Just got diagnosed with MS Thursday. Dealing with the heat question.

[coach291]

Quick summary: I started having numbness on the left side of my body in January. I went to my regular dr. and she said old football injury in my neck was probably causing it. After a month the numbness went away. Then in late May after being in the hot sun for 3 days straight at the State Track meet I got really sick when I got home and my numbness came back. A few weeks later the symptoms got worse along with a new one (Paraesthesia) and my dr ordered a MRI. It came back negative. The next week after a trip to the ER with worsening symptoms and extreme pain I was fast tracked to my wifes Nero (she has MS too). All test for other casues came back negative. I did tested positive on the VEP test and with all of the other classic signs of MS (lack of energy, sun bringing on symptoms, ect) I was diagnosed. Now what do I do now? I am a football coach in the coastal area of GA. The heat index has been over 105-110 most of the summer. How do I do my coaching job? I am pretty sure being out in the sun this summer for our workouts fast tracked my symptoms. Does anyone else try to do a job out in the sun? I am pretty sure I can't do it this year. Just curious if anyone else tried to fight through the heat.

[tjj3761]

I just wanted to add, sorry for your MS diagnosis, but at least now you know.

The heat is terrible, all over the country, right now for sure.  Heat is an enemy and you need to stay as cool as possible.  Cooling devices would probably help you out, but down there in Georgia I cannot even imagine.

Both you and your wife stay cool!

terri

[coach291]

Thanks for all of the advice. I am not the head coach. I am just an assistant. After the summer I have had there is no way I am going to be able to do this. Also you add on 80-90 hr work weeks during the football season on top of having MS. It will make me physically sick. I will just concentrate on keeping my energy up for my teaching job.

[Maggs87]

I can't answer your heat question but my mom was diagnosed with MS 11 years ago and it was really hard for her when she first started having troubles at work because she loved her job. She stuck it out for a few years untill it got to the point where she could not work for more than 2 hours at a time. Now she says "You just have to know that you can't do everything, do what you can and when your body tells you to stop, listen! You don't have to be a supehero for anyone". Maybe an assistant coaching job? I know it is always hard especially when doing something you love, but you need to take care of you first. Best of luck!

[JemmAus]

Your wife has MS as well???? Gosh.......I  am in Australia and was living in Queensland up unitl february this year - Qld is tropical and I was sick continually, with only slight relief if I sat under the air con all day.

I was only diagnosed last week as well, though have been mucked around with this for 3 years. Hopefully what I say below is correct.....

You really cannot fight the heat thing. It's called Uhthoff's phenomenon and is discussed here repeatedly. One is supposed to avoid overheating so as not to have these (psuedo) exacerbations. That includes avoiding being in the sun too long, hot showers, strenuous exercise, virtually anything that increses core body temp.

While it does not apparently cause a relapse, it can cause the symptoms one has previously had to flare up and not go away until you cool back down, but that can take  quite a while and isn't always as simple as a cold shower.....

Maybe you will have to decide which is more important - health or job? But of course you cannot do your job if you are unwell, so maybe the decision will be made for you.....

Good luck!  And I think you may be the only person I have heard of who is part of a couple who BOTH have MS!

Jemm

[Lulu54]

Hi Coach,  Welcome to our little cool spot on the web.  The heat is a bugger in your part of the country and I can't imagine running two-a-days down there right now.

Your boys practice lots of safety things to stay hydrated and cool, and you should also be doing the same.

There are cooling garments that you can get to help to keep your core temperature a bit lower.  There are neck wraps, vests and hats that can be used.  

We have a foundry worker here - talk about a hot job!  And we have people who live in the southern extremes - I hope they will pop up with some suggestions for you, as well.

I;m sorry you have this dx - I am amazed that you were diagnosed without MRI evidence - it is highly unusual to get that based solely on clinical evidence.  Kudos to the doctor who had the never to do so.

welcome again - we hope to see you around again.

be well, and be cool
Lulu