Hey all,
So I just got back from a trip to California to see family, and all I have to say is PAIN. I have been a full blown fibro attack ever since returning home. So it got me wondering if the humid weather in California may have actually been helping the fibro, and more dry climates (like the one I’m in) Are actually worse for fibro? I don’t know but man I hate being in this much pain. I wonder if humid weather feels better because things such as wet heat compresses really get to the muscle more than dry? I really don’t know I’m just throwing ideas out there and wondering what you all think.
Hi Ahava, I’m not sure, but from my experience warm weather helps me feel better, if its rainy & cold I get worse, of course if its to hot I loose all energy… Ugh hard to say ! My thought is the travel and trip has caused the flare more than the weather, although the change in climate I’m sure added to it.
I hope you can rest & adjust with out feeling worse than you do… Be good to your self, extra pampering after travel is always a good idea !
Hugs & blessings
dee
I find that I like it to be humid here... not damp, just humid enough... I do not know why it effects me for the better (well I do understand why my face is better) but it does... You can always buy a humidifier for your house? xx
I had a very similar experience with a trip to Cali. Right after my diagnosis, I got sent to California on business. Normally this would be somewhat stressful, but a week without any responsibilities other than showing up to work was pretty nice - and I was little to no pain while I was there. Then I came back to my dry colder climate (CO) and the pain was back with vengeance. I too wondered if maybe the climate had something to do with it, but perhaps it was more the change in routine / responsibilities during the trip, coupled with the stress and exhaustion of travel. I have learned that I *must* schedule myself one extra day after any trip for "recovery" which generally means through stuff in the laundry and then sleep most of the day, alternating between napping and the hot tub.
I do have a humidifier but I think the humidity of California itself helped a lot.
Colorado is my home too, so I definitely hear what your saying haha. Ever since I got back I have been lying down, unpacking intermittently and taking more meds for the fibro. Maybe if the pain doesn’t go down within this week I will have an answer to which climate is better for my fibro.
Well maybe we can hope that this rain pattern keeps up and at least gets the humidity up a little bit here for the time being! If wet heat is the answer go take a bath or shower to see if that calms things down.
Hi Ahava, I live in California. Not sure what part of California you visited, but where I live, we don't have much humidity. We have more of a dry heat here in the valley. I do know that when I travel and visit a place with lots of humidity, the kind where you can take a shower, and five minutes later, your clothes are sticking to your back. When I am in that kind of weather, my pain seems to be worse.
Hugs, Vicky
Hey Vicky, I was actually in the Bay Area. Co is so so dry though maybe any humidity felt like more haha. I even went to the beach and was alright, minus the cold wind blowing in.
I love the Bay area. I think no matter how much we are hurting, when we visit San Francisco, it's so lovely and fun, we forget our pain. hahaha, But I hear you on the cold wind at the beach. I go there and need to carry around a cup of coffee, wear gloves and a hoodie lol. And I see people in shorts and flip flops, but with a winter hat and sweatshirt on. lol.
Haha exactly! It was absolutely gorgeous there though. I think California is calling my name. I took a long walk with my family and my pain was almost none existent as well. That’s unthinkable to me after all these years of constant pain. My fibro fog was pretty bad but with a few cups of coffee it was minimized.
That is really interesting info, thank you. It makes sense.
Maybe it has more to do with altitude than humidity? I am very sensitive to heat and during my 13 years on the east coast i thought i was going to die. Back here in Nebraska I can breathe! I was reading your posts and altitude popped into my head. I know that it affects people in different ways. i remember my Grama, from the Black Hills of SD, would spend the whole time at sea level freezing! either coastline. I get into a lower altitude and I sweat and can't breathe as well. I don't know about how it affects my pain. I will have to reflect on that.
That’s a really good thought. Elevation here is very very high compared to Cali so maybe that does have to do more with altitude and barometric pressure? Or maybe a combination of a lot of factors.
Hi Ahava,
I suspect that simply a radical change in weather can bring on a flare. When I returned to the Greater Boston area after a 3 week trip to Florida, I ended up falling down stairs and getting in a car accident the week I returned. It's because my pain had ramped up so much from the change.
I don't know if fibro reacts to dry weather or not. It would be very interesting to see what others from a hot environment have to say! But weather definitely is a trigger so if you find that dry weather triggers you, then it's something to consider (as a trigger.)
I know, a convoluted answer to an easy question...
Hugs,
Petunia
That is a FASCINATING observation, Ciarawyn! So many of us think of barametric pressure but I don't believe I've ever seen anyone suggest altitude before. Good for you for coming up with this possibility.
And I'm glad you're now back in territory that makes you feel better. As much as I love the East Coast, I admit it, it's not great for fibro.
I can tell you when the really bad weather is coming (like Sunday and Monday , bad bad day) because I have to run to the bathroom. Isn't that the strangest thing ever? (and tmi) but if the barometric pressure affects my tummy, surely it can affect pain. Even the weather channel has pain index. http://www.weather.com/health/aches-pains/main where you put in your city (over on the left) and it shows you the pain index for your area.