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Change in temperature cause sudden onset?

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Posted 7/25/2009 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I have noticed that often when I go from one extreme temperature to the next I get sudden cramps and diarrhea. I especially notice it when I'm walking out of my office into the heat outside, easily a 25 degree change now that it is summer. It always makes for an unpleasant and painful ride home. I don't know if it happens in the winter since my UC just came back last month. I know that it is not a stress-triggered event as I want to go home and if it was stress related, I would think it would happen walking INTO work, not leaving it. tongue

Has anyone else had this happen?

Tofu
Posted 7/25/2009 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, leaving is much better than arriving sometimes....but....the stressors of the day can certainly hit after leaving work when one has time to ruminate over them.

I would think for some people the heat can trigger a reaction of some sort.

The other thing..do you usually have a bm when you arrive home? It just me be timed appropriately.

Maybe put on music you love and take in some peppermint aroma therapy to ease and clear your mind....

I hate the heat, but air conditioning is something I cannot live without.

I love the cold of winter...

You can experiment regarding thoughts (a little cognitive therapy process) of what your thoughts are happening before you leave and what you think as you're leaving and once you get into your car.

I know that some cities have horrific traffic drives...that in itself can be frustrating.

q
Posted 7/25/2009 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, it can happen. I always keep a cotton sweater handy at work during summer in case the A/C turns super cold. Lately I've also been eating a salt-free rice cake at the end of lunch because that seems to slow my peristalsis a bit, which gets me thru the rest of the afternoon w/o needing a visit to the facilities. Make sure your vitamins/minerals (bloods) are in order; some deficiencies cause the body to be less adaptable to external temperatures. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; taking original Colazal)
Posted 7/26/2009 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
wow i am so relieved to know that im not the only one that it happens to!! whenever i get too hot (especially too fast) i get sick almost instantly. never fails. for some reason cooler is better for me.. i wish i understood why. maybe its time to move up north. lol
Posted 7/26/2009 10:41 AM (GMT 0)
Old Hat - I have noticed that when my UC is bad I'm prone to chills and the cold. In fact, I have 4 sweaters on the back of my chair AND I run the little space heater next to me. I cannot tolerate temperatures when they dip below a frigid 76 degrees. The office is kept at approximately 70-72 during the summer to accommodate all those hot-headed lawyers. The fact that I'm expected to wear skirts does not help the matter. If I had my way I'd be bundled up in Flannels all day. I'm going to talk to HR this week about going on short-term disability for the next 3 months.

b3th4nyy - It's interesting that it happens to you too! I'm going to ask the GI when I see him on 8/24 if he has any idea what causes it. But body much prefers the heat, and it seems to be the suddenness of the exposure that causes the cramping. Or, as quincy said, it could be the thought of the dreaded traffic. Although it's usually not that bad when I'm leaving work and I generally listen to a book-on-cd which is pleasant.
Posted 7/26/2009 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi T4D....you should also get your thyroid checked to make sure nothing there is wonky...that could be partly why you're feeling cold. As well...your blood pressure.

q
Posted 7/27/2009 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Chills can be part of UC flares, too. I tend to get them when I'm overtired. It's the revved-up immune system sending us a reminder to take better care of ourselves! UC should only happen to rich people who don't need to hold down a fulltime job (sigh) ... / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC ... {etc.])
Posted 7/27/2009 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
Getting overheated definitely would make my gut spasm.
And...even loud noise! Go figure. If my husband sees me open the car window in the middle of winter, he knows to reach for the radio and turn it down, too. When I'm flaring badly I can't even answer the phone when it rings because the sudden noise makes me run to the bathroom. Leave a message, I'll call back.

My office is also freezing. It's miserable. I go outside into the heat to warm up.
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