Hot Showers

Question

Ok as most know a no no for people with MS is hot showers if the have heat intolerance. But I do love to take LONG HOT showers 20-30 minutes as it helps with my aching muscles. I can hear some of you screaming NO right now. 

But I am posting this for those that also like hot showers. I have found at least for me if I take a HOT shower and then switch to cold before I get out the effects are almost non existent. I got the idea of doing this from the way a lot of people do stem baths. Sit in the steam and then a cold shower afterwards to close the pours. 

If anyone else tries this method let me know if it works for you as well. Would like to know I'm not just weird again in this respect.

Dennis

supermum_ms · Answer

Oh Dennis don't I wish, i absolutely miss hot showers and candle light bubble baths! lol My last spa bath, i had to get help to get out, i'd been stuck in there for so long the water was freezing. I really thought the cold water would help but it does diddly squat for me.

Showers or baths and i'm battling fatigue, some muscles very weak, half my chest is numb, i can hardly get words out of my mouth etc, my bounce back time frame is getting longer as times moved along.

hmmmmm might just get a water bed and kill two birds with one stone lol

Cheers..........JJ

maxthecat43 · Answer

It's probably psychological, but I don't feel clean if the water isn't hot.  

I'm usually able to stand in cooler water afterward too, but be careful!  I went to far today, and very nearly fell- my balance got so bad.

Sailorsong · Answer

Kwazi,

 The answer to that is simple. I sit in my shower so I don't get dizzy from fighting balance problems. As for other problems it is more of a matter of timing.  I switch to the colder water just as I start felling the effects of the hot water. This takes about 10 - 15 minutes. 

Dennis

Kwazii · Answer

This is interesting. I would have thought that if heat from the hot shower were going to affect you, it would be once it had increased your internal body temperature while in the shower, not after you step out of the shower? I wonder why you dont get dizzy in the shower?

Sailorsong · Answer

By cold water afterwards I didn't men ICE COLD. I turn the temperature down as cold as I can stand for a cool down period.  I usually cool back down over a 10 - 15 minute period slowly using colder and colder water as my body adjust.

Dennis

Lulu54 · Answer

Rather than cold water, you can always cool down with tepid water.  I heard a neuro talk about cooling off with the showerand  that it is not enough to just stand in a cold shower for a short bit. He said you need to stand in the shower, let the water continue to spray until legs and feet have cooled off and not just your head and upper body.

It is definitely hot shower weather time these days - enjoy!  Laura

Jifr · Answer

You switch.....to cold????  ::shudders::

I LOVE my long hot showers but my consolation prize is that IF something happens?  I know it's temporary and I will get better when I cool down. 

It took a long time to get to this acceptance, though. I used to have panic attacks before taking showers after I was diagnosed because that's where I "found" most of my problems.  lol.

SarahL2491 · Answer

I can tolerate about 5-8 minutes and then I have to get out.  I wish I could stay in longer, but if I could, would have a gas bill I couldn't handle!

Good idea about the "cool down" period, kinda like those Swedes do.
Well, you could always go jump in a snowbank next winter! LOL