posted
I know this topic has been discussed before and tried doing a search but the search results just kept spinning. Sorry for the repeat topic.
I am curious how others experience changes with their symptoms when they are either in a hot or cold environments. I know Lyme does not like heat and heat is often used as an aid when treating the disease. But my question is when you are in a warmer climate do you feel better or worse. Is the intolerance of either heat or cold as individual as many other aspects of this disease or does there seem to be a "general" course for how individuals feel when they are in warmer/colder environments. With the change of seasons I'm just curious how the temperatures may affect the recovery process.
Posts: 10 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2013
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posted
For me, I feel worse in the heat and especially humidity. But if you have any heart issues, this will happen. It wouldn't HAVE TO be the Lyme.
On the other hand, I have Raynaud's so I also hate the COLD. So just give me 75 degrees and I'm a happy camper!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I think partly due to the damage / stressors of the various nervous systems, a body with lyme just can't tolerate much variance in temperature. The "control" seem to be off kilter.
Getting too hot from baths caused me actual neurological damage in the past. It took me some time to figure that out. This is very common for those diagnosed with "MS" - heat can cause serious damage. As we all know, lyme can be a cause of MS, so it's vital to understand the heat cautions for those with MS and take that page from their book.
Heat nearly kills me, literally. I have a very narrow margin for being able to survive: 68 - 72 degrees. No cooler, no warmer. I also have Raynaud's so cold is very dangerous for me.
As for heat, heat should NOT be used as a treatment for lyme, ever. The body cannot safely get hot enough to kill spirochetes and they are so irritated by heat they spew out more toxins and also burrow deeper to get away from the surface heat on the skin --
And heat can cause spirochetes to go into protective cyst mode. That can cause chronic lyme and make it harder to treat (just like taking antibiotics without addressing cyst form).
Excessive heat is never good.
Low heat infrared saunas can help, indirectly, though. And should be kept to low heat.
Baths, cozy warm, never hot.
Still, it can be an individual thing. Listen to your body. Even one degree too hot can be too much for some, not for others. Often, it's the next day that can be the "clobber" effect.
ICE, too, should be avoided, according to Dr. B.'s guidelines in the PT section. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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