Stumble It!Oct 14 2008
Temperature Sensitivity
Having a sensitivity to heat and/or cold can be one of the more frustrating symptoms of demyelinating diseases. Checking the weather report becomes a necessity every day, not just when you’re planning a picnic or a trip to the lake with your family and friends. Even the most beautiful of days can become an enemy, depending on how hot or cold it is outside.
What is it?
For those with demyelinating diseases, temperature sensitivity is a temporary worsening of symptoms whenever you get too hot or too cold. When your body temperature returns to normal, your symptoms improve. Most people with demyelinating diseases have a sensitivity to heat although it is possible to have a sensitivity to cold or both hot and cold.
What causes it?
There are many different causes of temperature sensitivity. Depending on circumstances, the occasional sensitivity to hot or cold is perfectly normal and not cause of concern. However, if the temperature sensitivity is a symptom you haven’t experienced before, it’s definitely worth it to get checked out by a doctor since temperature sensitivity can be an indicator that something serious is going on.
- Demyelinating diseases - Multiple Sclerosis in particular is known for causing temperature sensitivity
- Fever - Can be from the common cold and the flu
- Hot Flashes - Menopause and perimenopause
- Infection
- Cold Sweats or Chills
- Thyroid Disorder
- Depression
- Anemia
- Migraine
- Panic Disorder
These are just some of the various causes of temperature sensititivity. For a more complete list, you can visit: Wrong Diagnosis
What causes the worsening of demeylinating disease symptoms with Temperature Sensitivity?
A change in body temperature, particularly an increase in body temperature, makes it harder for your nervous system to send messages around the body. If your nerves are already damaged due to demyelination, even a slight increase or decrease in body temperature can make it even more difficult for your central nervous system to do its job.
It’s important to note that once your body gets back to its normal temperature, the worsening of your symptoms should subside. While no additional demyelination is done to your nerves during a temperature sensitivity induced worsening of symptoms, you still need to be cautious as it can cause exhaustion and even heat related problems such as heat stroke.
How is it diagnosed?
When dealing with temperature sensitivity, a doctor will rely heavily upon you, your medical history, and your experiences. That’s why it’s especially important to make note of instances where you believe heat and/or cold played a role in worsening your symptoms. Remember, if you have a demyelinating disease, your symptoms should return to “normal” when your body returns to its normal temperature.
If you believe your temperature sensitivity is because of some other cause, you still need to make a note of when the temperature sensitivity happened, what was going on at the time (were you sick, had a migraine, etc…), what the weather was like if you were outside, whether the sensitivity was to heat or cold, how long it lasted, and what, if anything, made it better.
A test that you can try at home if you are worried you might have temperature sensitivity due to your demyelinating disease is to take a hot bath or a quick dip in a hot tub. If you’re symptoms get worse while you’re in the bath/hot tub and then get better when you get out, you have a temperature sensitivity to heat. An interesting thing about this “hot bath” test is it was routinely one of the ways used by doctors to diagnose Multiple Sclerosis for many, many years.
How is it treated?
If your temperature sensitivity is due to migraines, anemia, menopause, panic disorder, depression, thyroid disorder or a bacterial infection, medication will be prescribed by your doctor to help with it. If it’s due to a viral infection, you’ll just have to ride it out, boost your immune system as best as you can, and get lots of rest.
If your temperature sensitivity is due to a demyelinating disease, the best thing you can do is try to avoid getting overheated or too cold. Staying inside and using the air conditioner or heater is the best way to keep from causing a temporary worsening of your symptoms. If you have to be active outdoors on a hot day, drink plenty of fluids, rest in the shade often, and use ice packs to cool your body down if you feel yourself getting overheated. On cold days, bundle up and stay as warm as you can. Whatever you do, don’t overdo it. Rest often!
My experience
I’ve been a bit prone to getting overheated easily ever since I was little. As one might expect, that hasn’t improved as I developed CIDP. The hot, muggy summers where I live can be brutal for me, at times. Since moving to a milder climate is out for the time being, I deal with my heat sensitivity as best as I can by trying to stay hydrated whenever I’m outside, resting often, and keeping an emergency stash of instant ice packs in my car. If I start to feel like I’m getting overheated, I’ll place one of the ice packs on the inside of my wrists to get cooled down. I try to avoid getting overheated as much as possible since it completely drains my energy and leaves me exhausted afterwards.
For more information, visit any of these links:
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/temperature_sensitivity.htm#causestypes
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/16/223.cfm
wow, these are very helpful information kithlyara. i can relate to a lot of the information you shared, thanks goodness i have occasional temperature sensitivity and hopefully, i have nothing to be alarmed at. i usually get migraine when the weather becomes too hot, for some people, sauna or steam bath helps them a lot, but for me, i get terrible throbbing headache
hope you are doing a lot better now because of cooler days.
I think I am going through the menopause and have the above symptoms. Very eye opening post.