| | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 179 "OCF Down Under" Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  "OCF Down Under" Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 179 | Hi guys,
Just wondering why i'm so cold all the time? Its 29C degrees outside and yes its abit cooler inside the house but i have tracksuit pants, a singlet, a long sleeve top, and a jumper on and i'm still cold!!! I have a foot heater to warm me. I have lost 8-9kg so i'm quite skinny, is it because there is no body fat to keep me warm? Has anyone experience this after radiation and chemo? Its been 7 weeks since treatment has finished. I would really appreciate advice or comments on this. Thanx guys - i dont know where i would be without OCF.
Minh
35 Yrs old
03/10 SCC T1-T2
Partial Glossectemy end March - margins not clear enough.
While waiting for resection - cancer returned,2 new cancerous lumps
Re-section End May & flap from cheek attatched. Margins clear.
Mid June - 4 teeth out
Mid July -32 Rads and 3 Cisplatin
6th Sept 10 Finished Treatment!!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Have your TSH levels checked as it is quite common for the radiation to damage our thyroid which can cause this symptom. I know because that's the first thing I noticed. Cure is simple as you just take a small pill once a day. Problem becomes determining the proper dosage but let's discuss that only IF you are told you suffer from Hypothyroidism.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Minh
This question comes up far too often because IMO the doctors just don't take it seriously plus unless they went to medical school in this century not last century, they use outdated guidelines. While my CCC doctors were top notch on Cancer, for related issues like Thyroid - "not so much". I was not only extremely tired but also froze for two years, even in summer, and kept a winter coat on in air conditioned places yet I was constantly told: "Your TSH levels are normal" and I did not ask for the actual numbers or test results. Turns out however there is controversy over what is the right TSH level with labs having a 5.5, a 4.5 even though endocrinologists who went to Medical school the 21st Century consider 3.0 as the highest acceptable level. Before TX, I had a TSH of 1.6 and after TX it shot up to 4.3. Now that I am "on the pill", I am finally warm again. Plus my energy is back My TSH level went down to3.04 on 25 mcg ,2.17 on 50 mcg and now 1.73 on 75 mcg. Of course there could also be nothing wrong at all with your thryoid . But it worked for me.
Charm
Last edited by Charm2017; 10-24-2010 07:15 AM. Reason: typos
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 179 "OCF Down Under" Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP "OCF Down Under" Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 179 | Thanx David and Charm. Thats what i kinda thought the problem might be. Though i called my RO nurse this morning and she said its not one of the side effects of radiation!!! Makes me so upset to think that she's the specialist but i know more than her (well thats what i think anyways. lol)!! There is only one place that does radiation in my state so i dont have a choice of going anywhere else. Can you believe this but IMRT was only available here sept 09? We are so behind in technology for treatment.
I have booked in with my General Practioner (equivalent to yor PCP i think) tomomorrow to have it checked out. Thanx again.
MInh
35 Yrs old
03/10 SCC T1-T2
Partial Glossectemy end March - margins not clear enough.
While waiting for resection - cancer returned,2 new cancerous lumps
Re-section End May & flap from cheek attatched. Margins clear.
Mid June - 4 teeth out
Mid July -32 Rads and 3 Cisplatin
6th Sept 10 Finished Treatment!!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 179 "OCF Down Under" Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP "OCF Down Under" Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 179 | Oh i forgot to ask, would it still by thyroid if my energy level is ok? I feel like it is for the stage that i'm at - 7 weeks after tx finished. If i dont sleep then i'm completely buggered but if i sleep well (about 2 nights a week) then i'm ok.
Minh
35 Yrs old
03/10 SCC T1-T2
Partial Glossectemy end March - margins not clear enough.
While waiting for resection - cancer returned,2 new cancerous lumps
Re-section End May & flap from cheek attatched. Margins clear.
Mid June - 4 teeth out
Mid July -32 Rads and 3 Cisplatin
6th Sept 10 Finished Treatment!!
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | Minh,
It still could be your TSH levels as the radiation will permanently damage the thyroid. HOWEVER! It may not be your thyroid at all. If you are on opiate pain medication you can experience the "always cold" issue as they depress your central nervous system, slowing your heart rate, affecting your circulation...it's what my issue was.
Eric
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Google Hypothyroidism and read ALL the possible symptoms.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 7 Member | | Member
Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 7 | I agree with ericS. pain meds and loss of fat can totally be your problem. If you can start pumping up your diet with some good protein and wean off the pain meds when you can. It worked for me!
Carrie smoker 20 years-quit at 32 Dx at 41 stage 2 SSC tongue-free flap and neck dissection 25 nodes all neg. in May. bottom teeth pulled June. 35 rad tx ended in Aug.
NEVER would have made it. If it weren't for my loving wife!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | My thyroid is fine but I had to keep an electric blancket around for a while (9 months or so). This is an old subject that comes up here all the time. I'm suprised our medical proffesionals don't give us guidlines on this stuff.
I'm better now 1 year out but winter is coming in Michigan so we'll see how that works out.
Kelly
Male
48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt.,
Stage 1, T3n0m0,
Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09
04-20-10 NED
8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b
10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly
3-12-12 PET - residual cancer
4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux
6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR
12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Minh
As noted, many possible cause of being cold but an objective measure remains your TSH level, pre and post cancer TX. It's a simple blood test. I have not gained back any of my body fat I lost (177 lbs pre TX, 137 lbs now)but I'm warm & toasty.
It is so frustrating that we need to get answers here instead of from our medical teams
Charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
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