When I was a child the transition of seasons from summer through fall into winter brought with it a slew of sinus issues and a nasty cough. As I aged, fall and winter became worse for me. After high school I ended up in Florida for my undergraduate studies at a tech university. I and my body were happy to be away from the cold of New England. I had no clue why I sick less often and why my allergies and sinuses bothered me less now that I was in Florida, back then I did not care.

Seven or eight years ago I noticed the Florida falls and winters were getting harder on. By late fall I would suffer sinus infections that I blamed on working at a University or roommates. The reality is that my body was becoming weak, combinations of vitamin D deficiency and B12 anemia were making the fibro worse (or maybe the fibro was progressing making the deficiencies and anemia worse). Part of my diet was a B complex supplement that ended up masking the anemia from my blood tests.

Four years ago I would find myself shaking with a chill in a 71f room. I was still undiagnosed and the doctors were passing me from one specialist to another. I needed a space heater in my office due to the AC keeping the room 75f, which would trigger chills. I remember driving home from work on many occasions, heat on full blast at the highest setting, even when it was 80f outside.

Two and one half years ago I was diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency and started treatment, I had hoped that would solve my temperature sensitivity. The worst of my pain lessened but I still had regular chills and of course the fatigue attacks.

Less than one year ago I was diagnosed with Vitamin B12 anemia and started treatment. Suddenly I was warmer than I had been in years. I no longer needed to set my AC at 78f-81f, but could keep it at 76f. I stopped getting chills at work and the fatigue attacks lessened. Along with cardio and stretches I felt like I was getting stronger for the first time in years, maybe winter would be easier to handle.

This is my first winter with all my deficiencies treated, I even traveled to New England in December. Winter is still hard on me, especially the cold weather. When the weather drops below 50f the fibro is prone to flaring. I feel stiffness in my joints, my muscles are sluggish and heavy, the chronic pain increases by a factor or two, and my sinuses act up. When I was up in New England I was miserable. The fibro was much worse up there, it made me slow and I felt sickly like when I was younger. While the New England trip reminded me of my health limitations, I was happy I made it there and was able to enjoy some of the trip.

These issues slow me down, but they are not nearly as intense as they were a few years ago. I am happy that I can sit in a 70f room and not suffer a chill. I am happy I don’t have to bundle up to go outside in 60f weather. I look forward to the weather warming back up, it is hard to exercise with muscles sluggish like this, and my hand pain always worsens, making work pain. I am not happy that the fibro flares in the cold, but as long as it only slows me down I will survive.