Weather and MS

[Peaches147]

How can I still enjoy the summer and function when I have no energy, the humidity is high and my body is all bloated but not from food ?

[Peaches147]

Thank you so much.  You sound like my twin.  I have MS and fibro so knowing I am not nuts and my body is not just defying me , I can breath a little easier.  Thank you for the support.  

[Peaches147]

You have no idea how uplifting it was to hear I wasn't the only one. You made some great suggestions about food (sugar).  Reading what you wrote about the summer not being the best time was like Christmas for me.  I like you try to stay away from dragging non MS people down.  They don't get it.  I pretend around family and friends because they are freaked out about things they can't fix.  When I read your response , it is during a 2
day black zone,( when I was having symptons, etc). I call it.  The time I feel like Sh..t and only God and me get me at least  in my head.  So know i am smiling and my heart is lighter.  

[Peg409]

We live in Houston, TX and heat is our life (Houston should be called Heat, TX instead) Last summer we had the whole month of Aug with 100+ degrees days and no rain. My Huband has MS, he uses cool water to drink, pour on himself, etc. He also uses the neck wraps you freeze, sams warehouse sells a cloth that when you get it wet it feels cold that he also uses at home or in the shade to keep cooler, and a cooling vest. He loves the cooling vest. It's is supposed to stay cool for up to 2 1/2 hrs at a time, but with our heat and humidity it lasts about an 1 1/2 in the heat of the day, but he has to sets of packs so that works for him and usually it keeps him from having heat fatigue. One of his doctors has also told him to stay away from gatorade and things like it because of the sugar factor. Drink as much cold water as possible.  Good luch to you

[arisingphoenix]

Here is a link to a cooling program. Unfortunately the submission time has run out for this year, but does start again in February! This way you can be prepared for next summer!

I was fortunage enough to get one of these sets, I haven't had to use them just yet but we are getting another few days in the 100s so they may get a work out.

http://www.msfocus.org/Cooling-Program.aspx

Best Wishes,
Cris

[jenphilly]

Peaches....  

I am right there with you!  I was actually getting a bit cocky in March and April thinking I was fine to return to work full time....  then we had an early heat wave....  yep, learned my lesson, even had my doctor give me the paperwork to send in to get a parking placard to reduce how much walking I need to do when I go to the store...  

If you are arrange your life to be out and about early morning and after dark (vampire hours as we've taken to calling them), does help.  

Ritas water ice is awesome too :)  I can't have dairy / lactose, so we hit Ritas if we're out and I"m hot, thankfully we have a drive thru locally!  

I also have taken up wearing long skirts again.  Was amazed how much of a difference that makes.  Wearing capris, even comfy favorites, just bug the heck out of me for the sensation on my legs.

While summer is proving to be the worst time of the year for me, I do keep reminding myself that fall is next season up!!  

We're joking that when we retire we will summer in Alaska and winter in South Carolina :)

Its not an answer how to endure the heat, but for us, we are planning most of our trips and plans for non summer months...  and honestly how much fun was it ever to go to the beach and roast in the summer, even long before MS, I always loved the beach in the fall!!   We are planning a Thanksgiving trip to Atlantic Beach, NC and we are booking a January cruise to the Bahamas....  so not missing out on anything in life, just doing the same things in the non summer months!  

Hugs,

Jen

[socrates2k1]

I thought last Summer was bad (hottest in over 20 years), this Summer is shaping up to be much worse.

I live in Kansas, and even before Summer "officially" started we had high hot temperatures, now we are looking at a minimum of 10 straight days, of above 100 degree temperatures, yikes!

My AC will be working overtime, that's for certain.

Take care and God bless all.

-- Socrates2k1 (aka Stan)

P.S. I apologize for not being on very often, but these temperatures take a toll on me, and I simply don't get on, very often.

[opie74]

If you figure it out, let me know!

REally, I went to lunch with my dad, grocery shopping and then to my son's speach lesson.  Lugging 3 kids in and out of the car all those times has me useless for the rest of the day.  Friends without MS just don't get it. I explained it to my husband that it felt as though I had been digging in teh garden all day. I think he understood.  He is out to fetch a pizza :-)

I, too, struggle to get my friends to understand that I just can't do ANYTHING outside (including loading the children in numerous time or the groceries) in the summer without sounding like a big fat lezy sloth or a big downer.

[doublevision1]

Stay in the shade, drink very cold liquids in large quantities, s-ck on ice chips, stay near a fan, dunk hands and /or feet in ice cold water.  Avoid being outdoors in the middle of the day, get your time outdoors early in the day when it's cooler, look into purchasing cooling garments, consider installing AC if feasible and find out if it's tax deductible in your jurisdiction (it is tax deductible in Canada for MS patients if prescribed by a doctor).  Avoid eating/drinking sugar to avoid the inevitable energy crash.  Not sure what is causing your bloating but it wouldn't hurt to avoid sodium especially in processed foods.

I've never loved the heat but since being dx'ed with MS it makes me miserable.  Bottom line for me, I just don't enjoy the summer.  I dread when it's looming and I'm glad when it's over.  I absolutely love the fall weather, to me it is the perfect time of year.  My biggest challenge in summer is to avoid complaining and dragging down everyone around me.  I need to work on this!