heat

This may seem a bit odd however, whenever I am exposed to the sun/heat I feel as though I retain the heat -- it almost feels as if my skin heats up and takes a long time to cool down even in air conditioning. I am on interferon, ribavirin and procrit. Has anyone else experienced this -

[sunshines76]

Try to stay away from sun and if you can't use strong sunblocks. It's common side effects of riba to be sensitive to sun (eyes, skin).

[Trinity4]

I started tx in March of 08 and finished in Aug 09.  I could tolerate the sun at first but towards the end of the summer of 08 after 15 minutes in the sun I felt like I was on fire.  Summer of 09 I had to stay covered up with any exposure to the sun because the heat felt so intense on my skin and I felt like I was frying even with sunblock.  

This summer I've made up for it.  No problems.  Definitely the treatment drugs and once you stop treatment things should go back to normal.

Trinity

[Diane12855]

I noticed that too on my recent drive down to Florida. It felt like any part of me that was in the sun was being burnt really bad, but that night after being out of the sun for a while I looked where it had burnt so badly and there was nothing there. I also noticed that I was miserably hot while down there because they had the thermostat set at 77. My hair and clothes were soaked with sweat the whole time I was there. It kind of felt like hot flashes from 8 years ago.

These drugs do such interesting things to us, don't they?
Diane

[nygirl7]

At times just the sunlight coming in through the car window would burn my arm.  One time I made the mistake of going tanning. I figured I'd stay in only half the amount of time. Uh wrong......sunlight does not go with interferon at all I turned purple.

Try to stay out of the sun the best you can.  I have been inf free for three years and can go back in now but the sun really isn't all that good for you any way so.....self tanners work just fine for me!

[CoStudy]

Living in Colorado the sun is very intense. I use to love it, now after being in it for a short time I can’t wait to get back inside. I am not sure if it’s the heat or the sun but it seems a lot more intense now than before. We also have a place in Arizona and 100+ never fazed me. This year I don’t even want to go there. Ha-ha leaving Saturday for AZ. That doesn’t make much sence does it?

[chuckles333]

My treatment nurse warned me on my first visit (in February) to avoid sunlight as much as possible and to always wera sunscreen if you must be in the sun. He said that TX makes some peope very photosensitive and that the skin becomes more prone to reation to things that might irritate it.

[eureka254]

Yes, my husband's skin started reacting to sunlight almost immediately after starting treatment.  He finds that lathering on lots moisturizer at night and lots of sunscreen during the day helps.  He tries to wear long sleeves when he's outdoors, whether permitting, and he tries to stay out of the sun between 11am and 2pm when rays are strongest.  Hope that helps. ~eureka