Cold all the time

and I'm 2 1/2 years out of treatment.  I will say, tho....that I'm not as cold as I was the first year (I was wearing sweatshirts in July ).  Have you had your thyroid checked since finishing treatment?  Hypothyroid will make things chillier....and it seems most of us who have had rads to the neck area eventually lose the thryroid.  Also....you're skinnier.....that seems to play a part in being cold, too. 

I'm in NW Montana....today it will be 50 degrees, but my wardrobe for outside is the same as when it was -20... a long sleeved tee shirt under two wool sweaters....of course a down coat and a hat and mittens....My husband pokes fun at me, but I don't care....I'm comfortable!

p

Super-b said:

Polar Fleece

Polar fleese has become my go to clothing of choice LOL. My wife pines for the old me as I was her personal fernace all winther too!

I did loose close to 100lb (back to highschool weight) but even back  then I "ran hot". So this is very unfamiliar to me being cold.

 

I have yet to have any tests done post treatment other than having my Oncolagist poik my neck and look down my throat. Waiting for me to heal befor scanning me again so they do not get any false readings. Next apt is in a few weeks so I will push for the scan then. Have not spoken to my GP since all this started as I had to get nasty with him to get the referal to the ENT from him. According to him there was nothing really wrong with me other than a sore throat and touch of tonsillitis. So trying to find a new GP that is not an arrogant a$$ (they are few and far between).

I will also push for the thryroid test too as that is not something that I had thought of but makes sense.

I think I get more info from this board than I have from my Dr.'s. THANKS!

Bill

with your Oncologist?  They do blood work on me every 5 months or so, and one of the tests is for thyroid.  If there is an urgent care around close, you could walk in and ask for a CBC....one that includes thyroid.  I'd been on thryoid replacement meds for 5 months by the time I was 8 months out of threatment, so it would not surprise me that you're in need some help in that department.  You don't want to go too long without it, it doesn't just control weight and cold....it controls a lot of things in the body.

p

PS....I started taking Iron supplements too (25 mg's).....they helped in the cold department too....

I experienced that cold during and shortly after radiation treatment, probably caused by insufficient caloric intake. As others said, later after the treatment (months, even years) the hypo functional thyroid could be the culprit. 

Weight loss can be a contributing factor, as what you have gone through. Now for a different way to look at it. Your circulation has gotten worse and you might try this. Braggs Raw apple cider vinegar, it is unpasteurized, and raw. You can get at health food stores or direct from Braggs. You take one tablespoon and drink water, you can mix it with water but I would rather just get i down. Then I take a drink of Pepsi. I think you take your first breath through the nose because if you go through your mouth it sorta takes your breath away for a few seconds. The only side effect are; Vinegar will lower your blood pressure some, so if you have low BD take some salt or a few potato chips and that will compensate. Second and not trying to be funny but you will smell like a salad for a while. It will clean your system out and help your kidneys, Liver and increase circulation including you feet will be warmer. When I was loading refrigerated trucks in the winter [our clod box was 34 degrees all year] it helped my feet stay warm and my overall circulation. My wife’s feet got so cold she had to have socks when she went to bed her feet were so cold. Now she doesn’t. Something natural to try and it can’t hurt you in any way. It works also to lower high BP as well.

Just my thoughts, hope it helps.

Bill

Hi Super B:

I was definately FREEZING for eight months or so.  Now i'm 10 months out and though I don't feel like i'm freezing all the time I do wear layers.  It gets better and better with time, but I still haven't returned to a normal temp, though i'm no longer uncomfortable.  I'm sure the warm summer ahead will help warm our bones.

S 

Hey Super-B:

There was a time in our house when we would fight over the thermostat settings - my wife would complain she was cold and I would complain I was hot. After treatment we switched roles.

I remember my first summer after treatment - I ended treatment in November - I was out on the deck laying out in the direct noontime sun with no shirt. My skin felt warm - but my core still felt cold!

Aside from hypothyroid - which you should have checked - I have another theory:

You didn't mention if you lost weight. I lost about 45 pounds. But you don't just lose fat - you lose muscle and muscle is what generates heat. Then that heat is circulated by the blood throughout the body. Think about shivering when you get cold. That's basically a physiological response to generate heat by activating the muscles.

As you move thru recovery, you'll begin to warm up. Add some excercise your regimen, and you'll see your body temp rise along with it. So the core temp has as much to do with your general fitness level as it does with other possible physical changes.

Best advice - dress warm. Wear sweaters even while others are taking theirs off. Take some nice hot showers and put on a thick robe afterwards.

One other thing - get a dog. They're incredibly efficient radiators - and lots of fun to hang around with.

- Jeff

Like others have stated, may have alot to do with weight loss. I am still working at gaining my 92 back but I still get cold more so than I did before treatment, especially my neck. My wife wanted to buy me a scarf but I had to play the tough guy roll and tell her Teamsters don't wear scarfs. I use to keep the heat at about 67 to 68 but now 70 seems to cold. However, I happen to get quite heated when I get the oil bill.

Stay warm

      Jeff

ratface said:

Freezing My Arse off now

Bill , please get your thyroid checked as no doubt you need some medication to get that body thermostat to function again. You don't want to ignore this as the thyroid also regulates heartbeat. I'm five years out and am sitting here in a heavy sweatshirt, albeit I'm in Chicago. I went out and bought little electric heaters for every room in my house because the furnace wasn't enough. I did lose about 50 pounds in treatment but I have since gained most of that back. makes no difference, still freezing. Most notably my body temperature is almost two degrees below what it was prior to treatment and I now run at a steady 97 degrees. I take synthroid for my thyroid every day but still run cold. I was much like you prior to treatment, always overheating, but not anymore. Perfectly normal side effect, don't sweat it, haha!

Rick said like a brit You usually say **** over there. My temp normal since getting weight back. But we did have hailstone s yesterday, iced up car this morning and sunshine this afternoon!