Feeling Cold...

[Francelle]

....for about the past couple of months, nearly every afternoon at about 4 or 5 pm, I start to feel very cold. Once I put on extra warm clothing/socks/footwear I'm usually ok and then sometimes just a few hours later I feel normal again. It is summertime at present so the weather is not cold.

I was reflecting on this phenomena this afternoon and it is about six months - give or take, since I commenced Beta Blockers but other than that, nothing else really has changed.

Any possible connections to M.E. or meds?

 

[Valentijn]

It's a common symptom in ME, probably due to circulation problems.

 

[Esther12]

I'm normally in 6 layers, and sleep under three good duvets. I don't know if it signifies anything significant though.

I think that Beta Blockers can make circulation worse, so it could well be related to that. It might be worth mentioning when you next have a review of your medication.

 

[Francelle]

Thanks for that input Valentijn and Esther.

If I remember I will mention it to my M.E. specialist but as far as Beta Blockers go the benefits far outweigh any disadvantage to this point. Of all the things I have started on since getting M.E., Beta Blockers have made the most positive difference by far. I swear by them Simply awesome. Fabulous! Any more adjectives out there - lol?

 

[hurtingallthetimet]

i get very cold then sometimes hot and sweaty....i get low gread temp alot to that seems to make me feel chills and my throat which constantly hurts then hurts more...i cant seem to feel sometimes my tempature...i will feel like my skin is burning on fire but to the touch will be ice cold...hubby shakes me in bed alot because he says sometimes my skin is ice cold and he wants to make sure ive not passed out...

its weird...

 

[Patrick*]

I have this too.

From what I've read (can't remember where) this is a common ME symptom. My doctor told me it has to do with low thyroid levels. I was able to verify with some recent tests that my thyroid levels are, indeed, very low. I've been supplementing with low doses of T3 (10mcg) before I ramp up to 25mcg next week. So far, I think it's already making a difference.

 

[Tia]

It's a common symptom in ME, probably due to circulation problems.

I think so to, think it's linked to our hearts not being able to pump the blood through our bodies like it should. (See my post about atrial fibrillation).

 

[Athene]

I get freezing cold like this, just a symptoms of CFS.
But I have had beta blockers in the past which made this problem much worse, so they could be causing it. One to discuss with the doctor, I think. There may be some alternative to beta blockers that you could try.

 

[Waverunner]

In my eyes hormones could be the cause. I know people who substitute certain hormones and they feel constantly warm even on cold days whereas they felt constantly cold before.

 

[hensue]

You took the words right out of my mouth. About 5 or 6 pm everyday for years now I get really cold. It is weird that it is the same time everyday. My family just looks at me like I am crazy. I put on socks, housecoat you name it to warm up. The time is the same everyday!

 

[ukme]

May be linked to thyroid/low blood pressure. You may like to try tsp of salt in glass of water once or twice a day every day - this has worked for us. (but not if you have high blood pressure)

 

[Francelle]

Mmmmmmm! Interesting. I can understand low thyroid, beta blockers etc as being possible causes but not at such a specific time of day surely?

 

[Esther12]

Mmmmmmm! Interesting. I can understand low thyroid, beta blockers etc as being possible causes but not at such a specific time of day surely?

There can be natural rhythms to our bodies, eg: people often feel extra tired around tea time... it could be linked to something like that?

 

[hensue]

Is that tea time?
I have high blood pressure I cannot go near salt. I do love salt and vinegar potato chips. Omg I love tea too!

 

[Calathea]

Any chance it could be due to not having eaten recently enough? If I forget to eat breakfast and end up having much longer than usual overnight without food, I will get colder and colder. (I will also get cold if I stay up until unholy o'clock in the morning, but that's because the body temperature naturally plummets at that time and you don't notice if you're asleep. The solution to that one, unsurprisingly, was to be asleep, and since I have mostly sorted out my sleep, it's very rare for me to get that problem these days.)

Ginger capsules work pretty well for me for raising my body temperature in a general way. I am also absolutely devoted to my electric heating pad and my fluffy new electric heated throw/blanket. I've noticed that if I'm feeling exhausted, wrapping myself up in the heated throw can sometimes revive me reasonably well.

Tell you what annoys me, and that is that since a dropping body temp for me goes with being exhausted, and rest helps exhaustion, and that raises my temperature again, I tend to curl up for a siesta with the duvet, quilt and if need be, the heated blanket on, and will then wake an hour or so later uncomfortably overheated.

 

[JAH]

Any chance it could be due to not having eaten recently enough? .

I used to see an acupuncturist who would feel my fingers (cold) and ask me if I had eaten. So I think Calathea is onto something there. I brought the issue of being cold (a worsening symptom for me) to my doc recently and she said it was either thyroid, adrenals or babesia (which she thinks I have, and I don't). I am trying beta blockers to try and lessen the severity, but it has done nothing so far. So I just bought electric heated socks (which suck) and am in my bed with heated mattress pad (awesome!)

JAH

 

[Athene]

I've just spoken to my doctor and he says the reason I feel freezing most of the time is bartonella. He said it is a neurological problem rather than circulatory. (though he didn't explain the details of how that works). The coldness is both my perception of my temperature, and also my actual temperature in my hands feet etc which other people can also feel are frozen.
Anyway I thought I'd mention this in case it applies to anyone else.

 

[Francelle]

Such a lot of 'food' for thought hehe! Food could be an issue which is an easy one to address.

The neurological suggestion, made by Athene is an interesting one. I know that I have peripheral neuropathy and aside from my legs 'burning' 24/7 they also feel icy at other times. When in the shower it is hard to tell whether the water is too hot or too cold for instance. My neurological system has taken a big hit with M.E. - the peripheral and the autonomic nervous systems particularly and the motor nervous system to a lesser degree.

Thanks for all the possibilities that you have raised.

 

[maryb]

Francell only just seen this thread, I have the normal feeling of cold that is common with MEers, however when I was on beta blockers this turned into an abnormal coldness, more of an icyness, I did read up on it and it is a side effect. I stopped them because I didn't get any benefits from them, they were gien me in hospital by staff who didn't know what else to try!! If they are working for you then maybe it is something you have to put up with. If you take them at a usual time every day that would account for the 'coldness' at a particular time.

 

[Athene]

Such a lot of 'food' for thought hehe! Food could be an issue which is an easy one to address.

The neurological suggestion, made by Athene is an interesting one. I know that I have peripheral neuropathy and aside from my legs 'burning' 24/7 they also feel icy at other times. When in the shower it is hard to tell whether the water is too hot or too cold for instance. My neurological system has taken a big hit with M.E. - the peripheral and the autonomic nervous systems particularly and the motor nervous system to a lesser degree.

Thanks for all the possibilities that you have raised.

Your comment about not being able to tell if water is too hot or too cold is interesting, that happens to me too.

I always get freezing cold at about 3pm. My husband noted that, it is every day regardles of the ambient temperature. Yesterday he made me a hot water bottle adn sat me by the heater at 2pm ready to prevent it... and lo and behold, at 3 pm there is was, shivering!!!

I do know that this is the time of day when cortisol and the other adrenal hormones reach their natural lowest low, and that they regulate blood pressure and energy creation in the cells. Maybe that is connected?