I thought now would be a good time to ask about this...
 

Has anyone here ever tried a cooling vest, or any of the other vest-like or shirt-like things that some MSers use to keep cool in the summer time??

What's a good brand to buy?

What's a good AND CHEAP brand to buy?

What's a good and cheap AND NOT UGLY brand to buy?

I wonder if I can MacGyver something together to use as a cooling vest, that's not going to be ugly. I dont know how to make clothing (yet. Gonna take sewing classes) otherwise I'd attempt to make something that at least wont be as ugly as the cooling vests I've been Googling some today.

Since it's not summer yet, and it's not all that warm where I live right now, I figured I'd start asking about cooling vests now instead of later this spring.

Erin
The MSAA has a catalogue that you might want to look at. It can be found at http://www.msassociation.org/PDFs/co...log%202008.pdf

a lot of their stuff is either free of low cost. They have a lending program that you might want to check into.

I've tried one once, Erin. I am your basic bowl of Jell-O in any real heat with humidity. It wasn't a good choice for me, I found that the weight interfered with what's left of my very poor balance.

I've learned to manage my core cooling using my hands and feet and just plain old ice, or a couple gel ice packs when I'm not able to get ice easily.

I didnt have that much of a problem last summer with the heat, but it was only super hot for a few weeks last year. I do remember feeling like I couldnt walk very far when my boyfriend wanted to go for a walk downtown at the riverfront last year. He was a bit clueless and didnt realize why I stopped by a fountain and didnt walk any further. (the fountain was in the shade, and there was some spray coming off the fountain that felt GREAT!

I'm just wondering if I should be a bit worried about the heat this year, since I've had another optic neuritis (this time in the "good eye") and I have a bit more numbness in my feet and toes now.

I never did like summertime...altho I did enjoy the heat I felt when I was in a desert area of Texas several years back. That heat was comfortable...but the heat up here in "armpit of Nebraska" is so oppressively hot...now I kind of understand why when I used to work in places that had no air conditioning to speak of, I was constantly getting heatstroke.

I work in the heat, Erin, and it really bothers me. I carry an ice chest around in my car with bandanas in it that I wrap around my neck. That works pretty good. Shared Solutions sent me some that I can freeze and they work pretty well. As long as I keep my hands and feet cool, and keep myself hydrated I do pretty good.

I have a cooling scarf and vest from arctic heat. It's bright blue, LOL. Definitely see me coming.

It's not as heavy as some of the others, but it's good for about an hour in the heat. Good for going to festivals for short periods of time. Usually tired from walking around anyways by that point. The biggest problem is that once it stops cooling - it makes one very hot quickly.

The scarf seems to be more helpful than the vest at cooling me down, tho I think it's because I have it right on my skin. Either that, or the back of the neck helps a lot temp wise.

But this is my own experience with it.

I don't like to wear anything tight or fitted. (Ironically, I finally put on enough weight to endow me a bit and I can't wear anything tight.:p)

So I have to improvise. I take the ice packs that come with Copaxone with me in the car where ever I go. I also have a fishing vest with lots of pockets and I put the ice packs in them if I am going to be outside for longer than a minute. Hey, I live in the SW - 1 minute outside in the summer will fry you. That 50 - 100 ft walk to my car exhausts me.

I also wear loose, lightweight, light colored clothes. This helps keep me cool as well.

I simply, don't go outside on hot humid days, just as in the winter, I don't go out on cold, icy, snowy days.

I'm a hot house plant..:D

Last summer, my wardrobe consisted of skorts (shorts that look like a skirt) and plain t-shirts. (the kind you get for about $5 at in the men's department at WalMart)

My shoes all year round, unless it's raining are Crocs. (I'll wear them in snow if it isnt too deep)

Last year when I went to the Zoo with my friends, I carried frozen bottles of water. Drank the water as it melted, and used the bottles to cool myself down by putting them on my neck, or just holding them in my hands.

I'm looking for another way to protect myself from really bad heat tho. Not sure if my boyfriend will "approve", but I might try to rent an electric scooter from the Zoo the next time I go there with him. Maybe I wouldnt get too overheated if I ride instead of walk.

But, our Zoo is fairly well accessible. There's lots of areas around with air conditioning. Water fountains all over the place. Misters (big spraying sprinklers) and the coolest (temperature-wise) place is in the Aquarium...at the Penguin display.

The Omaha Zoo (The Henry Doorly Zoo) is probably one of the best in the world.

