Question: symptoms achy joints, freezing cold

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olybee
olybee Member Posts: 85
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
3 weeks post radiation, my husband suddenly said he was freezing cold last night - I mean his hands were pure white, and he was shivering uncontrollably, teeth chattering, couldn't warm up for about an hour under heavy blankets. Now this a.m. he says his whole body aches, especially his joints. Anybody have any info of whether this is related to the cancer or the treatments or just something else?
I'm just trying to see if I should call onc. or ??

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  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
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    Call
    Anything out of the norm (or new norm), I wouldn't (and didn't) hesitate to call.

    Could be a few different things, thyroid (though a little early for that), hydration is always something that needs to be in check...

    Cold, flu or bug since his immune system is low right now, infections are always a possibility.

    Have you checked for fever...that's always a tale tale sign for me being cold...a fever. Last was just a month or so ago....

    Really cold and chilled, checked my temperature, sure enough..a fever..ended up being a urinary tract infection....Cipro for 10 days.

    Best,
    John
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #3
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Call
    Anything out of the norm (or new norm), I wouldn't (and didn't) hesitate to call.

    Could be a few different things, thyroid (though a little early for that), hydration is always something that needs to be in check...

    Cold, flu or bug since his immune system is low right now, infections are always a possibility.

    Have you checked for fever...that's always a tale tale sign for me being cold...a fever. Last was just a month or so ago....

    Really cold and chilled, checked my temperature, sure enough..a fever..ended up being a urinary tract infection....Cipro for 10 days.

    Best,
    John

    Chills are quite common
    I remember always complaining of being cold post treatment and suffering from chills also. I don't know why it happens but I do know it happens. Check for fever and call the doctor but it may just be related to metabolism,blood or thyroid. My body temperature is even now around 96-97. Some run hot and some run cold.
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #4
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    Pneumoina
    Last time this happened to me I had aspirated food and had pneumonia.
  • olybee
    olybee Member Posts: 85
    #5
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    Greend said:

    Pneumoina
    Last time this happened to me I had aspirated food and had pneumonia.

    thanks. I have a call in to
    thanks. I have a call in to the dr. he's not got a fever, as a matter of fact, he's 97. i'll let you guys know if I find out it is something specific.
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #6
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    FREEZING COLD
    I too was freezing cold for up to 5 months post treatment. My Rad Doc said it is a direct side effect of the radiation. My thyroid has been checked and it was fine. I am now 9 plus months post treatment and do not have any issues with feeling cold.

    Mike
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #7
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    Think Positive
    On a positive note (to others that posted)..... not making light of your husband.

    You all can save on your AC bill with this near 100* weather... I too tend to run a little lower in temp than pre-treatment.

    But my thyroid is slowly sliding out...TSH is now at 6.3, Free T4 is still in range though.

    JG
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #8
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Call
    Anything out of the norm (or new norm), I wouldn't (and didn't) hesitate to call.

    Could be a few different things, thyroid (though a little early for that), hydration is always something that needs to be in check...

    Cold, flu or bug since his immune system is low right now, infections are always a possibility.

    Have you checked for fever...that's always a tale tale sign for me being cold...a fever. Last was just a month or so ago....

    Really cold and chilled, checked my temperature, sure enough..a fever..ended up being a urinary tract infection....Cipro for 10 days.

    Best,
    John

    Always Cold
    Sometimes it is normal after treatment ends and sometimes not, always best to check. I sleep with three blankets at night and my wife with none, my new normal had me always cold

    Hondo
  • olybee
    olybee Member Posts: 85
    #9
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Think Positive
    On a positive note (to others that posted)..... not making light of your husband.

    You all can save on your AC bill with this near 100* weather... I too tend to run a little lower in temp than pre-treatment.

    But my thyroid is slowly sliding out...TSH is now at 6.3, Free T4 is still in range though.

    JG

    HOT WEATHER
    Hah, what a joke 100-plus weather. We here in Olympia are going for the coolest summer on record. We've only had 5 days this whole summer where it got to 80, usually about low 70s. SO, not good timing to be freezing.
    He ended up going to ER to get IV for fluids. Apparently he was dehydrated, and the dr. said his pulse was way too high, so they filled him up with liquids again.
    I guess just another day in the life of figuring out how to get through this new path we're on. Thanks for all the comments, again. You guys are GREAT!
  • gibkoch
    gibkoch Member Posts: 19
    #10
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    Temperature swings ...
    I'm glad to hear you got him to a Dr and he's feeling better. My experience post treatment was that I could not regulate my temperature. I would get so cold that I was shaking. I would then hop in a hot shower for a long time. Problem was, I couldn't discern the point when I stopped being cold and then I got so overheated that I by the time I left the shower I felt like I would pass out from heat exhaustion. This went on four to five weeks post treatment. I still tend to get colder more quickly but have not experienced the temperature swings that I just described. I have no idea if this was caused by chemo, radiation, or a significant weight loss.

    Both of you are in my prayers. God Bless.

    Gib
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #11
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    olybee said:

    HOT WEATHER
    Hah, what a joke 100-plus weather. We here in Olympia are going for the coolest summer on record. We've only had 5 days this whole summer where it got to 80, usually about low 70s. SO, not good timing to be freezing.
    He ended up going to ER to get IV for fluids. Apparently he was dehydrated, and the dr. said his pulse was way too high, so they filled him up with liquids again.
    I guess just another day in the life of figuring out how to get through this new path we're on. Thanks for all the comments, again. You guys are GREAT!

    Hydration
    Yup, that's why I mentioned it....seems to always be one of the things that gets the most attention.

    Tenting....

    The nurses taught my wife about "tenting"....

    Check the backs of his hands by gentlely pinching up or slightly pulling up on the lose skin. If it "tents" up, stays up for a little shile before returning to it's original shape. More than likely he needs fluids.

    Try it as a comparison with the back of your hand. Yours should return fairly fast.

    My wife use to drive me nuts during treatment...I'd be lying all peaceful and content half asleep, and then BAM, she would pinch my hands....LOL.

    Best,
    John
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #12
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Hydration
    Yup, that's why I mentioned it....seems to always be one of the things that gets the most attention.

    Tenting....

    The nurses taught my wife about "tenting"....

    Check the backs of his hands by gentlely pinching up or slightly pulling up on the lose skin. If it "tents" up, stays up for a little shile before returning to it's original shape. More than likely he needs fluids.

    Try it as a comparison with the back of your hand. Yours should return fairly fast.

    My wife use to drive me nuts during treatment...I'd be lying all peaceful and content half asleep, and then BAM, she would pinch my hands....LOL.

    Best,
    John

    Oh No not the pinch
    Wife started pinching my ear saying I am trying to check you for hydration, but it only happened when I did something she did not like…..

    Hondo

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