I normally bathe and crawl into bed, and rest for the rest of the night. We had company coming, and I had dropped alot of prep food on me, and the floor, and the cat. I was hot, sweaty and needed to be more presentable (oh the vanity) I thought a shower would be quicker than a bath, and I have that new shower head. it wiped me out!

I laid down for about an hour before anyone arrived. I even nodded off for 20 minutes. That helped. I spent the first hour of their visit wobbly, and unsteady. Everyone chipped in when I said I simply couldnt stand at the sink long enough to wash the dishes just yet. The men got up and cleaned the kitchen. That helped. I sat as often as given the chance. I allowed my husband to play butler, instead of me playing hostess. All worked out well, and we even had surprise guests who saw our companies car and couldnt wait to party crash to see them again. I ended up with a house full that stayed longer than I would have liked, but as long as I kept sitting I was manageable. After they left, I collapsed in bed, and slept for 10 hours.

Its been very hot here in the 90s and we are not used to that stuff here. Three 90 degree days are considered a heat wave, and folks take precautions in these woods. I guess next time I will just wash my face, and pull back my hair, and go to bed stinky. it wasnt worth the energy drain, when powder and a fresh face would have sufficed.

Thanks for the support.

But, I am glad your party turned out so well.

I take cold showers in the summer: about 82 to 83 degrees water. Thats about the temp of the water as it comes out of the ground in Florida summers. If its warmer, then, like you, I feel spent after a shower. In fact, I cannot get through the whole shower if the water is warm-- I start itching all over and feeling weak.

I am sure your 90 degree weather set u up for the weakness. In New hampshire, so i assume you do not have central a/c? Put a unit in your bedroom window so You have a cave you can chill down in quickly.

This might be off but I think for me it is because the heat is hitting my upper body and head.

Your head is where you lose or maintain a lot of heat. That is why we wear hats.

I can take a bath and be just fine as long as I am not in anything deeper than my waist. Once the warm water goes to my upper body area I start to get sick.

So, just my opinion. I think it has to do with the upper body and head over heating.

You could have tried a sponge bath.

I've done that. Wet washcloth, fresh clean clothes and undies. Wipe down, put on the clean clothes and undies. Not quite as good as a bath or a shower, but it helps, and you dont always have to sponge bath everywhere or do a wardrobe change.

I'm freezing right now (bedroom in basement, basement is pretty much a constant 64 degrees) I think I'm hitting the warm shower (not hot) and see if that helps my insomnia tonight.

This happens to Kim. She refuses to give up the comfort of taking a hot shower despite knowing that the steam will wipe her out. Russell Johnson, a meteorologist with MS who made the connection between dew point temperature and MS symptoms some time ago has written a number of papers on the subject. Unfortunately you can't get at the papers for free on the internet. But, in a nutshell, he lays out a framework that shows that humidity is the oft overlooked variable, it's not just about heat. Ken

Have you tried a shower bench? I think it is the combo of standing, washing and the hot water. Sitting would definitely help, IMHO. For me, just standing for too long without even taking a step wears my legs out.

I did have a shower bench, but took it out to go back to bathing. I wouldnt have even thought of a shower, but I had spilled several items on me, and was hot/sweaty, and thought a shower would be a great way to invigorate before company.

I do believe humidity has alot to do with it. humid days will wipe me out faster at a lower temp than a plain old hot/dry day.

I think it was just a hot day, I was stressed trying to get so much done, and then the hot water with a vigorous massage on it threw me over the edge.

thanks for all the great tips.