Hi
Well, i found my way back to this forum but had to re-register because I forgot my username and whatnot. I posted this topic. I just wanted to add something. One of the replies mentioned how it is difficult to get good sun in the winter and spring. So here are some more tips of mine to getting sun. I hope it helps. It's also a way to keep my post around. No more posts from me. I hope I've made a positive difference. I don't know if the sunlight thing is common knowledge for those with cfs. Even if it is, I think this post is sure to help someone.
tips:
In the winter sit in front of window ( preferrably a window without a window screen or tint ) to get some direct sunlight. Or you can make ( or have a tailor make ) a pair of clear plastic pants and jacket to wear over shorts and a t-shirt to keep the wind off and allow the greenhouse effect to warm your body while still being able to receive direct sunlight -- you might look strange, but it would allow you to go outside on cool days to walk or jog and still get sunlight on a large portion of your skin. If you have work to do at home ( like work on a laptop or anything where you are sitting ) , do it near a window that gets sunlight ( even if it is indirect, your body will still be getting some sunlight.) If you are someone who can afford it, you can put skylights in your home so you can light your house naturally while saving you money on your energy bills by heating your home naturally and by lighting your home naturally ( and of course your body is receiving that sunlight too.) And in the summer, the skylights can be closed because they will be heating the house too much and costing you money. And it's easier to get sunlight in the warmer months. I'm sure there are other ways of getting sunlight in the winter months. Just be creative and do what you can. Just as it has already been said before, you want to be careful about getting the sunrays that aren't harmful. The rays are less harsh in the winter so mid-day sun isn't too bad in the winter time ( in some parts of the U.S.) In other parts of the country or world, just use your common sense. No sunburns. And you shouldn't really even be aiming for a tan. I've been sitting out in the sun now for over a year and if I've tanned at all, it is barely noticeable -- but I still get lots of sunlight because I do it frequently, but in small amounts -- as opposed to doing it for 30 minutes once a week in one sitting I will sit out for 5 or 10 minutes many times in a week ( or at least I will try to.)
tips:
in warmer months, when the sun has a higher UV content... I find it best to sit out for only a few minutes and then go back in the shade and allow the skin to cool off... and then sit out again. This prevents sunburn. So does rotating 180 degrees when sitting in a lawn chair -- this allows you to get sun on one side of your arms and legs and then when you rotate you can get sun on the otherside of arms and legs while letting the previous side cool off. These are just some tips on how to maximize the sunlight while minimizing skin damage... you don't want to get skin cancer, so never let yourself come close to getting a sunburn. It's easy to avoid if you know your body and follow the early morning / late evening sun rule ( and don't stay in the sun for too long.) If you sit out in direct summer sunlight for 30 minutes in one sitting, you will probably get sunburn. But if you divide that 30 minutes into 5 minutes over the course of 5 days, then you will most likely not get any sunburn and you will reap the benefits of the early morning or late evening sun.