A Scarry day!!!
Yesterday a scary thing happened. It has been warmer here than normal. We still have the heat on. In the therapy room we were playing cards. It has been very warm in that room in the afternoons. I have been bringing ice-chips with me. It is normally good enough to eat them to keep myself cool. That is how I got through the winter months. I have always found it too warm here. I played a few hands & got too hot. There was about 14 patients & staff playing cards, plus the physiotherapy side had about 4 more people. Making it even warmer. I normally have lots of warning if I am getting too hot & I leave. Yesterday the heat got me without warning. All I remember was starring at the card in my hand wondering what to do with it. I was confused & very tired. All I wanted to do was sleep. The physiotherapy assistants saw me "dose off" & called a nurse. I heard the nurses (about 6 of them) asking me what was wrong I could not answer them it was like my body was not working all I wanted to do was sleep. The rec therapy was able to tell them that I said I was hot. They reclined my wheelchair & took me back to my room. They took my blood sugar & vitals. All were normal. I was able to tell them by then I was just hot. They put me in my room cranked my air condistioner to high put my fan on high & put some ice packs on me. It only took 10-15 min's & I was awake. The nurses were suprized that it happened that quickly. They asked what I was going to do this summer. They wanted to know what would happen if this happened outside. I told them in the summertime I could not go outside on very hot days. I was fussy thinking the rest of the day. Even today it is a bit hard to think clearly. I saw my therapist later that day, she said if there is a silver lining about what happened now if I tell the nurses that I am over heating they will get me the ice-chips & ice packs I need without telling me to wait. Last summer when I was in the main hospital I asked one of the nuero's who was on my team why that happened to me. He said when MS patients get hot all of their lesions swell even the ones that no longer bother them. He told me that were the lesions are in my brain causes me to "go to sleep" until I cool off. The after effects of fussy brained is from the swelling as well it just takes them awhile to go down.
Disablity pays for things that I need that are not covered by OHIP (our health insurance) I am going to ask the SW if she can ask if they will pay for a cooling vest. I would like to go out this summer. I am volunteering at a sexual assult crisis center, I am going to start to go to the office once or twice a week. I would like to keep that up all summer.
Disablity pays for things that I need that are not covered by OHIP (our health insurance) I am going to ask the SW if she can ask if they will pay for a cooling vest. I would like to go out this summer. I am volunteering at a sexual assult crisis center, I am going to start to go to the office once or twice a week. I would like to keep that up all summer.
Replies
Please feel free to contact the MS Society\'s Information Resource Center at 1-800-344-4867 press option 1- for any and all questions you may have about referrals to resources or educational brochures/ opportunities regarding Multiple Sclerosis for yourself, family, caretakers, etc... They have a cooling vest program for those that financially qualify. I understand the vest come in about a week.
Additionally, MSAA (Multiple Sclerosis Association of America) has a similar program. as well as the MSF (Multiple Sclerosis Foundation).
Your episode sounds very scary. I had a similar experience once, where I couldn\'t talk either, and felt very dizzy. It happened while I was waiting in a doctor\'s office, and they got me back in to see the doctor right away for an exam. He worried that I might have had a stroke. I don\'t remember being hot though, just remember feeling like you described you were feeling. It was scary. It is good to hear your neuro\'s explanation of the event. It sounds like you get very good care where you are. Yes, there may be some bumps in the road with the staff, but for them to do all that they did for you yesterday, that is great. They sound like they do have your best interest foremost.
Volunteering at the sexual assault crisis center sounds like a challange! I guess they are providing you some training and guidance? Very good for you to volunteer to such a much needed cause. You remain an inspiration!
Yes the staff here take very good care of me. It was just until last Friday they did not understand how badly I was effected by the heat. When I asked for ice chips some staff did not understand that I needed them for reasons other than I just wanted them. I am proactive when it comes to keeping myself cool b/c last summer I was unconscious for 15 hrs before my Hubby was able to tell them I was just hot.
Yes the sexual assault crisis center is providing training. 8 - 3 hr sessions a course in crisis intervention. I start early April.
Ask about the cooling collar as well. That should help keep the lesions from swelling and your head nice and cool. Good thing they caught it when they did and are now aware of it.
Gentle hugs, Linda
scary kayce--now at least all staff will have this in your chart and in report for awhile...i had no idea about the lesions swelling, makes sense, thanks for the important info, stressing that body temperature is something to be aware of.
relieved to know you are ok, and know we are all wiser for your unfortunate experience.
there should be someone on staff specifically to help with insurance stuff, such as the cooling vest or collar mentioned...i pray it happens for you. hoping you stay cool, no repeats!
connie
Kayce,
I\'m so thankful that you were able to get cooled off before things got worse. No doubt it is a silver lining. Now they will know to keep an eye on you for heat related issues.
That is great that you are willing to volunteer. What a blessing you will be!
Like Connie said, stay cool and no repeats!
Linda
glad you able to get cooled down and the staff now understand your condition more. thanks for explaining how the heating process in ms works, I\'ve had ms for over eight years and i am still learning new things all the time. that is wonderful that your going to volunteer your time and make a difference in other peoples lives, keep up the great work!
Richard