Can Gut Issues Trigger Restless Legs?
In my search for clarity around my restless legs, I’ve started to write down everything that might be connected. One thing that keeps standing out — both to me and my partner — is the possible link between my gut health and the severity of my RLS symptoms.
A Bad Night Often Follows a Blocked Gut
Time and time again, we’ve noticed that when I have a really bad night with my legs — lots of tension, crawling, twitching — I also tend to be constipated. It’s almost like the two go hand in hand.
I used to have a normal bowel routine. Things changed when I started taking Clomipramine, an antidepressant. Constipation was listed as a common side effect, so I accepted it as part of the deal. But it wasn’t mild. Sometimes I couldn’t go for days, and then I’d suddenly get intense cramps followed by explosive diarrhea. These attacks could be so severe that I’d nearly faint on the toilet.
A Sudden Shift: When Everything Got Worse
For a while, the constipation came and went. But about 4 to 5 years ago, something dramatically changed. I became chronically constipated, with barely any “good” days in between. I had no idea why.
But here’s the thing — and this is really important:
That exact same time period is also when my restless legs syndrome suddenly got much worse.
Before that, I’d have the occasional bad night — maybe once a month. But since about 4 to 5 years ago, my RLS has been almost non-stop from March through November. The timing is just too striking to ignore. It makes me wonder if the two issues — gut and legs — are connected at a deeper level.
Colonoscopy, Polyps, and a Long Intestine
My doctor ran some tests back then, including a stool analysis. While there weren’t any major findings, they did note a “mysterious bacterium”. Nothing was done with it.
Eventually, I had a colonoscopy, where two polyps were removed. They also discovered that my colon is longer than average, but otherwise things looked normal.
Living with a Noisy, Bloated Gut
Since then, not much has improved. Occasionally I’ll go to the bathroom daily for a few days — but most of the time, I’ll go two or three days without a bowel movement. My belly often feels bloated and noisy, and I even feel these weird “popping” sensations — like when you press a dent into a plastic bottle, and it pops back out later.
Since no clear cause was found during the tests, I’ve sort of accepted it. Sometimes I take laxatives like Macrogol or use enemas to relieve the pressure. It’s manageable, but it does affect my confidence, especially when my belly is visibly swollen.
Could Vitamin Deficiencies and Gut Dysfunction Be Linked to RLS?
Zooming out a bit, I’ve started to connect more dots. For example, my bloodwork showed low levels of vitamin D and iron — two nutrients often linked to restless legs syndrome.
If my gut isn’t functioning properly, could it be that I’m also not absorbing key nutrients? That could explain both the vitamin deficiencies and possibly the worsening of my RLS symptoms. And let’s not forget: a large portion of neurotransmitters are produced in the gut. If something’s off there, it might very well affect the nervous system — and my legs.
Time to Dive Deeper into the Gut–Leg Connection?
I’m seriously considering doing a proper gut microbiome test to rule out issues like bacterial imbalance, inflammation, or malabsorption.
So now I’m curious:
Has anyone else experienced a sudden increase in restless legs symptoms along with gut issues like constipation, bloating, or IBS?
Would love to hear your stories or tips.