Low body temperature

[S Bear]

I have been quite cold sometimes lately, though that might not be surprising given the fact that I was drinking three 6WC shakes with pulverized ice. But I decided to take my temperature, and it was 96.5 F.

So I have begun taking it first thing in the morning. Usually between 96 and 97, sometimes as low as 95.5, never above 97.5. In the past I was always a person who tended to "run hot." Now I seem to be cold.

I know everyone will immediately think, ah, low thyroid, but my TSH test a few months back was at the lower end of the scale (1.05), which usually suggests your thyroid hormones are adequate.

I don't want to go engage with my doctor on this topic at this time.

Does anyone know anything about this? Might supplementing with iodine help? Are there any other possible causes than low thyroid? Can rapid and prolonged weight loss lower your body temp?

I'm puzzled.

[maxlharris]

Lotta ways that could go.

One thing that probably will not be suggested by others, if you lost 62 lbs of fat, you lost a lot of insulation.

[S Bear]

One thing that probably will not be suggested by others, if you lost 62 lbs of fat, you lost a lot of insulation.

Good point. I was forcefully reminded of this when I had to sit on a hardwood floor for a few hours the other day. My butt-padding is gone.

[maxlharris]

I sleep with a pillow between my knees because the bones rub. And I'm not even that thin.

[Ammy]

S Bear, I haven't actually taken my temp, but I am cold QUITE often (and I don't think it can be totally blamed on winter in the midwest).
My GF says I have "icy cold hands of death" most of the time.
Feet are the same way.

Since I lost my 110+lbs, I am often cold, all seasons of the year.

Yes, lost of insulation, but my cholesterol also dropped quite a bit (averages around 105 total). GF claims thats another reason why I'm cold often. Don't know if that's true or not, but she will swear by it???

[bpm]

I posted this somewhere before but don't know where.
For years I had cold hands and feet even in warm rooms. After weight loss, the sensitivity was magnified.
I came upon an article by Andrew Weil which addressed this issue. It was a short, simple program of breathing exercises. It promised to correct the issue in short order. It did. Within 3 wks, I was free of cold hands and feet and have stayed that way as long as do the exercises.
Google Dr Weil and breathwork for some brief info (3 techniques I think it's called) and if it looks doable to you, the cd program ( discs) can be purchased on Amazon.com for $ 12+.

Monty

[bpm]

fOUND IT
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521/three-breathing-exercises.html

Monty

[Desmondo]

I find myself warmer while low carbing, as against medium to high carbs.

This exhibits itself both in warmer extremities and a change in under-tongue temperature. My self observation suggests that I run "cool" by 0.8C (1.4F), when on "non-low" carbs at 36C (96.8F). This supposition is supported by another observation, that I warm up to perspiration faster than other folks at any particular ambient temp. While skiing, I am the first to "zip down" and take my beanie off!

I ascribe my higher temps while low carbing to a combination of the high thermic effect of protein burning and increased use of ketones and fats in place of glycogen.

Extremity warming as a result of breathing is a phenomenon with which I am familiar. I first experienced it when I encountered TM (transcendental meditation). It was many years later that I associated this warmth with slow paced breathing part of the exercise rather than the "mantra". I found that "low belly" Ashtanga yogic breathing warms my hands and then my feet in minutes! My personal hypothesis on the mechanism of action, is that Ashtangic style throat contraction increases the partial pressure of CO2 in the lungs, leading in turn to an increased blood level of carbonic acid. The slight increase of CO3 ion relaxes and distends the arterioles, resulting in increased blood flow, increased temperature and lower BP levels - this is described in McArdle, Katch, Katch (Exercise Physiology), as the Bohr Effect, apparently found by the physiologist son of the famous Copenhagen physicist. (The use of paper bags to increase the acid level of blood, and calm down someone in a panic attack, is a similar effect).

[Desmondo]

PS to above.
Quite by co-incidence I see that Ny Times has an article on Buteyko breathing for asthmatics, another breathing technique I looked into. I had forgotten about this one!

