I have been doing hot yoga and I get tired and don't always feel great when I first start, but then my body adjusts and I feel better. My studio just installed an infrared sauna instead of the normal heaters.
I've only been to the class twice but I have this horrible shooting pain on the right side of my head. Every time I put my head down and then have to bring it back up it feels like someone is hitting me in the head with a bat.
I don't get headaches often, only from meds if I am herding like flagyl. I tested positive for erchicia, babs, bart, and lyme. I've been treating since 2005. Done IV rocephin and IVIGG and all of it.
I am functioning pretty well. I can work full time and work out and live normally, but I am just curious about this horrible head pounding. I am currently taking mino, riphamin, zith, armour, synthroiod, etc. I've been on this treatment for about 2 months now, but been on riphamin/zith for about 6 months. So my meds really haven't changed.
Curious what you all know about infrared connections.
Thanks,
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I've actually never heard of places installing IR saunas instead of heaters! All I know is IR saunas can make you detox. What about trying an experiment like drinking water and doing other detox methods that work for you, during class? This is just a guess on my part.
Posted by smiles132002 (Member # 7949) on :
Me either, but they did. They are huge almost the entire length of the room and they are HOT. Once the room gets to 105, they shut off, so they aren't on the whole time, but my body is already sweating so much by that point that I just keeps on sweating.
I do stop and drink a lot of water throughout class. I've not experience that I can remember this pounding headache where when I put my head down it's like a head rush and then coming back to standing this horrible pounding. I'm wondering if there's something there. It's only on the right side too.
Thank you for the suggestions.
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
Im going to take a guess that you have a muscle spazm somewhere on the back of your skull. They cut off blood flow in the area, which is why you would feel the pounding when you put your head down. This is head pain, versus a 'headache'.
Take your knuckle and press it along the back of your skull and see if you find a really really painful spot. It may even feel like a lump.
Posted by smiles132002 (Member # 7949) on :
oh my gosh this totally makes sense! I have also had leg and feet muscle spasms. I have chronic neck and back spasms. I'm sure it is something to do with that. I've also had a lot of congestion and stuff so I'm sure that's what it is. What a relief!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- It sounds best to ask your LLMD about this.
Also be sure to consider that, although you did okay with heat before, that might have changed for you.
Many with lyme cannot tolerate even moderate heat. You might seek out a different kind of yoga that does not require the room reach 105 degrees. That can be very dangerous for many with lyme, actually, for various reasons.
If you body is changing what to most would be super human ability to withstand such heat, be sure to listen to it. Heat issues can cause permanent damage in some cases of neurological lyme. Just be careful in case your body's tolerance is changing.
What you've experienced sounds like an alarm coming from your body to get out of that situation. Once you can talk to your LLMD about this, you'll have an idea of what the next safe move would be. -
Posted by Wayne (Member # 42755) on :
I used to do 3-4 FIR saunas weekly, and had to be very careful how long I was in it, or I would get a very, very bad headache. One thing that helped was to take 1/4 tsp of Himalayan salt in water before doing the sauna. Kept my stamina up as well.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- The thing about far infrared sauna . . . especially for those with lyme, they are meant to be
LOW HEAT. The infrared rays do not need to go to high heat. Low heat is much safer and will penetrate the tissue without causing the issues with high heat saunas. -
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
I agree with Keebler.
The pounding headache is your body's way of communicating something is wrong. The fact that it is postural, aggravated by heat seems like veins are in play.
Pain in veins=Bad
Also agree that IR saunas don't need to be smokin hot to penetrate tissue.
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
I had to resort to trigger point injections to get rid of mine. And also IV and IM Magnesium to get rid of the cause - severe magnesium deficiency (despite taking oral mag 8 times a day for a year).
Posted by smiles132002 (Member # 7949) on :
I should clarify, the Infrared heaters turn off once the room gets to 98.6. That doesn't mean the room stays at that heat. Because there are people in the room the heat rises and that day it was around 105. Unless the room temp falls below 98.6 the heaters stay off. They are only on for part of the class.
Before when they used heaters, they just stayed on unless the teacher manually turned them off. The heat is better regulated with the infrared.
I have told my doctor I am doing hot yoga and she is fully supportive. I e-mailed her about the headaches and I'm waiting to hear back.