As you watch those national weather forecasts have you noticed the scorching heat wave blazing through the Midwest? Well, it’s been intolerable this week. Even people without heat intolerance are finding themselves affected by the increased heat index and humidity. But, for us heat intolerance folk, we are practically chained to places with air conditioning. And even the mini trips we take to venture out into the heat (the necessary trips we must take to work, or school, or to the grocery store) take everything out of us.
Heat Intolerance is when the body is incapable of feeling comfortable when the outside temperature rises. Those who suffer from heat intolerance vary in how it affects them. For me, it just depends on how hot it is and how long I expose myself to it.
I’ve learned that in:
80-90 degree weather I: feel slightly uncomfortable, but it’s not too bad unless I’m stuck in direct sunlight. If I don’t have access to water and am out there too long, I begin getting a little fuzzy-headed.
Anything above 90: Very uncomfortable, feels like my body aches and is slowed, not unusual for me to see spots, and a dull headache. Things can start going numb on the right side of my body very quickly, and if I don’t keep up with my fluids, I can pass out.
This week, my state has had heat advisories and temperatures well above 100 by midday! I don’t even want to leave my house to go work because my car is so blazing hot. I can’t start it up and let it cool down because I seriously worry my neighbors will steal my car (believe me, not a good situation when those kids are home on summer vacation!). And then after work, when I go to leave for home, it’s a virtual sweat box for about 3 minutes until my air really kicks in. Problems is, it only take me 7 minutes to get home. Thankfully, I can walk into my house knowing it’s going to be cold in there!
So, here I am. I’m longing for Fall, but not wanting Winter. I’m loving Spring, but not liking Summer.
Posted by jeanneendo on June 25, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Oh Endochick!
First, let me say that you have my condolences with the temperatures you’ve described. I’m not being facetious. You really do have my condolences because I, like you, have heat intolerance. So I “get it”.
As out of control as the temperatures are there, I assure you that too-hot temperatures are not limited to the Midwest states right now. From what I hear it is brutally hot up into Canada now as well. If this is any indication of what this summer is going to be like, I’m truly concerned.
Unlike you, I don’t have air conditioning at home. (Don’t get me started). At one point yesterday I looked at the indoor/outdoor thermometer and it was 89 degrees Fahrenheit. INDOORS! I can certainly relate to what you’re saying about driving a car after it has been sitting in the sun. The last few days I have been afraid to drive because of my history with fainting. (Each summer for the last few summers now I have fainted multiple times).
Once temps start heading upwards of 70 (yes, 70), I start to get increasingly uncomfortable. The 80s simply suck the life out of me and make it difficult to function. The 90s make it almost impossible. Let’s just say I’m very thankful that it’s not going into 3 digit temperatures where I am because that’s when fainting switches from an IF to a WHEN.
I hope things cool down for you SOON! I know how physically ill I get from such oppressive temperatures. I’m sorry it’s so hot there.
As far as the seasons, I used to love all four. Then it was down to spring and fall because winter (which I used to love!) hurts my fibromyalgia and Raynaud’s… and summer brings this heat that makes me feel faint, nauseous, exhausted/drained, etc. Spring seems to have disappeared. Where I live, we launched from winter straight into summer. There was no spring such as the ones I remember growing up with year after year. It makes me sad. Spring seems to have vanished.
So that leaves fall. So here’s to fall. I never thought I’d be counting the days until fall when summer has barely even officially started on the calendar but this year I seem to be doing just that. Give me 60s and sunny any day. I wouldn’t mind a nice, crisp fall day right about now.
If it’s this hot now, what will the rest of the summer be like? I don’t want to set a new record for number of times passing out.
Jeanne
Posted by Fun For Healing — ChronicHealing.com on June 29, 2009 at 10:33 pm
[...] with it, I will refer readers here to Endochick’s recent blog post on this very subject Heat Intolerance & The Midwest Summer. As Endochick mentioned, the heat can cause powerful symptoms for those with heat intolerance. [...]
Posted by Dysautonomia? Part 1 — ChronicHealing.com on August 4, 2009 at 10:28 pm
[...] my heat intolerance (see Endochick’s post on heat intolerance and my comment to it HERE) certainly didn’t do me any favors and while it’s not unusual for me to faint each [...]