MS and Your Social Life
MS and Your Social Life
Make plans in the morning. Not only is it cooler outside early in the day, but your body temperature also tends to rise in the afternoon. "As little as half a degree Fahrenheit can be enough to cause problems for a person with MS," Stefoski says.
Try these tips to keep cool and save energy:
Balance and walking problems. Take a collapsible cane, walker, or fold-up wheelchair to help you get around. Find out if the place you're going to has ramps, an elevator, or escalator.
Bladder issues. If you know it will be hard to find a bathroom where you're going, try not to drink much fluid in the 2 hours before you leave. Wear an absorbent pad and bring extras with you to protect against leaks.
If you need to change plans because you're tired, be honest with your friends.
"My advice is always to clue the people around you to the effects of the disease upfront," Stefoski says. If it's comfortable for you, tell your friends that you have MS and let them know what symptoms it can cause. Then if you have to cancel plans, they'll understand.
Need more ideas to help you plan your social life? Connect with other people who have MS via an online forum. You'll not only make some new friends, but you can ask them for tips on how to stay active during flare-ups. You can also get advice from a counselor or therapist.
MS and Your Social Life
Plan Around Your Symptoms continued...
Make plans in the morning. Not only is it cooler outside early in the day, but your body temperature also tends to rise in the afternoon. "As little as half a degree Fahrenheit can be enough to cause problems for a person with MS," Stefoski says.
Try these tips to keep cool and save energy:
- Take a cool shower or bath before you go out.
- Bring along a fan or mister spray so you don't overheat.
- In hot, humid weather, limit your time outdoors to less than 30 minutes.
Balance and walking problems. Take a collapsible cane, walker, or fold-up wheelchair to help you get around. Find out if the place you're going to has ramps, an elevator, or escalator.
Bladder issues. If you know it will be hard to find a bathroom where you're going, try not to drink much fluid in the 2 hours before you leave. Wear an absorbent pad and bring extras with you to protect against leaks.
How to Talk to Your Friends
If you need to change plans because you're tired, be honest with your friends.
"My advice is always to clue the people around you to the effects of the disease upfront," Stefoski says. If it's comfortable for you, tell your friends that you have MS and let them know what symptoms it can cause. Then if you have to cancel plans, they'll understand.
Need more ideas to help you plan your social life? Connect with other people who have MS via an online forum. You'll not only make some new friends, but you can ask them for tips on how to stay active during flare-ups. You can also get advice from a counselor or therapist.
Source...