Cold hands

rmac18

Recently I've been experiencing feeling very cold, especially during the afternoon in my office. No one seems to feel that it is cold so it must just be me. I've noticed being a little more cold over the past few months but it is getting worse and starting to bother me. I feel it all over but mostly noticeable in my hands. I've lost 94 pounds over the past year and still want to lose another 50 or so. I recently upped my calories by about 300 a day which allows my net to be close to what MFP recommends for me at 1,370 (I'd hit a bit of a lull in weight loss so I upped calories to kickstart and it worked) and I work out regularly so I often eat 2,000 calories or more on workout days and much less on off days. Anyone else have any experience with this? I'm still losing weight and otherwise feel great. Thanks,

rmac18

bump

Swopkin

I asked a similar question a while back, but didn't receive an answer. I suffer cold hands and feet which sometimes even prevent me to sleep. My guess is that we both have bad circulation; exercise seems to help, though, because when I talk a brisk walk before going to bed or when I swim a lot the symptoms seem to diminuish.

shbretired

how about try some compression?

spngebobmyhero

since I've started eating a lot more healthy fats, I don't get cold hands often. I still get cold feet, but putting on socks helps that Looking at your diary, it looks like you are often under your fats. Try some avocados and full fat dairy, or other healthy fat sources.

rmac18

thanks spngebobmyher Interesting comment on eating more healthy fats, I'll try that,

shbretired, What do you mean by compression?

Swopkin, I exercise a lot and have been for the past year, I don't think I have a circulation issue and my BP is fine and no known issues there, I was wondering it it wasn't diet related (fats as suggested here or someone sent me a message about blood sugar). If it continues I go to the doctor, Hope you find a solution.

Any other input would be appreciated. Thanks,

flobee76

I was going to suggest adding in some healthy fats as well. I have always suffered with cold hands and feet and chalked it up to heredity (my mom and sister have cold hands and feet). I recently began adding unrefined coconut oil to my smoothies, taking in about 2-3 tsps per day. My hands and feet are at normal body temp!!

miranda_mom

Hi

Do your fingers change color at all? I have a syndrome called Reynaud's, which is actually quite common, where the hands get very cold (but usually from some sort of stimulus, like touching a cold class or putting your hand in the freezer). Anyway, one of the most telling characteristics of it is that your fingers turn white (they say it looks like candle wax, which it kind of does). Then when they warm up (which is very sudden), they turn very, very pink.

shbretired

compression socks, gloves, sleeves. Check out walmart or a pharmacy. Circulatory problems.

Like after 2 back surgeries sometimes my right ankle swells, i got compression socks. Feels better, doesn't swell.
of course in the summer I'm too hot for socks, but haven't noticed any swelling since I'm doing zumba so much a week.

lil_pulp

After I'd lost like 40 pounds, I noticed I was colder than everyone else most of the time. My feet and hands are usually on the cold side. My doctor said that as long as I didn't lose feeling or have any strange sensations or change color, not to worry about it.

Swopkin

thanks spngebobmyher Interesting comment on eating more healthy fats, I'll try that,

shbretired, What do you mean by compression?

Swopkin, I exercise a lot and have been for the past year, I don't think I have a circulation issue and my BP is fine and no known issues there, I was wondering it it wasn't diet related (fats as suggested here or someone sent me a message about blood sugar). If it continues I go to the doctor, Hope you find a solution.

Any other input would be appreciated. Thanks,

My apologies. I wasn't trying to offend you or your exercise routine. I was merely relating what helped for me.

sabinecbauer

Have you had your thyroid levels checked lately? Feeling constantly cold, and especially cold hands and feet, is a classic symptom of hypothyroidism.

rmac18

swopkin, no offense taken, I appreciate the feedback, sorry if it came off that way.

SWEETS1234

I've always run a bit on the cold side but since losing the weight it's become much more noticeable. I just live with it. I do like the idea of trying to eat more healthy fatts.

rmac18

After I'd lost like 40 pounds, I noticed I was colder than everyone else most of the time. My feet and hands are usually on the cold side. My doctor said that as long as I didn't lose feeling or have any strange sensations or change color, not to worry about it.

Did this ever go away or are you still experiencing it?

rmac18

Hi

Do your fingers change color at all? I have a syndrome called Reynaud's, which is actually quite common, where the hands get very cold (but usually from some sort of stimulus, like touching a cold class or putting your hand in the freezer). Anyway, one of the most telling characteristics of it is that your fingers turn white (they say it looks like candle wax, which it kind of does). Then when they warm up (which is very sudden), they turn very, very pink.

Thanks for your comment, I drink ice water throughout the day and I wonder if that might be the stimulus. They aren't cold at the moment but I will pay attention to the color next time they get gold. Have you been able to treat this effectively?

rmac18

Have you had your thyroid levels checked lately? Feeling constantly cold, and especially cold hands and feet, is a classic symptom of hypothyroidism.

Thanks for the comment, I had it checked a year ago with no issue but I've lost 94 pounds since so maybe it's time for another check.

miranda_mom

Hi

Do your fingers change color at all? I have a syndrome called Reynaud's, which is actually quite common, where the hands get very cold (but usually from some sort of stimulus, like touching a cold class or putting your hand in the freezer). Anyway, one of the most telling characteristics of it is that your fingers turn white (they say it looks like candle wax, which it kind of does). Then when they warm up (which is very sudden), they turn very, very pink.

Thanks for your comment, I drink ice water throughout the day and I wonder if that might be the stimulus. They aren't cold at the moment but I will pay attention to the color next time they get gold. Have you been able to treat this effectively?

