Good grief!

[cupcake_goth]

So, everyone knows that my not-really joking plan is to become vampire witch queen of the universe. My childhood self picked awesome goals, what can I say?

Also, I'm a goth. I don't like the sun.

Also also, thanks to the Lyme disease and gift-with-purchase co-infections, I'm on a ridiculous amount of antibiotics and other meds. Some of which can make a person more sensitive to heat and sunlight.

You see where this is going, don't you?

We went to the farmers' market today. It was maybe 74 degrees (my apologies to everyone I know who is dealing with the heatwave that's happening everywhere else). I was sensibly dressed in lightweight layers, my summer-weight top hat (black-stained straw covered with black lace), sunblock, huge sunglasses, and carrying a parasol. Unfortunately, because the market was PACKED, I couldn't keep my parasol up. I spent maybe, maybe a total of 10 minutes in direct sunlight, which caused me to get a headache, feel really light-headed and woozy, and slightly nauseated.

DAMN. That's ... kinda ridiculous.

The Stroppy One called me "His special little vampiric snowflake". To which I ask: if I'm going to have these sorts of quintessential vampire reactions to sunlight, WHEN ARE MY FANGS GROWING IN? I want to know.

Comments

[onyxlynx]

Indeed.

Something I took (not nearly as much medicine as you take, but sufficient) had the effect of -- not sunburn, exactly, but tenderness of exposed skin. And it was hot enough that I didn't have anything to cover the area. Owie.

Giggled at "WHEN ARE MY FANGS GROWING IN?"

[sara]

It got over 80 here today. Bill-cat and I have taken this as the obvious reason to spend the afternoon under the ceiling fan that it so clearly is.

[amaliedageek]

*looks at thermometer, which reads 83 at almost 10 am*

*cries*

[sara]

It's supposed to be 85 here today. I may diiiiiiiiie.

[amaliedageek]

86, now.

No dying! You promised!

[amaliedageek]

Oh, hey, writing about the actual post might be a good thing!

I am so sorry the Orb hurt you! Are you feeling all right now?

(I didn't ask before, but -- when you do become the Vampire Witch Queen of the Universe, can I be an attendant? I know you have Plans for K., I should keep him company.)

[girlgoth.livejournal.com]

Mine came in pretty early, but you can't see them anymore, so I just tell people I'm a delicate flower and will whither in the sun.

[fangirl715.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...I have rather prominent lower canine teeth*, so maybe that's what I need to tell people when they want to know why I'm so damn heliophobic! "I'm a vampire, silly--can't you tell?" BTDT; I've always had trouble w/burning easily & heat exhaustion (damn those Anglo-Saxon/Celtic genes!), but between getting old, being on meds that make me more sensitive, and the sun being so damn much stronger than it used to be, well... :-(

As for how to recover: I'm sure you know what works for you, but the mama hen in me insists that I suggest a quart of cider vinegar in a nice cool bath; soak for 15 minutes or so, pat dry, and slather cold aloe gel on any crispy areas. If you're not actually burnt, the vinegar bath still helps, or you could steep some peppermint in the vinegar, let it cool, and dump it in the tub. Drink plenty of fluids, rest up, and take it easy overall. Oh, and perhaps a lighter-colored hat might be a good idea--if white or ivory seems too stark or easily dirtied, there's always light gray or a pale lavender. Hope you're feeling better soon!

*Several years ago, I dressed up as Rose from Titanic as a zombie, drooling blood, complete w/cheapass Heart of the Ocean necklace, for a Halloween performance by friends. I was waiting in line for the ladies room when another woman piped up "Oh! You must be Vampire Rose! I love your fangs!" "Um...actually, those are my real teeth..."

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Ooh, if I take a bath tonight, I will do the cider vinegar in the water. I'm not actually burnt (thank goodness!), but I didn't realize that I was now that susceptible to the burning orb.

I absolutely don't mind when people mama hen at me. :)

[-dante-sparda-.livejournal.com]

I've systemic lupus, so I can definitely identify with you on avoiding the daystar. The daywalker thing is friggin' overrated, imo.

Seconding the cool bath and aloe for burns, and staying hydrated may help somewhat with the headaches.

[inaurolillium.livejournal.com]

Next time, I recommend -- as someone who has been a very heat sensitive sort-of-Goth in hot weather -- a damp but not wet handkerchief placed under your hat. We lost a lot of heat through our scalps, and even a light-weight hat can prevent some of that, especially a dark one. A damp handkerchief helps to counter that.

Also, no matter how light the layers are, every layer means warmth trapped in between the layers, so the fewer layers, the better. Loose and flowing is better than snug and tailored, too.

Take it from me, I grew up in Florida, and started passing out from the heat around age 8.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I knew about the damp handkerchief trick, but I didn't think I'd need it! I wasn't outside for that long!

gnnnng. Dear Self, this comes along with wanting to be a vampire. Deal.

[inaurolillium.livejournal.com]

You have my complete and utter sympathy. It sucks when your body randomly changes in ways that limit what you can do.

