Heat Intolerance

We've been experiencing some hot and humid weather lately, so for me, it's stay indoors and do as little as possible.

The other day I took my neighbour to the store and by the time I'd carried everything in, I was in a sweat, badly overheated, had trouble with my words and was stumbling around. I put the items that needed refrigeration in the fridge, changed into a cotton T-shirt and soaked a washcloth in cold water to wrap around my neck. It took a while for my body to cool down.

Today it's been hot again, though the weather channel says it's 21 degrees Celsius, it's supposed to get warmer during the night and not cool down, and then only slightly, at dawn. It is predicted to be 25 degrees tomorrow, with a Humidex of 31. I guess I'll be staying home and indoors, with my small fan blowing, trying to convince myself it's not really that hot.

My sunscreen let me down on Sunday. After an enjoyable afternoon at my grandson's birthday party, I had a rash and blisters across my face that night.

I had things I wanted to do this week, my friend is on vacation, my daughter at the cottage, and I'm sitting home, suffering in this heat. Oh woe is me right? I don't mean to sound so full of self pity, but I do spend most of the summer, behind closed doors, drapes drawn to ward off the heat of the sun.

The funny thing is, after a few days, if I do get out, I take a deep breath of fresh air and marvel at what a beautiful day it is. I remember summer days spent swimming, playing in the park, going to the beach. It doesn't seem that long ago that I could do those things with the grandkids, but not anymore.

It can't last forever, all too soon we'll all be complaining of the cold. It's the nature of the species.

Here's a link with some interesting information on how to deal with hot weather.

http://ms.about.com/od/livingwellwithms/a/heat_tips.htm?utm_source=exp_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_term=list_ms&utm_campaign=list_ms&utm_content=20150722

Sun Hats

I walked across to the main building, to do my laundry, and enjoyed the beautiful summer’s day. I didn’t go unprepared. I had on a long sleeved shirt and had applied the SPF 60 lotion to my face.

It was all for naught. Last night I could feel the itch on my face, the blister that formed on my nose. Looking in the mirror I could see red spots and, yes, the blister on my nose. So much for sunscreen.

My sensitivity to the sun has been an issue for a couple of years now. I seemed to get these areas on my nose, my cheek, that weren’t exactly pimples but seemed to erupt without reason. And I had a raised rash on my arms that seemed to come and go. It was finally clear that this was associated with the sun.

I take a diuretic that warns about exposure to the sun, but at the time all of this started, I took it very sporadically, not regular enough, I thought, to be the cause. I figured this had to be another one of those strange MS things, like so many others, not in the textbooks.

My daughter, who has a great sense of humor, bought me a sun hat. I knew I needed a hat if I was going to be outside, but I was thinking along the lines of a ball cap or a fisherman’s kind of hat. I was not thinking of a southern belle’s large straw bonnet.

Maybe some flowers? Or a big ass bow?

Humidity and MS

It’s been hot and humid these past few days, with rain expected off and on today.

I can feel the difference in my breathing, more short of breath, coughing. My energy level is way down, so easily fatigued with any activity.

I don’t like air conditioning; much prefer the feel of a breeze, and the foolish notion,that the breeze is refreshing. Actually, it’s just the same hot air, moving about, so maybe a bit of mind over matter. That’s why fans work, same concept.

Right now I don’t even have the option of that breeze, as all my windows are closed, and my drapes shut against the afternoon sun, though it’s grey and overcast today.

Here’s a link describing how other MSers relate to humid conditions.

http://ms.about.com/od/signssymptoms/fl/Humidity-Makes-MS-Symptoms-Worse.htm?utm_source=exp_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_term=list_ms&utm_campaign=list_ms&utm_content=20150429

Take care, there’s a lot of summer still to be enjoyed.

Bruises and More Bruises

I still have remnants of the bruise I received when I...sort of... fell off my bed. How did I manage that, you might wonder. Well, my bed is one of those high ones, with storage drawers underneath.

I went to have a nap, and tried to lay down, going knee and hand on to the bed, intending to end up comfortably on my side...in the bed. Unfortunately, I must not have had my knee well onto the bed; it slipped off the edge of the mattress and slammed into the wood frame of the bed. Big ouch, and big purple bruise on the inside of my knee.

