Chills and sweats may be hallmark symptoms of the flu, but
they also come with the territory for those with multiple sclerosis. It’s sort
of like our internal thermostats are on the fritz sometimes.
Having spent countless hours in medical appointments with
multiple sclerosis practitioners in various neurological and other offices, I’ve
been frustrated to find this issue acknowledged only in part. Most of these
doctors readily acknowledge that an increase in body temperature can send MS symptoms
into overdrive. Some will add that excessive cold can also aggravate MS woes.
Very few medical types seem to understand how MSers seem to
go suddenly from hot to cold (or cold to hot), regardless of the actual temperature
wherever they happen to be. I have no idea why they don’t go with this, because
tons of MS warriors describe similar experiences.
We peel off jackets and sweaters, when everyone else in the
room is bundling up. We shiver and reach for extra layers, when others are
melting. And we seem to go back and forth from hot to cold and so on.
Heat is definitely the worst part of this equation.
Uhthoff’s Syndrome is well documented. MSers suffer in
excessive heat. Optic neuritis, vertigo, tremors, spasticity, and other
symptoms tend to be exacerbated by warmth. That’s why so many of us seek shade,
don cooling vests or neck wraps, and kick off bed-coverings. We sleep with fans running, even in the winter. We steer clear of
hot baths and step away from hot, stuffy rooms. And we try to schedule outdoor
exertion extra carefully in the summer months.
Images:
Word cloud generated by Kicking MS to the Curb - All rights reserved
Word cloud generated by Kicking MS to the Curb - All rights reserved
Series title graphic adapted from public
domain artwork.
You are invited to join the Kicking
MS to the Curb page on Facebook and the Making the
Most of MS board on Pinterest.
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