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

we went on photo safari today. First down near montlake along the water, but it was WAY too muddy, so we went to the Shilshole Marina...

and yeah... I am a bit pink now. *sigh*

still overheating...

but I took a benedryl when we stopped for a snack at the Macaroni Grill, so I am going to be okay, I think.

[phoenixfire12.livejournal.com]

Oh I have to agree with inaurolillium. As a lover of the sun (even though I'm a redhead with pale skin) and a fervant Renaissance Festival attendee I highly recomend a wet cloth unde the hat or even an icepack. Something like a scarf that you cna wear around your neck (especially in the back) helps considerably. Other points to keep cool: wrists, crook of the elbows, clevage (yes they do make Bodice Coolers), and backs of knees. Small packs of ice or just cold wet cloths are a must for outdoor fun. Also, see if you can find the little hand held fans that have a small water bottle attachment to it. They are a lifesaver. Never ever pass up a chance to wave around a beautifully decorated fan as well.

Oh, and No-Ad makes an SPF 60 lotion that I wear religiously.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

As I said to inaurolillium, I didn't think it was going to be a problem because I wasn't outside for very long, and it wasn't scorchingly hot! But apparently I've become one of Those Gothy Types, who really can't cope with the sun.

I've done ice packs down the front and back of corsets for events, and I do have a bodice cooler that I need to dig out from a drawer.

No-Ad SPF 60, hmm? I may have to look for that, because I also need a new sunblock.

[phoenixfire12.livejournal.com]

The plusses to it are: NOT tested on animals (a big one for me), no fragrance other than aloe and coco butter, waterproof & sweatproof.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

How sticky-feeling is it? Because I need something non-sticky for my face. I'm still SO ANGRY that the Neutrogena SPF 100 dry-touch is full of possible carcinogens.

[phoenixfire12.livejournal.com]

I can only vouch for me because my skin is normal and I live in a dry climate (Colorado) but I put the stuff on under my foundation and I can't tell the difference between that and my normal makeup. Any little spots of excess can be taken care of with lose powder.

Thanks for the heads-up on the Neutrogena. *ick*

[ozitonaranjo.livejournal.com]

One of the lacrosse moms uses a POWDER sunblock that is super duper awesome (she's deathly allergic to the sun, as in quite literally burns up without suncreen). http://brushonblock.com/
It survives long lacrosse matches in the burning sun (hour - hour and a half). My skin doesn't tolerate powder anything so I haven't tried it but I have seen it in action.

[inaurolillium.livejournal.com]

And I second the recommendation for No-Ad. That stuff is why I will not have skin cancer, because I wore it religiously growing up.

[ashbet]

Oof, that sounds really unpleasant -- I have the same issues with heat, and it's no fun at all :/

Those are some very good suggestions you're getting -- I agree with them! (You can also carry a cold-pack in your purse and put it on the back of your neck if you start to get overheated -- it helps!)

**hugs**

<3!

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

Sunblock, light clothing UPF 30, and a towel over the car window. Had a horrible bout of heat ick on Friday when it was in the 70s. Woozy, headache, and nauseous. I'm on 3 different sun sensitive meds. Looks like night time shopping for me this summer.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I know that at least two of my meds increase sun sensitivity - I need to check on all the others. You have my sympathies!

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

It gets worse if you give in to your Universal-Vampire-Queen-in-Training tendencies... I lived a completely nocturnal lifestyle for multiple years at one point, and it got such that I ended up with a sunburn in less than ten minutes of being in a car *and* developed a real proclivity for fainting as well. To keep from burning, I ended up having to wear a hooded cape outside. o_O

I wouldn't want you to get to that point, so do try to keep "building up a tolerance" as much as you can so at least going out and enjoying the farmer's market is still an option ;)

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

Aw, I'm sorry. I guess I sacrificed a few hippies too many to the Orb god. I'll stop now.

[dirtyhalo3379.livejournal.com]

Ugh, completely feel for you, I would get heat stroke at least once or twice every summer as my grandparents didn't believe I was so sensitive to the sun until I literally passed out under a tree at a park one day after having thrown up. That is how they found me after I begged off and told them to just leave me and go finish checking out the little fair and come back for me. Now I just avoid most heat over 90 and even the 80's are pushing it for me. Today in my town was in the 90's and I was in my house with all the fans running and was getting a tad overwhelmed with it, had the nausea, headache and just general ugh here it comes, so grabbed the ice water and ice packs and curled up right in front of a fan with a book *laugh*. I also have a lot of meds that make it worse. Good luck girl!

[staysonpaper.livejournal.com]

Sympathies. I had my palpitations-nausea-headache thing from partial sun in the low 70's for 20 minutes last week. I was almost completely covered, only hands and head bare (STUPIDLY forgot my hat), and those covered with sunscreen. There's no way I could deal with the Midwest anymore.

Sun allergies are dumb.

[gloomsan.livejournal.com]

You need a nice day walker ring so the burney orb doesn't hurt you

::hugs::

[nimue-obscure.livejournal.com]

Perhaps _The Hunger_ is the truest of Vampire worlds and you never will get the fangs...have you found one of those lovely ahnk dagger necklaces?

[schwarze-krahe.livejournal.com]

Which one did you go to? next time you're up on the cap hill one txt me.