It’s frustrating when heat aggravates my MS symptoms
Even as a native Texan, I don't do well in high temperatures
Being born and raised in south-central Texas, I’m no stranger to the heat here that dominates most of the year. But even after 25 years of living in Texas, I don’t think I’m used to it. While some people embrace and enjoy warmer weather, my body rejects it altogether, especially as someone with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Enduring the heat in south-central Texas has also made me unfamiliar with truly cold weather. I’d like to believe that I could live in an area that experiences real winter, but because I have anemia, I start feeling cold when it’s just 60 F.
In my perfect and hypothetical world, I’d find a happy medium that suits both my needs and those of my multiple sclerosis (MS). I wish that world existed in south-central Texas.
How heat affects my MS
A few months ago, I was informed that my annual MRI revealed mild disease progression, and I spiraled into a depressive episode. In addition, I was in the middle of weaning off my old antidepressant and beginning a new one. Needless to say, many emotions and events were happening all at once.
It became increasingly hard for me to find the joy in anything, which is unlike me. Since life has thrown me more curveballs than I can count, I try my best to find joy and happiness in the little things to remain sane.
For example, I once ordered a Cobb salad from the chicken restaurant that my partner and I frequent. To my surprise, two deviled eggs were in the salad, and I hadn’t noticed them until I was almost halfway done with it. Discovering those deviled eggs brought so much happiness to my heart.
I often remind myself that there’s always a silver lining, but otherwise I was struggling to find one during these difficult times. To try to lift my spirits, my best friend, Maddy, and I decided to spend a day by the pool at my apartment complex.
We spent several hours catching up, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. However, there came a point when I felt a sudden shift in how my body and mind were feeling. Then my symptoms took a turn for the worse.
My head started to pound, my left eye had a stinging pain, my body felt lifeless, and I was dizzy. Maddy eventually had to leave, so I returned to my apartment and ordered a large pizza and Caesar salad because I thought food would help. As I waited for the meal delivery, I drank water to hydrate my body.
As soon as I received my food, I ate slowly so I wouldn’t upset my stomach, but it didn’t help. I eventually crawled my way into bed, turned the lights off, and put my phone away to avoid sources of light.
Medication and ice packs were my saving graces that night, but they unfortunately didn’t cure me completely. It took me a little while to fall asleep because my body still felt overheated, and I was too tired to take a cold shower or bath.
Even after a night of rest, I still paid the consequences for the next couple of days. I was sad and frustrated that I couldn’t fully enjoy a day by the pool with my best friend because of how the heat affects my MS.
How does the weather affect your MS symptoms? Please share in the comments below.
Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.
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Helena Roets
on the contrary, i cannot stand the cold and even cannot function anymore...everything under 22C is a nightmate and i live in Belgium! i love the heat; 55C in the shado is no problrm i feel even a lot better....
Melissa Van Nest
I am from the Northeast. In my 20's I moved to Florida and loved walking on the beach, playing tennis and later on in my early 30's playing golf. Around 40 I wanted out. I felt suffocation walking to my car. The heat of summer was something I began dreading. When I was diagnosed at 45, I moved to a climate where I began living again, hiking 10 hours feeling on top of the world. I recently moved back to the Northeast and do better in single digits and snow than in the heat I had lived in for over 20 years. I can't imagine LIVING somewhere constantly hot and hopefully will not have to do this again.
Colleen Carter
The cold weather actually makes my symptoms worse than the heat .
Cynthia McDermott
Hey there, I know exactly how you feel, I am in central Texas also and absolutely hate the summer heat. My MS gets me in just a few minutes if I go out just to water my flowers on the porch. I came here from Colorado where there was no humidity so it just hits me worst and I amatotal outdoors person love to hike ,ski, bike. Sure can’t do anything anymore. Winter is a bit easier but still can’t hit you with MS fun when you push to see friends and family over holidays hope you have a good Christmas.
Michelle McDonald
Cynthia, we share a last name and we also share a love of Colorado. I got to live there for a few years with my husband's studies with Colorado State and we need to get back to that land. I'm from the east but the humidity plus heat has been giving me heat strokes since I was born (dad thinks I must have been born with MS). We do plan to go for Mt Washington again in a few days. We've been up the peak more times than we can count but COVID has kept us from the peaks for too long.
Michelle McDonald
Cynthia, we share the last name, passion for nature, and heat/humidity intolerance. I've been having heat strokes since I was born - so how long have I had MS my family and me asks. I got live in Colorado for a few years for my husbands degree with Colorado state and we NEED to get back over there since MS and the utility bill of managing temp in the east is driving us to bankruptcy. We do plan on going for Mt. Washington in a few days, a peak often visited and desperately needed. The mountain climb is my favorite with rock and ice as close seconds.
