My LEG acy
by Elizabeth Lamb Tunison
FOR MY CHILDREN AND ALL WHO SUFFER FROM RLS
MAY you never be frustrated, frantic, desperate, disgusted, or
hurt by your family, your friends and doctors, because they just
don't understand what you are talking about.
MAY you never feel like crying or screaming because they give you
"well-meaning" advice like:
"Sit down and relaxer (I can't sit still and it's when I
try to relax, that it gets worse.)
"If you'd get up earlier in the morning, you'd sleep better
at night. (The morning is the only time I can sleep.)
"If you don't get enough sleep at night, take a nap in the
afternoon". (I go out of my mind if I try to lie still
in the afternoon.)
"Take Quinine" "Take sleeping pills" "Take iron" Take
hot baths" (I did, I did, I did, and I kept getting worse)
MAY you never be ridiculed by your doctor and told to :
"Go without sleep for a couple of nights and you'll be
fine" (But Dr. _____ I've had this all my life.) "You're
just imagining it because you read an article." (This time
my husband lost his temper.)*
MAY the work many of us are doing now to educate our legislators,
doctors, the public, and your friends, make them more supportive
and understanding.
AND MAY the research taking place in clinics all over the world,
find the cause and cure for this nightmare, so that you'll never
have to:
Walk out of the theatre in the middle of a great show,
Get out of.bed over and over again during the night,
Stop the car to run around it several times,
Get in the way of flight attendants when flying,
Stand up to read a book, the newspaper, or to watch TV.
Instead,
MAY you:
Have a good night's sleep every night
Wake up refreshed
Relax in a recliner to read a good book
Doze off for a peaceful snooze in the afternoon
Read the newspaper and watch TV sitting down
Travel the world with ease.
*I never saw my husband so angry. It was just a few months later
that he died of a heart attack.
FLIGHT RLS
Here I sit upon a plane.
My restless legs drive me insane.
The intercom beeps and the captain announces,
“Stay in your seats through these turbulent bounces.”
To stay in my seat will bring me much grief.
These legs want to stretch. They plead for relief.
The guy on my left gave me a weird glance,
And the man on my right thinks there’s ants in my pants.
I stare at the seatbelt light overhead.
I’ve learned to feel trapped when it’s glowing red.
My seatbelt now loosened, I slump in my seat,
Rub my poor legs and wiggle my feet.
I look at a book, but just can’t relax.
The stewardess walks by passing out snacks.
The intercom beeps and I hear this sweet sound.
“We’ve found some calm air, you can now move around.
I say “please excuse me” and spring from my seat,
But the guy is asleep so I step on his feet.
I’m out in the isle, moving and bouncing
When the captain comes on and I hear him announcing.
“Please return to your seats, we’re preparing to land.”
I take one last stretch and obey his command.
I smile upon landing, “goodbye restless strains:.
But then I remember…I’m just changing planes!
____________________
Written by Ron Tranmer during a flight.
2004