Today I sport a bigger and darker bruise, in almost the same spot, but on the other knee. This one happened on Tuesday when I stopped off at the store. I know I was tired; it had been a busy morning, but still.

I was getting out of the van, the way I usually do, left leg first, grab the purse and cane, step out with the right leg. Since my left knee is my bad knee, it has been known to fail me at times. I don’t know if that’s what happened or if I was just uncoordinated because of fatigue. Somehow, I struck the inside of my right knee on the hard edge of that little storage space where it sticks out at the bottom of the door.

I never use that space, and until the pain struck, forgot there even was a storage space on the door. Another big ouch, and a bigger bruise.

Tomorrow I’ll have another, on the back of my right calf. I’m going out with a friend, in her car. When a car has those runner things along the side, which I never use, I get a bruise reaching my leg over them to get in and out of the car. I need to swing both legs out first, ease myself off the seat and not put that kind of pressure on my calf.

Hopefully, the knowledge of these new bruises will make me more aware of what I’m doing.

But, I doubt it.

Vitamins and MS

Another interesting article on vitamins, specifically Vitamin D and B12, both of which I take, now I know more about why,


http://ms.about.com/od/livingwellwithms/a/vitamin_D.htm?utm_source=exp_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_term=list_ms&utm_campaign=list_ms&utm_content=20150624

http://ms.about.com/od/livingwellwithms/a/vitamin_b12.htm?utm_source=exp_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_term=list_ms&utm_campaign=list_ms&utm_content=20150624

MS and Alcohol

I have never been much of a drinker, but have been known to enjoy a nice cocktail or a cold beer on a hot summer day. In winter, especially around the holidays, I liked a nip of Bailey's in my coffee.

I learned years ago, that I can't drink when I know I'm going to drive. My reaction times are much slower and I would never take the risk. So I only drank at home, which was basically never, or when I had a designated driver.

There is another downside to drinking...the loss of my already unpredictable sense of balance. I would stumble more, and lose whatever recovery ability I might have had. The pleasure of a drink lost out against the increased the possibility of a fall.

So, unless I'm in the safety of my own home, I limit my drinking to the non-alcoholic variety.

I don't think I have ever read an article specific to MS and alcohol, so thought this one was worth sharing.


http://ms.about.com/od/livingwellwithms/fl/Reasons-to-Avoid-or-Limit-Alcohol-if-You-Have-MS.htm?utm_source=exp_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_term=list_ms&utm_campaign=list_ms&utm_content=20150701

On Being a Burden

I live independently, am mobile with a walker or a cane, and still drive my car. But some things, like food shopping are much easier with help.

Walking around a large grocery store is tiring, then there’s all that loading in the car, unloading at home and putting everything away. It is so much easier for me if all I have to do is fill the cart and put stuff away at home.

So on Sunday when my daughter offered to pick me up to go to the store, I quickly agreed. It looked damp and cool out so I wore my denim jacket. Big mistake. As I was standing in the slow aisle, (you’ve all been there) I got overheated. It was warmer than I thought and very humid. Not a good combo for MS sufferers.

Usually I keep the jacket on, because it seems easier to wear it than try to juggle a jacket, a purse and a cane, and of course anything I might buy. That day I had to take the jacket off while I was standing in line.

But when I hung my jacket over the cart handle, everything fell out of the pockets, keys, change, lip balm and cough candies. I had to pick them all up, which is awkward at the best of times.

I was paying for my groceries as my daughter and her family came by, and they loaded my stuff in the cart with theirs. I laughingly told my daughter about spilling everything. Her response was she knew someone should have stayed with me.

Excuse me? My first response was to be insulted, though I knew that was not her intent. More she just wants to help when she can. It’s terrible to be in this in between place of wanting to hang on to my independence and needing some help.

Talk about saying the wrong thing. Just as her comment hit a nerve, so did what I said as we walked out the store. I said I hated being a burden. She said I wasn’t a burden, and she never wanted me to feel like I was.

Guilt is a nasty feeling. The kids all have full time jobs, kids of their own, houses to maintain, and yes...a life. I don’t want to be an added stress. My guilt is not being able to be the supportive parent, grandmother I’d like to be. Her guilt is that she does have all of the above and little time to spare.

Somehow, we’re all finding our way and making the best of a changing situation. I may tough it out at times, but I know they will be there when I need them. That’s family, and that’s love.