I stay in my basement a lot in the summer. It's usually a constant 65 degrees down here. And in the summertime, it's occasionally colder because our upstairs is so warm in the summertime, makes the a/c run pretty hard.

Not sure what it'll be like this summer. Our air conditioner crapped out on us last August, and we replaced it with a heat pump. Not sure how well the heat pump is going to cool the basement now.

My neuro had suggested that when I start getting unbearably hot to take a couple of aspirin to bring down my body temperature - I do and it does -

That's interesting. I'll try it next time I'm warm from being in someones too warm house, or if I'm sitting out in the front yard in the direct sunlight.

I use the Steele vest. I know I should use it anytime I go outside but I don't. I'm not out in the heat that long. I do use it when I'm going to the zoo, etc. Someone will come along and provide you with the name since it evades me but there is an organization that 'lends' then free. It just requires a script form your Doctor. I say 'lens' because they don't actually give it to you it's just that they don't ask for it back.

The cheap little fans that come on a spray bottle work in some conditions. I like to keep ice water with me. I got a bottled water from the store that has the sports top. After I drank the water, I refill it about half way, freeze it and then fill it with water and take it with me. I have found that bottled water doesn't stay frozen as long.

I crochet little bottle shaped bags with long straps that I put my frozen water bottles into. They work great to keep the water frozen for me. Just the little bit of insulation makes it stay ice maybe another hour or two longer than it normally would.

The bags make it really easy to carry the bottles. Plus, the bags are fun to make.

Me too, thanks for reminding me..:)

I know 100% I had ms for sometime befor DX. I have always tried to stay in when hot and in when cold. That is just me and I know now due to ms. I do not think I would like the weight. My advise is to check all sites, ask for advise (all u seem to have done) or are doing - pick out one - and hold off till u know you need it. We are from everywhere, and all walks of life. What is ok for me may not fit your life. :hug:

Scarves
 

I use the cooling scarves. Wal Mart sells them in the sporting goods department. Lots of patterns and prints available.
Soak them well, store in fridge and off you go.
If we are going to be outside for long periods, I keep them in a cooler with frozen water bottles . This seems to have worked for me.
Stay hydrated, drink lots of water. Misting fans also help.
In a pinch, using something cool on the back of your neck , wrists and elbows, i.e. damp paper towels from the ladies room
I want want winter to end but I am dreading the humidity of summer!!
Good luck in your search

Nothing seems to work for me so I will DEFINATELY have to try this!! Wonder why my neuro hasn't mentioned it...:confused:

I have all of the different cooling products myself and for some reason they don't help keep me from overheating. Once I am at that point the only thing that works is drinking lots of cold water and ice packs on my feet and wrists.

I haven't heard anyone mention this...when it is really humid outside, no matter what the temp, simply moving around my house makes me overheat! :o

This is a good thread and I'm glad you started it. I tend to prefer to find the cheapest ways to do things like this and you guys have provided several .... thanks!

My dad used to insist on turning off the air conditioning occasionally during the summer. It was probably about 10 or 15yrs ago that I started to insist that he keep the dang thing on!

Now I kind of understand why I dont like summer as much as I did when I was little. I hate being hot!

When you're cold, you can always put on a sweater or a coat, but when you're hot, there's only so much you can take off before you get arrested for indecent exposure.

Too bad I'm not skinny enough to wear bikini tops and Daisy Duke shorts during the summer. I wouldnt have to worry much about overheating then. (hah! skinny is not the word used to describe me)

I cant afford many of the cooling vests and other stuff that I've seen. I'll probably have to go to WalMart and look at the cooling stuff they have there. I was talking to my dad about getting a cooling vest last night. When I told him how much some of them cost, he said he'd turn the a/c down a bit more and I can just stay inside all summer...it'd cost the same either way.

When I am at home in the summer I constantly wear a Romper.

That's the terry cloth one that just comes above the bust and to the
middle of the thighs. I don't have the greatest body but I don't
care. I have COPD also and the heat really gets me where I can't breathe.

I can't stand anything on my shoulders in the heat. When outside in
my yard I wet a terry cloth hand towel and put it around my neck.

If I am going to a backyard barb. I put a few wet towels in a plastic
bag and put it in the cooler. This way I always have a cold one for my neck &
shoulders. Put the warm one back in cooler take cold one out and so on.

Jappy

I went to their website and applied for this whole cooling kit! It has the vest, wrist coolers, neck cooler, cooling bandana and lots of cold packs. I qualified to receive the whole kit for free. I think it was based on one's condition, not finances, but I don't quite remember. Definitely look into this though, the kit is wonderful!:)

I just looked at the catalog. I want the cooling bra inserts!

