Thankfully, this was a temporary experience without any lasting damage.  When we talk of pseudo-exacerbations, we are certainly speaking of real symptoms as there’s nothing “fake” about the experience.

Heat-Sensitivity and Pseudoexacerbation

Many people with MS experience a temporary worsening of their symptoms when the weather is very hot or humid or they run a fever, sunbathe, get overheated from exercise, or take very hot showers or baths. For example, some people notice that their vision becomes blurred when they get overheated—a phenomenon known as Uhthoff's sign. These temporary changes can result from even a very slight elevation in core body temperature (one-quarter to one-half of a degree) because an elevated temperature further impairs the ability of a demyelinated nerve to conduct electrical impulses.

Heat-sensitivity and ways to manage it will be discussed in greater detail in Part Two.

SOURCES:
Practical Insights for Multiple Sclerosis Patients, MS Perspectives, Fall 2008
“Exacerbations” as discussed by National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
“Heat and Temperature Sensitivity” as discussed by National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

For Further Information:
MS Essentials 01: Managing Relapses presented by MS Society UK, 2007.

Lisa Emrich is author of the blog Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA and founder of the Carnival of MS Bloggers.