Question:
Feeling cold a lot - is this normal?
I am 5 weeks post op and down 32 lbs. The past week or so I have been freezing! This morning about two hours after I had gotten up, I was so cold I had to get back in the bed and pull the covers over my head in attempt to get warm. Last night when I went to bed my feet were so cold I had to take my socks off and rub them until they warmed up. Then this afternoon while driving the car my hands felt like they were cold down to the bone. I had my daughter rub them and she could not believe how cold they were. I'm figuring this must have something to do with the weight loss, but is this normal? My friend suggested it could be caused by low iron or some other vitamin or mineral deficiency. Anybody have any ideas? — Barbara C. (posted on May 16, 2003)
May 15, 2003
I am froze all the time and have a sore tush from hard chairs. Bad news it
gets worse, good news its a sign your a big looser. Congrats do check with
your surgeon but its very commoin.
— bob-haller
May 15, 2003
Hi, Barbara. I'll be five weeks on Monday, the 19th, and I'm cold all the
time, too. And Bob's right, I went back to work this week and by the end
of the day my butt is killing me!! What's up with that????
— Julia T.
May 15, 2003
I am almost three months post op and have been cold like that since the
first week after surgery. My feet are the worst.
— Carla M.
May 15, 2003
I can relate to what you're saying - Monday I will be 4 weeks post-op and I
STAY cold. As a matter of fact my nose reminds me of a little puppy -
always cold. And my hands and feet. I'm glad I'm not alone.
— Stephanie C.
May 15, 2003
Hi! I heard somewhere that when we lose weight, especially quickly, that
our bodies are trying to conserve energy and so we get cold more often. I
think because I've been so cold, the summer will be nice.
— Alicia K.
May 15, 2003
According to my surgeon, this is completely normal! It is because we are
now burning fat instead of storing it. Prior to surgery, I would get hot
really quickly, no matter what the temp. I usually kept the air in my house
at 68 degrees! After surgery, I can barely tolerate 78. I guess this is a
good thing, as I've found the 90 degree weather (I live in Louisiana)
rather comfortable for the first time in my life.
— fieryfish
May 15, 2003
YUP~NORMAL! 14 months out and still freezing!
— ~~Stacie~~
May 16, 2003
My sister and neice kid me all the time about me keeping my jacket on(ugly
grey hoodie). We went to the tanning place the other night and they had on
shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops. I was wearing sweats and my ugly jacket.
It felt so good in that bed that I stayed for 20 minutes. I usually get
out after 10-15. Ahh,what a small price to pay.... :) Sidney Open RNY
10-23-02 down 90+
— Siddy I.
May 16, 2003
Your friend could be right about the low iron/possible anemia reason for
being so cold. I too have been cold since my surgery six months ago, but
recently I became several degrees colder even when it was warm outside.
When I had my bloodwork done, my doctor discovered that I was anemic. I
had further iron studies done, which showed that I was very deficient in
iron. I am now taking iron supplements three times a day in addition to
the added iron that is in my multi-vitamin. (I am also taking softeners
three times a day to counteract the constipation side effect.) Bottom
line, don't just assume that your being cold is a simple side effect of the
surgery. Have a blood test to check for anemia. It can be a very serious
condition. My doctor said that if I feel short of breath, have chest pain
or rapid heart beat, that I should get to the emergency room right away.
You can believe that his warning has scared me into making sure I take the
supplements! Also, I read up on anemia on the internet. Another way to
tell if you are anemic (not 100% accurate, of course), is if the insides of
your bottom eyelid are pale rather than red. When I checked mine after
reading that, mine were just about white. They still are not normal, even
after taking iron for three weeks. I read that it can take 3-4 months to
build the iron back up in your blood. Take care of yourself and be sure to
let your doctor know about everything that is going on with you!
— Gerry Y.
May 16, 2003
I am 82 days pre-op, so I can not tell you if being cold is normal at 5
weeks post-op, but I am on Blood Thinners and when my blood gets to thin, I
get really cold, and tired. I have to have a blood test done every 4 to 6
weeks to make sure that my blood thinners are at the right numbers. I know
that they give you a blood thinner for surgery, you may want to check with
the doctor and make sure that the blood thinner is not still having an
effect on you.
— cindy
May 16, 2003
Oh so normal - after any major surgery and then add the fact that you're
losing insulation you've lived with for years and wham! You're cold! 10
months out now and I sleep in flannel sheets, a comforter, and flannel
pj's. I roast my poor family out of the house with the furnace :>)
— [Deactivated Member]
May 16, 2003
Oh man, I am in on this one with ya! Those first few months (6 months post
op here and down 147)my nose was sooooo darn cold. Now the folks at work
LOVED this one! I was always so hot before. I froze everyone out with the
a/c. So I don't say anything now. It's MY turn to freeze. ;) Oh and the
butt thing? We all have butt issues. hahahaha What a beautiful price to
pay for better health and lookin' gooooood. It's so amazing to me how we
all have so much in common. Are the 'professionals' listening here? Take
notes and make stats. :)
— Ginger M.
May 16, 2003
It's funny how many different ways weight loss can effect a person. Just 1
year ago I was praying there was a surgery that could fix my horrible
sweating problem- now I am complaining of being cold all the time! lol I
always had all my skinny friends wear sweaters in summer and have cold
hands, etc. and now I'm on of them! haha I'm sure someone mentioned- but
check your blood pressure. Just as when it is high it can make you sweat,
when its low it can make you very cold, which is the case for me. I think
its easier to add clothes when you're cold than to try and be almost naked
when you're sweating! Goodluck to you :-)
— Lezlie Y.
May 16, 2003
best answer i heard from my pcp about coldness after surgery is this: for
every pound lost, you lose 1 mile of blood vessels. since circulating blood
is what maintains the body temperature, less blood, less heat. like bob
said, small price to pay and means you are losing, losing, losing:)
patsy in las vegas
— PATSY N.
May 16, 2003
Make sure you are taking Iron supplements and ask your doc to check for
anemia. I was freezing (especially, my feet and hands) and my iron was
low. Taking my supplement everyday has warmed me up a bit! Good Luck!
— teresa M.
May 16, 2003
Sometimes I get a hot shower to just get warm. Being cold isc a small
price to pay for getting healthy.I can wear a suit and tie and not sweat
and be miserable.
— bob-haller
May 16, 2003
It will only get worse! 15 months post-op, used to sweat all the time
pre-op, now freezing all the time!!
— Cindy R.
May 16, 2003
18 mo post and STILL freezing all the time. We are putting in for Florida
when our orders are up in a couple of months. I can't handle the cold
weather any more:~( Hey, but I'd rather be cold and thin, than the other
option!! I hated sweating all the time and not being able to cool off!
— Cheri M.
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