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Tips for Surviving the Habagat With Fibromyalgia

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Here in the Philippines, June to August are either the beginning of classes or the beginning of the Habagat season, aka the rainy season.

For a college student with fibromyalgia, maneuvering the rainy days and flooded roads of Manila when going to university has always been a challenge. So here are some tips where one with fibromyalgia can survive the Habagat:

1. Don’t forget the jacket. Rainy days mean cold weather, which may increase your pain.

2. Wear comfortable socks and shoes. Due to the bad weather, traffic is worse, thus walking will probably not be avoided. Just remember to wear boots for the flood or bring a shoe cover too.

3. Don’t forget your medicine. Yes, bad weather means changes in barometric pressure, which can lead to worse pain and migraines.

4. Bring a survival kit. Bring the bag with the hot compress, jacket, extra water, food and medicine. You may need it in places where you could be stranded due to flooding.

5. Beware of overexertion. The weeks when classes begin will be busy. Along with bad weather and flooded streets, overexertion is hard to avoid. Try to maximize transport systems. Ride a trike, hire a Grab, or use the elevator when going to different destinations.

6. Be with a friend. The buddy system is important, especially during bad weather. Your buddy may be your hero when a need arises because of that pain.

7. Don’t forget to sleep. Yes, rainy days + floods may mean suspension of classes. Maximize this time to rest and sleep.

Getty image by WhitcombeRD.

Originally published: November 9, 2018
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