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Do You Weather the Weather? Howl at the Moon?
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:58am
Prior to my returning to Colorado State University to complete my occupational therapy degree, I worked for a research project which was next to the Colorado Climate Center. They were studying the effects of weather on people with chronic pain and generally I recall they found the symptoms started BEFORE the drop in barometric pressure!
So, for those of you who have symptoms that change with the weather, I'm setting up a Topic area for you. Mine don't change, aside from if my back gets cold so I bundle up! (in the summer is worse due to over-air conditioning inside places almost).
It would be helpful to those reading if people share any strategies they have found that help. Mine:
- The disposable warm packs (last 8 hours, stick to your skin) work for me if I go to a football game, etc. (also, sitting fires my back muscles up into spasm and the warmth keeps 'em happier)
- I let my friends drive who have heated seats and try not to curse myself for not having them as an option on this vehicle.
(Got a REALLY good deal on it and that was the only option missing) - Get my garage cleaned out so I can put my vehicle IN before winter.... etc.)
__________________
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
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So, I wasn't paying very good attention when I answered this on the facebook stream! I'd claim it's the fibro fog, but really, it's just me being dense!
I'd raise my hand about the chronic pain but my arm won't go up! Weather kills me. I live in Ohio and usually know when the fronts hit about Illinois! Cold fronts especially cause headaches, achy muscles and stiff joints.
Cold weather is painful too. I used to go without a winter coat, loved cold weather. Now when it hits the 50's, I'm looking for the heating blanket! Air conditioning is painful for me too, and this year, I didn't use it at all in my home. Even on the hot days, it was better than that feeling!
Some of my strategies are:
Take care everyone!
~~Aimee
Aimee Shannon is a licensed social worker who has fibromyalgia along with a collection of other illnesses. Aimee is passionate that those dealing with chronic illnesses need education and support to best manage their illnesses. Along with writing for Lumigrate, Aimee can be found leading a support group on Facebook, as well as two in person support groups in the Dayton Ohio region. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fibromyalgia-Support-Groups-by-Aimee/94975642116I have always been able to tell if a low pressure system is coming (usually from Colorado... can I blame Mardy?! just kidding). Most of my family thinks I'm weird which I've grown accustomed to. Before a low pressure system comes in I get a headache, but it's not like a normal headache, I can't really describe it either so I won't even try. When the system finally does come, it feels like a ton of bricks on my head. I get really cloisterphobic even when I'm outside, because of the pressure of the air. The first time I was in Ohio, it was extremal uncomfortable. Not only was I in a place that was about a 500 to a thousand feet above sea level (Albuquerque sits at 5000 and 6,000 and the mountains range anywhere from 6,000 to 14,000ft above sea level) but I don't think I've ever experienced humidity like that.
Humidity is another thing I have trouble with. I have asthma and so it makes it hard to breath. I constantly felt like I was chocking in Ohio, but it was because I was getting more air then I ever had, since the higher the altitude the thinner the air is and for most people who aren't acclimated find it harder to breath in Abq then in Ohio! The humidity also makes my joints and shoulder blade areas hurt. A warm Epsom salt bath helps with pain.
I don't like to be cold, but I also don't like to be hot either. When it's cold my hands hurt and it's hard for me to get a firm grasp on things. I also have a hard time staying warm. It can be 80 degrees outside and my hands and feet will be cold. I usually just through on thick socks and gloves which is another thing my family is used to seeing me doing, and they laugh at me until I touch them with a bare toe or my hands and then they understand! I also have sarapas (sp?) that I can wrap myself in and they are like a warm portable blanket but if I get hot they are easy to take off and carry around if I'm out and about.
So I guess my strategies are Epsom salt baths, gloves and socks and serapas! I don't have any way of dealing with the low pressure system though.
It just seems to me to make sense at some level that if the moon can affect the tides, then why wouldn't it affect human behavior. People all the time are saying they didn't sleep on a full moon. Law enforcement and ER staff commonly refers to the uptick in the 'interesting things' that happen with full moons. When I was young my mother even said to us 'don't ever ask you father for anything around a full moon' thought I cannot say I ever remember his ever acting any differently from one day or week to the next --- though my mom was just uncannily right about all kinds of things like that so it likely was just an awareness (or lack thereof) with me.
Please contribute! I guess it is helpful if you put in the Subject 'box' something about 'moon' or 'weather' so we know whether it is about weather or whether it is about moon.
~~ Interesting? ! Mardy
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!