Foreign travels to hot climates and SS

[katyjo]

Hi all,
I'm new here and have been reading many of your posts every night.  I haven't on a long vacation for over a decade.   I have been wanting to take my children abroad to practice foregn language for the past few years but I waited and waited because they were too young.  I think they will be old enough in a year or two, but now, I'm plagued with SS.   I fear that I would have a very difficult time surviving a month in a hot sweaty foreign country.   I imagine that SS symtoms would be a lot worse in very hot places.   Have you gone on a month long summer vacation?  Did you wish you stayed home, or was it okay?         

Thanks
KatyJo

[Crabcakes]

I can't really answer, but if yuou have frequent temperature fluctuations, like I do, maybe a hot country is not your best bet, unless there is a prevalance of air conditioning. If Spanish is a language you are interested in, then there are cooler countries. Northern Spain, parts of Argentina, Chile, etc. Don't opt for Puerto Rico or Mexico though!

[missyb]

Katyjo, I live in Arizona, doesn't get much hotter than here and I make it! When it's humid having some moisture in the air feels better for my eyes, we have periods of heavy humidity, but that season is shorter and not as bad as say the deep south or mid west of the US. We are obviously the 'but it's a dry heat" state, but those of us raised don't really get what that means until we have been elsewhere (like Georgia or Chicago) in the mid Summer heat LOL.
Have fun on your trip, take lot sof eye drops, packed away in your luggage of course! (Don't know if you take liquid eye drops carry on at this time, I'd ask first)

[Scottietottie]

Hi Katyjo 

Personally I think I'd find a month in a hot country very difficult. I used to love the sun but it is certainly not my friend now. I also sem to get lots of hot sweats and that's in a temperate climate. I can't imagine them in heat as well.

If you do go - make sure you can cover up and don't spend too long in the sun.

Take care - Scottie 

[Crabcakes]

Missyb, Where in AZ do you live? I'm in the Phoenix area!

Remember, a hot oven is a dry heat too!

[Katybarstool]

Hi K.atyjo

Well, I guess we are all so different! I live in northern England and have been to the Caribbean twice in the past four years, and been absolutely fine. I am very fair skinned and have had sunstroke (in England) many years ago, but now, although I have to be careful not to burn, I really like being in warmer climates. However, I'm not taking plaquenil, so that might be relevant.

Kathyx

[Dolly Dimples]

  Iv'e just about given up travelling anywhere, even a short journey in the car can give my eyes grief!

    I have taped over the airvent on my side, but even that does not make it comfortable. I sit with my eyes closed, and wish that the journey was over,

am worse on a bus, and if anyone opened a window   I'd be cold, my eyes would be sore.... I'd get off and walk ...

        It is spoiling all my social life, Dolly.x

[Epson]

I have never found travel to warm places to be a problem.  No mater what country you travel to, I always fined that drinking establishment are dark and cool, with plenty of liquid to keep you hydrated.

[eyeamdry]

When you have six months of winter, a trip to a warm place can warm your feet. 

Dolly Dimples  You need some moisture chamber glasses to wear in the car.  I wear my Panoptx RX goggles in the car all the time.  We live in Mich and in our 6 months winter :-)............we have to keep the car heater going and talk about dry eye.  Well the goggles help alot.  During our 6 week summer, the A/C is helped also by the glasses/goggles.

Lucy

[katyjo]

Thank you all,  your responses have been most helpful.  To be on the safe side, I think I need to go somewhere cooler or go another time when the weather is not so hot. 

KatyJo   

[Marmotte]

I recently returned from six weeks in the the Philippines, where it is hot and humid. To be honest, my SS did better there because it was so humid. I love being in humid places! If it was hot and dry, I am sure that would be a different story.

[katyjo]

I'm new to dry and sensitivity to bright light.  Maybe I can survive Taiwan.  I've been taking lots of supplements and having lots of soup and fish.  My diet seems to have eased my pain  a great deal.  I don't seem to have the terrible flare ups that I did months ago.  I wonder how I'd be if I couldn't plan my meals.   I'm afaid if I wait too long to take my kids, later I won't be able to take them at all and I'll just have to send them when they are teenagers.  Oh well, life isn't always as planned. 

Bless you all,
Thanks you     

[ottawagirl]

Hi!  I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and we get some wickedly hot and humid days.  As much as I love the sunshine, I can't take the humidity at all.  I get dizzy, nauseous, headaches and I swell up like a beluga whale.  Thankfully I work in air conditioning and have it at home too.  Unfortunately, I end up spending most of my time inside.  Even though I would love to, I can't even imagine what would happen if I travelled to a hotter/more humid country.   YIKES!  Good luck!

[TerriJ]

I can't take excessive heat at all.  It makes me feel really ill.  The climate where I live is pretty moderate and can be mildly humid.  I still battle with my dry eyes.  We went to Hawaii on vacation a couple of years ago and my husband wants to go back.  Not me!!!  It was way too hot.  I guess we're all different.  Maybe you will need to try out different climates to truly know how you will feel.  That could be difficult though if it's a long term situation.

Terri

[coopwall]

Katyjo,
I do hope you will take your kids on a trip.  With planning and care you can survive.  I survived the Yucatan in July a few years ago.  I was not always comfortable, but the experiences and people  were worth it!

I recommend you take a small misting fan (battery operated with a little reservoir for the water.)  Great when on tours or walking.  Cover up with hats and light cotton, stay as cool as you can, don't over do and i predict you will have a memorable time.

Coopwall