Help-Stomach aliens

[spottedchicken]

Hi, I am a 55 year old woman. I have been diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome, but my symptoms are not in my legs they are in my stomach.

I do not know how to describe it in any other way than to say “My stomach feels like it is crawling out of my body”. I have had every test done under the sun. All of them came back normal. It gets so bad that I have not slept a good night sleep now for 3 years.

I am just hoping someone may have an answer or know of one that has experienced this before. I am at a loss, I have gained so much weight from the medication they have put me on.

The doctors have me on a Parkinson’s disease. I do not feel I have that, please advice me of any solutions you have. I just want relief so I can sleep again.

Thank you very much,

Robin

[stunned_one]

Could you be having anxiety attacks? Do you sometimes get a fluttery heart with the "aliens"?

[hilda01]

I have heard of restless legs in the legs but never in the stomach. I know a few of my friends take quinine and this does help whether it would help with the stomach problems i dont know butit may be worth a try. You can also get quinine from tonic water which i suppose would be better than taking in tablet form hope this helps

[spottedchicken]

Hello thanks for writing me back. Well to answer your question my problem is worse when I do not take the medication. I failed to mention before that I have had this condition since I was little but in the last 5 years have been the worse to where I am not sleeping well at all. I used to be skinny, but ever since this medication Mirapex I have been gaining and gaining, I have gained 50 pounds. I eat healthy and excersise. I am just at my witts end. Let me know what you think again.

Thanks,
Robin-spotted chicken

[spottedchicken]

Okay I am going to try to cover all of your questions. Thank you for responding.
*I mean aliens because it feels like something in my stomach region is trying to crawl out of my body.
*My bowel changes have not changed, since this has been happening.
*The medication they put me on was Mirapex, but this condition is worse when I do not take the medication. I failed to mention this earlier but I have had this since I was little, I can remember having stomach issues, but were only every once in a while. For the last 5 years my flare ups has been every day and night.
*The location of my stomach issues is between my breast and belly button, more toward the belly button.
* The tests I have had been the following-Blood Test, Upper GI, Lower GI, Colonoscopy, MRI, CTScan, Sleep Clinic Test, Galbladder Test, Camera in stomach and around organs.
Just to let you know, when I take medication it helps to make the symptoms not so bad, when I do not take by a certain time, I am up all night and pace all night.

Thanks for helping me,
Robin-Spotted Chicken

[ggreg]

Some medications for RLS include those that treat Parkinson's, so that's why they gave you that drug.  

It is possible the meds are upsetting your tummy, so usually taking them with food helps that.  If you are not supposed to take the meds with food, then take it earlier in the day.  There are other drugs for RLS, too, if it comes to that.  But I think it's the medication that is making your stomach jump around.  

Try a little alka seltzer, see if that helps.  As for your weight, you'll have to up your activity level, increase proteins, and eat less carbs, to counteract the drug-induced hunger you have.  Also, extra water will help any swelling, which a lot of times if you feel puffy, it's not all weight; rather it's that you're dealing with a hydration change.

Oh, and could be your stomach upset is not the only thing keeping you awake.  As you know, RLS does that, too.  There is a forum here that talks about RLS at this website.  It's under "Sleep Disorders," those folks will be more familiar with the side effects of the medication you're taking.

[CalGal]

By 'aliens' do you mean that you feel a lot of activity in the area where your stomach is? Did you experience any bowel habit changes from it - before the meds?

What meds did they put you on?

And before I forget, what specific area of the body are you talking about - can you give a exact location? Many people think the body of the stomach is right at the base of where the ribs meet in the front of the body. In most people it's not, so some landmarks might help to figure out what's going on.

And what does 'every test' mean? It sounds picky, but what you mean by every test might be far from what I consider every test.