excessive heat/humidity affect MC

gac · Post by **gac** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 3:45 pm

I was doing better until the weather in the past several weeks turned beastly ridiculously hot/humid here in Atlanta. I really try not to go outside at all but occasionally have to go to the store, have to go out to the mailbox, run errands, etc. I have noticed that my MC has come back worse the past couple weeks even though I don't think my eating habits have changed. The only thing I remember eating/drinking was when I was out in the heat, I drank Gatorade-type drink to replenish fluids and prevent muscle cramps. Two days later, I had just complete watery big D all morning and then it quit. The next morning the same thing. I have really tried to keep all activities non-existent because of the heat, knowing that I sweat tremendously the minute I get hot. I cannot tolerate heat at all.

Is there any possibility that the heat is making my MC worse?

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 3:52 pm

The combo of heat and humidity with the ingredients of the Gatorade could easily cause a reaction.

I too struggle with heat and humidity, and have moved to cooler climates due to this.

hope things improve soon.

Janie · Post by **Janie** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 4:25 pm

We are about ready to hit a stinking heat wave but dryer (106) this weekend and early next week. Since I am new to MC, I will have to see if it affects me.

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 5:45 pm

The heat and humidity don't make me sick but I now get tiny red bumps on my chest when I'm in the sun. I have a fair complexion so I sit under an umbrella most of the time but I do like to soak up the Vitamin D so I'll live with the bumps.

Post by **tex** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 8:15 pm

Gail,

Gatorade-type drinks typically contain a lot of sugar, and when our intestines are still inflamed, large amounts of sugar may not be completely digested. It tends to pass through the small intestine into the colon where it is fermented by bacteria. It can cause watery D a couple of days later (at least that has been my experience).

But heat can also affect MC because research shows that a temperature increase can cause increased mast cell activity/degranulaton. I have a much bigger problem with histamine/mast cell reactions during hot, high humidity conditions, and many other members here have noted that physical exercise or even sun exposure alone (as Marcia mentioned) can cause problems. I find that a hot shower can make histamine/mast cell reactions worse (at least it can make the bumps itch more).

Tex

gac · Post by **gac** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:58 am

Thanks to all as this now confirms what I was suspecting. Avoiding heat in Georgia is like avoiding Georgia clay. Impossible!!!!! I was once one to love working out in the yard, even if it was to pull weeds and trim plants. This summer the weeds have taken over and I just stand and watch. I just cannot do it. My brief forays into outdoor work have made me really sick. I've never felt this bad before. My doctor tells me to get more exercise but that is just difficult when sweating makes me feel so sick. It is like sweating brings on a terrible reaction.

I avoid hot showers completely now. I need to find a way to avoid blankets at night but I get so terribly cold in the middle of the night. Freezing cold. So I wrap up in blankets like I am in a cocoon. Then early morning the diarrhea starts again. Maybe this creating the heat at night is bringing this on but without it I would never sleep as I am frigidly cold when I try to sleep. Maybe I'll just stay awake.......................... I do a lot of that anyway. So tired of trying to find something to eat/drink that doesn't make me sick. The list is so tiny at this point. I refuse to go to gastro doc for annual visit. I don't want to report that I am in the bathroom 8 to 15 times a day on an average day.

OK, stop complaining, Gail.

T · Post by T » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:01 am

The temps here in Ohio have been up and down and I am in A full flare now from the high temps.
Last year the temps didn't bother me but now I am suffering.
Looking for Imodium without dairy.

Terry

T · Post by T » Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:44 am

I found it
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/walgre ... 98-product#!
Looks safe

Terry

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:16 am

Hi Gail,
Pretty sure the new 100's heat that has his the Pacific NW has crazed my mast cells. I didn't feel this way a couple days ago when temps were in the 80's....now that they are near 100 I had a terrible drive to work this morning, and almost had a potty situation beyond my control. I wish my body would take care of this business before I leave the house in the morning---it's not like I don't give it plenty of time to get things figured out!

As I heal my tolerance to higher heat temps goes way down....boo hoo

i used to live for heat and and we get the dry kind in my parts of the US.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 1:05 pm

Even after I had settled most of my mast cell/histamine issues, i still struggle with excessive heat and humidity.
not sure that it is a MC thing or because of my combo of health issues.

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:03 pm

HI Gabes,
After reading this http://home.allergicchild.com/food-alle ... threshold/ I am toying with the idea that Mast Cells are playing a huge part in how I am feeling right now. My signs and symptoms are like a flashing red light in this direction. I even have some throat phlegm today, the last couple days I had atopic dermatitis on my ear lobes and neck again and had to apply some cortisone cream on....When one gets to the point that they are only eating safe things and you felt in complete control of yourself when the temperatures were 40-70 and then the days gets longer, the pollen comes out, the heat index rises....all of this I am feeling has contributed to my increased WD since early Spring and there fore the Mast Cells are at a tipping point dumping histamine at any turn they can because they have been activated.

Who had the EoE issue? This is on target along those lines...a must read even if it only gives a bit more information in that direction.

I will be re-arranging my diet for SUMMER it appears due to Mast Cell activation

I've got to start a Season diary so I know what to start doing when certain symptoms start appearing.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:26 pm

more and more based on my journey and in line with the toxin theory that we have posted i think toxins have a bigger impact than we realise.
At this stage of your journey now that you have fixed quite a few deficiencies, your body could be clearing excess toxins, during this process we feel symptoms a bit as the body clears them
sweating clears toxins (which is why sauna's are part of a chelating/clearing protocols)

armstrongpilot · Post by **armstrongpilot** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 4:13 pm

Maybe the heat and humidity is why I'm not doing so good now? Can't seem to figure this whole thing out. I tried Allegra.....can't tell if it helped or not.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Jun 29, 2016 4:20 pm

Maybe the heat and humidity is why I'm not doing so good now? Can't seem to figure this whole thing out. I tried Allegra.....can't tell if it helped or not.

based on what you have shared with us, i would say it is a combo
the soy in the rice chex
not having enough protein
the heat and humidity...

gac · Post by **gac** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 6:21 am

Full scale meltdowns this week!!!!!!! So depressing. I had to leave the house to run to the store for supplies - no one else to do it for me. And even tho' it was 9:00 a.m., the heat was incredible. By the time I got home an hour later, my hair and clothes were soaking wet. Took an immediate cold shower to cool off and did nothing the rest of the day. But then today, I had the worst attack of the Big D I've had in many months. I felt the urge, took about 10 steps towards the bathroom and it was too late and made a complete mess in my own house. I hate myself when this happens. At least I was at home. No wonder I wear a diaper whenever I leave the house, which is seldom. It has now been a year since I was diagnosed with MC while in Intermediate ICU for a week. I'm not feeling like I'm making much progress but yet I know I am because I'm not in the bathroom 20 to 30 times a day, only 10 to 20.

Nothing I eat agrees with me. I'm cooking some meat today. Will try beef and potatoes this time, since chicken and gluten free pasta did not help. I'm hungry all the time but at the same time, the thought of food makes me sick. The heat is killing me this summer. And my sinus and allergy problems are so severe that 2 Claratins a day plus additional sinus/allergy pills do not stop my nose from running constantly.

I've never felt so sick. Seems weird that my head/sinuses and my stomach/intestines are all tied together to make me feel so bad.