What is heat intollerance? Do I have it?

I now have a new symptom to add to my list, but don't know what to call it.  Is it heat intolerance?  When I go outsied in the heat, I live in Texas where it is already in the 90's, I am getting these weird sensations under my skin.  They are like a sharp, itchy pin *****, if that makes any sense.  I get them all over.  I also am getting nauseated in the heat.  I feel very weak and tired.  It takes a few hours to get any energy back.  Is this heat intollerance or what?

[jensequitur]

Being weak and tired after getting too hot is definitely heat intolerance.  When I get fatigued because I'm too hot, old symptoms come back - paresthesia (pinpricks of pain, cold, heat, etc.) burning knuckles, weak legs, trembling hands, double/blurred vision, and numbness.

Nausea is something I haven't heard of with MS.  It is typical of somebody with heat stroke or heat exhaustion, however.  When somebody first gets heatstroke, or just extremely overheated, they'll get nauseous.  I don't usually recommend Gatorade, as it's such a high-calorie drink, but try half-and-half Gatorade and water.  It'll help rehydrate you and replenish some salts.

I live in Texas too, and on Saturday it was so hot and humid, I seriously considered moving.  I can't take the temperature if it's going to be this hot from May until October.  I'm useless outside, and inside if the temperature gets up above 85, I get a little loopy.

So check out the cooling vests - I hear they're available through the NMSS website.  I don't know if they're free or not, but it's worth a look.

here's a page on staying cool products...
http://www.ichthyosis.com/staying%20cool%20products.htm

I've also seen people with this little toy...  Seems to work, but I don't know how much it costs.
http://www.ecplaza.net/tradeleads/seller/4818634/magic_neck_cooler.html

[Sunnytoday]

Hi! I have that exact feeling you are describing! Unfortunetly, i can't help you with a name for it, as I'm just as lost, but the awful pins/needles feeling for me now lasts for a while after I'm cooling down, it's as though it's lingering and will stay longer if I overheat for a long period of time. I too live in the south, by the Gulf of mexico actually and if it wasn't for the fact that the cold makes me cry from the pain, I would move north!

the info on the cooling vest is really great, thanks! i will definetly look into that... I have to find a way to handle living here in the summer!

Hope you find some relief also!
~Sunnytoday~
(undiagnosed)

[cz1970]

I too have heat intollerance synptoms. I get nauseated too by the way. I loose my vision, get really REALLY weak, my right side gets really bad pins and needles and feels SOOOO HEAVY. I feel so yucky I can only lie there like a lump of crud.  After I cool off, my vision comes back and the rest resolves.  I get this with a hot bath, or sitting next to the wood stove for too long. I live in the N. West were it gets REALLY COLD but it also gets hot....

Good luck!
cz

[6-paq]

Here is info on the MS Association of America's (MSAA) Cooling Equipment Distribution Program.  They offer various cooling equipment (vests, collars, etc):

http://www.msassociation.org/programs/cooling/

HTH someone and take care!  Pat :)

[6-paq]

Forgot to add that I believe this equipment is free if you qualify.  There is a link with an application on the same page.

http://www.msassociation.org/programs/cooling/

Pat :-)

[Quixotic1]

I saw a sooling hat that you soak in water.  The inner layer keeps the fluid off your hair.  the middle gel layer holds the water and the outer is ventilated to allow the evaporation and coo;ing.  I saw it in the Hammacher Schlammer catalog.  I'm sure it is available other places.  It was $25.

A hat, neck wrap and cooling vest should a must in the areas that get really hot.  Heat is our enemy!

Mrsturbo - yes, absolutely you are describing heat intolerance and you must avoid the heat.  It can occasionally cause permanent worsening of symptoms.  I also get severe weakness, nausea and irritability.  BIGTIME irritability.

Purchase of air conditioning is tax deductible as a necessary medical expense.  It is that well known to be improtant for the health of someone with MS.

There are also links online for instructions for making cooling neck wraps and vests.

Quix

[Quixotic1]

You are very tolerant of inside heat.  I get cranky and ready to murder if the heat inside gets above 75 degrees.  I still am happiest at about 67 degrees.  I moved here from Nevada when I could not tolerate it at all.  Q

[jensequitur]

Surprisingly, yeah, I do all right.  However, when it's that warm, I get woozy, and I do have more dizziness and tremor in my hands.   I've always had a low body temperature, around 97.8° or so.  Before MS, I preferred being nice and warm!