Surviving those HOT Texas Game Days
With my husband being who he is, UT football games are a mandatory event every fall. Down here football games involve tailgating in the Texas heat for hours, walking all over campus, standing at tailgates, and then making it through a very long game in seats that only see shade when the sun is completely down. Needless to say, they are challenging for a normal person to get through, let alone me. This may sound like a more unique problem, but I have talked to several people diagnosed with Dysautonomia that completely gave up doing the things they loved because they didn’t know how to manage them. Hopefully by sharing how I get through these marathon tailgates, you get ideas and inspiration to try and get back a part of your life you lost.
First things first, I make sure I’ve given my body the best chance of making it through by eating plenty of supportive foods, and drinking an insane amount of water. I eat a solid breakfast that morning and start drinking water early on, adding electrolyte powder to every few bottles (something my cardiologist recommended I do regularly- but check with your doctor!) to make sure I keep up my salt intake throughout the day. I don’t skip any meals, and pack enough food bars to last me the entire day in case there isn’t anything I can eat at the tailgates or in the stadium. I also acknowledge that I may have to make certain allowances for food I wouldn’t normally eat. I have certain foods I will never compromise on because they instantly make me feel bad, but if I am really hungry or need a blood sugar boost, I do what I have to do to take care of myself.
The next most important thing is finding a way to sit as much as possible because I know I need to conserve as much energy as possible for what is going to be a very long, tiring day. All of our friends are super understanding of my needs and help me find stairs, a railing, a spare chair, a curb, literally whatever we can that allows me to sit. This really helps prolong the amount of time I can tolerate the heat, and no matter where I end up, I rarely feel left out because people usually end up coming over to join me. August heat in Texas doesn’t do anyone any favors, no matter how healthy you are, so I know I am not alone in the struggle.
I also never drink alcohol on game days. I have to be very careful with alcohol regardless (for a multitude of reasons), but on days like this all I drink is water and LOTS of it. Alcohol is something people have very strong feelings about whether they drink it or not, and I used to care so much about being left out. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized no one else cares what I am doing or not doing. I don’t drink on game days because I don’t feel good when I do, and because if I did, it would make it one thousand times harder to get through the day. This is a personal choice but if alcohol is something that makes your body struggle, consider sparkling flavored waters. They are a great way to have something refreshing, that does not taste like flat water, and comes in a can just like beer.
I am on energy conservation mode all day long. Something we discovered that makes a huge difference is using the escalator (which is inside the stadium with AC) up to our seats to avoid walking on the ramps outside. Not only does this help us cool down, but it helps me avoid the strenuous walk up all the ramps to the top that, in the past, has caused some issues. Once we get to our seats I pretty much sit for the whole game. I know for some schools sitting during the game is blasphemy (luckily UT is not one of them) but also, I am there cheering my team on and that is enough. Standing for an entire football game, heat or not, is not going to happen and I am much happier afterwards if I didn’t try to. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for why you have to do things a certain way, so just enjoy the game in the best way for you. And, if someone really won’t let it go, maybe remind them how much easier it is to get boots off when your feet aren’t all swollen!
After the game, the only thing I have energy for is sitting on the couch. A lot of times our friends want to keep hanging out after the game, and I used to try really hard to make that work (to my own demise of course). But now, I am getting much better at being very honest with people and myself about how I am feeling, and when my body is done. Now at the end of a long day, instead of feeling guilty because I can’t keep going, I tell myself how proud I am that I made it through and call it a night. Luckily, we have amazing friends who are very understanding of my situation, but sometimes there are still people who get annoyed and I have learned to just let them feel that way. Not everyone will understand (or care) and that’s not your problem.
Here football games are an all-day event in the burning inferno that is Texas summer, but finding ways to take care of myself means I still get to participate in this lifelong tradition. Water is the clear MVP, but getting creative with ways to fuel my body and conserve my energy throughout the day can make a big difference too. If tailgating, or even just going to the game itself, is still just too physically demanding for you (and believe me, I get it!) there are still ways for you to be a part of the fun. You can meet friends at a bar to watch the game, or even start hosting watch parties at home. Making game day food and decorating with school colors while hanging out with friends can be a great way to still get in the spirit and enjoy the traditions without the strain on your health!