Question
I live in NJ but our temps soared to 105 and 107 this week. I have had MS (diagnosed) for 5 years. We lost a/c at work this week, and I had a scary episode that almost put me into the emergency room. I drove home (and it's hotter in the car) and luckily my husband was with me.
I suddenly said "I don't feel well" and got instantly dizzy, almost blacking out and vomiting. I lay on the floor of the bathroom like that for a half hour. Called the doctor who said if I didn't improve in two hours to go to the emergency room.
I suddenly said "I don't feel well" and got instantly dizzy, almost blacking out and vomiting. I lay on the floor of the bathroom like that for a half hour. Called the doctor who said if I didn't improve in two hours to go to the emergency room.
I'm a patient at the Gimble center in Teaneck and my check up is in two weeks. I guess I will get a note stating that when we lose a/c or heat I need a phone call because i can't work under those conditions. I I immediately drank 5 or so glasses of juice and water.
Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I had some cool packs from my COPAXONE deliveries and I put them on my body especially on my wrists and under my armpits.
It was very scary for me, I hope it never happens again.
Answer
Thank you for the email.
As you are well aware, heat affects people with MS a lot and can cause an uncovering of older symptoms (this is called Uhthoff's phenomenon).
You made the right choice of using your COPAXONE cool packs, but there are more formal cooling vests, from such companies as Polar Products and Steel.
Two MS organizations work hand-in-hand have assistance program for people with MS who need these vests -- the MS Association of America (MSAA) and the MS Foundation (MSF). We work closely with both of these great trusted partners and Dr. Kantor serves as a member of MSF's Healthcare Advisory Panel and answers questions on their MS Forums:
http://bit.ly/9irjfl
MSAA - http://bit.ly/bb4poe
MSF -- http://bit.ly/c92L1l
Neurologique -- http://bit.ly/a9o5va
There are two main types of cooling vests: active and passive.
Active cooling involves a power source and are less common than
passive cooling. Passive cooling mostly mean evaporative cooling
(the vests or hats or scarves, etc.,which have beads inside,
that you dip into water) and ice pack cooling.
It is important to use the right cooling vest for your environment
and for YOU.
For example, in high humidity areas evaporative cooling is not the right
choice and ice packs (like you used are better).
Here is another source of information: http://bit.ly/bIRxo0
I hope that this was useful.
Follow-up
I just spoke to my boss who knows now to call me if the a/c ever breaks. This is what my doctor recommended. He says it's not even a "reasonable accomodation" because it's simply the civil, correct way to go. When I go to Gimble next week however, I'll have my neurologist put it in writing that if the heat or a/c breaks, I need a phone call.
Has anyone else faced a similar situation? How did your employer react?
- Dr. Daniel Kantor, MD BSE
Medical Director Neurologique
info@neurologique.org
www.neurologique.org
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