Has anyone noticed increased symptoms during prolonged winter mths, vs summer mths

Also cold has to do somethign w. the worsening condition, every time the weather warms up a bit I seem to feel better, and cold fronts make me dowright miserable (major lethargy, and headaches). Since GS/Liver function affects the thyroid, I am thinking this causes increased sensitivity to cold weather.

Next week I will start going to the sauna because I read that warming up the internal tissues and organs helps the body detox. I am thinking since GS makes it hard for the liver to detox, we might have more issues in the winter months because of the persistent cold temperature slows down our liver function, and the detox process. I read that infrared sauna is better for the detox process then the regular sauna, but it is quite expensive.

Hope this helps.

I'd put two and two together when I found that when I lived overseas in a very hot place, I seldom got sick or had issues. When I returned to the UK, I found I was fine through Summer and even maybe Autumn, but come Winter, I felt like i'd been planted by life.

This has been by far the worst I have ever been and it began the beginning of last November. Nothing has helped, nothing has eased the sympotoms to the point my doctor feared soemthing worse and booked me in for a surgery which I think made everything worse :-\

But es, in response to your question, I'm beginning to think the cold and varying temps. play a huge role in whether I feel I can handle my sysmptoms, to having to run to my bed with the heating blanket on full and a bucket by my side!

Hello -

I have also noticed a general worsening of symptoms over the winter months. I had ascribed this to reduced exposure to sunlight as I see some others have as well. 

I also am told that I have a Vitamin D deficiency and have tried Vitamin D supplementation. While I hesiatate to say I'm certain, because I'm not -- and also because I believe everyone's constitution is different, including folks with GS in common - I was not aware of feeling improvement from Vitamin D supplementation and possibly felt a little worse. 

For those of us who think exposure to hot vs cold air might make a beneficial difference -- rather than the effects of sun exposure itself -- that is an interesting thought. Perhaps time in a sauna during winter would be worth experimenting with?

I know a lot of folks are proponents of sauna use for the purpose of detox as a result of sweating as well. 

Maybe warmer air circumstances because they encourage sweating and drinking more to replenish our hydration are a factor with GS?

Appreciate everyone's thoughts!

Hi P-Mac,

I definitely feel much worse during the winter months. I have always spent most of the winter feeling unwell. During the summer I have little to no symptoms.

I have had my vitamin B and D tested but both are within the normal range. My symptoms generally start after I get sick with a cold or flu. Up until recently I had always thought GS is totally benign. I always assumed that I had post viral fatigue or something similar. I am now thinking that my symptoms may be triggered by the paracetamol I take whilst I am sick. I have read that the enzyme people with GS are lacking is also responsible for removing paracetamol from your system. I think that even whilst I am taking the recommended dose, the paracetamol is damaging my liver making me feel sick and fatigued for weeks/months after I have gotten better from the original illness. Anyway I have only just worked this out and I just going to try and not take any medication next time I'm sick and see how I go.

If anyone else has had a similar experience I would be very interested to hear.

Hi David,

I am in Australia. Yes, paracetamol is another name for acetaminophen. I believe the two names can be used interchangeably along with the acronym APAP. The only active ingredient in the medication I am referring to is APAP.

I do not have any problem with taking APAP as an isolated one off for a headache etc. I think that the problem arises when I take the maximum recommended daily dose for several days in a row when I am trying to medicate for a cold or flu.

I have read a few journal articles which explain that people who have GS are missing the enzyme UGT1a1. That same enzyme is also one of the key enzymes which acts on APAP to remove it from the body. Interestingly, the UGT1a1 enzyme becomes even more important when APAP in the blood is at toxic levels. This is described in the journal article in the link below.

http://m.jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/299/3/998.full

Anyway, i suppose most of what I'm saying is based purely on my experience. I will have to wait until next time I get sick to see if not taking any APAP will help me.

Interesting that you asked about antihistamines, I take loretadine and nasonex for allergies. However, I have not noticed any correlation between feeling unwell and taking these medications. I did try taking Phenergen (Promethazine) a few times as recommend by my doctor and this did make me feel terrible and extremely drowsy for days. I would not take that medication again!

Other than getting sick a lot during the winter months and the possible link to taking APAP, I'm not sure why winter is so much worse. I would say for me the lack of sunshine is a more likely cause that colder temperatures.

Thank you for mentioning your dietry recommendations. I will have a look at these. I also have very low cholesterol which is often associated with GS, so I need to find a diet which will give me enough cholesterol whilst not being too taxing on my liver!