COLD ALL THE TIME

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I keep joking w my spouse that I'm way too fat to be cold all the time. If its a little cold in a room ill be freezing. Sometimes I'm just freezing for no reason,like you can touch my nose or hands and they will feel freezing to other people and the other people are fine. Sometimes I just will violently shiver for hours.

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  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,298 Member
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    I am wondering if you have had your levels rechecked recently. Feeling the cold more than the average is one of the most basic symptoms of hypothyroidism. Your medication needs will probably have changed.

    All the best

  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
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    Definitely have your endocrinologist check your levels. With more than 40 lbs. less fat (congratulations on your loss!), you might feel a little chillier this winter—but not that much.

    If your thyroid levels come back fine, see your GP to rule out other causes.
  • pmollet29
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    My hands and feet are always cold. My toes are always either red or grey. I have been to a vascular specialist & a rheumatologist & they can't find anything wrong in their roam of things. I was tested for so many things---don't have lupus or diabetes.
  • kaseysospacey
    kaseysospacey Posts: 499 Member
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    I had my levels done in december, im on 175 synthroid and im always careful i dont miss a dose and i dont eat for an hr etc. I am suppposed to have them redone soon,i have tumors on my thyroid and have dealt w goiter for about a year so its been kinda a crazy yr vs the previos 6 yrs where 50 was a fine dose
  • shvits
    shvits Posts: 249 Member
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    It may not be your thyroid. Could be another health problem such as Reynoids syndrome(spelling?) or just the new you. I also have Nodules on my thyroid, problem is they can start producing or shut down. I had 1/2 taken out as they got carried away and I became hyperthyroid suddenly. I'm now hypo. I test every 6 months in case they act up and behave badly.
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,298 Member
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    I agree there can be other health issues which can cause sensitivity to cold which are well worth looking into.

    Because of your nodules and goiter, I'm starting to wonder if you are experiencing trouble in changing t4 to t3s, the only way to find out is to see a specialist. Problem is finding someone well versed enough to define the problems from the several possible causes. Depending on where you live there can be a blanket refusal to prescribe t3 or combination of 3 and 4 or natural from pigs or cows, which is t4, t3, t2 and t1, all in the right balance.

    (For those who have had a hysterectomy, you no longer produce t2, these were probably my life line and had my thyroid problems been addressed much much earlier I would not have needed the op. My health really hit the skids after mine. My subsequent symptoms were "impossible" after the op, according to my allocated doctor. On educating myself I discovered they were not) The overpowering "knowledge" is giving other than t4 makes absolutely no difference in the majority of people????? Most Medics do not have thyroid issues themselves and do not necessarily have our symptoms. Anything not run of the mill seems to be disregarded or taken as irrelevant. Even the local endocrinology consultant told me feeling cold is nothing to do with thyroid issues!!!! I was left wondering who was his professor. From reading various books, consulting "Stop the thyroid madness", site, as well as English speaking national support sites, seems to indicate they have undergone different training.

    Vitamins and minerals do help with this change particularly selenium which has been shown to reduce antibodies in those who have them.

    Sounds as if you are doing all you can, I hope you find the right support soon.
  • kaseysospacey
    kaseysospacey Posts: 499 Member
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    I wish I could just see a specialist easily but im stuck right now just seeing a regular dr until they can show medicaid im sick enough for an actual endocrinoligist :(
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,298 Member
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    I hope it all come good soon. I send a hug for the interim.
  • tamaradwyer
    tamaradwyer Posts: 16 Member
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    Yes, hugs. I have dogs, which helps keep me motivated, once they get used to Walk just try to stop them :) So here's my solution.

    About 4 years ago I started taking my pill (Synthroid, 88 mcg) each morning with a tall glass of room temperature water, then walking for 20 minutes to an hour before I do anything else. I have reduced the "always cold" to where I don't suffer as much, fingernails more often pink than blue.

