Basking in summer joy despite the Southern heat
Warmer temperatures keep my CAD symptoms at bay, allowing me to do more
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Whoosh! The heat and humidity hit me in the face every time I go outside. It’s July, and the weather conditions here in Auburn, Alabama, are more dynamic than in my other home in Papua, Indonesia — although the latter is 2.5 degrees below the equator. The combination of heat and humidity makes for a long growing season but tends to wilt human beings.
It’s difficult to manage without air conditioning. I remember the days before AC, when leather goods, book bindings, shoes, and belts would gather mildew overnight due to the humidity.
In May and June, I mentally prepare myself for the summer heat. Soon all my friends and acquaintances will start wailing and whining about how difficult it is to manage. I get it, and I used to feel the same way. But now, I embrace the warm weather like a long-lost friend.
The wonders of summer
The other seasons are problematic for me. Because of cold agglutinin disease (CAD), I’ve learned to check the weather forecast before I go anywhere. I need to load up on sweaters, jackets, socks, chemical hand warmers, and anything else to help combat the cold that seeps in and sucks the life out of me. Those seasons require extra care and a lot more time indoors.
Summer is different, and I come alive for various reasons. The primary reason is warmth. The first instruction I remember receiving after my diagnosis was “try to stay warm,” because hemolysis — the destruction of red blood cells caused by CAD — is initiated by exposure to cold weather. In the summer, all I need to do to stay warm is step outside, a natural remedy to often feeling cold.
The second enjoyment I receive from summer is swimming. It’s not difficult to find a body of water that’s been warmed by the sun. Swimming also provides needed exercise that I forgo during the winter. One aspect of my CAD is joint and muscle pain, and swimming allows me to move my muscles, thereby increasing circulation and assisting blood flow to neglected areas of my body, such as my arms and legs.
The day’s warmth starts early. I can slip outside to renew my connection with the earth without worrying about cold fingers and toes. I spend those early-morning hours searching for our resident barred owl, and I feel sublime joy when I see it silently gliding among the pines.
It’s also a good opportunity to battle the overgrowth of vines in my garden. I don’t yet have kudzu, an invasive vine here in the South, but there are other noxious weeds that require vigorous discipline to control. Because I haven’t quite managed my anemia yet, I don’t do much heavy lifting, but I can pull the honeysuckle out of the azaleas or walk through the woods spreading a natural vinegar-and-salt weed killer on the poison ivy.
An excuse to rest
Although I embrace the hot summer season, I’m defeated by it in the middle of the day. That is the time for shade, rest, and lemonade or enjoying a juicy peach. I use the heat as an excuse to explain my lethargy, because I don’t want to admit that it’s equally caused by chronic fatigue related to CAD.
The twilight hours bring me the most enjoyment of the day. I can be active outside again and am often found monitoring my garden’s health while swinging on my garden swing and watching the lightning bugs flicker back and forth. This is great therapy for my mental health.
Tomorrow, July 23, is “Hot Enough For Ya Day,” a fun, informal holiday I really enjoy. I fill the day with activities I like doing, such as taking a dip in the pool, playing a zero-stress game of backyard croquet, or drinking lemonade on my patio while searching the trees for an owl’s nest or a hawk’s roost. Even with all the humidity that Alabama brings, summer is my favorite time of the year.
I agree with that classic song that pays tribute to the season: “Summertime and the living is easy.”
Note: Cold Agglutinin Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cold Agglutinin Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cold agglutinin disease.
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