I just asked a couple of great friends, both girls I met at a local retail store where they work, to the fair in July I've known them for arounf 7 months now as a customer who often would talk to them, make jokes, just ordinary crap. Well They have grown close to me and we are good friends. Not really extremely close, but good. Enough for them to except my invitation to the fair.

And yes....I'm 36 and they are early twenties but I don't care, because They are fun to be around and they don't care of my age either.

Ok to my concern.

I really should of thought about this before I opened my mouth, but I REALLY wanted to do something with these girls outside of the "customer/worker" relationship we have going. The one girl said a few months ago that the three of us should do something sometime and that is what got my ideas going and I didn't feel too weird asking them out then. One even gave me her phone number and we text to each other sometimes. Oh...and they are very cute girls Yes I have a crush, but not severe and NO I am not after anything I just like to be around them and it feels right. Besides, one of them is getting married and has a one year old baby.

Well the fair is in July and most likely it will be HOT HUMID AND HAZY! Oh and I don't think I'll be going on any rides I just want to look around and be with my new friends. I already pre payed for super pass, unlimited rides, any day passes for us. How will I survive this? I've been having issues with heat that I discovered last week when it was horribly hot out and humid. Not only did I slow way down, but I felt like crap plus like I wanted to drop from tiredness. Oh and that rocks in the shoes thing. I do not think I'll be able to walk around all day with them, in fact probably not far without constant sit down breaks. I'll be like their grandfather. Rides will probably be a no-no.... I don't need to be thrown off balance more than I am. I don't use a walking stick, but I know I better bring it with me just in case. I know to drink plenty of cold water, but what else can I do? Shade won't be there, do I wear an ice vest? Think I should? I have a camelback I use for bike rides and I could fill it, freeze it and where it on my back....will that help?

I also have a Roll Mobility lightweight wheelchair I just got, but don't plan to use as long as possible, but do you think I should bring it just in case? I would feel very strange and embarrassed if one of them ends up having to push me around in it.

I'm thinking my best option would be to bring a roll-ator, walker/chair? I don't have one, but I can get one easily. That way I'll have support, plus I can sit if I have too without finding a chair. Still though....I'll feel funny around them using that. They've never seen me with any walking devices before.

and the bathroom issue.

I have urgency and the frequency.... I can make it, but with all the heat, crowd....I don't know. I've only had one accident ever, but that was before I got treatment. No I'm not going to wear a pad or anything like that I was thinking of just telling them I'll have to keep bathrooms in sight and empty as much as possible, so they know what's up. See they know I have MS, but they are like "MS, ok" and that is about all they know of it. They don't know all the things it does to me. :heat exhaustion, balance/coordination, I have to use a stick long distances, I pee a often, I'll end up as slow as PA-Kettle if it is hot and/or after a long distance.....

They haven't seen this side of me before as they only see me in short burst when I go gto the store they work at.

Should I explain to them all of this before we go? I know they'll understand, because they are extremely sweet and nice and I know they wouldn't care. I just don't want any "*** moments" when we go.

Do any of you romp around the fair? What do you usually do to protect yourself? Do you ride the Midway? Do they usually have power carts for handicap people? Should I rent a scooter for a day? I wouldn't know how to get it there though?

Hopefully it will be a cool day, but being in July the chances of that are probably 0.

I'm thinking plenty of Ice Water trips to the toilet when I see one(I will be embarrassed to explain I have urges and frequency problems) and a roll-ator. I know I'll need it. I'd rather have that than a wheelchair.

Any advice is welcome please? tell me about your experience at such events with MS.

I love you all....thank you.

I'm not up do doing stuff like that at the moment, but I have figured out a few things to keep myself cool in the summertime.

Bandannas. I was told a neat trick several years ago. A wet/damp bandanna wrapped around your wrist can trick your brain into thinking that it's cooler outside than it really is. Also putting one on the back of your neck can trick your body into thinking it's cooler.

Making sure you stay hydrated. Yeah, when you've got potty issues, that one's kind of a trick too, but if you stay hydrated, your body is better able to cool itself, but then you have to make sure that you're able to get to the potty when you need to too, since you're drinking water/other liquids.

I went to the state fair. I used a wheelchair. I figure if you are going to have friends, maybe being on the level with them is a good idea. I have ankle problems, and my friends stuck by myside. If they turn from you, well perhaps they arn't worth the friendship. Having health conditions isn't fun I know it. Keep those around you, who can accept you no matter what happens to you. That cool bandana you wear around your head is a help too. Medical supply stores carry them, and so does Vermont country store. They have hats and bandanas to help keep you cool. I hope you can go to the fair and have the very best of times, surrounded by people who really do care about you. No matter about the chair or some kind a scooter, have a blast....ginnie

This is my advice. If you really ant to have a good close relationship with these two co-workers you need to be honest with them. That's what good friends are for. If you need a walking stick find the wildest color one you can find, have fun with it. As far as the bathroom issue, if you have to find one frequently then you do. If they are the kind of friends you are saying they will understand and just laugh with you.

When our grand kids got to the age we wanted to start going places with them I had two choices. 1... have boring times here at home. 2...rent a scooter and have fun. My grand kids, daughters and SILs all know that where I go a scooter goes to. To think of the fun times I would have been missing out over the years if I hadn't rented one. Stand up to MS and win!!!!

Going to the Fair????? I don't envy you at all. I'd rather be at
a nice cool bar, sipping martinis and munching peanuts.

Do what you have to do to conserve your energy and stay cool. Whether its a w/c or a rollator, who cares as long as you can get around and have fun. Wear a hat to keep the sun off your head and def do the bandana thing. They also have cooling vests, cooling wrist things, bandanas, etc thru various companies. If these gals are anything like you described, they wont even notice your "wheels". Enjoy yourself!!

If it is an option, go late in the day, and stay until close. Do those things where you can be shaded (covered arena shows, etc.) while the sun is still up, but once it is gone the temp usually goes down.

I, too, believe you should be very honest with your new friends about any limits you must place on yourself to not only enjoy the fair, but to survive it.

Have they ever seen you with a mobility device, when you have gone into their workplace??

Yes, I go to fairs, amusement parks. Yes, I ride the rides. No, my MS, doesn't affect me, numerous lesions and all. I just got through the past two days, 90 degree weather, working in a kitchen, sweating my butt off, cooking for over a couple hundred people. July is about to have nothing on me. MS is about to have nothing on me. ((Think the move 'Training Day', Denzel Washington, with that expression.))

If they haven't seen you with a mobility device, and you just agreed to spend the day, at the Fair with these ladies, I'd say, not telling them and pushing yourself through this, would be the better choice. If they have, seen you, with mobility devices, then explaining to them what your limitations are, is the better choice.

[QUOTE=lefthanded;988332]If it is an option, go late in the day, and stay until close. QUOTE]

I like this advice, right here Go closer to nighttime, yes!!

And, yeah...bandanas I like bandanas!! ((wear one, at work, too...I have a tendency to touch my hair, which is a no-no when cooking food, bandana prevents me from doing that))

Another thing!!! Bananas or anything with Potassium!!! Had one, yesterday, before work.

It helps!!!!

Recap...Bananas, Bandanas, and forget just water...Gatorade or something with electrolytes.

(( will always be an athlete, at heart...that's me))