Weather and CFS
November 28, 2006 by laura
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Its a very chilly -18 C (with the windchill factor) in Vancouver today. A temperature that I am not very comfortable with, living on a coastline. If I was living on the prairies, I would be prepared and welcoming it…ok maybe not welcoming, but definitely tolerating it. But out here in the pacific northwest, its just wrong. Don’t get me wrong, I love the snow. I just wish it was about 10 degrees warmer.
This sudden change in seasons, has made me think a great deal about how weather affects the symptoms I have. This may surprise you, but other than the fact that I am really cold (and have a hard time warming up), I feel good. Certainly better than I did this summer. The air is a little bit colder than chilly, but it seems to energize me. And being outside for even a few minutes, tends to tire me out at the end of the day, so I am sleeping a little bit better. Still averaging about 2 hrs of sleep a night….but its quality vs quantity, right? Of course, we need to be careful when we are out walking (especially me, when I have difficulties walking in the best of times), but it gives me an excuse to break out my hiking boots – which are the only shoes I have that seem to be slip proof on ice (for me). Even my regular (or not so regular) aches and pains have disappeared. Which totally surprised me. However, I do get the odd headache from the cold….but its tolerable.
Anyway, I am loving the cold weather. So let it snow!!!!
What does the cold weather (or any kind of weather change), do for you and your symptoms?
Heat and humidity is very very bad for me. So is damp weather. I am SO jealous of the snow you have in the NW though. I love me some snow.
yep snow is awesome. gonna go play in some on my way to work. too bad its -16C out though.
Yikes! I’ve never been anywhere it was -16! I think the coldest was probably in Canada over Easter when it got down several below zero most evenings.
I’m jealours of the snow too, I love snow. I think winter would be much more bearable for me if there was snow.
For me the summer seems to be better – the fact that it’s much sunnier seems to help, although i don’t cope well in very hot weather (35C +).
Its finally warming up. I think today got to 4 above. So the snow shouldn’t last much longer. I don’t think I could stand living in a place where the season of winter lasted 7 months or longer (not again, anyway). The really great thing about living out here, is that snow is always just a few minutes away (in the mountains).
I am really glad that it snowed in the city, but truthfully, I am kind of glad its going away now. so life can go back to normal. only as long as i can continue to feel good though.
Oh Ellie, I totally dont cope with warm weather either….I think I may even prefer those days where the barometer dips below -16.
I have FM and the cold here in Vancouver is killing me. My legs and knees ache horribly and I’m worn out completely… Sharp backpain started a couple days ago too. I’m still better off then I was in the summer energy wise however I just went through by first summer with FM and the is my first winter so I think I still have a lot to learn about how weather effect symptoms. I have no doubt at this time that there is definatley a relation! The snow is very pretty though…
Jeannie, give yourself a few (or more than a few) days to adjust. You just came back from somewhere very very warm. Travelling in general is hard on a person with FM…let alone a very significant climate change. Its one thing when the weather change is slow and steadily declining. But its completely different when its drastic like what you experienced.
FM flareups can totally be caused by weather disturbances. Especially moisture. I used to have the hardest time when it rained. Now the opposite is true. Fall and Winter are really good seasons for me, but I absolutely dread the summer.
You will figure it all out, soon enough. In the meantime breakout the electric blankets, and hot water bottles – they will help.
That’s interesting as my knees always ache before and while it’s raining… I think I’m just still getting use to this whole business. Thanks for all your words of wisdom, they have been very helpful!
hmmm, knees that can predict when its going to rain.
Jeannie, have you ever thought about a career change. I think that talent could come in handy for a meteorologist
Just a quick update on the weather in Melbourne – 37C today! Can I swap you for the -18 please?
thats +37 C right???? it is summer there, isnt it?
-18C is cold….but I would rather have that than blistering heat.
I simply can not function in weather like that, so you definitely have my sympathies. Its about 7C here right now. The perfect temperature.
Drink lots and lots of water….and a margarita or 2.
Extremes of temperature really get to me. At the moment, the cold is causing me pain, which in turn is causing me to feel the cold more (23C in my house and I’m still freezing). And it’s only about 8C at the moment – I dread it getting any colder! On the other hand, summer heatwaves cause me to get very tired. I like spring and autumn.
Its really hard when you live in a damp climate. Even when inside, its very very hard to warm up.
When I wrote this post, we were in the middle of a freak storm, where temperatures plummeted. They are now back to normal 7-10 C. The one thing that the blast of snow did for us (its all gone now, btw), is that now everything is soooo green. Its so lovely here now.
And as much as I love snow, I am pretty glad that we are going to have a green christmas.
I live in Louisiana and I find the weather always has an effect on me,,,in a bad way. The cold of Winter, the heat of Summer just whips me,,My pain level sky rockets. If there is a cold front/rain coming through,,my spine, my knees, finger joints and hands let me know by suffering with severe joint stiffness and muscle pain. Only a good clear, mild temperature day is a good one for me,,,but that is not always my luck.
From what I understand, Louisiana can get some pretty extreme weather conditions. What do you do to prepare yourself for those times?
The winter weather we have experienced here, has excited me. I am loving all of the storms. Its doing not great things for our surroundings. Stanley Park (the pride and joy of Vancouver) has experienced severe destruction. Thousands of trees have fallen (ones that are hundreds of years old). Its sad….But for me, its been excellent. My energy has been electric lately.
I am curious to know, what you do for yourself though, when weather is causing problems for you.