Fatigue & heat

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
1

Hi all.

I’m feeling a bit shaken by something that happened to me yesterday. Came on last night to post about it, and then got too tired so didn’t manage to!

i’ve been feeling on top of the world, with just a few minor lingering symptoms. I’ve started back at all my exercise classes, and everything has been great.

Yesterday morning I took the dog for a walk. All was fine. Had late lunch, and around 2ish decided to take dog out for another quick walk before the kids came home from school.

Walk started out cold, but then the weather changed and the sun came out. I was wearing a jumper, coat, and hat, so I took the hat off. I got warmer, but decided not to take coat off as my jumper was a bit, err, bright! Only a short walk, so I would just put up with being warmer.

10 mins from our house I got really warm & had to undo my coat fully. Then everything went wrong. I completely collapsed, with no warning. I ended up leaning against a house for support.

Thankfully we have quite a ‘pully’ dog, so she dragged me home, as I staggered and lurched. It was like all energy production in my body had been switched off. Getting the garden gate open seemed to take forever, and certainly long enough to make me start crying.

Once in through the gate I dropped everything and managed to stagger to the bench, where I collapsed in a heap. It took me a while to get myself together enough to get in the house, but even then I was too wobbley to meet the kids from the school bus stop.

Was exhausted all evening, but didn’t have time to think about it until last night. Has anyone experienced anything like this?

Paula

2

Yes, me.

About 7 years ago, after an attack of optic neuritis but before my diagnosis, I took a long walk one summer evening. After about 4 miles I stopped at a pub, had a drink, watched the sunset and started off back home again. I’ve always been a stroller and this was nothing I haven’t done before.

Halfway back my left leg became “tired” and needed more effort to take each step. This got progressively worse until I was dragging my foot along the ground pulling myself along the tops of railings and fences. I stopped a couple and asked if I could use their mobile so I could call my wife but I couldn’t remember our phone number! When I got up the following morning I was fine.

I wasn’t aware of overheating but I had certainly done some exercise. Your description of something being “switched off” describes the feeling very well.

Over the months that followed I developed drop foot and a gait. Other symptoms piled in as my diagnosis was confirmed but that evening certainly was a milestone symptom.

Regards,

Anthony

3

Thanks Anthony. I here people mention heat intolerance, but it always seems to be in regard to baths. I’m no closed to a dx though. GP says that collapsing when you’re a bit hot is probably due to a virus. Didn’t feel like a virus to me though! Was far too sudden, and I felt perfectly fine before it happened.

4

I have to be careful not to overheat through exercise, at work etc. If I do get too hot, my left side (face, arm, torso, leg, foot) goes awol, and whilst this can be highly amusing to my mates, it’s no fun for me.