Heat Intolerance

I know we all talk all the time about being intolerant to any kind of heat.  Does anyone know what it is about MS that causes heat to be such a factor?

It has cooled off here In Alabama some, we had about 6 wks of 100 + temps.  I still hurt and have symtoms (symptoms), but they haven't been as sever or unbearable.  

Well, took a shower this morning and got too warm when I dried my hair.  I don't usually use the hair dryer because of this, but was in a hurry this morning and did it anyway.  Now I am weak, arms won't work, hand & body tremors, legs feel extremely weak, pain all over my body, muscles spasms everywhere.  This is so disgusting!!  I was just thinking yesterday about how much better I felt and was wondering if it was because of the cooler weather.

Just wondering if there was an underlying reason that heat is such a catalyse to these symtoms (symptoms).

Love to you all

Doni

[risnerrose]

I just noticed you are in Alabama.  I have an appointment with Dr. Rinker at UAB.  Have you heard of him?

Sherry

ps
I consider the heat to be similar to overheated electrical wiring that "shorts" out.  I may be way off, but it gives me a visual.  The cooler weather has brought a burst of energy . . . it's great!

[sllowe]

Hi Doni,

Hi Doni - how are you? ( too have issues after the shower and then blow drying. . .horrible and feels like I can't keep my arms up.  Talledega this weekend, bet it's crazy in Bama.

I'm sure is a more thorough answer to your question, but from what I've gathered, our bodies react to the heat due to the increase in the body's core temperature and that because of damaged nerves, and impaired signals that follow, you/we function less effective.  Now, a slowing process does happen to people when their temperature rises, but for MSers and others w/demylenating diseases, we experience worsening symptoms because of the existing damage.  

I read somewhere that - that is why why when you use heat on an injury, it sometimes feels better - it kind of slows down the nerves, and relieves the pain.  For us, it's already slowed and we have to avoid those issues.  

I slowly cool down the water in the shower as I'm in there, and then actually work my way to cold before I get out.  It helps a bit, then when I can, I wait to blow dry, when my arms will work.  I've had those spasms in the shower too, just reaching for the shampoo - horrible!

I hope they back off for you. . .

Much love back at you!

SL

[sllowe]

Hi!        

I like your explanation MUCH better! :)  

Hope you are feeling a bit better,

SL

[grannyhotwheels]

SL, that sounds like a good explanation.  I have wondered this myself.  All I know is I cannot use a blow dryer and I cannot take a hot shower.  There are some days I will take 3 or 4 showers when the temp is 90 to 100.  Other wise I'm useless and wiped out.  I live in Oklahoma so the humidity and temp combined does me in.

I'll be praying,
Carol

[sllowe]

Yea, humidity is horrifying and so much worse! I'd like to know the answer to the question...Why is it that heat in and of itself is bad, but when you add moisture to it i.e., humidity and showers, it is so much worse?

Must be a skin/tissue issue, contracting, expanding. . .ha/ha. . .now I'm just making this sh***t  up. . . .

hope you are well,
SL

[frann]

Hi,
I'll tell you a funny.... a few years ago my husband took me away on a romantic weekend... we had a hot tub in the  master bedroom ( upstairs)... well, guess what, i began to get out of the tub, felt dizzy, you guessed right>>> fainted right on the floor, in my birthday suit.... my husband freaked out, when i came too...he said oh my God, i was so scared i would have to call 911 with you on the floor, naked, so he wrapped me up with the towels... i came to quickly and we both had to laugh that that was one romantic activity we were going to have to give up!

I too can't blow dry my hair on the hot setting.... i would become quite weak in the legs...
at my school when i worked... i would come in with wet hair on hot days... those who didn't know would think i was just running late... not the case of course, but it was fun to watch the faces>>>
i loved the wet hair and cool breeze if i left the window open while i was driving...

now, not driving anymore, no hot tubs,  if i am at a salon, sometimes i allow them to dry it with cool setting...give that a try.

I live in NY so we should have some cooler weather but we still have some hot weather for over a week... in the high 70's-80's.... can't wait for the fall weather... love it... it is now my favorite time of the year....

Stay well,
God bless,
Frann

[sllowe]

LOL!!!!!

Yea, I'm looking forward to those cooler temps here soon too, this time of fall is usually gorgeous - going to get good and steamy today I'm afraid.  

You find out anything yet about the sedation and MRI facility?

