I am going to be very British and talk about the weather, or more particularly, the changeable weather. Be it global warming or natural shifts in the temperature (I am not qualified as a climate scientist and have no credentials to express my opinion), there has been some noticeably changeable weather recently.
Therefore, I am going to talk about Fibromyalgia and weather, particularly the ways different conditions can affect my symptoms.
Does Weather Affect Fibromyalgia?
The NHS states that Fibromyalgia symptoms can get better or worse and lists changes in the weather as one of the factors that can affect them. A study by the University of Manchester also found that people with long-term pain conditions were around 20% more likely to experience increased pain on humid, windy days with low atmospheric pressure. So there is research behind the idea that weather can affect pain, even though exactly how it affects each person can vary.
How Different Weather Affects Me
Gradual seasonal changes are not a massive problem, in the scheme of things. In fact, having seasons is one of the things I love about being British. I know there are places in the world where the seasons are much less distinct.
But what about when things become more dramatic? Rather than the gentle transitions you can prepare for, the weather suddenly changes. A typical English summer can suddenly turn into an out-of-the-ordinary heatwave, or our usually mild winter can feel uncomfortably Arctic.
All of these things can impact what I think of as my "standard" Fibromyalgia experience.
Cold weather
The image above is a feast for the eyes and I appreciate snow from an aesthetic point of view. In fact, I still can’t help but wish for snow every Christmas.
However, when I get cold my pain levels escalate. I am not talking about when your hands get chilly and you need to wrap up for a few minutes to start to feel better (how I remember those days).
Since living with Fibro, cold weather has had a strange impact on me. As I explained in Autumn as a Spoonie, it affects my muscles and bones differently. But ultimately, if I get cold, it can take an awfully long time to warm up again.
As well as the pain aspect, cold weather also causes IBS complications for me. I have had a few experiences of taking a gentle stroll around the neighbourhood without realising that the cold has affected my stomach, which in turn has caused me to go running (well, a semi-speedy waddle, running is beyond my abilities these days). You can read more about the experience of Fibro alongside IBS in this post.
Wet and stormy weather
Wet weather causes its own set of problems for me. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the temperature is hot or cold, the result is the same: when it rains, I get joint pain. I know people with arthritis who experience something similar.
The joint pain is widespread and, as is typical of my Fibromyalgia, can affect any or all of my joints. Fortunately, I tend to experience it more severely in one particular joint, often a knee. My sympathies are with fellow spoonies who experience high levels of pain across several joints at once.
Long before my joints are affected by the rain, my head feels the impact of heavy grey storm clouds. This can range from a headache that can be brought under control with medication, all the way through to one so severe that the best I can hope for is to fall into the oblivion of sleep.
Researchers have looked at the relationship between barometric pressure and Fibromyalgia pain, with some studies finding an association but considerable differences between individuals.In my own case, there seems to be no rational relationship between the amount of cloud or change in air pressure and the severity of the headache. As with so many Fibro symptoms, it is extremely personal and unpredictable.
Hot weather
Hot weather is in many ways my preference. My joints are certainly grateful for it, and my pain levels tend to go down. Unfortunately, it still has its drawbacks.
I also suffer from Hyperhidrosis, which I explain in this post. If I can find myself dripping with sweat for no apparent reason while sitting still on a mild day, you can imagine the difference when hot weather is added to the mix.
Humidity
In the UK, humidity can be especially difficult during hot weather, as this post from the University of Reading explains. However, I find that humidity can cause problems even when the temperature itself is quite comfortable.
There are days when the temperature is around eighteen degrees, but the humidity is above 80%. As well as leaving me feeling uncomfortably sticky, high humidity can really cause my energy levels to plummet.
When the Weather Changes Quickly
I find the rapid changes particularly difficult. Often around the change of seasons, it can feel as though we have gone through every season in the space of a week, and my body struggles to adjust to what Mother Nature is throwing at it.
For example, a cold night can leave me with deep aching in my bones and joints. Then the temperature rises sharply during the day and suddenly I am lethargic and sweaty, while still aching from the night before. Add in one of the headaches I sometimes experience when the weather changes, and my body can feel as though it has no idea what it is supposed to be coping with next.
What Helps Me Cope With Changeable Weather
Some of my most important tools are fans. I have a tabletop one on the bedside table. In the Croffice (Craft Room/Office), I have a floor-standing fan and, when needed, a tabletop one that uses ice packs to help chill the air.
As well as the larger fans, I also have a small handheld one because sometimes the problem can be surprisingly localised. My head and chest can be hot while my limbs are chilly, which perimenopause certainly doesn’t help.
Clothing-wise, I am fortunate that I am in my own home. When it is a hot day, I am going to be frank: it is not unusual for me to be sitting at my desk in nothing more than a pair of underpants. When it is cold, things become more complicated because of those localised temperature differences.
If I put on a cardigan, there is a good chance it will be on for less than half an hour before it comes off again and a fan goes on. I have found things like fingerless gloves useful because they let me target warmth where I actually need it.
Thinking back to childhood ballet lessons reminded me of leg warmers. Perhaps what I really need is a set of leg and arm warmers that could warm the colder areas without adding heat around my already-hot core. If there are any knitters with Fibromyalgia reading this, have you tried anything like that? Even more so if you are fuller figured, is it practical? Would they stay on? Another rabbit hole of an idea to get lost in.
One of the biggest things that helps me is allowing extra time for my body to adapt. As I discuss in my Pacing with Fibromyalgia post, the weather is just another complication that can affect my energy levels and needs to be taken into account. I also find it useful to keep an eye on the forecast, particularly when the sort of weather that tends to trigger my headaches is on the way.
If you are a fellow spoonie, I am sure some of this will feel very familiar. If you are not, but are simply a curious reader, next time you find yourself doing that very British thing of discussing the weather, perhaps spare a thought for those of us whose bodies seem determined to join in with the forecast.