I feel your pain. Having been diagnosed 8 years ago but knowing I have had the disease for quite some time, i do believe at this time I no longer sweat so heat for me is an extreme issue. I have to be very cognizant when out in the heat of when I am beginning to overheat and not get to the dehydration and passing out level. I don't stray too far from water (either the pool,, ocean, river or drinking water) when i am out in the heat and at night we have to keep the house reasonably cool because I tend to overheat even under just a sheet. So yes, I do sympathize with you - just one more of the wonders of that which is MS!

It seems intolerance to heat is a major symptom for those of us
with MS. I heard that years ago one of the ways they diagnosed MS was to put the patient in a tub of very warm water, and observe their reaction.

Keeping cool is part of my daily life. Heat can trigger a severe flare. Now that I am Secondary Progressive, heat is even more of a problem. A long answer to your question, yes, I sympathize.

That would totally work to diagnose me! I am extremely heat intolerant. Light, too. And it seems to be getting worse. I use a cooling vest/wraps/packs year round but like crazy in the summer! MSAA has a free cooling kit you can get! http://www.msassociation.org/programs/cooling/

Fill out the form, get a prescription, and pick your style (I went with polar zipper and I love it) and it comes to your house pretty quickly! I got mine in a week!

i get very hot and almost always relapse in the summer i just try to be careful stay in the cool areas,wear hat,carry water bottle, use umbrella if sun is really hot. im just really carefull. u have to be u learn to be. and i wear less clothes lol.

Absolutely, the heat saps me of strength and energy very quickly, this is problematic for me as I LOVE the Sun and being outdoors and lets not forget...Vitiamin D... WhooHoo...

MS Sucks

Attitude is Everything

Its very irritating. Its just harder to move, its harder to move everything. It easier to not move.. Like a global master switch supplying energy to move , has been turned down or the filter has plugged? Just very irritating!.

Oh my, I hate the heat.. it just drains me. Takes me from feeling pretty good to having no strenght at all.. hate it

It was explained to me that it's harder for the nerves to communicate when they're hot and since out nerves already have probs this adds to it. I don't have flare ups from the heat, but my body just doesn't work, Like i can't hold my b ody up. For me keeping my hands and feet cool helps the most. Run under cold water or put them on something cold like my tile floors. I got a cooling vest from the MSAA too and it helps.
Good luck.

The heat also exhausts me. We have had a horrendous heat wave here lately. Temps over 90 degrees, plus tons of humidity. I'm trapped in the house.

My wonderful husband just doesn't seem to get how much the heat gets me. He keeps complaining that we haven't gone on a walk lately, but it's unbearable for me until after 8 pm. I've suggested the pool, but he's not interested in swimming. We're going to an outdoor event on Sunday, and I've already informed him that I am taking an umbrella for shade. Last year, he talked me out of it, and I thought I might die. I hate Kansas summers.

Yes! Heat is a problem with me. Some years are worse than others. In 2007, I used a cane all summer because of how the heat affected the MS. Other times, it just saps the life essence from my body. It got up to 100 degrees here in Maryland. I have not left the house.

I'm surprised every member hasn't put a reply here!

Yes, I have an issue with the heat, but with time I've been able to deal with it. It just takes time to learn.

The worst for me: Having to get in a hot car! Damn! I feel like I'm going to turn in to melted butter before the AC kicks in! LOL I'll park farther away if I can park under the shade when I shop! LOL

People who know me well, know how I react. I think they would put it; 'the girl gets stark-raving stupid, if she gets too hot!' They would be right. LOL Heck, truth is truth! Can't deny that! LOL

I haven't been affected by the heat yet. I really hope it doesn't ever hinder me, but who knows.

How long did it take after your first MS symptoms for the heat to affect you?

Hey smathie,

your a kanuck! here in WI, we inhale hard in summer to bring some of that beautiful cool canadian air down. In winter we exhale as hard as we can in unisone, to keep that frigid Canadian air up north were it belongs in winter!

Perhaps your not affected by the heat as much because of the climate you live in? We sure like your air down here in summer?

Did you get the earthquake they are reporting happened in canada yesterday afternoon? Some here claimed to have felt it.

it was about 5 years until the heat really started to get to me. Now i barely want to leave the house on hot days. also have been struggling with low blood pressure/anemia on top of the heat... so it is a difficult time.
looking forward to having veins opened in august to treat CCSVI. people are seeing good improvements with heat tolerance and fatigue. what an amazing blessing!

The heat just drain my energy, I'll start limping( the whole left foot drop thing) and then my balance get bad. I start walking like I'm drunk .Heat never did bother me until I got MS. MS just sucks.