Why am I always so cold!

[megbot]

Right now the big thermometer behind me says its 21c/69f in here. 69 is pretty warm I'd say. I'm freezing! I have a long sleeve shirt on the bottom, a t shirt over that, my college sweatshirt over that, another sweatshirt over that. On the bottom I have thick socks, my crocs, a long ish skirt (calf length) and a blanket wrapped around my legs. I'm still cold.

This is usual for me though, I'm always so cold, at work and at home. At home we keep the thermostat at 67 so I just bundle under a comforter everywhere. At work its frustrating, my boss is beginning to think I'm nuts. I tried walking around the office in case being seated so long is whats doing it but that doesn't seem to be doing anything.

Thoughts? Am I just nuts? Weight wise I'm about 20-30 lbs overweight, I eat plenty, maybe sometimes too much.

Any other ways to keep a bit warmer? I'm thinking of getting a space heater for under my desk if my boss will let me. The only other thing thats frustrating is how long it takes me to warm up after being outside, like shoveling snow or something. Even super bundled up, if I get cold it takes me forever to warm up and 'defrost', my boyfriend is warmed long before I am.

So whats up? I don't want to have to move south, I like NY :)

[abigail950]

Have you cheek your Thyroid i was all ways cold i fand out i had a bad thyroid go get it cheek out

[Skylark]

Do your hands or feet turn white when you get cold? If so, it might indicate Reynaud's Phenomenon. I'm not sure I spelled that correctly, though. My sister gets cold easily, her hands and feet turn white, and she was diagnosed with Reynaud's.

[Indian Summer]

Could it be due to bad circulation? I think that can be remedied by exercising more.

I don't have the best circulation myself, and am amazed on a regular basis by the sight of the natives around these parts walking around in short-sleeved t-shirts in all sorts or crappy weather and low temperatures. Is it because they eat or drink something that I don't? Is it all the coffee they drink? The constant tea-drinking? Is it all the beer? I don't know; it remains a mystery.

[3LittleBirds]

I have the same problem. It seems to happen to the women in our family. There's a name for it, but I can't remember what it is right now. My husband always makes fun of me because I'm huddled under blankets on the couch while he's comfortable in a t-shirt.

The best thing I found was being active. If I'm feeling cold, I'll get up and do something. Yoga is the absolute best. It can be very gentle and it still warms up my whole body.

[hoodedclawjen]

Have you cheek your Thyroid i was all ways cold i fand out i had a bad thyroid go get it cheek out

:yes: my first thought was thyroid. with the weight thing, you should go get it checked, especially if you feel tired a lot, are prone to depression, and have dry skin and brittle hair.

but you could just be like that. i've had my thyroid checked and alledgedly its fine and i'm just a naturally cold, fat, and often miserable person. :D my hands are feet are always like ice blocks (but not white)- so are my mums. some people are just lucky like that, it seems. :-/

[cstadt]

69 on my therm makes me cold, too. Mines on 70 and I'm wearing shorts, legwarmers, and a zipup jacket (pretty light one) and only my toes are a little cold. You don't sound so in trouble to me. Just get a blankie

[paprika27]

How much do you sleep?
sleeping less than 7 hours (over a period longer than a month or so) is directly responsible for me feeling like freezing to death. If I have a week of just 4 hour-nights I feel the same.

Don't worry if your husband doesn't feel cold as soon as you do. It is completely normal that it needs to be colder for a guy to get cold than it needs to be for a woman.
On the one hand, that's because women need more flexible skin (stomach, breasts...) and therefore usually don't have as many natural muscles as a male does. working out and building up muscles will help with that point (when you have more muscles, you'll discover that you can eat more with no effect on stomach and hips. muscles burn a lot of energy, even if they are temporarily not in use. and that's what's keeping them males warm). On the other hand, being... well prepared for the winter should isolate better than muscles do, so that kinda works against the first theory.
Another thing I've heard of, is, that women, because of usually less hair (on the legs, not on the head), don't build up what I'd call an air-layer, which helps guys keeping warmth. But I can totally understand why one would shave legs (wearing tight jeans eg) so I'm not saying you should stop shaving if you do. but wearing woolen long underpants should help.

hope you'll get warm soon

[broccolichick]

I feel cold all the time, but I have a history of iron-deficiency anemia (under the doctor's directive, my mom used to force me to eat liver all the time...gross) because I have hemoglobin C trait.

May want to get your hemoglobin checked.

[megbot]

Whats this thyroid mish mash? Is that something serious or is it just why I'm cold?


Do your hands or feet turn white when you get cold? If so, it might indicate Reynaud's Phenomenon. I'm not sure I spelled that correctly, though. My sister gets cold easily, her hands and feet turn white, and she was diagnosed with Reynaud's.

They hurt after they've been really cold and they have to defrost. They don't hurt when I'm just sitting here for example. My hands don't seem to white.

