Although I have been doing well with my Gastroparesis symptom management, there are still two things that tank me faster than anything: traffic & heat. The heat in particular has been driving me crazy the past few days. I enjoy seeing the sunshine. I enjoy being outdoors. I enjoy playing fetch with my dog. However, when it is upwards of 90 degrees outside I just can’t do it. This is when I become under heat wave house arrest.
It only takes about 5-10 minutes of being out in the heat to start to feel nauseous, dizzy, light-headed, etc. I open the door and it’s like someone hit me in the face with a heated blanket. My body says…nope…not happening. This leads to me being confined indoors almost all weekend. My only saving grace is the evenings when it starts to cool off. I do not do well with being confined indoors. It’s as if I have reverse cabin fever from the “normal” population. Most people get cabin fever in the winter due to the snow and not wanting to deal with it. Not me, I get cabin fever when the hot sweltering sun has decided to come out and fry me like an ant under a magnifying glass. I start to climb the walls. I think about everything fun that I could be doing outside. I think about all of the work that could be done outside. I think about how I need to run errands and get necessary items for the week.
Running errands is next to impossible in a heat wave. It is the double whammy of sitting in a care and being fried by the sun. It is almost a guaranteed way to become ill and sleep for a couple of days straight. Fortunately, I have an amazing man at home the chauffeurs me around to do my errands. This allows me to close my eyes and nap during the driving portion of errands. For some reason that seems to help me.
Even though it was sweltering outside yesterday, we still managed to have friends over for a bonfire in the evening. It was nice to see all of them because we haven’t seen several of them in awhile. Thankfully, we had put the start time of the gathering near nightfall so it cooled off pretty quickly. It’s friends like this, that really understand the limitations of Gastroparesis and work with it, that make me realize there are plenty of people out there who have human compassion so who needs anyone else!
Now, if the sun would just stop smiling about it & it would turn to fall already!
~Millie
Adventures with Gastroparesis 
That’s exactly why I want to move out of the East… the humidity also bothers me! But sometimes what is worse is being inside with the A/C on constantly… I want to be able to turn it off and open the windows for fresh air… but it’s impossible!
I think that maybe if I didn’t have GP I wonder if I could still tolerate the heat… what would we do without A/C though these days? Yikes!
I’m glad you had some friends over and did something fun this weekend! There are times that I just sleep and sleep… it’s the only way we can recover and go on day to day (and I won’t feel selfish one bit)! ;-P
Stay cool with your b-friend and pooch! 🙂
Thanks Jen!
Yes, what would we do without AC?
~Millie
I feel the same way. Where I live in Texas, we are lucky if it gets below 90 by midnight. I feel like a vampire going to the store before sunrise. When I do decide to venture out on a good day because most places are not open 24/7. I am sick as a dog for days after. I love winter and I am totally living in the wrong state.
Yes, it does seem that we are borderline vampires at times!
~Millie
I had never experienced this until today, actually. But today is the first day I’ve had the heat AND had to work – needless to say, it wasn’t a good combo for me. I feel awful; my head is spinning. I know I’m dehydrated but can’t seem to catch myself back up on that with all this heat. Such issues! A “normal” day would be so nice 🙂 Hope you’re doing better today with the heat – I should have taken your words to heart and just stayed home today!!
So sorry to hear this! Hopefully you will find some relief soon!
~Millie