Heat vs relapse

[Azlemed]

hi, I am in limbo so not sure about a few things. For the last week I have had huge issues with my right arm, headaches are constant and tingling and burning sensations in my hand and feet.  I saw my GP and he said if still happening when summer holidays end then it's possibly relapse and will decide what to do from there. It's mid summer and the temperature is mainly between 23 and 30degrees celcius in the day time.

[Azlemed]

Hi, he said come back in February once kids are back at school if things not settling, we had a discussion re depression/stress and that is another factor in waiting till school is back next week. I am somewhat stressed because i have four kids and it's hard work some days so I admit that might be adding to problems.

I have been running the air conditioning everyday and it's the hottest summer where I live for a while. Thanks for the advice, will try to keep cooler and see what I notice.

[supermum_ms]

Hey there,

If it is MS, it could be a relapse or a pseudo, though i don't quite understand the logic of "if still happening when summer holidays end it's possibly a relapse..." hmmmm if it's not still happening, that wouldn't actually mean it couldn't of been a relapse.

Basically because the 'end of summer', is still a few months away and relapses can be as short as a few days, to as long as years. Waiting months to see if you're still experiencing it or not, isn't really going to be that good a clue to what condition is causing all this. In regards to if what you experience has anything to do with MS or something else instead, now might of been a good time to run some tests.

With MS pseudo's specifically from Uhthoff's  (heat)  - exposure to hot environmental temperatures can 'temporarily' cause the return of prior sx's and or worsen existing sx's......but unlike the behavioural pattern of a true relapse, with Uhthoff's - once you've cooled down and rested enough, you will recover back to your normal.  

Summer can often make it harder to function.....if your heating up and cooling down multiple times through out the day, and not getting enough time to revert back before you've overheated again, you can end up exhausted and battling yo-yoing sx's for days and wondering if your relapsing...

Unfortunately with conversion/functional being out there as a possibility, and the Christmas - New year period coinciding with our summer and the (6-8wk) school holidays, it makes it one of the most common times of year for psychological issues to return or worsen too.

I am only mentioning this because it 'could be' a factor to consider too, and it  is a totally separate issue to it being a relapse or Uhthoff's (heat) and 'IF' your dr is focused on the conversion/functional idea, it's also a 'possible' reason behind your dr is getting you to wait a few months.......

Food for thought..........JJ