[tkrik]

The summer heat is here and I hate it. I don't like the symptoms that exacerbate each summer. It's not a true exacerbation of the MS as it's all heat induced. Even in the house with the a/c on the heat can still affect me in small ways.

I thought it would be good to share things we have tried to keep cool and to cool down in a hurry.

If I'm able to take a shower, I do and then sit or lay down with the fan blowing on me.

I eat a lot of popsicles and drink cold drinks in the summer. I never have hot coffee or tea in the warmer months.

I keep an ice pack in the freezer at all times. When I come inside and I'm weak and my vision is blurry, I can grab it. I place it on my stomach and then put my wrists on top of it. For me, this seems to cool me down the fastest.

What are some things you have tried?

[Starznight]

Might sound crazy, but I mix up peppermint extract and water and soak a few washcloths in it and toss them in the fridge. If I'm suddenly feeling hot they work great for cooling down and the menthol from the peppermint is quite soothing. And you can rewet them several times with just water before you need to worry about adding peppermint again.

I also have a few mini backpacks (the little purse like ones) that I toss ice packs in if I'm heading outside. Just slip it on and the back stays nice and cool. (Also the clay ice packs seem to work better and last longer than the gel ones)

In an emergency, I always try to keep a few of the 'keep cool' patches in my purse. They're sold with the cold/flu supplies. But they're little one time gel stick on patches. You're suppose to stick them on your forehead for a fever, but I find they work great at cooling you down if you cut them in half and stick them to pulse points like the sides of the neck or inside of the wrists.

I also use and collect the little paper fans, they have really cool mini ones that are about the size of Chapstick folded up, at most party supply shops. I have tons of those in the cars, in my purse and backups in the house. Sure you have to fan yourself with them, but it beats running out of batteries for the mini electric fans that are all but useless anyways.

And a closet full of lightweight linen.

[tkrik]

Those are good ideas, Starz! I'm going to have to try the peppermint extract on a washcloth trick. Those would be good in a car too as they aren't heavy like some of the ice packs. I don't go far at all but it would still be nice as right now, even short distances get me too hot. Did I mention I hate summer?!?!

[Starznight]

I love summer, in New England just below the border of Canada , but it is brutal here in SE GA. No breeze, just heavy and oppressive humidity on top of the heat. Icky!

I stay inside most of the summer, but even though the AC is going and we have humidity control on our unit, the body just 'knows' it's summer. And suddenly every symptom is multiplied. And it doesn't help that I'm so fair of skin I nearly burst into flames from the sun. Seriously I'm not white, I'm clear

Unfortunately, while there are places that stay a nice 75 degs year round, they're all islands... I'd be a pile of ash as soon as I step off the boat