This is my first summer with MS, what should i expect to happen to my body. I had a preview of summer last weekend with 90 degree humid weather. I was hot all day long and it was like my body wouldn't cool off. I'm not going to enjoy this summer if things get worst. Please help!
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Hi Newone,
The heat and humidity are both difficult for me at any time during the year. It doesn't need to be only summer heat. I've known several people with MS who are affected more by the humidity than anything.
Try some of these strategies to experiment with something that will help you this summer. I often need icepacks straight from the freezer for quick relief.
Hi Newone, yes summertime has it's woes for those of us with MS. I am Africian American, but I like to tan in the summer. I myself have to be very careful, If I lay out too long, they are going to need a crane to get me up. Not that I am huge, it is just dead weight is heavy. Try some of the cooling devices for people with MS. The wrist ice packs, the hat with the ice packs in it. the cooling vest. I forget the site, but they will send them to you free of charge, they did me. You are the best judge of how the heat will affect you. Just be careful, with this MS our bodies seem to heat up faster. Learn your body and how it reacts to the extreme heat. You will be fine, summer time is my time of the year, but since having MS I have learned how to enjoy the heat and not let it get to me. Enjoy your summer!
sherry/smomdukes
Hi Sherry,
I would love it if you could try and find the site that will provide cooling devices. Is this in the USA?
The wrist one sounds nice.
I did not get if from one of the websites, but I think I saw it in one of the MS magazines that are free. MS Focus, MS Liflines, it was in one of those books. Maybe Lisa on this site knows how to get them. I pulled my wrist one out today and put them in the freezer. I am positive that someone on this site knows how to get them. Yes it is in the US, but I am sure that would not make a difference. But in the meantime, I am going to look into some of my old MS magazines and see what I can find.
sherry/smomdukes
Connie,
There are two programs for cooling equipment offered by Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA). You can find links to both programs in this post - Keeping Your Cool This Summer.
I got my free supplies from MSAA a few years ago.
Oh thank you Lisa. I found the site and put in an application for the cooling devices. I am remodeling my bathroom for w/c assessibility that is costing me $6500.00 and this will help. Every bit helps. Have a good week.
Connie
hi, lisa! thanks again for the advice. i printed out the application and i'm going to get this started first thing on Monday. my question is can the heat make you have a relapse? last week i started having blurred vision, but it wasn't as serious as when it first started. one minute i was seeing fine and the next minute i notice certain things are like a blur. not only that i m having hot flashes and im only 34.
but after reading comments from other members on this site i see that it can happen too.
hi, thank-you so much for your advice. when it's hot outside, my body temperature seems to be the same degrees. i printed out the application and will take care of this first thing monday morning. thanks again and have a blessed night.
What you are experiencing is not a true relapse. It is called a pseudo-exacerbation as the heat will slow down the nerve signals. Please know that when the body temperature is raised as little as one degree, you will be able to feel the MS acting up. When your body goes back to a normal temperature, the symptoms will return to their 'normal.' This might also explain why you feel as though you are having hot flashes. I get that too sometimes.
thank-you, lisa! i read all aoubt it and that's exactly what i'm going through. i even printed the application for the cooling device. then i called my neuro-doctor and his nurse asked me what i needed the letter for & she said she has never heard of that, but she will send it via mail. sometimes i wish we could write down everything we want in a nurse or a doctor and that could be the only ones we see for all our medical problems.