[maile]

I have been quite cold sometimes lately, though that might not be surprising given the fact that I was drinking three 6WC shakes with pulverized ice. But I decided to take my temperature, and it was 96.5 F.

So I have begun taking it first thing in the morning. Usually between 96 and 97, sometimes as low as 95.5, never above 97.5. In the past I was always a person who tended to "run hot." Now I seem to be cold.

I know everyone will immediately think, ah, low thyroid, but my TSH test a few months back was at the lower end of the scale (1.05), which usually suggests your thyroid hormones are adequate.

I don't want to go engage with my doctor on this topic at this time.

Does anyone know anything about this? Might supplementing with iodine help? Are there any other possible causes than low thyroid? Can rapid and prolonged weight loss lower your body temp?

I'm puzzled.

hi there, I'm a newbie but have been following these threads for a couple of weeks but wanted to comment on your post.

The TSH really only tells you what you pitutary is doing, it doesn't tell you how your body is using the thryoid hormones (there's 4). Low body temp can be the result of low Free T3, this is at least my case. My TSH is 1/2 of yours yet my levels of Free T3 are quite low and my Free T4 is below average.
if you don't want to engage your Dr right now then you could order the thyroid blood tests on your own to see if that is the case, however, you would still need an up-to-date doctor to prescribe (if that were necessary)

just my 0.02!

maile

[S Bear]

Thanks, everybody, for the great input! The thing that is odd about this is that in the past I was always someone people snuggled up next to when they were cold, as my body exuded heat like a furnace--especially after meals. My girlfriend used to claim she could tell where I had been standing becasue the carpet was heated by my feet. This cold hands, cold feet, low body temperature only came to my attention after I started the 6WC.

BPM, thanks very much for searching out that link. I'll check it out.

Desmondo--I do various kinds of breathing exercises in my yoga classes, including the standard pranayama opening th the Bikram series. It certainly revs me up--I'm usually sweating just from that--but a few hours later my hands are ice-cold once again. But the references you mention sound very interesting indeed.

Maile--I may look into a non-doctor blood test. My concern with these things is always that doctors find something out and then press for courses of actions that only make things worse.

Ammy--low temperature from low cholesterol? Hmm. Never heard of a connection, but I've never heard anyone say there isn't one, either. (And I don't even have your Midwest winters to blame--I live by the beach in Southern California, and it's 80 degrees outside today.)

[deirdra]

I was always cold and ~96.8F most of the time before I went low carb. My temperature only got up to 98.6 when I started going high fat (70% or more) and vLC (10% or less). My thyroid levels also improved from borderline low to mid-range normal without thyroid medication, just more fat and no processed foods, grains, or soy.

[animalcule]

I would be concerned about this. Maybe pay more attention to calories? I know many people who eat high fat, high protein end up eating a lot less in total.

As someone skinny who's always the chilliest in the room, I have been much warmer since I went low-carb. However I have both a big appetite and the luxury of not having to limit it - I am trying to gain weight, not lose it. It's easier for me to get more calories with lots of fat as opposed to lots of carbs (most carb sources give me indigestion and bloating).

[newtolowcarb]

Funny I also find myself a little colder when i'm low carbing.

[Frank Hagan]

Funny I also find myself a little colder when i'm low carbing.

My wife and I have changed roles. I now need the covers at night, and she occasionally throws them off and starts taking off her PJs.

I have learned its not an "invitation". :confused:

[Mitra]

My wife and I have changed roles. I now need the covers at night, and she occasionally throws them off and starts taking off her PJs.

I have learned its not an "invitation". :confused:

:lol: Sounds familiar!

[butterfly]

You can't judge whether you have a thyroid by TSH testing alone. TSH is not even produced by the thyroid but the pituitary gland. TSH=thyroid stimulating hormone. You also need to have your free t4 and free t3 checked-these hormones are actually produced by the thyroid. Google Mary Shoman and check out her articles and books on the thyroid and thyroid forum at about.com. :)