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I'm just wondering what IS going on that I keep getting relapses nearly every mid-Apr/end May and end of Aug/end of Sep.

Is there any natural phenomenen that might be contributing to this? My lifestyle does not alter at these times, no big stressors - at least not any more than usual, nothing else that I can think of.........

If Vit D is a recurring issue in research, and I have had persistant insufficiency of Vit D (most recent test results pending) why would this coincide with Aug/Sep when Vit D should be at peak levels surely? Aug/Sep is generally far worse than Apr/May.

Perhaps it's just one of those annoying MS mysteries but I'm curious to know if others have this kind of seasonality in their MS? I have seen a paper on equinox-related relapses in MS but can't locate at present. Anyone any thoughts?

Could it be the changes in temperature and your tolerance therof?

In Ireland that's not usually a problem! - it rains more than it should during summer and although it might get up to 25C on an exceptionally good day, it's mostly 19C or so during summer.

Also hot weather can occur during July but I have never had a relapse then as far as I can remember.

I wonder if it could be realated to humidity (as artheretic people experience more pain in the joints when it rains or cllaim they know when it will rain)

or could it be barometric pressure?

I am making the assumption that it is enviornmentally, or external factors that make the time of your relapses...

diet change?

where in Ireland..I have distant kin in the isle.

I don't know about your area, but those months coincide with seasonal allergies and high tree/grass pollen counts.

During those months I typically check pollen.com every day to see what my day will be like.

Ugh.

I don't know - barometric pressure......will have to take a look at it. But not an awful lot I can do about it if it is a trigger!

I'm from Dublin Peekaboo - Ireland has 4 million people though but you never know, six degrees of separation and all that!

Art - I am allergic to grass pollen though my level of allergenic response varies from year to year - but grass pollen peaks in June.

I was thinking last night I have never had a relapse in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb and I don't think in June/July either.

Wonderfulworld--You wrote:

I am allergic to grass pollen though my level of allergenic response varies from year to year - but grass pollen peaks in June.

I was thinking last night I have never had a relapse in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb

I think Art is on to something when he suggests "seasonal allergies." I have noticed that many friends with MS report an exacerbation coincides with an allergy attack.

CureOrBust is sure that cold/flu is the trigger for his exacerbations -- What is common to these two situations? Could mucus be the common element?

I don't know Lynda, usually I get a few colds/bugs in March/April so that could be that trigger.

I sail through the summer though, rarely ill, lots of sunshine (Irish-style!!- 3 mins between showers!!), and my grass allergy is gone by the end of June.

I suppose the Aug/Sep will remain a mystery as to why it flares up then. The peculiar thing is that in other MS-friends it seems to flare then for them too. Oh I dunno.

I am the same, spring and fall are difficult times for me... reason unknown.
I always thought it was the end of the winter stress or the stress of getting the kids off and prepared for school. ... My two cents... Carole

That's interesting Carol. I had no kids until last year - and he's still a few years from school. Each year I even took holidays at that time to try to relax but the flare ups keep happening then.
I can understand Spring - low Vit D levels after winter, lots of bugs doing the rounds.
But Autumn is peculiar. It's when Vit D should be the highest.
Oh it's so odd.

I am new to this site and this post really struck a cord for me .. For yrs I've been complaining about spring and fall (espacially august and september) to my neuro and she dismissed it has being a change in atmospheric temperature, etc etc .. Well I'm glad (not glad if you all know what I mean) to see other indivuduals experiencing sx in these 2 particular seasons. i thought it was just in my head !!

Thank you

Siehhra