Hello, I have recently been diagnosed as having MS and Lupus and I am a fairly active person but lately I cannot muster up any energy to do anything as I am just exhausted.
I am going through a flare up and can’t decide if I push myself to exercise it will make me feel better or whether my body just needs to rest. I do a lot of walking usually so it’s nothing high impact. Any advice greatly appreciated, thank you 
This is so individual, and even for one person the right thing one day might be the wrong thing the next. I think you just have to do what you can to find the balance for you at any given time between on the one hand healthful exercise that is good for morale and on the other hand overstraining a system that is not doing too well and needs rest to heal. It’s tough, I know, and you won’t always get it right but all we can do is our best.
I guess there is no simple straightforward answer to your question but if I were in your situation I might start with a short amount of gentle exercise and see how that goes. I would take care not to get hot and also make sure I’m keeping hydrated. My instinct is don’t overdo it.
Thank you for taking the time to reply and think I need to find the right balance as I feel worse sometimes the next day even when I feel good after going for a walk. Can I ask why about the overheating? Sorry am newly diagnosed and just curious and still learning, thank you
Thank you for your reply Alison, it’s just tough to know what to do for the best. I need to listen to my body more and see if I can find a healthy balance as some days I feel I would benefit from it and go for a walk and feel good after it then the next morning I feel like I’ve run a marathon and exhausted. Trial and error. I appreciate you taking the time to reply thank you
Hi Ruthven. Ive had MS for some15-16 years and for many of those years heat didn’t affect me. However, in the last 4-5 years i’ve found that heat can be so draining and it becomes near impossible to do any exercise. Apparently this is quite common and a frequent symptom of MS. I believe that before the days of MRI scanners one of the tests for MS was to ask the patient to take a hot bath and see if they became tired- fatigued. If your search online you will see more about MS and heat and also see various products for sale such as ‘cool vests’ which are basically vests/T shirts with pockets for packets of ice. I haven’t tried them but Im fortunate that in MS terms i live in Scotland where hot days arent that frequent but I do still take care when the temperature goes much beyond 21 or so. Hope this helps
Thank you Hank Dogs, I am still learning so it’s good to know these things and appreciate you taking the time to explain, I will certainly google that although like yourself I live in Scotland on a small island so heat isn’t a major problem where I am more the cold. I suffer bad hands and feet when it gets too cold, they call it Raynauds and that can be so uncomfortable and unpleasant.
I am currently experiencing symptoms all over my scalp numbness and itchy scalp, and numb all down the left side of my face and leg, I have been referred to a MS Nurse so am keen to see her as I have so many questions and also feeling scared hopefully won’t be long now until my appointment.
I hope you are currently doing well and you have a lovely weekend. Thanks again for your help