HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Pain in the Heat

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/8/2013 10:43 PM (GMT -7)
  In Melbourne we’re mid heatwave. It's not the hottest it's ever been, but it's enough that it's making me feel horrible. Next week’s set to be worse than this week, and this week has really taken it out of me, and virtually every I know. Even those crazy people you normally see running around like maniacs in the heat are sooking over it. (I just found a long term forcast that claims Wednesday will be 22 instead of 37… I don’t buy it, but OoOoo I hope it’s true.)   To say I’m over Summer is an understatement. It’s not even Summer anymore. It SHOULD be cooling down. But nooo.   When the weather’s not so hot a lot of my pain management involves deep heat cream, or hot packs… Both are completely out of the question.     I can’t even stand the idea of moisturiser today, so even massage is kind of tricky. Besides, we don’t have a/c so the closet to human contact my partner and I are prepared for at the moment is sharing a couch in front of the fan.   …Any ideas how to beat the acheys when it’s stupidly, unseasonably, hot?
Posted 3/8/2013 10:53 PM (GMT -7)
Try making a "swamp cooler" to help with the heat.
Get a large open container of ice and place it in front of your fan. The fan will move the cooler air towards you.

Word of warning- watch out for water on the floor near the fan. I'd hate for you to get shocked.
Posted 3/9/2013 10:32 AM (GMT -7)
Summer is the worst time of year for me, too.  I'm in Florida and the heat, summer storms, and humidity do a number on me.  Yes, I have air conditioning but the cold hurts me too.  I need perfect weather and there is no such thing.

 

The winters here a very pleasant and no humidity and storms so this is the best time of year for me.  You definitely are not alone.

 

Sherrine

Posted 3/9/2013 6:25 PM (GMT -7)
Even my fish tank hit 31 last night. It's MARCH. *Grumble.
(That said, a group of normally very territorial fish all huddling around the bag of ice in their tank is quiet sweet, lol.)

We've tried the ice/fan thing... It works a bit in our bedroom, (any little bit helps) but not so much in the loungeroom. I'm sure when my brain isn't baked I'll be able to come up with a plausible reason why this is, lol.

Luckily it cooled down late last night/very early this morning... Cool enough to use deep heat anyway. There was a whole 4 hours sleep, hooray! rolleyes

I'm thinking there may be a sleep over at the dreaded inlaws to hijack their aircon.



I used to love Summer, I never had the same level pain, my energy levels where higher... But bring on Winter. I don't care if I get cold related pain. I can fix that with my doona.

Posted 3/10/2013 5:48 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Madisun,

I'm glad it cooled down for you some.

I was at the store the other day and saw a tall stand up air conditioner that doesn't need to be installed in your window. Might this be something you should look into?
Posted 3/10/2013 8:41 AM (GMT -7)
Hydrate, hydrate. Warm baths. Less movement, or gentle movement.

Personally, I find walking or biking in the heat to help me recuperate my energy and to modulate my own core energy. Nothing strenuous, but a little purposeful sweating goes a long way.
Posted 3/10/2013 9:01 AM (GMT -7)
Madi, if you lived in the US, and your aquarium hit 31, you would have a big block of ice :) LOL

Of course your talking Celcius.....

Cold weather used to be better for me, when I was obese. Now that I lost most of the fat, I get cold SOOO much easier, and I hate it. Only downside to being leaner.

We are finally starting to warm up here, and I am SO ready for it :) Best temp for me is 80-90F.... but last year, I spent one day on my boat, in direct sun for 14 hours, reaching up to 105F. Didn't phase me :) Yes, I wear sunscreen :)

Peace,

Fish

Posted 3/10/2013 9:22 AM (GMT -7)
I love the heat and in Arkansas it will get into the 100's in the summer. The winter here is "cold" and damp.

Yesterday, I sat out for awhile...it was 66, cloudy,damp and winds were at 7 miles an hour. My hands were purple (Raynauds) within five minutes. I was not wearing my gloves. I had a long sleeve shirt on and a thick cable knit sweater and was cold. My sister who lives in Wisconsin was sitting with me. She thought the weather was beautiful. Everything is relative :)

Heat is relaxing for me and the humidity doesn't bother me. I'm hoping South Florida will be the perfect place to retire.

Keeping active seems to help with the stiffness. Just finding the right balance of not overdoing is the tricky part. :) Soaking in a tub does take the edge off for me.

Hoping you can find some relief :)

Hugs, Robin
Posted 3/10/2013 6:28 PM (GMT -7)
Almost medfree, we had a portable a/c for years... It's fabulous when the weathers in the low 30s. When it gets above 35, the darned thing turns off because it’s too hot. (Basic design flaw in the case, there’s not enough ventilation… I think it was designed to run somewhere cooler, lol.)
It may be time to look at the new ones on the market.

Fishchris, I have little bags of ice floating in there still, so it still counts as icey, lol.


As mean as it is I'm taking quite a lot of comfort from the fact that everyone else seems to be feeling as horrible as I do. Even the kids at work are getting grumpy. They’re too hot to run around, so they haven’t burnt off any energy for a few days… When they can’t burn off the energy they get rather “creative,” about how to entertain themselves.
Although, we have a game planed for work tomorrow. We’re going up on the fire escape (three stories) and throwing water balloons at the kids under the guise of the kids trying to catch them.
Throwing things at children always cheers me up :D
Posted 3/11/2013 1:35 AM (GMT -7)
regarding keeping cool while trying to sleep: just before going to bed I take a spray bottle filled with cool water and mist the sheets and pillowcases.....not to soak everything, but to make everything a bit damp.

I keep the ceiling fan running too.

I might also pat my neck, chest with a cool damp washcloth

If I wake up in the middle of the night due to the heat, I repeat .

This method has helped me tremendously ....I'm in Florida, and have a/c but need extra help like this when those hot flashes hit.

Hope you find relief very soon!
Posted 3/11/2013 2:09 AM (GMT -7)
The spray bottle's a great idea! I'll give it a go tonight.

It was just on the news that today marked the record for days in a row over 30 for March. Tomorrow will set the record for any time of the year since records began. And seeing as it's going to be 37 (98.5), I'd say that record's gone, lol.

BUT the cool change is due to hit Wednesday morning. Sunday's going to be 15 (59) and raining :D
Posted 3/12/2013 12:07 AM (GMT -7)
Madisun- you can fly over to Alaska and get on our iceburg! I promise you will cool off. Lol I would just love to feel that heat. I am getting out and flying to Florida in July. Yes, one of the hottest months. I can't wait.
Posted 3/12/2013 4:53 AM (GMT -7)
Have you seen these body cooling neck wraps?

http://www.amazon.com/THERAPY-COOLING-SCARF-BANDANA-CS-BL/dp/B004XX4XA8



Maybe it will help? Good luck and best wishes.

Posted 3/12/2013 7:55 PM (GMT -7)
I love those neck wraps! My mum uses one on her cat, lol.

The cool change hit at about 8am this morning. (Our overnight temp was higher than it is now at 1:30pm, lol.)


At this rate it's actually going to be quite cool tonight, so I'll get my deep heat and heat packs back :D
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply