• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sparkly Bright Eyes

Owl-ways look on the bright side of life!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Health
  • Marriage
  • Parenting
  • Working from home
  • About
  • Contact

Having multiple sclerosis at Australian Christmas

06/03/2020 By Savanna Robinson Leave a Comment

Having multiple sclerosis at Australian Christmas

It sucks. Trying to deal with multiple sclerosis in the summer heat is bad enough. And lately for Australian summers those have been pretty darn hot (many times the past few summers we’ve had far too many days of over 40 degrees Celsius, and often in a heatwave for 3 days duration). Trying to deal with having multiple sclerosis at Australian Christmas when relatives are reveling in the heat is utterly awful. It never turns out to the lovely holiday celebration that you hope for.

If you go outside in the heat your day doesn’t go well. Brain function slows right down, so you can’t keep track of conversations properly. I find that if I’m in any situation since diagnosis with a lot of people talking, that I have to focus so hard on listening to the conversation, which in turn makes my fatigue (another typical MS symptom) more pronounced. Movement slows down and you worry about accidentally knocking things over…like your precious Christmas drink. Your body starts to ache deep in the muscles and you know it is very likely to have you seeking out pain killers to be able to sleep though the night.

via GIPHY
How you feel with fatigue when having multiple sclerosis at Australian Christmas

If you stay inside you choose to be socially isolated, as you miss out on interacting with relatives you rarely see all year. Christmas for me is the time to catch up with all those relatives. I really look forward to catching up with my aunts and cousins that I barely see through the year and find out what is new in their lives. Or just chill out in their company. But not many people want to stay inside unless it’s extremely hot. (Just a regular hot day with multiple sclerosis at Australian Christmas can make life tough).

Missing out on those social interactions can bring on feelings of depression. Why me? Why do I have this stupid disease that stops me enjoying Australian summer like the rest of my family? Why should I go out to an event, if I can’t be around where all the people are? This negative self-talk also aggravates your fatigue.

To help combat these feelings and symptoms from having multiple sclerosis at Australian Christmas here are a few suggestions I have used to try to make your day better and a more enjoyable experience for you as an MSer (person with multiple sclerosis).

  • Arrange for Christmas to be at your (hopefully air-conditioned) house. It’s easier to arrange where tables and chairs will be for visitors and you can situate them in the coolest part of the house. Fans also help move the air around which can help make you feel cooler too.
  • If you have to go elsewhere, keep an eye on the weather forecast and plan your day to conserve energy/spoons for social interactions. Rest when you can. Ask to lie down in a quiet room for a few minutes to recharge through the day.
  • Sip iced water regularly. Current research shows that doing that can help reduce the effect of heat on your body pretty efficiently. Using a water bottle that keeps it chilled saves you filling up so frequently too if out and about.
  • Invest in quality cooling garments such as cooling vests, scarves and headbands. Wear for any outdoor activity but also cool when indoors.
  • Be kind to your self. Realise that you have to look after yourself before others and if you can’t deal with some Christmas activities, then so be it. Your well-being comes first! Having multiple sclerosis at Australian Christmas

So although having multiple sclerosis at Australian Christmas can be difficult, it’s not all bad! Know your limits of what your body can deal with in the summer heat. Learn the best way for you to look after yourself in the heat with some of these tips and still enjoy the Christmas season. HaHaving multiple sclerosis at Australian Christmasving

Let me know in the comments below how you go dealing with your Multiple Sclerosis during the heat of summer.m Having multiple sclerosis at Australian Christmasultiple sclerosis at Australian Christmas

Starting on Gilenya

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: mental health, Multiple Sclerosis, Spoonie life

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

 

  • Date night ideas when married //date advice// marriage advice// date ideas//  #SparklyBrightEyes #dateideas
  • How living a life with MS helped me be more prepared for the way of life in a pandemic.
Follow Me on Pinterest
Jessie decided Farmers Market Dry Dog Food was pre Jessie decided Farmers Market Dry Dog Food was pretty good. She would have eaten the whole packet if we let her.

