Dear RSD Friends Living in Florida,
Hi all. I need some input for those friends living in Florida. I may have to relocate to either the Tampa area (west side of Florida) or the Fort Lauderdale area (east side of Florida) within the next six months or so to help with my pain and I was wondering how it is there for RSDers living in the areas. I am currently living in Philadelphia, PA area and suffer immensely in the cold winter months as well as in the summer from the high humidity and rain storms. We have had high humidity and high temps in the last 3 or so weeks and I have been suffering horribly. I started thinking that maybe this weather we have had lately here is just like it is in Florida and wondered if so should I even move there?? If I am not going to find any relief in Florida then why move there for relief?

I currently have full body RSD, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Osteoporosis which means my whole body hurts all the time with no relief from anything. Any input would be helpful.

I have also lived in AZ and drove through NM several years ago and loved it but I was wondering if anyone lives there now how they deal with the excessive heat in the summer? I am trying to figure out where would be the best area for me to move to to help relieve myself of some pain.

A 50 degree winter with no ice storms sure sounds good to me. I am thinking that in Florida and other places the temps don't drastically change like they do in the NE areas or other more northern places. Thanks for any and all help and I pray that everyone has a lowered pain level.
Thanks,
kathy d

Hi Kathy,
I live in Scottsdale,Phoenix, area of Arizona. It is brutally hot in the summer. We are currently having 105 degrees and it rained 1 inch last night.
Thre are 3 months that are pretty awful heatwise-we call it the monsoon season, because we get the rain. The winters, fall and spring are wondeerful, Dry heat. i also have fibromyalgia, full body RSD 14 years now. Used to live in Oregon- we have been here about 11 years. I love it here, I don't go out a lot in the summer. We have a pool, which is nice. Our state is the 3rd hardest hit state for foreclosures, so pricing is good on housing.
The weather beats the rain and snow in Oregon. I might be a good idea to visit where you want to move first?
Take care, loretta

Hi Kathy,

I live in Tampa, Florida, and it is very hot here. My daughter has RSD.
The temperature here is usually in the 90"s with 90-100% humidity. But there is airconditioning everywhere. Also, you can always find a warm swimming pool. This is great therapy for RSD. The great thing about Florida is that the temperature only goes down to maybe the 40's in the winter time. This normally lasts for one or two days, sometimes a week. August is the worse month, but it is tolerable. Your body gets used to it. I think that my daughters worse pain is when the barometric pressure drops. She recently went through the Ketamine Infusions here in Tampa with Dr. Kirkpatrick and her pain has dropped down to at least a level 4. She has had a couple of bad nights, but all in all she is doing so well. We do have a lot of rain during the summer time. We are the lightning capital of the World. You have to outweigh what works for you. Is the cold what makes you hurt more or is it heat. The weather isn't always hot, It stay's nice for most of the year. But, we do have to worry about the hurricanes, we live right on the west coast. We have been very lucky. Florida is a great place to live.

If you have any other questions about Tampa, feel free to ask. My prayers are with you.

Sandy

Hi Kathy,
and thanks to the others!
I'm in the Philly area too.
about little more than 15 years ago, I was determined to move to the FLA Keys.
What a lifestyle, and the temp changed only about 10 degress/day!
I had to go through a relocation "trial" for that, because I had possession of my children.
We checked out the schools, and all that. I got the report for the "government people", which had evacuation routes in case of hurricane, etc.
We visited many times. My parents, live(d) in Port Charlotte, on the West Coast, about 95 miles S of Tampa. A nice ride.

Anyway, that didn't work out, and, I've come to notice, that the weather has become more, and more "Finicky".
Call it Global Warming. Call it what you will.
But, it's getting weird.
The FLA KEYS, are, and remain, my favorite place in north America.
Yet, now I have doubt's wether I'd buy there.
Maybe get a giant Airstream trailer, and go for the winter, or, rent something for the winter.

Here's what is driving me nutso (amongst other things).
I don't react the same as I did many years ago, to the temp and humidity / barometric change.
Back then, I was only a dozen years "in", with RSD.

