Keeping cool this summer New entry on text #3 (April 17.2008) - It's easier than you think - Personal - http://maxpages.com/happymspage/Keeping_cool_this

Up Date April11,2008 --If you are about to get AFOs besure you get the kind that are
cooler than thermo-plastic.The plactic they wrap half way around your legs is
the worst.When I first was given a prescription for AFOs in 1991 I went to the orthotis
expecting and wanting the caliber variety.These with stainless steel bi lateral
supports with a ring at the top closed with either velcro or a lether strap;
They would be another leather strap near the ankles and a hinge.The hinge would connest
to the sturip which would connect to a foot or shoe plate.The orthotist talked me out
of itas being old fashioned and much heavier.I was sorry the first hot day in Florida.
An orthotist in Ohio told me I should have had the caliper variety.I had gone to his
shop to have a new velcro strip installed. He brought out while I was there a AFO
he had just made for some lucky guy.It didn't have the shoe attached yet but he said
it would fit me.The guy who was going to get this AFO didn't even live in a hot climate.
Get something you can be comfortable don't let the orthotist talk you into what he
wants to make.
If you are stuck with a plastic brace use a little baby power in them to make them
more bearable. But when I thought I was stuck with my plastic braces of 9 years
old I kept complaining to my neuro.
Finally he prescribed the calliper stainless steel
braces and gave the heat factor as the reason as its Florida and heat is an effector
of multiple sclerosis.It worked and the insurance agreed to pay for new braces,that were
more expensive than plastics. And every year I get a new pair of shoes with caliper plates instaled at about the cost of $170 with shoes and plates installed,and then another $150 because the shoes are orthopedic with a shoe lift

Keeping cool in the heat of Summer By a guy
with MS for 25+ years with this MS disability.
I'm adding an address which has the right grades of fabric to keep
cool in.Travelsmith says in their summer catalog keep covered with clothing
but it should breath. www.travelsmith.com see their web site.

Its also great fun to get on your scooter or power wheelchair a breeze along.

With summer heat coming again ,us with MS are
affected the most by the heat. I personally do not wish
to be a prisoner of my air conditioned home,nice as it
may really be.
There are things to do and places to go this summer.

I'll try to make this as inexpensive as possible.
I have lived in Florida now for 17 years come June.And
like the rest of my fellow MS affected persons I'm
exterbated by the high heat.You ask what am I doing in
Florida? Simple I hate slipping on the ice and snow
with my crutches.I also hate my wheels of my Amigo
spinning in the snow.
For starters lets examine a few simple facts of
physics. The human body is water cooled or should I
say blood cooled by the circulation system.The easier it
works the better you are cooled. These are the things
to do.
1.Wear as little as possible, prefer white or
light colors,never black or dark. Advoid the sun's
direct rays .This could mean a simple clamp type umbrella
which I have seen a woman in our village use on
her scooter she uses to go to our pool, she also
has MS. We all wear large brimmed straw hats when we
are outside and in the pool too.
2. Your clothing should be a loose weave, cotton is best, or silk.
Advoid artificial fabrics, they don't let
the the heat through as quickly.
3. Wear only sandals never cover your feet with
the sports type shoes ,they don't let the toes do
their work. These are the best radiators of heat
in the body. I personally wear my toeless Clawson
rocker shoes. If I'm on my scooter. But lately I find without
the braces on my legs start to clonis.One of the unfortunate things that
happen with SPMS.

4. Wear metal jewelry on your fingers and arms.
the metal is a good conductor of heat and will
pick up heat on the body. Also ear rings will do the
same . Remember when you wore them in the winter and
how cold they made you. Now you turn it around and loose heat.
5.Have you hair cut short, and men shave your beards.
All that hair will insulate you. But you do need a large brim hat
in the sun.
6. Don't wear blue genes . We wear these only in the
winter in Florida. That is thick fabric. I like searsucker as
they are thinner.But by May I have to be in shorts most of the day
7.Your body cooling system works best when you
keep drinking water.Colas are ok and so is ice tea.
8.Take an aspirin a day it is good for you any
way and it will thin the blood and make it flow into
the little nooks and cranies of your body to pick up
the heat.
9.If you exercise and you are not going swimming,
exercise early or late in the day.I still say for
us MSer, swimming is the best exercise as when you get
in the water you are in a natural cooling media. When
you are up to your shoulders in the water, you will
find the natural bouyence of the water will easily hold
you up,even if you are a wheelchair user.I find with
my spastic body swimming and water exercises always make
me feel great after a half hour. I've cooled the core
temperature of my body. Do not then after you get out
of the water sit in the sun a long time. Use a towel
to dry not the sun.
Now these are cheap things to do. Next I would
like to tell you about some of the inexpensive products
that you can get to help you stay cool.

I bought last summer the cooling collar from
sharper image . www.sharperimage.com They cost $50
and they are worth it. This year I got the Misty Mate
from a company in Arizona where it also gets very hot.
A relative if mine in Arizona tells me that they
wear these to the football games.This Misty Mate is
$25 and is a 16 oz. bottle that you pump up and wear
the bottle about your waist.I put ice in the water and
also drink it. The spraymister is used to spray your-
self on the face or other areas. They work!
I got mine at Target, they have them at KMart or
Walmart also. Their web is www.mistymate.com
or call them at 1-800 233-Mist.
If you are going to be on your scooter you will stay
cooler than trying to walk.
With us that wear AFOs which get very hot,I say get
them off and stay on the scooter. I put moleskin on
he plastic to keep it from sticking to my skin. I have
found sandals that are a size bigger than my normal
size to put the AFOs into. I never wear them with closed
shoes.
The Steele vest is a good idea,see their web site
www.steelevest.com
Stay cool and let me know how successful you are at it.
RET

Eileen Lukeman and Richard Tanner

FL.

Eileen(Lobosgirl) and Richard (RET1000) both at aol.com

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Page Updated Wed May 7, 2008 9:45am EDT