#bordercollie  #bordercollielove
#mypuppyiscuterthanyours 
#SpringIntoSummerBlackBoxAU
Good vibes for my darling girl celebrating her 18t Good vibes for my darling girl celebrating her 18th tonight with her friends. 
#18thbirthday #goodvibes
Not so sure if this is true, but I guess less thin Not so sure if this is true, but I guess less things impact on you when you are happier.
 
Even so, summer impacts on my life more so than winter does with my MS. 

#happiness #behappy #multiplesclerosis #msmom #ms #sparklybrighteyes #mumoftwo #girlmum #girlmom
Go on. Go outside and look around you. Life is pre Go on. Go outside and look around you. Life is pretty amazing when you stop just to look around you at what is there.

This is a great way of just grounding yourself and helping to be mindful that you can’t solve all the world’s problems yourself.

#life #amazing #nightsky #mindfulnesspractice #sparklybrighteyes #breathe #quotes #quarantinelife #quotesaboutlifequotesandsayings
After trying to transplant my avocado tree in summ After trying to transplant my avocado tree in summer, and it not coping at all with the intense heat and bushfire season, I was given a new one for my birthday by mum and dad. 
Avocado #3 is now in its new home. With lots of strawberry plants for company and the lemon tree that keeps pulling through, even when dad is sure it’s died on me. 
With being on school holidays, and socially isolating, I may get the  dirt moved that has to come out for the house extensions... whenever they may start now.

#gardenlife #aussiebackyard #SparklyBrightEyes #avocado #mygarden
#mumlife #mummyblogger #momlife #dowhatyoulove #dreamlife #spooniemumlife #lifegoals #liveyourpassion #workathomemum #gardening #gardeninspiration #gardenlove #avocadotree #isolationcreation #iso #isogardening #2020experience
Trying this out for a few weeks. My teen thinks it Trying this out for a few weeks. My teen thinks it’s pretty good when she doesn’t feel like much breakfast (anxiety affects her feeling up to eating in the mornings). She loves the Ensure vanilla flavour. To me it’s bearable. Not a big fan of vanilla drinks. Will be interesting seeing what the chocolate is like.

#ShakeItUpWithEnsure #Gifted #mumlife #breakfast #Ensure #vanilla #teenanxiety #anxiety #momlife #sparklybrighteyes #bloggermum #parentinglife
Missing this view today. We spent the last week wi Missing this view today. We spent the last week with this beautiful beach just outside our holiday place. 
But today was back to school for me. Bit of a comedown from this great spot.
Something to aim for again for next year though.
#dreamplace #holidays #beachlife #sparklybrighteyes #forrestersbeach #backtoschool #mumlife #empowersocial #mamatime #thinkpositive #socialboss #dreamlife #mummyblogger #myinspiration #lifegoals #teachersofinstagram #beachday #beachtime #iteachtoo #socialsouper
A busy and exciting day for my big girl today. Gra A busy and exciting day for my big girl today. Graduation day for Year 12. Where did the time go; from a timid little girl in kindy to a confident young lady who came first in drama! Dream big my love! There are so many more great things ahead of you! Xxoo

#graduation #graduationpictures #sparklybrighteyes #year12 #thefutureisbright #graduate #mygirl #loveyoutothemoonandback #empowersocial #mamatime #mumlife #thinkpositive #myteenandbaby #bebrave #mummyblogger #mumsofinstagram #liveyourpassion #parenting #aimhigh #parenthood #momlife #motherslove #mommylife #lovemom #daughter #mydaughter #parentlife #loveher #mybabygirl #motherdaughterlove

@leishy_lu7
When your 3 year old is already planning her next When your 3 year old is already planning her next birthday party. 
Little Miss Organiser!

#preschooler #birthdayprep #sparklybrighteyes #eleanorrosewinifred #mygirl #mumlife #spooniemumlife #empowersocial #mamatime #loveyoutothemoonandback #mummyblogger #mumsofinstagram #parenting #lifegoals #aimhigh #toddlerfun #parenthood #uniteinmotherhood #daughter #preschool #parentlife #mumblog #mommylove #mumblogger #mydaughter #momsofinstagram #loveher #myprincess #momlifeisthebestlife #letthembelittle
Follow on Instagram

Footer


Privacy Policy       Site Policies and Disclosure Statement

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Wellness Pro On Genesis Framework · Installed by SassySuiteLLC #empowersocial

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.