Are you cold.......

[catwoman]

I too feel the cold more intensely than pre-op. I often wear sweaters or jackets indoors during the warm weather months. Thanks to a move in my office, I no longer sit right under a ceiling fan; previously, my co-workers were hesitant to turn the fan on because I'd freeze to death!

I've also lost 50 pounds since pre-op, so I have less of a fat insulation layer.

My husband & other relatives complain about the summer heat now -- I love it though!

 

[lance]

Doctor's observations

Doctor's observations

Sorry I forgot to ask, has any discussed this with you doctor? Interested to know what they said

Last summer I visited my doctor's un-air-conditioned office and sat quietly in his examining room reading a book. I was perfectly comfortable sitting there. Then the door flew open, in he came, complaining about the heat, yanking his tie and threw open the window with gusto. Ha Ha. When he asked didn't I find it hot and I said--is it hot in here and then oh if you say so I guess it is and I'm comfortably neutral. He was stunned, obviously didn't believe me and dropped the subject. I don't think there is a great understanding about the effects of warfarin in the medical community. Of over 1,000 patients of his I'm the only mechanical valver so I don't think anything will change soon.

 

[maka]

Agree

Agree

with you Lance...it is very difficult to explain. However, I'm off caumedin for 5 months already (valve repaired and dr said you only need it for 3-4 motnhs).
I still take Atenolol and sometimes I wonder whether it is a reaction to this medicament or as result of the OHS. I only know that I definetely feel th cold weather more now......wore a sweatshirt in Fl in February for the first time this year!!!

 

[Diane]

I have TOF so I had my first heart surgery as a toddler and I have had an intolerance to cold all of my life. I have a small space heater under my desk in my office. Sometimes I am so cold that my lips and fingernails turn blue. In the wintertime, people are always telling me how HOT my office is but I will still be cold even though I have my little heater running.

I do not take coumadin so I can't blame being cold on that. I have always attributed my intolerance to the cold to the fact that they lowered my body temperature for the surgery. My mom has said that the doctors even told her that my internal thermostat would be messed up as a result of them lowering my body temperature. Historically, my normal body temperature has run about 97 rather than 98.6 so I start out 1.6 degrees colder than the average person.

I don't know what process they used to lower my body temperature back then but I know that today they inject your heart with something that cools it to slow the blood flow down. So that could have something to do with it.

Diane

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

It was 94 degrees the other day and it felt comfy to me. All I can think of is my grandmother at 80 something sitting on her porch with a sweater. Is that going to be me now? I'm noticing comfortable to others is freezing cold to me. Maybe that will change when the 100% humidity kicks in. (i'm just post-op, no coumadin)
debbi

 

[tobagotwo]

I was and am much happier in cold than hot. For a few weeks after surgery, my thermostat was a little crazy, and I often felt cold, but everything is back to my version of normal now. Bangor, yes: Savannah, no...

Best wishes,