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Posted 1/3/2008 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
I'm almost ashamed to post this. I'm wondering if anyone can give me advice on how to stay cleaner.

Pls allow me to expound...

Since I've became extemely heat sensitive I began taking lukewarm or cool showers. Now that it's winter, getting into cool water is certainly a challenge, because I cannot turn the heat up enough to keep the bathroom comfy without also triggering some things.

It's produced quite a challenge. I've thought of babywipes on extemely cold days (see why i'm ashamed lol?)

Bath from a pan maybe?

If anyone has went through this and found how they can stay their cleanest, please share with me how?

I wash my hair seperately in the sink as the warmer water on my head only doesn't seem to triggger anything. (i keep it medium in warmth).

thanks

kiera

Posted 1/3/2008 1:00 PM (GMT 0)

First of all - unless you are very physically active, you don't need to bathe (or shower) every day, especially in winter.  If I did, I'd be a "walking flake" as my skin is VERY dry normally, and worse in winter when the furnace is blasting and the air dry.  So every other day...sometimes even every third day, unless I've been REAL busy (like cleaning house, or cleaning out closets, or doing several loads of laundry -- bending, sorting, folding, up and down stairs, carrying, etc.) We Americans tend to think daily showers...and even multiple showers a day..are a GOOD thing. That's really not necessary.

Thorough washing of underarms and nether regions daily, and of course the usual face/hands is sufficient. Clean socks and underwear help.

I have a small bathroom and apparently have gotten used to it being cold. I am in/out of the shower in 20 minutes, including shampoo (usually twice), swabbing down the walls with a sponge, drying the floor.  During the summer I may shower every day, especially when it's hot -- a cool shower can cool me down pretty quick. But now that it's winter, it's more like every other day, or even longer.

There are small heaters you can put in the bathroom so you don't have to run the shower or tub for warmth.  That might work for you.

Posted 1/3/2008 4:03 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Kiera,

This is a good question.  I don't have extreme heat sensitivity.  Heat does get to me but it has to be really hot and for an hour or even more before it starts to make loopy. 

I don't have any real tried and true advice but when we go camping I sponge bathe.  We have a small trailer without a shower.  I secure all the window covers and put a towel on the floor.  I then run warm water in the sink and soap up and rinse the essentials as Uppitycats described.  I can use warm water as it evaporates and cools me down.  

To me, a lot of MS is about learning to adapt to a body that doesn't want to cooperate with former routines.  Once I have found what works for me, I am a happy girl again.

Love and prayers,

 

Posted 1/3/2008 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kiera,

 

    My hubby is extremely heat sensitive and we do the things the other ladies mentioned like sponge bathing, heater in the bathroom, bathing less in the winter.  Another thing we keep on hand is no rinse bathing cloths.  They work very well for those times when a shower is needed but he's just not up to taking one.  We get them at our local medical supply store. 

 

Kimber

Posted 1/4/2008 11:26 AM (GMT 0)
thank you all!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, i feel much better. Like i had stated, i was feeling ashamed and i need to lighten up on myself. These are all wondergul suggestions and has lifted a load of worry from my mind.


I'll certainly try them!


thanks again
kiera
Posted 1/5/2008 6:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Kiera

Not a worry friend. We all have issues we dont' want to discuss, but there are times when we just need input. That's what we're all here for. Feel free to ask anything and we'll all do our best to help where we can.

I"m not dx'd nor do i have probs with heat sensitivity in the shower/bath, but i can tell u about my experience with this on a diff plane. When hurricane Katrina hit we were out of power and water for about two weeks. Of course u can imagine how well we all smelled after those hot Sept days of moving debris! So we'd HURRY in and out of a cold sponge bath from melted ice WHEN we had some extra. When we didn't we used baking soda as an alternative. It's fantastic for odor and drying. Of course as soon as we got water again we opted for the cold showers...and encouraged each other greatly to follow suit! hahaha Take care freind and don't worry..we all have prob we don't want to talk about, but rest assured...if u'r dealing with it...someone here prob already has or is too!
Posted 1/5/2008 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
Another thing that occurred to me that might be helpful....

prior to having MS, I'd love hot showers, love to get the bathroom all steamy, then spend time in there (either before or after the shower) shaving my legs, putting on lotion, drying my hair, doing my nails, etc...