(anything named Phenomenon doesn't sound good at all! lol)


How much do you sleep?
sleeping less than 7 hours (over a period longer than a month or so) is directly responsible for me feeling like freezing to death. If I have a week of just 4 hour-nights I feel the same.

Don't worry if your husband doesn't feel cold as soon as you do. It is completely normal that it needs to be colder for a guy to get cold than it needs to be for a woman...

hope you'll get warm soon

No husband here... my boss just thinks I'm nuts. My sleep pattern is totally nonexistant, I tended to be cold before but maybe you're right, its lately that I'm miserable about it. This is my last week working nights, and if I'm forced to sleep during the day I can only sleep in 3 hour increments. The weekends I try to catch up on sleep. Its ridiculous how messed up my sleep is. Sunday I woke up at 5:30am, took my brother to the airport etc, got back to NY, took a nap from 9-11pm, went to work until 8am, and went to bed from 11:30-3:00. Now I'm up likely until work. I'm not tired, I'm pissy because I know I will be tired and my lousy body WONT SLEEP!

So. You think I should feel this out again after I come off the grave shift?? That sounds easy enough to fix.

[LucidAnne]

im perpetually freezing too!! only, i have diabetes, so alot of circulation and nerve damage, as well as anemia.

Get your thyroid checked (low can make you cold), and iron levels checked as well.
Long underwear...not cotton, but bergalene, capilene, etc...they have tanks which are good to layer.
Sythetic down is quite warm.
Start to love scarves!! lol. for me, if my neck/ nape is warm, i will be warmer.
Tights can help. I also live in knee high socks.
I got some FABULOUS fleece slipper booties from Victorias Secret, which keep my feet pretty warm (albeit, also w/ 2 pairs of socks)
I sip warm water when i get reeeeeally cold. Even just holding the mug of boiling water to my face can help. Dehydration itself can make you cold too.
I wear a hat often too, inside, to bed, whatever. lol.

Eating more and keeping moving will help keep your blood flowing too.
If you get a space heater....PLEASE be careful...i have burnt myself MANY times, even when its not close to me.

Otherwise, viva la Bahamas!!

[hoodedclawjen]

Whats this thyroid mish mash? Is that something serious or is it just why I'm cold?


mishmash? :lol:

your thyroid is a gland in your neck thats sort of butterfly shaped. it secretes hormones that control how fast your body burns energy and how quickly reactions happen (like how hot or cold, and energetic or tired you feel, and dry your skin is, etc). there is a nice sheet about it here:

http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/underactive_thyroid.html#1

don't freak when you read that sheet, cos there is probably nothing wrong with your thyroid- and if it does turn out to be underactive, its usually just a case of taking a pill with replacement hormones in it, every day.

its just worth considering and getting looked over if you still feel cold, and tired, and have some of the other symptoms shown there, in a few weeks. your doctor probably checks it in your annual physical- but if stuff feels wonky all of a sudden, its always worth checking it out. :)

[Marie]

Right now the big thermometer behind me says its 21c/69f in here. 69 is pretty warm I'd say.

That's not pretty warm. :p

[dirkduck]

I agree about the thyroid, perhaps get some tests done. I also have the same problem (69 is very cold if you ask me), and I am usually cold unless it is about 78+. Personally I've considered thyroid issues, but I am also unable to gain weight, which is usually a co-symptom of being too warm, not cold, when associated with the thyroid. Anyone have any ideas?

[Leo SunShine]

I am always cold. I have a little heater under my desk at work. it helps a lot! I recomened it to anyone. Also, i wear long underware, not very sexy. but it's worth it!
I have my thyroid looked at all the time. my mother had hypo (or hyper) thyroid and have to have it removed. now she has to take medications everyday for the rest of her life.

[BostonSG]

you sound like my mom hahahaha
shes always freezing even in summer :|
hahahaha

[Cassiel]

Are you eating enough?

I experienced the same thing doing swing shift - I worked from 10 pm to 6 am and it sucked, especially around 2 am, when I'd find myself freezing cold even in a down mountaineering jacket. It could definitely be that.

Since I lost weight, though, I'm constantly cold, which is why I tie it to eating, I guess. My dad experienced the same thing when he lost weight. As for exercise, it always makes me feel warm while I'm doing it, but then I tend to get chilled afterward (I'm not saying it doesn't help, but it may not help to keep your overall temp up).

My thyroid also checked out normal.

Anyway, I hope you can find something to help, and if you do, share it! I think I'm in a similar position.

[innermusic]

Whats this thyroid mish mash? Is that something serious or is it just why I'm cold?
Thyroid secretes certain hormones which control your metabolism. If you are hypothyroid, symptoms include feeling cold, feeling tired, finding it hard to lose weight when you try (and finding it easy to gain weight when you don't try)...

Take your temperature when you wake up, and again an hour later.
Goiter is quite common, especially with women and can be further exacerbated with those who eat too much soy.