As far as I know, there is no treatment. Most of us who have it have just been told to try to limit direct exposure to cold, so I have to wear gloves all throughout the winter, etc. and I use an insulated tumbler at work for my cold water. The only real problem I have is that if I forget my gloves and have to be outside or am doing something like cleaning the freezer out, that can actually be painful for me.

rmac18

Hi

Do your fingers change color at all? I have a syndrome called Reynaud's, which is actually quite common, where the hands get very cold (but usually from some sort of stimulus, like touching a cold class or putting your hand in the freezer). Anyway, one of the most telling characteristics of it is that your fingers turn white (they say it looks like candle wax, which it kind of does). Then when they warm up (which is very sudden), they turn very, very pink.

Thanks for your comment, I drink ice water throughout the day and I wonder if that might be the stimulus. They aren't cold at the moment but I will pay attention to the color next time they get gold. Have you been able to treat this effectively?

As far as I know, there is no treatment. Most of us who have it have just been told to try to limit direct exposure to cold, so I have to wear gloves all throughout the winter, etc. and I use an insulated tumbler at work for my cold water. The only real problem I have is that if I forget my gloves and have to be outside or am doing something like cleaning the freezer out, that can actually be painful for me.

I'm sorry to hear that, best of luck.

waffleflavoredtea

I experience this problem too - I just wanted to say for those of you who have trouble sleeping because of it, on my worst nights (like winter time) I take 2 Niacin pills 15 minutes before bed. That famous heated niacin flush gets your circulation moving like CRAZY and you are super relaxed and ready to sleep
Niacin is a form of vitamin B12 and it's hard to go wrong with it if it's in moderation!

Swopkin

I experience this problem too - I just wanted to say for those of you who have trouble sleeping because of it, on my worst nights (like winter time) I take 2 Niacin pills 15 minutes before bed. That famous heated niacin flush gets your circulation moving like CRAZY and you are super relaxed and ready to sleep
Niacin is a form of vitamin B12 and it's hard to go wrong with it if it's in moderation!

Thanks for the tip. I'll definitely try it out. Is it available in every pharmacy?

bmonagle

I had a similar problem. Check out your iron levels.

rmac18

I had a similar problem. Check out your iron levels.

Thanks, is there a way to do this other than go to doctor and get blood test? I take a Men's multivitamin, fish oil, Glucosamine plus 10,000 IU Vitamin A, Vitamin B-100 Complex, 1000 mg Vitamin C, 5,400 IU Vitamin D, Zinc, Potassium Gluconate and Magnesium. Some of this was on advice of doctor and then after look at MFP I added B-100 Complex and Zinc for energy and the Potassium and Magnesium because I was way under on them according to MFP and RDA values on my diet. This may sound stupid but do men need iron supplements and if so, how much. I don't mind a little money on supplements as long as they are 100% safe and seem to have some value. In the case of the B-100 Complex and Zinc it did seem to help with energy levels in the afternoon.

lil_pulp

After I'd lost like 40 pounds, I noticed I was colder than everyone else most of the time. My feet and hands are usually on the cold side. My doctor said that as long as I didn't lose feeling or have any strange sensations or change color, not to worry about it.

Did this ever go away or are you still experiencing it?

Five (or more?) years later, it's the same...but at least I haven't felt even colder as I lost more weight.

susanswan

I finally lost the last 35 pounds this past year and was shivering cold in the winter indoors with the thermostat at 68. I'm usually cold in the morning before I walk. A couple of times in the last 10 days my fingertips felt furry, or tingly and I looked at them and they were white like a candle - a good description. Then became blue like dipped in ink or blueberry juice. Took about 30 minutes during which time I shook my hands, clapped them, downed 2 ounces of wine, and finally took a shower to warm up everything. It seems touching my cold food and bringing my frozen berries out from the freezer set it off each time.

I spoke with a doctor friend who told me it sounded like Reynaud's syndrome. I found some interesting links to explain it.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/raynauds-disease/DS00433/DSECTION=prevention

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raynaud's_phenomenon

My hands and feet have always been cold from October until May. My husband often comments on how I can be so cold. He wears shorts and a t-shirt and I wear long sleeves and a sweatshirt sometimes. You can feel heat radiating off of his body just by putting your hand near him! I wonder if that and also losing the final weight had something to do with it.

I am going to go for treating with prevention such as keeping myself warmer and cleaning up my diet. I am already following Dr. Fuhrman's Eat to Live plan, so now I can step it up as he has an auto immune diet which is vegan. I'm a retired nurse and the medical medication route does not appeal to me when there is also a dietary approach to try.

I also get plenty of good fats from nuts, seeds, and avocados. I just need to step up my diet to vegan. Also caffeine can restrict blood vessels so probably good for all of us with cold feet and hand to back away from it.

rmac18

Caffeine, huh, that was my last good vice ;-)

Thanks for the input. I'm trying to add more good fats to diet as well. I am finding that when I have more even balance of protein, carbs and fats it seems like it might help with the coldness, at least it seemed that way a few times. I don't think I have Reynaud's and my my iron and Vitamin B levels are good so I think it could be a connection to diet or possibly caffeine as I do drink a fair amount of coffee. I really enjoy my coffee so I"m thinking more with diet first and if that doesn't help then maybe I'll kick the caffeine as well. It's really strange how I can feel so cold in my office yet the temp is fine and no one is bothered by it.

glass2diamonds

I have anemia which causes cold hands and feet. I also experience Raynaud's syndrome you can take in all the iron you may need with supplements but may not be enough.I have to take 325 milligrams of iron everyday to even stay awake during the day. If you have an iron defiency you can have good levels one week or month and drop very low the next.