Hi everyone...I am freezing cold all of the time lately. My arms and feet are constantly freezing even when I am cuddled up to a warm person or after a hot shower. Is this related to my low blood pressure? For the past few days my bp hasn't gotten higher than 85/60. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks. Jess.
Posted by OtterJ (Member # 30701) on :
Get your cortisol and thyroid checked. RightNow! Lyme and co's like to tire out your adrenal glands which produce the cortisol and the thyroid is a related hormone-- they potentiate each other, so both need to be in balance. There are enough people here on this board who have to take hormone replacements, cortisol and or thyroid due to this obnoxious disease. Dear Booklover, I hope you have a lyme literate md or nd to go to to let them know that this is a problem.
Posted by jessicabooklover (Member # 39427) on :
Otter-I have a VERY lyme literate dr, and he actually was once an endocrinologist. He just recently checked my cortisol and thyroid-all perfectly normal. Thank you so much though. Jess.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
Your thyroid is the gas pedal for your metaboloism. I would not recommend an endocrinologist. Most integrative doctors have a better handle on the new guidelines for treating.
They are also more open to supplementing with adaptogens to help too.
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
Jess, I loved the infared, negative ion, biomat for staying warm. don't know if it did all it was supposed to (detox, healing, well being, etc) But I do feel it heated me deeper and lasted longer than a shower or regular heating pad or even excersise. alas I returned mine cause I could not justify the expense... but then I missed it so...
I just got this cheaper version and I'm enjoying it...haven't used it enough to know if it does the same thing as the biomat...but it is a lovely deep heat. i could see the biomat lasting a lifetime... this not so much. but easier to accept the price. here's the info, but if you buy go to brookstone (much cheaper) looks like it would be hard with all those jade stones but it is actually very comfortable and flexible
feel better.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
If your BP is low you are not getting enough oxygen to the brain AND ELSEWHERE.
Have you tried adding sea salt to your water?
Posted by jessicabooklover (Member # 39427) on :
Thanks so much Kudzu!!
Lymetoo-yes I add sea salt to my water and the little bits of food I am eating. OYY so frustrating!! I think I may end up needing the Florinef that the dr mentioned previously.
Thanks. Jess.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Florinef should increase your appetite!!
Posted by jessicabooklover (Member # 39427) on :
No-really???!!! OOH-added bonus ! Jess.
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
I think it is really common to have poor circulation and to often feel cold with lyme and co. My hands and feet are usually ice cold and my nails are bluish. Not enough oxygen is being circulated around the body due to hypoperfusion and vascular problems.
I NEVER used to be like this. I was always warmer than everybody else. I use a quartz heater near me to keep me toasty warm. It really helps.
Posted by jessicabooklover (Member # 39427) on :
Dbpei-Yes I think poor circulation is a likely factor. I sleep at night next to a really warm person and I literally put my hands and my feet over him to try to warm up and I still cannot get warm at all.
I never was like this either until recently. Ugh-this disease is endlessly frustrating! Thanks. Jess.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
May be a side-effect of the TPN. Are your electrolytes in balance - are they checking weekly?
Make sure you are adequately warming up your TPN prior to hooking it up.
Maybe try sipping warmed up drinks, hot water, hot tea...
Posted by jessicabooklover (Member # 39427) on :
RAZZLE-hi! Yes, they just did a CBC/chem panel last week..all was normal.
I am sipping hot tea all the time. I haven't been warming up the TPN prior to hooking up...I wonder if that is a factor. Thank you so much. You are always so helpful. Jess.
Posted by susieq2 (Member # 30451) on :
Yes, be sure to let the TPN come to room temperature before you hook it up. Ask your nurse or pharmacist how long prior to hook-up to take it out of the fridge. Depends on how big it is. But DONT "warm" it up, just let it come to room temp.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
If I didn't have time to fully warm it, sometimes my husband and I would take turns with the TPN bag on our lap wrapped up in a clean towel to help it warm faster.
But yes, don't use heat per se - body temp is ok but nothing warmer.
Posted by MichaelTampa (Member # 24868) on :
Jess -- Have you ever taken your body temperature rectally at different points in the day to see it following the correct pattern and getting high enough mid-day (over 99.0)? I think that would be the key in figuring out if it is a thyroid/adrenal issue versus a circulation issue.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
When I took Florinef I was ravenously hungry. I got off of it because I couldn't stand being hungry all the time!!
Posted by jessicabooklover (Member # 39427) on :
Lymetoo-thanks for the tip..I really hope the florinef awakens some kind of appetite in me!!
Razzle-thanks again for the info. I haven't been letting the TPN get room temperature, so I am sure that could be a factor as to what is going on.
Jess.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
jessica, I so remember those days. Summer or winter my hands and feet were cold all the time. I couldn't figure out what was causing it.
Depression set in and I finally broke down and decided to try anti-depressant. They put me on Cymbalta. Within a month of taking it....
my cold hands and feet warmed up and that sx was gone. I was so puzzled why Cymbalta made a difference. Talked to docs about it and they were puzzled also.
Started doing research and found that seratonin helps regulate the body temperature. My seratonin level must have been depleted and Cymbalta had given my body what it needed.
I'm not suggesting anyone take Cymbalta just for that. I'm sure there are other ways of increasing your seratonin levels.
Pam
Posted by cozynana (Member # 34270) on :
This sounds like my friends daughter. She has Raynauds/Reynauds disease.
Her finger turn blue or white. It is due to poor circulation.
It is an autoimmune disease. Might want to look it up and see if it fits your symptoms.
There is medicine for it.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
You might want to look into iodine...? It helped me. I take a brand called Magnascent but Lugol's may work.
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
Pam, very interesting about the Cymbalta and the seratonin.
I am glad it helped you. It did a bad number on my friend. We are all so different.
There are natural remedies re: raising seratonin levels. Of course I can't think of any of them at the moment, having strainer brain.
I have always tended to have cold feet vs. cold hands. The rest of me is pretty much heating up the house. Hey, it's not a bad way to save on the oil bill!
I don't know what they say about cold feet (aside from the obvious about being at the alter), but as the saying goes "cold hands, warm heart"
Jess, florinef has been a really good med for my DD. She's been on it for years. Not sure why you haven't been tx'ed for it yet. It's worth your while to give it a shot. Talk to your doc about it.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Magnesium does the same thing as many antidepressants...it is a vaso-dilator, and those with low blood pressure need to be careful with it.
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! Jess.