Adventures in Temperature

I've gained a new symptom.

I think so at least, either new or a furthering of an existing one. Usually my problems with temperature rest in the colder and damper part of the year where I struggle to get warm and end up waddling around in multiple layers looking like a very small Eskimo. It does however mean I get to indulge my love of knitwear, and for that you will never hear me complain! I most recently bought a really thick over-sized purple creation and this sort of thing reliably induces “child at Christmas” mode.

(Over-sized knitwear makes me happy. And a little brave.)

However, the last couple of months my ability to regulate my temperature at either end of the spectrum seems to have vacated the premises.

I mentioned in my post covering exercise that I love to follow it up with a long soak in a hot bath. After my years with a back injury I got used to having the water as hot as I could stand – just shy of scorching – and have continued with this. Recently though a very hot bath has caused my core temperature to rocket upwards to the point of being faint and pouring with sweat. Hardly the result you want from a bath.

Please feel free to leave me a comment below if this is something you encounter, as it’s completely new to me. It makes a sort of sense that if cold temperatures cause problems then hot ones will too, although I survived our unusually hot summer without trouble at all. Possibly it’s the sudden change in temperature provoked by so much as stepping into a bath which causes the problem.

In light of this I’ve also found my temperature is jumping about a bit during the day regardless of stimuli. Layers are fast becoming not only an option but a necessity. The temperature of the office I’m working in certainly doesn’t change, but my temperature just won’t settle.

Having recently been burying myself in Unfinished Tales and The Silmarillion, it’s almost as if Petunia, ever one for extremes, has absorbed the sprawling vistas of Middle Earth and decided “The cold of Helcaraxë or the fires of Mount Doom? Pick one.”

("Fingolfin Leads the Host Across the Helcaraxë" by Ted Nasmith)

Cheers, madam. You missed all the nice gentle places like Rivendell and Doriath then?

This was particularly bothersome last week, it being the time of the month when dysmenorrhea leaves me pretty much gritting my teeth and trying not to scream for a week. Usually I’d grab my wheat bag or hot water bottle and a blanket and just settle myself down for a bit until things calmed down - except that didn't work because I couldn’t stop fidgeting about as a result of my indecisive temperature. 

There are days when I really do wish all these conflicting symptoms would just kiss and make up, or in the very least conduct their squabble in such a way that I don’t have to deal with it!

Thus far I’m resorting to wearing layers most of the time so I have some leeway and having cooler baths, although it seems to depend on the day as to where the line of “too hot” lies. What was fine one day won’t necessarily be so the next.

Just to make baths even more interesting, Misty has recently taken to standing next to the bath with her front paws on the side and looking as if she’s considering trying to leap over the bath and onto the windowsill.

She’s tried that before. It didn't go well, and I was amused with the resulting sogginess even if she wasn't.

Uncomfortable I may be, but at least I’m uncomfortable with the strong possibility of entertainment!


Does anyone else find they suffer at both extremes of temperature? Have you found any ways to make this a little easier? Feel free to comment below.

Wishing you all many spoons xxx

And now for something completely different...

I will be making the usual weekly entry to The Retired Bridgeburner later this weekend, but I thought this might be an interesting interlude!

I shall direct you all to my friend Jenny's blog so you can read about what we got up to yesterday raising money for the National Eczema Society, should you wish to.

The £152.72 made from the bake sale goes towards her partner Shane's £6,000 fundraising target for 2013, for which he has pledged to run 1000km - 6 marathons, 26 half marathons and 20 10ks.

You can read about his progress here.

(ALL the cake.)

Eczema as many know is often incredibly visible indeed, but like so many chronic conditions is often woefully misunderstood as little more than a bit of pesky itching. It can be incredibly debilitating, and deserves just as much attention as a condition as any other.

The beautiful irony of the above photo? We sat behind a table full of cake all day, and then went elsewhere to buy cake (and tea, naturally). Delicious, delicious irony!