SL

[frann]

Hi

I am still trying to find a facility that does sedation... my neuro thinks i may have to go to a hosptial for that... so for no outside ones give sedation just suggest valium... which won't help me...
i had to put on hold further checking till monday since mom in law is coming home this weekend... to live with us.... had family over to help rearrange the house to accomadate hospital bed and ixygen concentrator and wheelchair...
sorry, did i just sound a little overwhelmed??? oh yeah.... it should be interesting... i am going to need  a little of that sedation here at home too...

enjoy the fall weather, i can't wait till it cools down... just a little...
where are you from, i forgot??
God bless,
Frann

[doni54]

Thanks Sherry, I'm just a walking miss fire huh!?! hee....hee...hee  No I haven't heard of him, but that doesn't mean much since I haven't started the road to dx yet.  If he is at UAB I am sure he will be good. UAB is a great place, my dad had heart disease and had open heart surgery there twice.  Good luck with your appointment.  You have probably told me, but where are you from?

frann,
My husband was talking a couple of weeks ago about getting a hot tub to help with all his aches and pains.  I just laughed and told him he would have to go that one alone.  A year or so ago I was hurting all over and decided to take a hot bath in our whirlpool tub (this was before I had any indication of what might be wrong with me).  Got so weak I couldn't get out!!  After a little while, hubby came to check up on me and there I was just sittin in the tub crying cause I was too weak to get out!  I reminded him of this when the hot tub was mentioned!

I only take cool showers and have all summer, but being in a hurry this morning I didn't think about the dryer doing me in.  I'm like you I don't usually use it and believe me I won't do it anymore!!!!

SL,
Yea, it's Dega weekend! I am not only in AL, but the track is right up the road from me.  We try to stay out of all the traffic but it is a mad house around here.  We're kinda held hostage from Wednesday until next Wednesday.  

Thanks for your explanation, I should have known that but with the brain f--ts I've been having lately some days I wonder what my name is! hee hee hee

Granny,
What part of OK do you live in? I lived in Pauls Valley for about a year (1987), I was working for the IPRA (pro rodeo).  The weather there was almost identical to here at home, so I can sure identify with the humidity!!!!  Got homesick and came back to good ole Bama.  I really liked it there though, met lots of great people.

Thanks to all of you for answering my post, hope you are having a pain free day.

Love & ((((hugs))))
Doni

[risnerrose]

I live in NW Georgia, about 10 minutes from the Alabama line.  I lived near Ft. Smith, AR (AR/OK border) for 15 years before we moved to GA.  My husband is a veterinarian and has worked with a lot of rodeo bulls . . . who knows . . . our paths may have crossed 20 years ago.  : )

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Doni, you're sounding a little better.  I think about you every day and hope things are improving.  The analogy to the electrical wire shorting out is a good one.  Nerves conduct their signals best in a stable temperature.  The fatty myelin sheath around the axons (the "wire" leading from the cell body to the next cell) severs as strong insulation against any tempt changes in the body.  When the myelin sheath is damaged or missing, the nerve signal slows way down when the temp rises around the nerve even just a fraction of a degree.

We easily go through slight body core temperature rises with ambient heat, fever, exercise, excitement.  When someone has MS they have MANY areas of nerves with damaged or missing myelin and the diffuse slowing of some signals causes the symptoms.  Even a nerve which has repaired itself and is working again, can be shown to be operating suboptimally.  The repaired job is just not a good as the original.  So, during a remission, when the areas attacked during the previous relapse have healed, they may fuction okay as long as everything is perfect, including the body's core temp.  But those people may suffer tinglings, sudden weakness, more fatigue, visual problems with they get overheated.  This is what is called a psuedoexacerbation of MS.  A "false" exacerbation because the symptoms disappear with cooling off.

Quix

[doni54]

Hi gal!  I am so glad you are feeling better.  It is just not the same around here when you are not posting. I think of you everyday too and hope you are having a good day. You are very special to me and to everyone on this board.

Still having some of effects of the overheating from Sat. Numb arms, weak legs, etc.  Over all though I do feel better, seems like the symtoms (symptoms) are still here just not as pronounced.  Thank God for fall and cooler weather.

Take care of yourself and be well.

Love & ((((hugs))))
Doni

[JI Jo]

You know it's funny....I'm Jamaican and now live in the Cayman Islands....pretty much year round heat and hummidity. It's annoying and other than on particularly muggy days, it doesn't bother me every day and even when it does it's irritating at best; I take a cool shower and I'm okay.

However a few weeks ago our A/C fried itself and we didn't realize until about 11am when the house was getting warm. Prior to figuring it out, I started to feel tight chested, irritable, short of breath and I was hyperventilating. I was folding laundry and for whatever reason (details are fuzzy) I went off on my hubby....I was livid and by the time I was done throwing a tantrum I was weak and in tears and could barely stand up.

I've never had a problem if I'm outside or at the beach and there is breeze blowing but if I'm somewhere where's there's no ventilation and the temp goes up I always start feeling like there's no air, I get very anxious and start to hyperventilate as if something was squeezing my ribs in....once that passes I just fold up I'm so weak.....

Not sure if it's the same thing...just my 2 cents

Jo