How Does the Weather effect all of You

[ladygraycloud]

Good Morning All
I have read alot about the intolerance to heat--but my biggest problem is the COLD..Does anyone else have this problem and why do I read so much about problems with heat????
Would really like to hear from you about this issue.

[Fluffysmom]

I started having cold intolerance in 1987 or so; I was climbing a mountain and got pretty intense tachycardia, couldn't get warm, and my muscles all tightened up.  A friend loaned me a jacket, but when my lips were still blue, he sent me down the mountain below the clouds.

More recently, I've started getting really bad cramps when I get cold; after a few years of water aerobics, my feet and calves started cramping up, and I had to wear a rash-guard shirt to keep my shoulders from aching and cramping and pinching nerves.

I finally had to give up my water aerobics, and now do physical therapy exercises; not quite as fun!

I've had to buy special clothes for watching soccer games; I have season tickets to the Portland Pilots soccer (the women always make it to the play-offs, and have one the title twice since I've been going to their games).  Many games are in the evening, and sitting still in the chill makes me ache badly.  I have double-thick socks, scarves, gloves, layer my clothes (shirt, sweatshirt, coat) etc.  

I've started noticing trouble with the heat, too, since my neurological symptoms really started acting up in February.  I used to walk for mile in desert heat; now I have to carefully plan any desert trips for cooler times, carry lots of cold water, know where the shade and air-conditioned stops are, etc.  It took me two days in March to see The Living Desert outside of Palm Springs, because the heat exhausted me, even with precautions.

I would do stuff in the morning, then lie around my room, read, make a salad, and call it a great day.  Luckily my rental car had great A.C., and I bought these frozen fruit bars that really helped reduce my core temp. when I'd taken it too high and gotten all fatigued and tremory.

I have to be careful about drinking hot drinks when I'm cold; too hot, and I'm fatigued.  I was having some hot soup at a resaurant one day, and almost dipped my head down in the bowl.  Life is a real trip!  It's still good, for the most part.

Take care,

Kathy

[meg321]

I have always hated the cold weather and also very hot weather,  The difference is that I can get very hot at any time, even when it is cold sort of as in a hot flash but a bit different.  And that problem is getting worse.

As with the cold it seems to be normal, i get cold when its cold and i dont like it.  Which is normal in my opinion.

meg

[ladygraycloud]

Thanks that answers alot because the cold makes me hurt really bad but at the same time when I have my spells my temp goes up .
Thanks to all for the help.
ladygraycloud

[Quixotic1]

there is a physiologic reason for the heat intolerance.  Nerves that have damaged myelin conduct their signals to and from the brain far more slowly than normal, thus accounting for a lot of our symptoms.  The heat slows the nerve signal even more - making symptoms worse.  If the body's internal temp rises even a fraction of a degree the symptoms can worsen.

About the cold.  Certain paresthesias cold be worse in the cold, especially if the temperature sensing nerves are damaged.  Also cold muscles do not function as well as warm ones, so people with MS will often see an increase in stiffness and spasticity in the cold.

Quix

[saveone]

Ladygraycloud, This very topic was discussed on the forum not to long ago.  I just bumped it up so you could read it.  It seems the cold does affect many of our members.  Personally, I haven't noticed this.  But this is the first winter where MS is a part of my life...so I will see.

This is the link in case you miss the bump

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/352512