Fatigue from weather changes?

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4/8/13 11:22 A

Oh, I have these symptoms too! I am very sensitive to barometric changes. When a storm is coming, I often have to curl up and sleep. (I get enough warning to crawl to my bed; if I try to ignore the symptoms I will fall asleep where I am sitting.)

Sometimes I don't get fatigue symptoms, but I will get a bad headache. The thing that helps those headaches for me is OTC medication with pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. I use Advil Cold & Sinus ( www.advil.ca/en/product/advil-cold-sinus-c
aplets ).

Other than giving in and sleeping, I don't have a reliable response to the fatigue, unfortunately.

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4/7/13 12:30 P

I get more fatigue when the weather changes as well and have found multiple ways to help deal with it.

1) Get a good nights sleep. I generally make sure I get 8hrs of sleep daily, and will actually take melatonin to promote the best quality sleep possible.

2) Eat healthy and good foods.

3) Exercise daily.

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4/7/13 2:43 A

I get hay fever when the weather changes, which produces cold like symptoms (and the odd sinus/chest infection). Check with your doctor, it really could be anything.

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4/7/13 1:15 A

IGNI...I found this thread by searching my symptoms on Google. I cannot believe someone feels exactly the way I do with weather shifts. I cannot find a doctor who wil believe me and I've only been diagnosed (generally) with 'chronic fatigue' ... It all started six years ago, but this flare up has been the worst yet. I can literally predict the weather by how terrible I feel. It's the same as you: Crash of fatigue, all over ache like the flu and compromised equilibrium plus brain fog. .... Have you been diagnosed? Do you remember coming down with a bad virus before the symptoms began? I did in 2007 and have sturggled ever since. Still donkt understand why. Anyway..... I am miserable right about now, though happy for Spring, it oppresses me physically! You are not alone. I'm feelin a little trapped in my body, trying to push through the fatigue and stuffness. ... Wishing you relief and a long remission soon to come. That's what I have my fingers crossed for..... but how to help it get here??

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4/6/13 7:04 P

IGNI...I found this thread by searching my symptoms on Google. I cannot believe someone feels exactly the way I do with weather shifts. I cannot find a doctor who wil believe me and I've only been diagnosed (generally) with 'chronic fatigue' ... It all started six years ago, but this flare up has been the worst yet. I can literally predict the weather by how terrible I feel. It's the same as you: Crash of fatigue, all over ache like the flu and compromised equilibrium plus brain fog. .... Have you been diagnosed? Do you remember coming down with a bad virus before the symptoms began? I did in 2007 and have sturggled ever since. Still donkt understand why. Anyway..... I am miserable right about now, though happy for Spring, it oppresses me physically! You are not alone. I'm feelin a little trapped in my body, trying to push through the fatigue and stuffness. ... Wishing you relief and a long remission soon to come. That's what I have my fingers crossed for..... but how to help it get here??

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3/13/13 1:38 P

I have gotten bad headaches this year, and I am extra tired. Spring is bad for my allergies, but it seems worse this year.

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3/11/13 1:11 P

I got a bad cold when the weather changed this year. I think you just need ot have a positive attitude and think that spring is in the air.

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3/10/13 3:00 P

Hi Nancy- of course, that's a given!
I just wanted to see if anyone had similar issues with weather-related changes, and see if anyone had things they were doing that were helping them. *Of course* everything is different, etc., and I am totally responsible for my own healthcare decisions, etc.
But it really can be helpful tapping into the collective wisdom as well, especially on vague symptoms that Western medicine is simply not equipped to treat or control or help with in any meaningful way.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

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3/10/13 2:39 P

Hi IGNI13,

Please know that our members and experts are not a substitute for the care and advice you should receive from your own doctor who can do a physical assessment on you and base his/her treatment on his/her findings as well as your medical history. Even if a medication works for one person does not mean it will work for you or be contraindicated for you. Fatigue is a very vague symptom that can be tied to many illnesses, therefore talking with your doctor or healthcare provider may be your best solution.

Coach Nancy

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3/10/13 1:17 P

If the weather changes make you uncomfortable a good part of the year, you may be living in a climate that is unsuitable for you. You may want to consider relocating to an area with a more stable year-round climate. I moved from a cold winter / hot summer climate to a mild year-round climate and it has actually helped me feel happier and healthier year round. I believe we aren't all meant to brave the extremes!

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3/10/13 1:12 P

Thanks, Rose. Any recommendations on an OTC non-drowsy decongestant? I imagine that since dizziness is part of my symptoms, there's some sort of inner-ear connection, and from what I've gathered that can be affected by sinuses. I tend to be somewhat congested year-round, though perhaps a bit more in Spring.

I'm hesitant to go to my regular GP for this, as I know she'll just direct me to allergy OTCs; that's why I wanted to see if anyone has similar weather-related conditions and if anyone has found anything "alternative" / holistic / behavior-based that may work for them that I could try.

It's funny - I SO want to like spring, since winter brings on SAD, and the increase in sunshine makes me feel emotionally better, but physically worse. I'm hoping to approach these seasonal issues with a bit more optimism and proactivity going forward - instead of just resigning to feeling tired in winter and tired in Spring and Fall...

Thanks for the feedback!!

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3/10/13 12:56 P

I always struggle with significant weather changes. Usually I get exhausted and have a lot of excess post nasal drip. Sometimes I get sinus headaches as well. I never used to, but they appeared late in high school and have gotten more frequent since. My allergy/asthma specialist said I'm just highly sensitive to barometric pressure changes. The same thing happens when I change altitude quickly. Usually, if I'm not already taking an over the counter decongestant, I do so and that helps a little bit. I would be careful about this though if you take other medicine. I specifically checked with my doctor to make sure I would be okay. Overall, there's really nothing to do but wait it out. If you feel that this is significantly impacting your life (since spring and fall are always awful for weather fluctuations), I would talk to your doctor and see what they have to say. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

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3/10/13 10:55 A

Hi Nancy - thanks for checking in!
It's a combo of fatigue/exhaustion, and a kind of dizziness, brain fog, and all over... I don't even know how to explain it - it's not all-over pain exactly, but that feeling like when you're about to come down with a cold, a kind of heaviness and lethargy?

It definitely happens a lot in the Spring, when the weather warms up a lot (we're in the 60's today, back to the 30s by Wed). Yesterday was the first sunny day, in the 50s, after a freak snowstorm two days ago. I think it's that warming trend (and associated barometric jumps?) that sets this off?

I have other family members who suffer from similar weather-related exhaustion / malaise, and I had always poo-pooed it, though in recent years am finding that it affects me as well.

Doing internet searches hasn't really yielded much of use, so I just wanted to put out some feelers in this community to see if perhaps someone would have any suggestions.

Yesterday was awful, though a 30ish minute walk seemed to do me good. Today is a little better, though not 100%.

Thanks for any ideas!

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3/10/13 9:04 A

Hi IGNI13,

When you say you feel sick, what kind of symptoms are you having besides fatigue?

Coach Nancy

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3/9/13 11:58 P

Hi all, I just want to check in to see if anyone else experiences fatigue and an overall unwell feeling when the weather changes? For me for some reason Spring is particularly tough, especially when the temp rises significantly. Sucks to feel sick on the nice-weather days! (My internet research said that it's usually before a storm / when the temp drops that ppl get fatigue / headaches / pains / dizziness...)

Has anyone found any decent way to deal with this??

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