I never heard of this. Do they give band-aids with them? LOL.

This thread came at a great time since it's in the upper 80's today!:eek: Thanks!

Hi Erin
I went to the MSAA website as suggested today. If you are single and made under $32k roughly, in 2007you can apply for a cooling vest set and 2 accessories at no cost. You also need an Rx from your doctor verifying you have MS. HTH

I got the application filled out and Rx requested. That is how I spent my day. Plus I was gathering documents for my appointment tomorrow, to see if I can get Medicaid and Food Stamps. Fingers crossed, wish me luck.

:hug:

That's why a lot of people with MS should contact the MSAA...a lot of the cooling vests and equipment they have is FREE.

Also, I know that our chapter of the NMSS has programs for people who cannot afford cooling equipment. We have a lending closet. Contact you local chapter and see what types of programs they have.

I go to my neuro at the end of April (unless I visit him earlier...stupid right foot is so numb that shoes are annoying today) so I think I'll ask him for a Rx for some cool cooling stuff.

Another thing I did one year for Christmas (it did cost money) was to get an automatic starter for my car. I make sure my ac is on and on high and I start it in the house or right when I am at the door of a store. When I get to the car, it's nice and cool.

I'd love an automatic starter, for when I'm out shopping or at the movies or something and am parked outside. At home, I'm lucky that I get to park in the garage (we used to have 5 cars...my dad downsized us when we moved)

My problem is, that I cant get an automatic starter for my car. It's a stick, and to start it, I have to push the clutch in.

I should get an automatic starter for my dad's car (same model car, different transmission) He just got diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. He could push the button when he gets into the parking garage at work, and have the a/c (or heat) started cooling/heating before he gets in.

Give him a call. That is what I did with mine. The secretary will mail it to me. I wasn't going to wait for my April appt.

:hug:

I forgot to call today. Went to the dentist and my serious fear of dentists was all-consuming and I was lucky to show up for the appointment.

I'll have to call him tomorrow if I dont forget between the washer repairman, the oven repairman, the tile guy for the new bathroom that's been a Work-in-progress since October, and my dad's younger sister calling me to look up kitty cats on the Nebraska Humane Society website. (she doesnt have internet access at home)

Erin.....remember the old York Peppermint Pattie commercials? The bra inserts make me think.."I get the sensation........" LOL

"I get the sensation of two ICE COLD York Peppermint Patties on top of my ta-ta's?"

Dont mind me, I'm in a silly mood at the moment.

I had a look at the site but couldn't work out what was their "cooling kit". They had so much to choose from.

I know I can't apply for free anything because I live "elsewhere" but I'm interested to see how they decide who gets it all for free.

Maybe I could put pressure on some of our companies here who make similar products.........or on MS sites here in OZ Land to put pressure on the companies that supply these goods, to give us all a better deal.

One can only try!

Erin,

I just received this information from a fellow MSer that you may find beneficial. The Steele Vest I have was paid for by a local MS foundation through the University of Missouri (we also have monthly support meetings). You may want to contact the University of Nebraska to inquire if they have a MS foundation available too.

ARE YOU HEAT-SENSITIVE?
Many people with MS experience weakness, fatigue, visual disturbances, and other symptoms when they become overheated. The MSF Cooling Program offers a variety of items, free of charge, including cooling vests and accessories, to help with heat-sensitivity. Applications are accepted through June 1st. Send applications to: The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 6350 North Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. Applications can also be submitted online at http://msfocus.org/programs_coolapp.php. Additional applications can be obtained by calling: 1-888-MSFOCUS (673-6287).

Hope this is a help for you. I know how the midwest heat and humidity can play havoc on us.

Heck Yeah!! Keep on keepin' on! LOL People in "OZ Land" get hot too!! LOL:D

I got the neck wrap it worked ok last year i lol ready i just dont know what i did with it lol god i love this illness every day is like a winding road lol

Good news.
Last week I mailed my application to MSAA for cooling vest and accessories. Yesterday someone from there called and verified my request. She then said it will be sent to me in a few days. :cool:

Now if the temps would just warm up. We've got the sunshine today but the air is chilly.

:hug:

crap...I knew there was something I forgot to ask the neuro about yesterday!

Oh well, I see him at the regularly scheduled appointment at the end of the month... (note to Self. Remember to make a note to ask the doctor for a Rx to get hopefully free MS accessories from the MSAA)