I'm wondering if anyone else has the same type of problems with heat that I do.
For a year or so, heat would highly activate my sensory symptoms and I'd tingle/buzz like crazy. Thankfully that has subsided to a considerable extent.
I still get this, like if I get into my car on a hot day my face immediately tingles strongly. However it is slowly improving.
But heat can still make me feel awful, in the form of exhaustion.
Today it is unseasonably cool here in MD, so I took a hot shower. Not exceptionally hot, probably the temp that most people prefer, but I usually go luke-warm so it was higher than my standard.
It felt very relaxing and soothing at first.
But after a couple of minutes my stomach turned over and I felt malaise throughout. Plus I feel like my energy went down the drain with the water.
This has happened to me before and was more severe earlier in my treatment, but I never asked about it and I don't read too much about others with Lyme and heat intolerance.
So whether from exertion or an external source (shower or weather), heat can either activate my sensory symptoms and/or zap my energy. Do other people get this? Does anyone understand why this happens?
It is a delicate line, because heat can feel therapeutic. But if I take it an inch too far, I pay for it all day with exhaustion.
Thanks in advance for commiseration or thoughts.
Posted by garunner (Member # 19474) on :
YES! YES! YES!
I've been intolerant to heat and sunlight from the beginning. I've been sick for three and a half years and treating for about a year and a half.
I still have this particular symptom, although it is slightly improved. Epsom salt baths used to set me back, but I could handle a short shower. I haven't spent much time outside since getting sick, esp. in warm weather, as any amount of sun hitting my body sends my CNS into a bad place! I always get tingling and patchy dysthesias with heat and sun, too.
My LLMD has me on a low dose of Lyrica for this, but it's not helping as far as I can tell. I just keep on treating and hope it will get better. I can commiserate with you all day long! I would love to be able to spend some time outside this summer!
Posted by thejoje (Member # 19976) on :
Wonko, Let the commiseration begin!!
I definitely feel for you.
I can't walk past a hot stove or get near a window with sunlight pouring in without that "drained" feeling.
I hate the summer.
Shall we all move up north?
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
My daughter has this. She does take the epsom salts bath, but she has to use tepid water. And she gets really sick if she stays outside for too long.
Posted by jklynd (Member # 7550) on :
Do a search on "Uhthoff's sign"... I believe it applies to many diseases where nerves/conduction of nerve impulses are affected, not just MS.It's been mentioned here before also,and you should be able to find some posts about it.
Joe
Posted by Jane2904 (Member # 15917) on :
Our daughter has this too.
Feels sick and gets light headed when it is hot.
Posted by MDW005 (Member # 22706) on :
not so much the exhaustion, but the sensory issues you have/had I can truely relate to.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Heat can cause major trouble for many lyme patients. You may need to get a cooling vest - or have ice packs behind the small of your back, around your neck, at your wrists when in heat.
Avoid iced cold drinks, though as they can be a strain and cause the body to actually work harder to warm itself up, thereby, a boomerang effect. -
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
I can't stand heat either. When I get warm I can feel my strength and energy disappear. I feel like I'm going to just drop to the floor if I don't sit down.