Now, I have rsd, and TBI, (amongst other things), and the barometer / humidity CHANGES, effect me much more than Temperature!
I've had RSD for 26 years now.
I would NOT buy a house on it's whim's!

Kathy, if this is a lifelong investment, I'd surely go spend time at a hotel at the two coasts you're thinking of.
Then, try the Keys.
And, do it at least twice in a year, opposite seasons. (Remember, and Never forget, Hurricane Season!).
There Ain't No Tryin' to Reason, With Hurricane Season....(Buffett). (You're safer in the Tampa area).

I would buy a house, where I'm comfy, and the values are likely to go up.
Simple.

Like Old School Real Estate.

If I want to move in 5 years, that's what I want to do!

So, I wish you the best, and best of wishes!

Pete
asb

Pete,

Great idea! My daughter lived in South Florida for six years and just moved back to the Midwest. Over the years, I visited in August, October, December, February, and May. The weather is very different throughout the year.

Kathy, I don’t know your situation – if you are working or have other similar obligations that would prevent the vagabond life that Pete was suggesting, but there can be reasonable places to rent for a week or two all over the state. A lot of nice condos are sitting empty right now, many furnished. This could be cheaper than a hotel and also give you a fell of “neighborhood” living as opposed to the tourist-feel of the hotel districts.

Maybe you could contact a trusted real estate agent in Philadelphia that specializes in local rentals and he/she could hook you up with a trustworthy agent in Florida.

Happy Hunting, (South Beach smily)

Mike

Hi. I have moved from MI to Ca then back to MI now am in FL. This is due to RSD/PN. There is no perfect but for me the cold is so horrid on my legs and eyes. Like crying pain so the reason I left MI. In CA my legs were the best pain wise but due to the dry climate it made my eye condition worse though I still have it in FL it is not as bad the eyes. My eyes after every specialist plus 11 eye docs may be rsd. I have the severe pain in my inner ankle/foot/calf. I had to pick the best location in the situation and for me there is no perfect. I have better days and not so great days. In the summer afternoon here I try to stay in as much as possible other then to and from the car. Are you able to come for like a month in the summer time. The winter here is very nice. Let me know if you move to Ft Lauderdale area. I am in Palm Beach County which is a neighbor or if I can help you in any way. Is there any way you could come for a month or so to see in the summer or early fall at the high heat time? If you can do that I would come then rather then the winter where it is much different. Also to find a short term rental in season or a hotel you will pay 2 or 3 times the amount. If I can help you with anything I am an email away. I don't know much about docs here as I go home to MI for my apts other then my psych but may look for someone here as well. Will see.

Hi All,
Thanks to everyone for all your great responses to my questions about life in FL. You guys are the best. I really appreciate it. Trying to find a comfy spot in this life is not easy and I thought ya'll should know the good and bad things about the areas. You have given me many things to think about.

I am on a very fixed income on SS and unable to keep my house in PA so my son is looking to try his hand at racing and FL seems to be the place to go but it is a really big move. I think we both just need a break and want to start over somewhere because we both have been through heck in the last almost five years since I had my accident.

My ex-husband was in the military and we moved 12 times in 9 years so I am well versed in moving and we drove cross country four times during that time too. I have either lived or visited many places across the nation. I guess I am looking for a place where my pain would be lower and there probably isn't just one place unless I want to move to different parts of the U.S. every few months...not feasible. Well, again I appreicate all your help and willkeep ya'll in my prayers each night. It is a hard road we travel each day and I guess I get frustrated and fed up with it all. I figure if I am going to be in pain why not have a cheaper place I can afford with beautiful surroundings.
Thanks,
kathy d

A fellow parrothead ?

I'll come visit you in the Keys anytime, but remember Buffett is not a fan of trailers, even our beloved airstreams......they look a lot better as beer cans

I lived in South Florida when my RSD started. Got no relief due to weather-moved back to Kentucky for family support