Cooling Devices for the Heat

[Dave Hall]

I have a small farm outside of Houston, Texas. So yes, I have a lot of heat and humidity. I have sold my duck eggs at a farmers market in Bryan, Texas. Most of the time the heat is not an issue since the market opens at 8:00 AM and we are done at noon. To make sure I stay cool, I have made a small cooling box. Just a small styrofoam ice chest in which I put several inches of ice cubes and cover them with water. On one end of the lid I cut a couple of three inch holes for pvc pipe to be the directors of the cool air. At the other end of the lid I cut a larger hole that matches the size of a small (12 inch) battery powered fan. I can turn on my cooling box and sit in a cool breeze. It has worked for me.

[Sheila Troiano]

I live in NJ which is unpredictable in the weather. I also find the humidity is worse than the heat. Yes, a large glass of ice water helps. It takes more than that when I decide I’ll do a whole day of gardening outside because it’s my only day off that week and it’s not raining outside. Last month, I pushed to hard and found myself unable to climb the steps on my deck to get back upstairs. I had to call my son to get me ice water and the hose. It helps when it’s hot to keep a hose nearby to cool you down. Cold showers, although not that pleasant, when you push too hard can be beneficial to restoring muscle strength. Cooling towels help. I freeze wet washcloths and place in plasticity.  bags and stack in the freezer. Carry them in the bottom of my cooler when I go to the beach. Using these allows me to spend more time at the beach with my sister. At home, I try to keep the thermostat at 71 in the summer. I constantly battle my husband who says we are gonna go broke in electric costs. Are you kidding. I tell him, ” it’s that, or my MG is harder to deal with in the summer. Would you rather I suffer?”  I’m not trying to make them uncomfortable, I’m just trying to survive and thrive with MG .

[Carrie McDade]

Has anyone tried a cooling vest from thermapparel.com listed on the myasthenia.org website? I’m wondering if it is comfortable and worth the price.

[Kelley]

I use a vest I bought from Polar Products. It holds 9 gel ice packs. It’s not uncomfortable; but loading and unloading the packs can be tiring for me. It weighs about 4 pounds; but makes a huge difference in my level of heat tolerance. I’ve also noticed better heat tolerance with a lower dose of prednisone.

[Amy Cessina]

I’m also in New Jersey and find humidity worse than heat. Heat hasn’t bothered me much. My normal body temp is pretty low due to hashimoto thyroid (even though I’m stable), so I’m usually chilly. I do love the winter though since I do that cold training/exercising (Wilhelm Hof method I believe) which really gives me energy.

[Ann Marie Hetrick]

I am with you Sheila. The humidity really does a number on me along with the heat. I too keep my thermastat set at 71 but I turn it down to 68 when I go to bed, it is more comfortable for me to sleep. My husband says the same thing and complains about being cold. I tell him he can put more clothes on there is only so many I can take off. The gas bill in the winter is better because I keep it low then too. I can not function when I get the slightest bit to hot.

[Ronald E. Clever]

My house, and I say it that way, because I pay the bills even though my sister and nephew live with me since the pandemic lost them their jobs, is always kept at 66 – 68.  I would rather pay the extra money and be comfortable than not.  Luckily for me they don’t mind.  I am thinking of getting one of those personal fans that fit around your neck.  I think the extra breeze would be welcome on very humid days.  Living on the East Coast it really is the humidity that wears me out.

[RINA NEL]

I have only got a fan, I live in a caravan and today it reashes 35° C here so I will go for my first swim after Winter break.

So guys wish me luck.