    Not perfect, I still wear heavy clothes, have a fab collection of thick sweaters and scarves. Boots two sizes too big with running socks then wool socks. No strappy heels and arm baring tank tops at the office for me. Even with the walk, the deep bone chilling cold is still there, but I am certain it reduced the shivering and suffering. Or maybe the dogs' happiness warmed my heart. <3
  • FabulousFifty
    FabulousFifty Posts: 1,575 Member
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    Research Raynald's - It is common with thyroid patients. I was experiencing it frequently prior to being on Armour.
  • Hijinkz
    Hijinkz Posts: 7 Member
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    I know that feeling. I asked to be checked every 4-6 months to see where my levels are but they haven't changed since I was 19 and yet I'm still always cold! I've found for me though when I'm on the move I don't feel as cold, it's when I'm sitting or laying down. Sleep is especially bad because I get extremely cold and nothing seems to warm me up.
  • Hendewich
    Hendewich Posts: 3 Member
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    I suffer from the bone chills also and have noticed a couple of things. I tend to experience them shortly after eating, if I have been in a cold place, and when I am tired. I suspect that fluctuations in my blood sugar levels sets off the cold spells and I am just highly sensitive to cold temperatures. Once I get cold, it is hard to recover and stop shivering. I try to bundle up more and use hats and gloves if I have to go out. I also find that if I eat healthfully and on schedule, the chills are milder or I don't get them as often. Keep warm, stay rested and keep your body fueled. It really helps.
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,298 Member
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    Hendewich, I wonder if your medication may need adjustment in some way. Some endocrinologist, (like the one I was referred to), do not believe low temperature and susceptibility to cold can be part and parcel of hypothyroidism, when it is one of the first symptoms you read about. Take a look at "stop the thyroid madness site" it has so much information which may help you. I think you are in the US so this is probably the most appropriate. You probably have a national support site too.

    All the best, try to keep warm. I used to hug a hot water bottle or one of those microwave pad thing.
  • jms1739
    jms1739 Posts: 80 Member
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    I have Renauds, and I get cold all the time. I have a finger that turns completely white, and my toes and bottoms of my feet will turn blue and go numb.

    I just had a blood test done today, and waiting on the results. Past few years, my levels have been fine. But now that I am down 60+, I am wondering if this could have affected it or it's just me and my coldness. LOL

    Best of luck I hope you figure it out. I feel your pain, my husband actually bought me really nice gloved and wool socks this winter, so my hands and feet would be nice and toasty. Now that it is spring, you would think I wouldn't need them, but I still wear the socks at home. My feet are always cold. :\
  • ElizabethKalmbach
    ElizabethKalmbach Posts: 1,416 Member
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    Amen. I have hoodie sweatshirts hung on every door knob of my home and office. The investment has helped somewhat.
  • LadyLots2Lose
    LadyLots2Lose Posts: 110 Member
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    I can definitely relate to feeling colder than everyone else. I take a jacket or jumper with me everywhere, I have a stash at work and at least one in the car. I have Congenital Hypothyroidism so feeling cold is normal for me. I remember my teachers being quite concerned when I wouldn't take my cardigan off at school (in the middle of summer) and I was sent to counselling at one stage which just confused me more. I wasn't being abused (and hiding bruises), I wasn't seeking attention (I got it anyway) and it wasn't a 'security blanket' I was just feeling cold in the middle of a Brisbane summer.
    Meds have been checked, all is well and I still have the issue with cold but, I manage it much better than I used to.
  • OhDD65
    OhDD65 Posts: 177 Member
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    During the winter my hands and feet tend to be cold, so I wear socks with Bearpaws slippers to keep them warm. Also I have found by drinking something hot (tea) it seems to warm me up a bit as does hot soup. I live in an area without snow and really cold winters too. During the summer when it gets 85 I am hot and have no tolerance for our temps up to 105. Live in the a/c and drink iced tea or ice water to cool down. So I am either in layers during the winter or tank tops during the summer. Now if it was only 78 - 82 degrees all of the time I would be fine. :) One of the joys of hypothyroidism....
  • lindsey1979
    lindsey1979 Posts: 2,395 Member
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    I also echo those voices that say that if you're feeling cold all the time, you probably need a higher dose (or something else is going on). Before I was diagnosed, I had cold hands and feet ALL the time. After finally getting the correct diagnosis 10+ years after first suspecting, to not have cold hands/feet all the time seems like a miracle. Or not to always have my hoodie on (or get teased about it from friends/co-workers).
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,298 Member
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    I've just read how being low on t3 because of a restricted calorie diet can reset your metabolism downwards. ensuring you need even fewer calories because your body is made to think it is starving. Working in the way its supposed to, to preserve lives in hard times. ThyroidScience.com. opened with this paper. I wish more information like this is known by those who guide us.