Living With the Temperature Sensitivity of Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndro

December 22, 2008

Living With the Temperature Sensitivity of Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/12/02/living-with-the-temperature-sensitivity-of-fibromyalgia-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.htm

Temperature sensitivities that come along with fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) can make this time of year especially hard. I find myself spending more and more time planning how I dress - not to look my best, but to be able to deal with the heat and cold.

If you're cold sensitive, of course the trick is to stay bundled up. If you're heat sensitive, you don't dress as warmly as others. When you're both, though, it gets more complicated.

My temperature is all over the map, and heat and cold each make certain symptoms worse. This time of year, things like family gatherings and holiday shopping pose a special problem - it's FREEZING outside, so I need to dress warmly, but will the house/store be hot or drafty?

The best thing I've found is to dress in layers, and shop in stores where I can put those layers in the cart so I don't have to haul them around. My feet are often the key to my overall temperature, so I make sure to keep them warm and dry, but if they're getting too warm I slip into a bathroom or dressing room to take them off and cool down for a few moments.

At family gatherings, the house generally gets too hot, so I make sure to avoid anything heavy, and I step outside now and then to cool off, or go into the bathroom and run my wrists and hands under cold water. I also think a lot about the temperature of what I'm drinking. What are your tricks for staying not-too-hot but not-too-cold? Share them here, or in About.com's Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome community forum (under Newsletter & Blog Topics.)

Suggested Reading:

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Living With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

December 22, 2008

Boy do I have the temperature problem. I wear a sleeveless shirt almost all year round. I go to short sleeves when the temperature is below 32 degrees. On top of this I dress in layers. Maybe a short sleeve shirt, a knit vest. For going outside I wear a fall/spring denim jacket. If it is really cold I add a sweater underneath but usually end up way to hot. I used to blame this on Menopause but that has passed and the problem still exists!

I do have a problem with my left leg and it has to be kept warm so if I am going to be out in the cold I throw a hand warmer in my left pants pocket and it really helps.

I find that socks can make a big difference. If I am chilly I put on a pair of socks, otherwise I prefer not to wear socks.

For bed I wear a summer night gown all year round and then through a warmer top over it that way I can remove the top layer if I get too hot in the middle of the night. Again for real cold nights I just add a pair of socks and I am toasty. I use one blanket with a lighter one on top of it during the winter. I can stick my feet out in the night to cool off if necessary. In the summer the bed is remade with just a light sheet.

My husband on the other hand who also suffers from fibro has a real sensitivity to the cold and dresses in multiple layers, electric socks and gloves, thermals, hand warmers, etc and still suffers from increased pain levels. He has no problem with being over warm.

Jackie

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Clare@GOOGLE MAIL

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Monday, December 22, 2008 6:06 PM

Living With the Temperature Sensitivity of Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndro

Living With the Temperature Sensitivity of Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/12/02/living-with-the-temperature-sensitivity-of-fibromyalgia-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.htm

Temperature sensitivities that come along with fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) can make this time of year especially hard. I find myself spending more and more time planning how I dress - not to look my best, but to be able to deal with the heat and cold.

If you're cold sensitive, of course the trick is to stay bundled up. If you're heat sensitive, you don't dress as warmly as others When you're both, though, it gets more complicated.

My temperature is all over the map, and heat and cold each make certain symptoms worse. This time of year, things like family gatherings and holiday shopping pose a special problem - it's FREEZING outside, so I need to dress warmly, but will the house/store be hot or drafty?

The best thing I've found is to dress in layers, and shop in stores where I can put those layers in the cart so I don't have to haul them around. My feet are often the key to my overall temperature, so I make sure to keep them warm and dry, but if they're getting too warm I slip into a bathroom or dressing room to take them off and cool down for a few moments.

At family gatherings, the house generally gets too hot, so I make sure to avoid anything heavy, and I step outside now and then to cool off, or go into the bathroom and run my wrists and hands under cold water I also think a lot about the temperature of what I'm drinking. What are your tricks for staying not-too-hot but not-too-cold? Share them here, or in About.com's Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome community forum (under Newsletter & Blog Topics.)