Brrr! Really cold after surgery!

I can't seem to get warm. I had my surgery a few days ago, and chills ever since. I keep taking my temp. to make sure it's not a fever, but it's always in normal range. I have tried loading up on clothes, blankets, drinking warm drinks, but still feel cold. maybe I am still on defrost mode from the hospital. Hopefully it will be warm out tomorrow, and I can get in some sunshine.

Are you on HRT? I have the same issues with my feet being cold. I never had that problem before. It got worse when I tried a different HRT. I searched the site for "cold feet" and found hormone and thyroid levels might be out of sync after the surgery (I don't have my ovaries). I'm going to ask my doc about it on my next checkup. The only thing that gets my feet warm is a nice hot shower or my heating pad. Good luck!!!

No, I have my ovaries still, and no hormones. I tried a hot shower today, but that didn't help either. I will have to look into the the thyroid thing. Would that mess with my appetite? Usually Ieat a lot, and can barely have an appetite for anything right now. Not even chocolate!

Not even chocolate? Ooh you are in trouble!! I would get with your doc and see what he/she has to say. That's what I'm planning on doing. I hate having cold feet!!! Good luck!

My feet are always cold now as well. Not so much when I'm running around at work, but at home, they're always like ice cubes, even if I wear slippers or shoes. W/out a heated rice baggy at my feet at bed time, it takes hrs for them to warm up.

Hi Proverbs,

Oh my gosh, you're only a few days out from surgery, my own was 2/11. Are you getting enough rest? I have noticed that when I start getting chilly it is sometimes my signal to go to bed and get some rest.

I am actually just about going to do that, too. I have felt so chilly in the last 20 minutes that I added a wrap around my shoulders to the blanket I already have across my lap. And, of course, I'm wearing slippers because like Silvara, my feet are often like ice cubes.

If this is a constant thing for you, feeling chilly all over when properly dressed, temp is right in your home, etc, then give your doc's nurse a call and ask for her thoughts on the matter. It's probably your bodies thermostat just got a bit wonky, major surgery seems to do all sorts of strange things to the bodies systems and effects different people in a variety of ways.

Now, here's my irony: I'm going to bed in a few on top of a down featherbed with two blankets covering me, a thick NAP blanket from Brookstone that I adore cuddling with, and a lovely quilt on top of it. Then I will grab the remote to the fan at the end of my bed and turn it on, pull all the blankets up to my chin, put on my sleeping mask and sleep really well. Because I'll be cold for at least a couple of hours then I'll have hot flashes in the middle of the night and need the fan to keep from sweating!

Obviously, I can't tell you what's 'normal', ha! But I have figured out a few tricks that work for me, including covering my head while at home, with a hoodie, scarf or wrap pulled up over it. Keeps more heat in!

Stay warm and comfy, cookie!

((((HUGS))))

	Quote:
Originally Posted by proverbs31woman I will have to look into the the thyroid thing. Would that mess with my appetite? Usually Ieat a lot, and can barely have an appetite for anything right now. Not even chocolate!

You may be cold simply because you aren't eating enough. My husband often doesn't feel hungry, even when I know he really is (because I know his calorie intake and expenditure). When he is hungry (but not complaining of hunger) he becomes both cold and irritable.

For example, DH will put a log in the wood stove when I'm boiling hot, and the thermometer in the room says 80 degrees. I know his cold feeling must be internal, not external, so I feed him. Within a few minutes, he feels warm again.

So, please do the easiest thing first: eat! Even if you don't have much appetite. Eat "by the book" even if you aren't hungry -- a bowl of cereal or a couple of eggs for breakfast, etc...you know, what you ate before your operation.

If you still feel cold after eating, check your thyroid. The thyroid hormones regulate metabolism (energy generation in the cells).

Wendy

You definitely make me smile...I am the woman in south fl who doesn't use AC in the summer! And I'm maried to an AC guy! it drives him nuts. I keep it off all day and turn it on right before he comes home...then I snuggle up under piles of blankets and pillows. I had to give up my down I was sooo enjoying because of his allergies.

Another one of my quirks is eating ice when it's cold! So I can understand the fan!

I did take some pain med, and started feeling a little more normal. Enough to eat half a frozen pizza! I do remember always getting the chills when in pain pre-op. I am thinking that might be it. I wonder why pain would cause the chills?

I was the same way the first week after my surgery. I think it's just because it's such a big shock to your body. At least that seems to be the case to me.

But you know what, now that I think on it, presurgery, I've always been the one that was warm without a sweater. Since the surgery, I've been wearing a sweater or jacket every day. I didn't even realize it until now. Hmmm....