Thomas (Tom) Unrath
Heat, something accompanied by high humidity here in central FL, kicks my MS fatigue into a shutdown mode while other symptoms, like trigeminal neuralgia, move into a much higher gear.
Visiting my son in NYC, in the winter's cold, brings spasticity to the fore, especially my left leg. Walking and using public transportation becomes very difficult.
Richard
My wife has MS. The heat contributes to he fatigue. I had read a few articles that 500mg of aspirin daily will help. Time will tell.
Dee Lima
Dear Desiree
I understand your feelings because I have the same problems with heat and I also live in a place that only have 1 season per year: summer with humidity. Off course I live in Florida 😕
I am so sensitive that as soon as I enter any place, I can feel immediately if the AC is working. In the peak of the summer, I spent the wkds at home, I usually go out of the house in the night. One of my neighbors call me Vampire's, a female vampire 🧛♀️ That's the way it is for us, try ti find ways to make easier on yourself. Take care. DEE
Dee Lima
I understand your feelings because I have the same problems with heat and I also live in a place that only have 1 season per year: summer with humidity. Off course I live in Florida 😕
I am so sensitive that as soon as I enter any place, I can feel immediately if the AC isworking or not. That's the way it is for us, try to find ways to make easier on yourself. Take care. DEE
Gernando
Is frustrating when you realize the big pharma does not care People with PPMS
Michelle McDonald
I SO hear/feel the temp complaints/struggles. I'm always telling my husband that if I'm not covered with goosebumps I can't function. I also recently acquired anemia (Iron) so on days when I can't run the A/C it seems I'm twitching violently from it being a trace to warm or a trace too cold. Either way, too many symptoms erupt. Personally, I need the mountains for so many reasons: a summit goal and more manageable utility bills.
MADELINE l NEWTON
i am so sorry it all came to a stop but you still had a great day for most of it ...don't get your self down on yourself so quickly ...yes MS does mess with us in so many ways but we still can have a great day by not thinking about it as now it is down because i spent to much time at the pool but ha you really did enjoy it ,didn't ya ....loves but i have to always remind myself we can and will still enjoy life and have MS ...just have to remember who WE WE are and WE DESERVE TO ENJOY OUR LIFE ANYWAY WE WANT ... don't let something or someone get you down ...love yourself ...you are SPECIAL...LOVE YOURSELF REALLY HELPS ... love ya ..take care and keep enjoying life ....MERRY CHRISTMAS AND AN VERY BETTER NEW YEAR...LOVES...
Julene Logue
The heat didn't bother my MS at first, but after I had it about 10 years, It has become a real burden. Ever time it gets above 72, I start having problems. A lot of people think the warm summer will make my MS better, but I dread it every year. It's taken me awhile to figure out how to deal with the heat, after having many episodes of having my whole body freeze up when I got too hot. The most frustrating thing about the heat is that no one believes it affects me that badly. My son kept telling me it was all in my head. Well, it's not. What I've finally ended up doing is going out in the early morning, or at night when it gets below 80 and the sun goes down. The really bright sunny days just devastate me. When I have to go somewhere in the day, I take a big container of water and a wash cloth and constantly put water on my face, neck, and arms. Sometimes I will wear a shirt soaked in water on really hot days. I still like the sun, but just sit in it for about 5 minutes at a time, then I go in. I really like windy days since it keeps my temperature from rising so fast,. I live in Eastern Washington, which is a bad place since it's so hot. I am from Western Oregon, and I think having more moisture in the air helps me from overheating so fast. Some day, if the rental prices ever come down, I will move back to the west side. It's really scary when I feel that overheating coming on. I know I have to get out of it right away. Over the years, I've learned to cope with it, but it is distressing. Another thing this horrible disease has taken away from me. I used to love the summertime.
Lisa Kandel
I too struggle with the heat and the cold. Either extreme sends me into a tailspin. I notice it with even a degree of change. I had a bad summer this past summer. But this cold weather is even worse. It makes my balance so much worse.
Stay blessed! Know that you are not alone out there.
Brad
The heat gives me grief. It's usually in the form of fatigue or if I don't pay attention and slow down my outdoor activities it turns to exhaustion. I can manage those. My problem is cold. If it is freezing or below it zaps me. I take forever to warm back up and the stiffness and shakes are magnified.
MS has taught me to understand my body and what I can and can't do. I learned my limits quickly as this disease doesn't care if you are paying attention or not. It will let you know you are beyond your limits.