Gosh it's cold outside

[socrates2k1]

This will be my 2nd Winter, since I was Dx'd with MS.
Last Winter, my Neurologist told me, do not go outside, at all, unless it is absolutely necessary.
(ex. Doctor appointments).  He told me the cold would have an extreme adverse effect on me, and
the few times I did venture out, I knew what he meant.

I know extreme heat, will affect my body, but at least for me, cold, has a very bad effect too.

I'm always cold, even in the hottest days of Summer, but Winter type weather is terrible too.

Cold temperatures brings on more tremors, more flair ups, etc., at least for me it does.

How does "cold weather" effect you?

[socrates2k1]

Well,
My "normal" (meaning normal for me) body temperature is 96.7 degrees.
Although, it has been known to drop quite a bit further, I think the lowest temperature I have had in the last few months was 95.3 degrees.

This, from a person who enjoys drinking iced green tea, full of ice and eats the ice.
I usually drink, 1 gallon per day.

Think that might have something to do with being cold?

-- Socrates

[Guitar_grrrl]

I'm kind of a "Goldilocks" girl myself.  It can't be too hot, or too cold, it has to be juuuuust right!  Spasms get worse with too much cold or heat, for me, anyway.  Everybody's different.

Good luck, and stay comfortable!

[Willowwoman777]

When I was dx'd with MS had already received dx of lupus. I am double whammied with heat intolerance and raynauds. I learned at that time, there are some of us with MS who have intolerance both ways...I do. And yes, my neurologist said the best place for someone with MS to live is Hawaii...who's with me?

[figuerpa]

The only problem I have with the cold is the spasms are worse and that my ankle freezes up but if I walk stiff legged I am fine. cold weather is my friend. I am incrediably heat intolerable so cold makes me feel kinda normal. I once said I was going to move to alaska but now that the spasms are worse and my ankle freezes I don't think that is such a good idea.

Maybe moving back to the bay area in California where the weather is not to hot or to cold all year round would be something that would help, that is if I could ever afford to lol.

Paula

[thornygates]

I have more spasms in the cold. So my left leg has this real hard tremor in colder weather. Hand and sometimes head tremors too. Don't know why that is. Can even be not so cold but change from warm to cooler wet weather does the same. I do seem to have more energy or something.

Heat does drain me. But most times the tremors are not as bad. Unless tired.

Limbo lander so who knows

[huff1711]

I never knew that the cold could cause problems, but I'm starting to believe it. When I stepped out today it was like i was hit with a wall.

Another thing is being cold constantly, I am always freezing even with the heat on full blast. It's to the point I burn anyone up whose inside with me or in the car with me. I freeze so bad. I'd rather have the temps in the 70s.

[meg321]

I guess I have not heard too much about the cold weather being intolerable, I know I cannot tolerate hot weather not ever very warm weather.

But I do like the cold weather unless its freezing and even sometimes I like that too.\

But to have both..that would not be fun !!

good luck with that...

meg

[Ufrustrated2]

i had "heard" that cold weather was a bit more conducive, say, versus, very hot weather (dry or humid).

i guess that is not the case. darn, now where do i contemplate moving too? ;-)

i too have a regulation issue, or so it seems to me i do.  interesting what cobob wrote.

good luck with it. stay comfortably warm!

[COBOB]

If you have lesions in the area of the hypothalamus, you could have thermo regulation issues.  That particular part of the brain is the bodies thermostat.  It closes off peripheral blood flow to maintain core temperature and starts shivering if needed.  So, one lesion in the right place can cause cold intolerance, along with the neurologic heat intolerance that goes along with so many neurologic conditions.

Bob

[jenandherboys]

I have a similar problem with being unable to warm up in the winter...although, unlike you, I am not always cold-just when in the midst of a flare up.  Unfortunately, last winter was almost all "flare up"(at least 2 1/2 months of it).  When this happens, I can definately understand the problems warming up-I need to use those microwave heat packs all over in bed just to warm up enough to fall asleep!

The other problem I found was that, in the beginning of my flare-when I still had some amount of energy, I would go outside when the temp was hovering around freezing, the foot drop, heavy feeling in my legs and dexterity issues would lessen considerably, and I could do some physical work(like hanging Christmas decorations outside). However, when I came back indoors, all my symptoms would return full strength and then some since I "overexerted" myself without really realizing it!

This was well before any doctor would even seriously consider MS, but I KNEW something was really wrong.  One year later, I have only just gotten my neuro to agree to probable MS and recommend starting Rebif in order to get ahead of the damage. (Still pretty quick when compared to many people in this forum-I should consider myself VERY fortunate.)

Good luck in your search to find a way to "warm up".  Please pass along any successful ideas you may have, as thermo-regulation problems seem to go with the territory here.  Not to mention that, while you are in KS and it can get cold enough there, I live in Northeastern Wisconsin-just think how much colder our winters are way up here!!

Be Well!

Jen

[Sparkysarah]

I have just answered another post on a similar subject from Francine, and it is very cold here in England. I am definitely shivering and not enjoying this blast of snow/ice. Last night I slipped and went a***e over t*t on my drive so I am feeling rather stiff and bruised today but at least I saved the milk!

Anyhow just wanted to agree that I am not great in the cold and the other evening I just had to go and get into bed early as my whole body felt chilled from the inside to the outside but improved when snug and cosy.

Cheers for now

Sarah

[jensequitur]

I used to feel great in cold weather.  It kept me cold and alert.  Now the cold sets off back and thigh spasms, which makes it very uncomfortable.

[socrates2k1]

Yeah, I wish I could say the same, but I disliked Winter, even before all of this.
I prefer, Spring & Summer, where I can get outside and do whatever I choose.

However, since the main onset of my MS, feeling "cold" no matter what the
actual temperature is, is now typical for me.
Heck, this Summer, I had my mattress heating pad on, on high.
I always feel "cold".

Now that the actual temperature has dropped considerably, it's even worse.
Our "high" for tomorrow, is suppose to be 42 degrees (here in KS).

Oh well, guess we can always put on more clothes, more blankets, and crank up
our heated mattress pads to "as high as it gets" (ha-ha).

Hey, if my wife can deal with "dizziness" and "fainting spells", that her doctors
can't find a cause for, then I guess I can deal with being cold.

On the bright side, only 4 more months until Spring.

-- Socrates2k1

[Lulu54]

It's interesting that he told you to avoid the cold as well.  Maybe we should all move someplace temperate, like Hawaii???

I personally love the cold as long as there is not snow or ice on the ground to make walking treacherous.