NOW I get in there, shower, and move out quickly -- doing all those other beauty-routine things (and boy, do I need that!! :-) ) in another room, away from the heat/steam of the bathroom.  So maybe a change in your routine would help, too?

Posted 1/5/2008 11:40 AM (GMT 0)
Rhonda,

Wow-so sorry that you had to go through that. I'm certain that you went through and also learned alot. Had to of been way hard. I can only imagine all the things you learned/saw! I shiver at the thought of ice but it's winter here. I really think ill do the sponge baths with some cooler showers as well . The sponge baths are the worse days of course.

Yes uppity, i do that also. I used to do the same. Light candles, shave legs, style hair, it was a real bathroompotty fest. One friend advised me to take plants and music to create my own vacation. Now i do as you said, i run in and i run out lol.

I'm glad to know that is what you do also. So, i'm getting that part down at least. Sometimes when I think of just how hot the water was that I used, its unreal. It had to be as hot as my body would allow. To the point of standing in it until i could coax my bottom down into the water. The hotter the better, I always said..........wow has that changed!

I appreciate your nonjudgemental advice on all of this. Hadn't seen it posted and was wondering what my husband was thinking (afraid to ask). I was staying clean but I was only in the bathroom for maybe 10 minutes (fast) and he probably wondered at times if id did anything more than wet my hair!

I'll make a point to return afterward for the teeth brushing that I usually do with the afternoon shower.

Even the hair will probably move permanently to kitchen sink, I know it would be so much easier shorter, but I guess my hair is the one thing Im trying to hold onto. Time will tell about that.
thanks

kiera

Posted 1/5/2008 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kiera,
I read parts of this, and I am also heat sensitive...I think that is part why ihave so many new lesions. I live in California. Love the desert life, But I have now moved to the mountains and it does in fact get COLD!! In fact Im hoping it snows this weekend. But I used to LOVE Long HOT BATHS!!! A Hot bath is now a part of my past. What 'I' do, is jump in, keeping it at luke warm...I dont need cold in the winter, but in spring and fall..I have to go COLD COLD, to keep my temerature down. But I have it just barely above luke, where it is tolerable. Then I do all my bussiness, and just when Im done, I keep my Spinal area away from the stream of water ,and I crank on the heat...Just for a few seconds. SO when I get out, I almost feel as though I had a hot shower!! But I do this lterally only for a few seconds. But I have to make sure it doesnt hit my back!
Im not sure how sensitive you are to heat, But Its a risk I take cuz I cant tsand getting out to the freezing cold with already freezing cold water on me! YIKES!

Thats just what I do. If you find anything else better, PLEASE PLEASE let me know!
Question, have you purchased one of those arctic vests, I got one this summer, BEST investment ever! I was able to go about with my kids everywhere, and come home still feeling my limbs. Stays frozen for a few hours. Was great!~
Posted 1/6/2008 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
MsMom, i have the application for the vest, only delayed as winter came. I wondered how well they worked, and now im convinced. I will for sure get one..thanks so much for letting me know how how well they work. Although I'm not in this for vanity , I was amazed at how neat they look. The picture of a lady tending her flowers, didn't look the least bit odd. I will have to have something as I'm tired of remaining inside when its sunny. They offer these for free with the MSAA asscoiation. Will even send you the application which you take to your doctor. I'd already done mouch checking into it.


As far as the showers, i do what you said also. I get it done, then at the very last i put a touch of the hot on but am careful of where it hits. It does make a difference of if your triggered by it or not. I think on extremely cold days I will divide the wasing of hair to the sink. So that I'm not in the middle of shower wit soap in my hair when I realize utoh , time to get out! I have to do luke also, no way has my body adjusted to cool in winter. Some on this board have. It might be a matter or time. Our bodies have a way of letting us know what they will and will not tolerate.

I also make certain on hot days that I have something very cool to put inside of me. Whether that be a popscicle (sp) or some other frozen type of treat. Seems to work very well.

