Changes in the weather affect my rare disease journey

I start each day with a floor-to-ceiling view of the lake outside our house in Florida. On perfect mornings, it is still and reflects the blue sky and sunrise like a mirror. But that’s not my view today. Cooler and less inviting, the fog is so thick that the lake isn’t even visible.

When I get out of my warm bed, I feel the cool air that’s gripped the inside of the house. Oh yeah, I remind myself. It’s winter.

My family and I moved to Florida just over a year ago to escape the cold and painful winters. We’d spent the two years before that in North Carolina, and each winter was miserable, especially because I suffer from a few rare and chronic illnesses. Three of them affect my red blood cell, platelet, and plasma levels, leaving me anemic. So I feel the cold more intensely than most people.

Over the past week, I’ve also been dealing with a flare-up of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), which causes my immune system to attack my platelets. Cooler weather causes joint pain, shivering, dry skin, and sometimes even headaches and nosebleeds.

Recommended Reading

February 2, 2026 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD

Managing anxiety levels may improve quality of life for adults with ITP: Study

How seasonal change affects me

I’ve always loved the changing seasons — the beautiful flowers of spring, summer’s warm sun, autumn’s vibrant colors, and winter’s tranquil snow. But seasonal changes drastically affect my health, and changes in the weather can affect my immune system, blood circulation, mobility, pain levels, and more.

In Florida, we typically don’t have the full gamut of seasons. It’s pretty much spring, summer, a little bit of autumn, a couple of weeks of winter, and back to spring.

But over the past few weeks, it’s felt like we are experiencing seasonal changes several times a day. There are freezing temperatures and fog when we wake up, then it’s breezy and cool in the morning, sunny and warm throughout the afternoon, and back to cool and breezy by evening. Spring, fall, and summer all in one day.

Our last summer in North Carolina was sweltering, with temperatures reaching 100 F. I prefer the heat, because my health problems are less frequent, but high temperatures and humidity raise my blood pressure, leave me exhausted, and stress my kidneys (I have stage 4 chronic kidney disease from disease complications). I also no longer sweat. That might sound like a godsend, but my body can’t naturally cool itself, leaving me at a higher risk of heat stroke. Still, when it’s warm, my bones, joints, and muscles ache much less.

My health usually improves temporarily in the autumn, but challenges return with the cold. Cold weather’s adverse effects on immune response are well documented; for me, rainy days trigger bone and joint pain, while cold spells leave me exhausted. Icy winds and snow make me want to curl up at home, but I need to stay active to maintain my overall health.

I generally spend late autumn and winter sipping hot drinks under a heated blanket to help manage my symptoms, because when I’m too cold during the day, I shiver uncontrollably at night, which leads to intense joint pain, muscle cramps, and sleep issues.

The thawing earth and blooming flowers of spring revitalize me and energize my spirit. I have less bone, joint, and muscle pain, making it easier for me to move around. Because I’m more active in spring and autumn, I tend to schedule more doctor appointments.

Learning and adaptation have been vital in my rare disease journey. And our move to mostly warm Florida has been life-changing. I may still be at the mercy of the elements sometimes, but understanding that and responding to those challenges makes a world of difference.

Note: Bleeding Disorders News is strictly a news and information website about the syndrome. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Bleeding Disorders News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to bleeding disorders.