Heat wave, old age and PMR don't mix😡😡
The strange thing about it the aches are still there. I thought warmth would help. Are others coping alright, or is it only me?
Hi Constance, heat wave OMG normally I have zero energy, now it's below zero. Thanklfully I don't have aches and twinges, my 10mg of pred sees to that. Hope you cool down soon. Pints of water with loads of ice cubes if you can manage. Regards Pat
'No aches and twinges' - except for a couple of days here and there I can't remember such a time!!!
Home made iced lemon drink helps.
Have a 'cool' day, if possible.
C. 💐
Constance, the heat is one thing but the humidity doesn't help either, especially for those of you on steroids and especially if we can't sleep. I read in the newspaper yesterday that mint tea can help to cool us - haven't given it a try yet. But your iced lemon drink does sounds inviting - yum! In the past, when the heat has been overbearing overnight, I have filled the washbasin with cold water and sunk my hands and wrists into it. It really helps to cool down. Isn't it frustrating how we seem to wait for ever for summer to come along and then we get hit by a heatwave!
Luckily this heatwave is DRY!!! I'm OK in 24-28 degs, but for the last few days we've had 30 - 34 degs (and that is expected to last for quite a few days)?!!! Never really known such heat here in the North Rhein area, or in England for that matter!
Sorry about having a moan. I certainly wouldn't like to live in parts of America/Australia/Africa (all As?)
C. 💐
Constance, we had 36C+ (98.6F) here where I live near to Heathrow yesterday - a record breaker. Slightly cooler here today but strangely I feel hotter! Higher temps expected again tomorrow and onwards. I'll join you in apologising for having a moan about it!
I have been barely able to function these last two days, the heat just wiped me out and turned me into a soggy pile on the floor - haven't been as bad as that in years. Better today, but little rain and I can feel the temperature creeping up now.
I've found that using wet wipes all over and then drying by evaporation helps cool me, but I do the hands in cold water trick too.
I think I'd like the cold water trick all over my body, but I haven't got a bath!!
Cooler today, but yesterday was unbearable with temperatures in the mid 30s. I have enough problems in cooler weather with the dreaded sweats, so yesterday I spent most of the day on the sofa with a fan on me. As for sleeping, in this weather, I tend to nod off on the sofa late afternoon for about an hour, but then my night time sleep is quite interrupted.
PS. I was planning to make roast veg lasagne, but not sure I can face the oven! Maybe a mushroom omelette and new potatoes and salad instead.
Much better idea!
Just made a delicious desert, would go well after your omelette. Frozen yogurt, squeeze of fresh lemon on top. Before serving add five strawberries. Yummy!
Head sweats and subsequent itchy scalp are back - thought that might be a thing of the past now off steroids. Having difficulty functioning too but I guess that may be something to do with new BP pills (beta blockers). The wet wipes sound a good idea - do you keep them sealed and in the fridge perhaps?
What a good idea!
Hi Constance, I live in SW Florida in the U.S. where it is at least 90 degrees F ( 32 Celsius) and humid all summer long. The heat is hard to bear while suffering from PMR, but I think it is a little easier here because our bodies adjust to it since it is constant. Having central AC and a pool ( thank goodness I don't have to expose my prednisone swollen body to others!) help too. I hope your heat wave breaks soon. We have several more months ahead here.
Contrary to a lot of my English friends I have never wanted to live in Florida, believe it or not - because of the weather!!!
Today it was 35 in the shade (goodness knows what it was in the sun)! The thing is we are just not used to it - therefore the 'moans'.
Greetings from C. 💐
MrsO, I too am now off steroids after being on them for 2 years. It has been 9 months now since I stopped taking prednisone. I still have issues like pain here and there as well as severe hot flashes. Since menopase, I have not suffered from the heat like I do now. It is exhausting to the point where I feel like I am going to faint. I live in Canada but have wondered if the dryer heat (like that in Arizona might be more tolerable). My question to you MrsO is do you still suffer from some pain (particularly in the buttox when you sit for too long?). If I sit for a long time as in front of the computer, when I try to get up, one particular cheek gets pins and needles and eventually real pain. I asked both my GP and my Rhemy if I should go back on prednisone and both said "no, unless absolutely necessary". All the pain, etc. seems to be on my right side. Have you or anyone else felt pain in addition to the sweats? I would certainly appreciate hearing from anyone that might share the same experiences and wondered whether to go back on steroids. Thanks in advance for your help,.
Sounds perfect!
The difference in living in certain parts of the US where the weather is hot/humid, is that most homes and shops have A/C. I lived in Alexandria, VA several years ago and used to go from one air conditioned area to another, just hitting the heat getting into the car.
We are still coming to terms with extremes of weather in the UK, just as we are all "surprised" when it snows heavily!
Linda, no I don't suffer from pain or pins and needles in the buttock area.
You are just 9 months post-steroids and it can take a year or more for our bodies to totally recover after coming off steroids so you still need to take special care of yourself at this time, keeping stress (both physical and emotional) to a minimum. A couple of ladies who used to post on this forum have experienced two bouts of PMR and both admit that they really overdid things between the two bouts, with one doing quite physical work on her land.
If your one buttock is the only area that is affected, and being one-sided then hopefully both your GP and rheumy are correct in feeling that Pred isn't necessary. However, have neither of them suggested investigating the problem? Perhaps there is something like a nerve getting trapped on sitting which could be sorted with some physio. Even a steroid injection may help. A lot of people are finding that Bowen therapy is helpful for certain pain - perhaps worth looking up to see if you can find a Bowen therapist in Canada. Both Nefret and Lodger who post on this site have experience of Bowen and will be able to tell you more.
If in spite of trying any of the above, your pain continues or worsens, then it may raise the question of a return of PMR, in which case perhaps a small trial dose of Pred will provide the answer. Good luck - I do hope it doesn't lead to that.