As uppity said, you can get your bathroom warm (not hot) so that the transition from shower to open space isn't as shocking to the body.


thanks for this post

thanks
kiera
Posted 1/9/2008 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hello there,
I have a question?
I sweat profuslly, We ruled out menopause.
I mean it just pours off of me. Pretty gross HUH
It is not all the time, but i can not go for one
day without me sweating.
i read something about the thermoregulator part
in the brain, does anyone know anything about.
profuse sweating? please.
Thanks Kitt
Posted 1/9/2008 11:19 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry Kitt,

Im the exact opposite. I never sweat anymore-not sure why, and i have no clue as to that part of the brain.

maybe someone else knows and will answer.


thanks

kiera
Posted 1/9/2008 12:57 PM (GMT 0)

irishkitt said...
Hello there,
I have a question?
I sweat profuslly, We ruled out menopause.
I mean it just pours off of me. Pretty gross HUH
It is not all the time, but i can not go for one
day without me sweating.
i read something about the thermoregulator part
in the brain, does anyone know anything about.
profuse sweating? please.
Thanks Kitt

When you say "we ruled out menopause", who is "we"?  Blood work for menopause doesn't always come back with accurate results.  If you're anywhere between ages 35 or so and 50..it's a really good bet.  There are lots of hormone disorders that can cause this, too. If these haven't been checked for, that might be one avenue for your doctors to explore.

Having said that, indeed there is a "thermoregulator" in your brain that controls your core body temperature.  Usually it "breaks" in the opposite way -- that folks don't sweat anymore, and don't cool off (sweating is your body's method of "air conditioning"..the sweating is a cooling agent).  But it can "break" the other way, too.  So if everything else is indeed ruled out, that might be the cause.

Posted 1/10/2008 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
My gyn and I also ruled out the hormones and at first Kitt, she told me I wasn't even in pre men. Now that ive had second periods for 3 months she no longer feels those tests were absolute. That is why she placed me on a med (hormone) to stop the bleeding x 3 months. If after that it continues to be a problem she plans on using a newer device they have for removing the indometrial lining (in lieu of hystorectomy).

I do sweat under my arms. The sweat that I have noticed decrease and not happen is on the forehead and at Rheumatologist appt I did have some sweat on upper lip. First time in a long time. Then again I try not to overheat. Or remain in the sun for long periods. So that might be part of mine.


thanks
Kiera

Oh, do you have heart palps or any other symptoms of menopause? Hot flashes etc?
Posted 1/14/2008 3:05 AM (GMT 0)

I can most certainly identify with your problem! When I was in the hospital they gave me something called "comfort bath". They are large "facecloths" you can put the pack in warm water and it heats them up to a warm temp. They are great! You can get them at drugstores but I think Wal mart carries them too.

Stay Cool!!

Posted 1/18/2008 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
ah, two good threads here! first, do you have a hand-held shower and chair to sit in? have found that this combination makes it much easier for me to use warmer water and not fall down. definitely worth the investment. as per the perspiring, i never used to do it. now and out of nowhere, sweat pours down my face. doesn't matter what i was doing. just happens in cold and hot weather. i am very postmenopausal (thank goodness) so i blame ms. linda
Posted 1/18/2008 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
No, i dont at this time have a handheld. I will def. consider getting one. I think the body cloths that kimber mentioned are fantastic for bad epidsodes. The idea of gaining back some of my control of being as clean as i like reallly makes me feel a ton of relief. I was making due but also triggering many things by doing it the way that i was.

Out of all of these answer's i now feel each one can be used for different times in my life. I also love the idea of turning on the hot at the last minute. Your idea of the handheld (giving one ability to aim at single parts at a time without triggering inner core).

Then the body cloths, when a person if very fatigued or afraid of falling..i might even combine the body cloths with the handheld!

I know --this has made me feel alot better. I wondered if i were the only one finding this much difficulty with the cool or cold soaks.

thanks

kiera
Posted 1/18/2008 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
the handheld is great, but do couple it with a shower chair. at first i resented needing one, but it made a tremendous difference. i get to soap up, rinse off and dry off without losing my balance. I also have a chair immediately outside the shower in case i need to sit to get dressed. you might try a site i have gotten things from: freecycle.org where everything is for free. you might find a shower seat there. something i use at night is basic baby powder. find it absorbs perspiration while i'm in bed. use it during the day also. good luck w/this lovely ms disease! always a surprise every day. LOL! linda
Posted 1/18/2008 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
ty Linda, i also like the baby powder idea. Much like the person who had to go thru katrina and opted for baking soda only since we can get baby powder, and smell good too--ill try it.

I appreciate everyone's input and honesty about this.

Also ty for the site, i really want to check that out!!!!!

thanks again

kiera
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