Some positive news about SW Florida !! (live, move to, pool)

[hiknapster]

I think SAD folks have to watch the extremes, too. I've seen it mentioned over and over again. Once they hit the incredibly long summers with the incredibly high dewpoints, - the likes that are not seen up north, even during extreme heatwaves - they become forced to stay inside in the A/C for long period of times. Months, really. And all of that can backfire on them.

Make no mistake. That nice, 90-degree weather is not the month-upon-month-upon-month weather of 79 and 80 dewpoint days that will have you running from car to home and back again. It's called summer SAD and it can take its toll, even for low-thyroid folks like I was.

Best of luck, though. What didn't work for many may work for you.

In the meantime, I've found that multi-vitamins, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, Calicum and C, Potassium and Magnesium have worked wonders, no matter where I live. And a moderate climate with sun, and mild winters and summers have worked when nothing else could. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. There are perfectly pleasant areas of the country where moderation may even you out and make you happier.

We all must find our perfect paradise.

And then, sometimes, it is other things that must be worked out, beside the lack of sunlight, and that can often be the toughest to face and deal with. But a solution is possible. A relocation is rarely going to be the magic bullet.

[tmozer]

Back in the 70's when I had a girlfriend that lived in Syracuse, I remember driving the interstate (80 maybe?) when it looked like that: driving through a white canyon where you could not see anything but white walls.

Originally Posted by kroeran

and then there is my driveway which is already impossible!



not! ; - )

this photo is actually lake effect snow just south of Watertown NY.

[tmozer]

I just drove from Murrells Inlet SC on Sunday. Temps there were nice (70's during the day, low 60's at night). However there is fall look to the place. The community pool was closed and the beaches were empty. Plus it was predicted to get much cooler. It was time to leave.......

Driving south even most of Florida looked fall-ish. It was not until Tampa and south that it still looked like summer.

If I feel the need for fall or winter, I will visit. Otherwise I perfer the endless summer lifestyle.

[pinda]

For me the move to Florida is a blessing.

We don't have winter for 7 to 8 months, but my SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is so severe, that I don't feel well for that many months in Wisconsin. It is MUCH more than just feeling sad. My blood pressure dips as low as 70's/40's. I am too dizzy to drive when it goes that low. It takes more of a toll on a body than what people may think. It is more than just "Winter Blues". It depends on it's severity.

I am choosing to look at the brightest side of living here. I was so ready for the temp's to be so much more difficult to tolerate, that it didn't seem as hot and humid as I expected. Even in July when I was visiting my husband, I was able to walk fast in the middle of the day, when it was around 93 degrees. For me, that was easier than walking on ice with 25 degrees BELOW wind chill factors in January and reluctantly sticking my bare hand out from down jacket to try to get Vitamin D on my skin.

I have done the gammat of vitamins and treatments (thyroid checks) in an attempt to stay by our family in Wisconsin. It was so difficult to leave everyone, but I had too. My doctors felt moving south was my only choice after years of trying to help me. I came here fully realizing that I will not be 100% better because I still have some low blood counts, but 70 - 80% better is soooooooo worth it to me. Just being able to eat normally again because my body is working better is so nice. It is AMAZING to me the difference it has made so far in my life that I will put up with some really hot weather.

Regarding a more moderate climate, after years of research and discussing this with a North Carolina professor who did a study on SAD, it was his opinion that I needed to go further south. I also communicated with people and read their stories of how living in the more moderate climate didn't help them enough. Again, it really depends on the severity of someones symptoms. In my 20's, I was able to put up with only 2 months of being alittle more tired, but as I aged, it got so much worse.

My ideal temperature is in the low 80's, that's why 90 degrees isn't so hard for me to take. I totally understand that many people can't tolerate heat and humidity, so Florida isn't for them. I am loving this weather and feel blessed to be here.

Once I live here longer, I will do a thread on how Florida has affected my SAD in an effort to help someone else with the BIG decision to move or not. I used to scour the internet looking for answer to help me.

[freddyCF]

Originally Posted by tmozer

Back in the 70's when I had a girlfriend that lived in Syracuse, I remember driving the interstate (80 maybe?) when it looked like that: driving through a white canyon where you could not see anything but white walls.

That would be I-90 and the average snowfall we got each year was around 8 - 9 ft.

[pinda]

In Wisconsin we used to get more snow too. 2 years ago I prayed that we would get a lot of snow to help nudge my husband to want to move south and I believe we had record breaking snow in December. We had the pretty big snow banks, it reminded me of when I was a kid.

[hiknapster]

I have low blood pressure, too, and use to get dizzy all the time. Florida didn't help me.

Write your memoirs after you've been there for a few years, Pinda. A few months, or even a year, isn't going to do it.

It sure didn't help me but that doesn't mean anything. We are all different. But I did became sicker after living in Florida, for awhile. Just don't hesitate to go to the doctor if you start getting worse. I've been to every specialist there is, including a urologist, cardiologist, nephrologist, gastroentologist and endocrinologist. I also think I took every anti-depressant they ever made! Fortunately, I don't take any of that anymore. I am down to thyroid meds, fibromyalgia meds (I got that in Florida, too), potassium, magnesium and diuretics.

But I really hope it works for you. You are a very nice lady.

I do find it odd that this thread is titled "Some positive news about SW Florida" but it's really about the weather elsewhere. I was expecting some large corporation to be moving into the area. Now that would be great news.

[nhkev]

you need to move back to mass hik. just 10 minutes of driving around here with these idiots will get your blood pressure sky rocketing.

[pinda]

I think it went to weather from other parts of the country because I mentioned the weather here as a positive part of SW Florida and some disagreed and others agreed by showing why we are happier about the heat than all that snow.

I am hoping that years of going south in the winter and feeling better everytime I go south sheds some light on the long term. Within 3 days of going south in the winter I start feeling better and within 7 days the full affects seem to take place. As mentioned, I do still have something else underlying but feeling this much better, now, is so worht it to me. As you said, time will tell and if I can help someone else that was in my shoes, I will be so happy.

I will keep in touch because I have appreciated the forums from all around the country so much to help figure all this out.

I always say it, but thanks again to everyone who takes the time to inform everyone and expresses their opinions.

[tmozer]

In Naples at the moment it is in the 70's with a nice breeze. I have had all my windows open and the air off since arriving Sunday. If heaven has weather (and I make it there) I would want it to be just like it is today in Collier County.........