[tkrik]

Since being dx with MS 8 years ago, I have always had trouble feeling temperatures on my left arm/hand. I have burnt myself countless times and never felt anything until 1/2 hour to an hour later. The other day, I burnt my right hand and never felt it. I only discovered the burn later that evening when putting lotion on my hands after my shower. Even then I didn't feel anything, just saw the burn. I was rather surprised as I haven't had that happen on the right side as of yet.

I do have trouble with both my hands with water temperature. Obviously, I don't notice it when doing dishes, but I certainly notice it when taking a shower. I will put my hand in and the temperature seems just fine until I get in the shower and the water hits the rest of my body. I have learned that if it feels warm to my hand it is probably a little too hot for the rest of my body and need to turn up the cold water.

Oddly, water or ice can feel so cold to me - like down to the bone cold. This includes tap water. I seem to be overly sensitive to cold water and not sensitive enough to hot water.

I know this subject has come up before but I thought it would be good to start another discussion. Also, what are some tips or tricks you have learned to gauge water temperature.

[lefthanded]

There are shower heads that gauge temperature and turn different colors:

http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Temperatur.../dp/B0096PZZZ0

http://www.amazon.com/LED-Showerhead.../dp/B00CLPDZYU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlou8gtZfac

[SallyC]

I usually start out with cold and add warmth as I go.

What great ideas LH, Thanks for the links.

[tkrik]

LH - I never knew they had those. They aren't too expensive either. I think I may have to invest in one of those. I'm going to search to see if they have one that will work with a handheld shower head.

Sally - Good idea. I'll have to try that tonight when I shower.

[SallyC]

Originally Posted by tkrik

LH - I never knew they had those. They aren't too expensive either. I think I may have to invest in one of those. I'm going to search to see if they have one that will work with a handheld shower head.

Let me know if you find one.

[tkrik]

Originally Posted by SallyC

Let me know if you find one.

I found this one on Amazon. I'm not sure I would want to shower with glowing lights though. As if I don't have enough to deal with in a shower - balance issues, tremors, etc. - add in a colored changing light and . . . . But, I think getting a hand held shower without a temperature sensor would work as well because I can sit on my shower chair/transfer bench and test the water on my legs before doing my shower.

http://www.amazon.com/Shower-Handhel.../dp/B00APECTB4

[Mariel]

Burning and itchy all over...that's me the last days. It kept me awake for several nights, but the last two I have slept through, just exhausted by it all. I see the pcp on Friday. Nothing is helping much...lots of creams and lotions, of course. Zyrtec at night. Needless to say, covering up with Solumbra cloth clothing and not getting a lot of sun.
We are way too dry here (drought) so I have a humidifier going all day now, instead of just at night, but it probably is inadequate for a 1600 sq. ft. house.
This is supposed to be a symptom of Polycythemia Vera...if so, it's not just a chronic disease, it's a real cancer condition and it isn't going to get better. It's "non-malignant" cancer, proliferation of cells. No one seems to know what causes the itching. I wonder what? Another medical mystery.
Maybe it is parasthesia. Nerve endings rioting?
I've really lost the thread as to what this is all about and I have not heard any doctor say they know. I know I can't take Lyrica, it interfered with breathing, but I WAS taking it after Shingles infection 5 l/2 years ago, so I was taking demerol too....and that may have been a no-nol No careful medical supervision, I'm afraid, at that time. It was a bad bad time. My husband was dying too, and died within two months of that Lyrica no-breath episode.
Guess what, sick of suffering like so many here.

[SallyC]

So sorry Muriel... Fell better soon.

[tkrik]

Originally Posted by Mariel

Burning and itchy all over...that's me the last days. It kept me awake for several nights, but the last two I have slept through, just exhausted by it all. I see the pcp on Friday. Nothing is helping much...lots of creams and lotions, of course. Zyrtec at night. Needless to say, covering up with Solumbra cloth clothing and not getting a lot of sun.
We are way too dry here (drought) so I have a humidifier going all day now, instead of just at night, but it probably is inadequate for a 1600 sq. ft. house.
This is supposed to be a symptom of Polycythemia Vera...if so, it's not just a chronic disease, it's a real cancer condition and it isn't going to get better. It's "non-malignant" cancer, proliferation of cells. No one seems to know what causes the itching. I wonder what? Another medical mystery.
Maybe it is parasthesia. Nerve endings rioting?
I've really lost the thread as to what this is all about and I have not heard any doctor say they know. I know I can't take Lyrica, it interfered with breathing, but I WAS taking it after Shingles infection 5 l/2 years ago, so I was taking demerol too....and that may have been a no-nol No careful medical supervision, I'm afraid, at that time. It was a bad bad time. My husband was dying too, and died within two months of that Lyrica no-breath episode.
Guess what, sick of suffering like so many here.

It may be the arid desert air. I think our humidity has been between 3% and 7% here. I have been the same way and have been using body cream like crazy. I also started using coconut oil after I shower and that seems to help as well. I have lotion in the basket of my walker and it goes everywhere with me. I found that body butter or body creams work much better than lotion. Nivea makes a wonderful cream. I think it's called Nighttime Renewal or something. I haven't seen it stores in a long time.

Also, antihistamines can dry you out too so make sure you drink plenty of fluids.

I hope you feel better soon!

[Mariel]

Itch is less! Only major thing changed it this: I broke the pain cycle that night I took demerol because the itch was so unbearable I could neither sleep nor find relief sitting up. The next night, I didn't take the demerol and had no itch. Both nights slept a long time, 11 hours and 10 hours each. The next night, itch was back but slightly, and that kept on the following night, allowing at least half the night asleep. I asked the doctor, with whom I had a scheduled appt., and he said to go ahead and take the demerol if I need to break a pain cycle. This is amazing.
A close friend in Australia says she can break a pain cycle by eating a marijuana brownie. She seems to react adversely to pain killers other than this. Unfortunately, she moved into an area of Australia a few years, to a retirement home, where they do not allow either marijuana or the pill form dispensed by doctors. She is in pain most of the time and it is wearing her down to a frazzle of what she was. She had to cancel her last doctor's appt. due the car not starting. In her life, it's always something. She has a genetic neurological illness.
I am getting a lot of prayer, as well, and taking prayer VERY seriously these days.
In response to the original question of this thread, the burning sensation diminished with the itch; they are part of the syndrome.