Ever wonder Post-Ops tend to be cold all the time?

Hi! I don't know about anyone else but I have been freezing. A friend of mine found an article that explains why Gastric Bypass patients tend to be cold. Here's the link - http://www.bellaonline.com/ArticlesP/art36826.asp Here's the article - Gastric Bypass: Causes Patients To Feel Cold Our Body temperature is basically the result of your body producing and radiating heat. The body is adept at keeping its temperature within a range even though prevailing air conditions vary. A normal body temperature is 98.6°F. It's basically common during the period of excess weight loss for bariatric patients to feel cold, even when they feel their temperature reads normal. According to an article published in ezinearticles.com-People who experience the excessive weight loss associated with weight loss surgery experience feeling cold just because of two reasons: loss of insulation and less energy generation. Fat is a highly efficient insulator. When gastric bypass patients follow the rules: eating protein and exercising, the weight lost can only come from fat or stored energy. In effect you are losing your insulation. Less insulation increases the likelihood that you will feel cold. The second reason for feeling chilled or cold is that the metabolic cell processes are not working as hard as when you were heavier; it takes less calories and less energy to maintain and move a smaller body. The body has two well-tuned mechanisms for regulating body temperature: sweating and shivering. What overweight person hasn't been embarrassed by a sticky bout of sweating at the most inappropriate time? Sweating is a mechanism for cooling your body when it becomes too hot inside. The body rids itself of excess heat by expanding the blood vessels in the skin so the heat may be carried to the surface. When this energy or heat in the form of sweat reaches the skin's surface it evaporates and helps cool the body. Gastric bypass patients become more familiar with the second temperature regulator, shivering, as they lose weight. When you are too cold your blood vessels will contract reducing blood flow to the skin. The body responds by shivering which creates extra muscle activity to help generate more heat. Most weight loss patients report that their body temperature regulates after their weight is stabilized, usually eighteen to twenty-four months after surgery. Keep in mind your body is rapidly losing weight and the rest of your body's functions are caught off guard when this weight loss begins.

Cassandra, Thanks for posting the article. It really explains it all and was very interesting. See you lighter. Joanne

I find this article astounding. It makes sense. Thanks Cassandra. You rock!! Elissa

I'm over 3 years post-op and STILL always cold! Doesn't seem to get any better. Anyone other long-term post-ops still shivering? I can't remember the last time my body produced sweats... except prior to my surgery!!