Jerry- rashes ; pro-vigil; travelling

[Guest guest]

Jerry - the rash you describe happens to me whenever I become too warm and

is often the only way I know that I am too warm. It is not itchy but it

feels odd as though my skin is on too tight - nothing relieves this but

taking the time to cool down. Since the MSa I have not had any rashes even

when in contact with items that would ordinarily have given me contact

dermatitis - insect bites do not redden and swell into a bump, wounds too

are devoid of the usual reddening around the edges. The signals that (I am

guessing) ordinarily are sent out in reaction to irritation and pain do not

seem to be responded too, or even sensed in the first place. In regard to

the dry skin Bill is absolutely right, I have not perspired as a normal

person would in over four years, making my skin very dry, without

moisturizing or bathing I can only go 24 hours at most, then it itches

unbearably (without any visible reddening). So I have to bathe orr shower

using glycerine soap (coats skina and holds in moisturizer) and I

moisturize generously with a very fatted (oily) moisturizer without

completely towel drying. Every few days I soak in a warm tub of water with

generous amounts of sea salt added (without perspiration, skin lacks the

usual salt). The skin also exfoliates even less without perspiration, so I

loofah vigorously (can't feel it much anyway) until my skin starts to pink

up a bit. I do try to come to a more uniform skin colour (red, white and

blue going in) but also watch my heart rate does not go over 100bpm,

otherwise I tend to pass out withing minutes of getting out of the tub.

I discussed Pro-vigil as an alternative to Dex-amphetamine for waking up,

there are fewer side effects with the Dex-amphetamine, and Pro-vigil is not

available in Canada. I'd also been told here and there that Duvoid would

not be a good drug for long-term (I've taken it 6 mos), but there is a lack

of any reason for that in published articles and am doing very well with

it. I think it worth mentioning again that drinking more water raises

blood pressure, that is now my standard reaction to that sinking/faint

feeling and works very well, and there are no side effects to water. My BP

does shoot up when lying down, so those nights it is very erratic I sleep

sitting up (reclined), since I don't move when I sleep, this is not the

least bit difficult (no side effects here either). - " keep it simple

stupid " and " if it hurts don't do that " are always the best way to go.

About travelling with MSA - bottom line - no one knows because no two of us

are the same - if it makes life worthwhile to travel - for Pete's sake, do

it! Illness is not a reason to hold back on enjoying what you can in

life. I'm not nearly as frightened of dying as I am of not living. Take

care of mind, body and spirit - just because you have this illness does not

mean you neglect two out of three - and don't let anyone tell you to take

it easy if you don't feel like it. You'll find clever ways to deal with

your symptoms.

aletta mes

vancouver, bc Canada

web: http://aletta.0catch.com

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