I am going to write about what summertime is like for me having Multiple Sclerosis (MS). For those that are new or don’t know I live in Utah so it does get hot here in the summer and super cold in the wintertime. We usually get into the upper 90’s slash low 100’s during the months of July & August and sometimes it can hot earlier than that.
Anyways now back to the topic at hand. Those of us that have MS don’t do well in the heat. The heat makes any MS symptoms we may be suffering from even worse than they usually are. We also get super weak so we have to try and avoid overheating. In this post I am going to give you some tips that I use when I am out shopping or at work to try and stay cool during the summer months.
The first thing I do during the summer is try and not go out in the afternoon or early evening because that is when it is the hottest. If I have shopping to do I try and get it done first thing in the morning so that I am not out during the hottest parts of the day.
The second thing that I do when I have to go out during the afternoon is try and park and close to the building so that I do not have to walk super far. If I am with someone else and they are driving I will try and have them drop me off at the door and avoid walking through the parking lot.
The third thing I do is keep ice packs in the freezer so that when I am leaving work in the afternoons I can have it to keep myself cool. My grandma thought of this one and I have to say that I loved it. The exterior and interior of my car is dark in color so the inside of my car is always super hot after it has been sitting out all day so having an ice pack to put behind my neck while I am driving is a great way to keep my cool until my air conditioning in my car to cool the car down.
The forth thing that I do is leave my sun roof & windows cracked so that there is some air flow through the car. This one can’t be done all the time because of the wind and things like that but I do try and do this one everyday because it also helps keep the inside of my car cooler on the super hot days.
Those are the top 4 tips I have for keeping cool in the summertime. If you do anything different please let me know because I am always looking for other things to try. Also if there is something about MS that you would like to know please let me know in the comments and I will make sure to write another post about it in the future.
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12 Comments on Summertime & Multiple Sclerosis
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Hi Margaret! It’s my first time to visit your blog, but I know I will be back. I have a friend with MS and he has taken a turn for the worse. He gets tired and overheated easily. I find this very helpful in understanding what he is going through. I’m going to share your page with his wife. His MS affects the entire family. They are a strong family, but the now have a different life than they had planned on.
Christina recently posted…Attention Shoppers: 5 Ingredients to Avoid In Your Food
Thank you so much for stopping by! I am so glad it was helpful to you that is the main reason I take the time to write about MS because people don’t know a lot about what people with it struggle with. If there is anything else you want to know about please let me know and I will for sure write about it!
Margaret Tidwell recently posted…Chance For Love by Rachelle Ayala
Those are some great tips, even for those without MS. I never realized how much the weather affected those struggling with MS. Hoping for a mild summer for you!
Kristen Kelly recently posted…Suddenly a SAHM
Thank you and considering we had to turn on the heat last night it just may be a mild summer this year.
Margaret Tidwell recently posted…Chance For Love by Rachelle Ayala
I agree with Kristin – great tips! And I also didn’t realize how the hot weather can affect people with MS. Sounds like you are the right track with how to stay cool this summer!
Amber Albright recently posted…Finish This! 10th edition
Thank you!
Margaret Tidwell recently posted…Chance For Love by Rachelle Ayala
These are great tips! I will be sharing them with my best friend’s mother. She hardly ever leaves the house before sun down during the summer.
Earl-Leigh recently posted…Wedding Recap {TIU Bridesmaid}
I am so glad that they are helpful to someone!
Margaret Tidwell recently posted…Chance For Love by Rachelle Ayala
These are great tips that I am sure will really help others with MS…(and probably others that have struggles in the summer). I am going to pass them along to a friend who has MS. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Meeghan recently posted…Sipping Strawberry Sodas with a Straw
Thank you so much and I hope it helps them!
Margaret Tidwell recently posted…Happy To Be Alive, Because by Chelsea Jacobs
I also have MS and live in Texas. I found a neck band that I insert frozen packet into. It ties around my neck and I make sure the ice is snug around my carotid artery. It is black and sin’ real obvious/unsightly. Thanks for your post.
Thank you for letting me know something like that exists.
Margaret Tidwell recently posted…Adoption Thoughts: Things People Say