them sleep and relax, yet I met a woman yesterday who said it made her so hyper so thought she would jump out of her skin.
This whole IC mess seems to be just one trial and error after another until you find something that works.
Detrol is one of the OB drugs that work on the whole system, not just the bladder like Enablex does. It is possible that since it effects the whole system, you could have some reactions else where in the body. In seniors there was a Detrol study that showed their memory was slightly effected by the drug. So, drug reactions are very personal hope you figure it out.
Hugs,
Sammi

[rachann]

The memory thing is very interesting. I've also heard that Ditropan causes memory problems as well. I am taking Ditropan and was going to ask my urologist about the memory thing and guess what.....I forgot. Opps.:bonk:

[Trishann]

Thank you Sammi, I am going to try to take all my medication separate and see what happens. I know this will take alittle time but time worth it.

About memory lost, I have been noticing it with me. But I thought maybe it was the vicodin. I hope it is one of my pills because my mother have alzheimer disease and it scarces me. That is a cruel disease, I wish I had my mother back. I love her so much.

Again thank you Sammi,
Hugs, Trishann

[sami4]

You are doing the right thing by trying to see and note how you feel after you take a medication. Yes, pain killers sure can effect short term memory.
You might also go on web and put in the names of your medication and read the side effects. Lots of information regarding different meds on web.
Hugs,
sammi