@lk8 Good to hear from you, lk8, especially with such happy news!

My experience has been so different because I was aware of augmentation before I took any medication for RLS--so I have avoided taking a dopamine agonist medication. Requip (ropinirole) was what my primary care doctor wanted to prescribe, but I refused to take it. Instead, I went through the gabas and an iron infusion, before my RLS specialist prescribed buprenorphine (which has been wonderfully effective for me).

Because you were already taking ropinirole, your neurologist opted to increase your dosage to boost its effectiveness. I can't comment on this, but I think you should stay aware of the risk of augmentation this can bring. I think anyone taking a dopamine agonist should have open discussions with the prescriber about the possibility of augmentation as part of the total picture.

I'm pretty sure my Nidra bands worked from the beginning in terms of stopping individual episodes. But, I think it took months before I became aware that the incidence of episodes had decreased. Maybe, as many as 5 months.

Also, I've experienced a couple times when another factor--over-exercising/over-stretching--made RLS symptoms occur more frequently and more severely for a period of time.

Then, I've also had periods with absolutely no symptoms during the night--these going on for a month or longer. This took months longer--maybe 8-10 months into my Nidra use.

Because you have had simultaneously both an increase in medication AND the bands coming into your life, it's hard to say if your improvements are mostly from one thing, or the other, or a combination of both. It does sound like Nidra does work for you and hurray for that! Evidently, Nidra isn't effective for everybody.

But, if your experience will be like mine, continued use of the bands will re-train your brain, over time, and you will notice both a marked decrease in frequency and in severity. Noctrix says this is common with folks using the Nidra. (And, hurray for that!)

I took the position of not paying too much attention--letting these changes occur in my subconscious without a lot of conscious oversight on my part. My doctor has suggested too much scrutiny can lead to anxiety. That's one reason I'm not more precise as to remembering exactly when changes in RLS occurred after I got my Nidra.

I can tell you with certainty, however, that in the last six months my average amount of sleep has gone from 6 1/2 hours per night to 7 1/2--which has made a difference in how I feel in the daytime.

I do remember, at the beginning, having to think each night about which direction the bands go--clock-wise on the left--counter-clock-wise on the right. Now, I slap them on without any thought.

Do be careful with the velcro (if it hasn't been improved yet). It is a weak point of my bands. Also, put on your calendar when to re-order the sticky pads. Depending where you live in the country it can take days to a week before they arrive via UPS. Each time you email the "re-order" they like you to affirm "no change in insurance or address." (Initially, you will probably re-order through your "helper" but down the road you will email to their supply people directly).

Congratulations on acquiring your bands and in having improvement! Please keep us all posted on your progress.