Low pulse, freezing cold, low blood pressure

[AnnieF]

I am feeling colder than I ever have this autumn.

I am fit it is true, I've always taken a fair amount of exercise but over the last year my pulse has dropped from around 60 bpm to 50. I've always had low blood pressure 120/90 or so I think and my usual temperature is around 36C, sometimes drops to 35C. I have an oximeter and my oxygen saturation is usually above 95% though it has dropped below that and set the alarm off.

I went to my GP who said I was obviously very fit and lucky because I would live a long time with a pulse rate that low! When pushed she tested my thyroid and did a FBC and said everything was fine.

Do I believe her, I feel as though I am turning to stone and I hate being so cold. Any observations hugely welcome.

I am 69, weigh 9 and a half stone, I eat well as a vegetarian.

[ParrotLover22]

Hi. I don't know the Answer but I have felt really Cold these last few Weeks. My Blood Pressure has always been low but this Year seems worse. My Smart Meter is having a Party lol 😂

[citygirl65 in reply to ParrotLover22]

Bless you about smart meter yes mine has shot up last few weeks.im feeling cold too so in a good way I now know it's normal..😀.have good xmas😌

[ParrotLover22 in reply to citygirl65]

Sorry it has been so long since you sent that. When I think about the money I have put on to that Smart Meter, I could have gone on a Cruise lol 😂. I have been ill, not Heart Related but with very bad Flu which led into a Chest Infection!! Two lots of Antibiotics so, maybe that was the reason I had been so cold. Just thinking you know! My Xmas was not that good as I really didn't feel well at all. Hope yours was.

[citygirl65 in reply to ParrotLover22]

Mine about same had just moved so not quite sorted to do Decs etc but couldn't get out as breathless had took it's toll a bit too much.quiet one this year again.hope 2023 is a better year for you.

[ParrotLover22 in reply to citygirl65]

Thank You. Hope yours is too

[Jazz80]

Are you sure everything was fine with your thyroid?

Do you know what your actual TSH, FT4, FT3 and TPO antibodies results were?

If your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is raised i.e. over 4.2 but lower than 10 (depending on which range the lab uses) Doctors will sometimes consider it as 'only mild hypothyroidism' requiring no treatment/further action (i.e. 'fine!'), this happened to me. From my experience it is not fine, I had many of the symptoms you describe with a TSH 5.9

Have you had your B12 and cortisol checked?

It may be helpful to put your post on the Thyroid UK site too, there are so many knowledgeable people there who could advise better than me.

[Qualipop in reply to Jazz80]

I'm in the process of insisting on a better thyroid test. I keep getting told it's at the bottom end of normal but never given figures. They don't seem to understand that low normal may be ok for some but too low for others. Feeling really cold this year; don't dare go outside without a scarf over my face.

[Jazz80 in reply to Qualipop]

Getting print-outs of my test results was a game changer in many ways, not least the realisation that I had to become informed and proactive otherwise I would end up living a half life in the 'no action required pile' forever! Hope you get it sorted soon, take care.

[Qualipop in reply to Jazz80]

Thanks; seeing GP tomorrow

[MrsSuzuki]

I feel the cold much more since my heart attack last December. I blame it on the blood thinners and my feet are always cold❄️. The damp weather doesn't help either.

Lily

[citygirl65 in reply to MrsSuzuki]

Def damp doesn't help could just be down to heart trouble maybe can't say about thinner as not on them have good xmas

[jeanjeannie50]

Many years ago I used to feel really cold and tired in the afternoons. My GP was checking my thyroid regularly and telling me it was ok, when it wasn't. It had been damaged by heart medication I had taken. As I hadn't told him how dreadful I felt he was hoping it would recover. It didn't and when a cardiologist asked for it to be checked and he saw how high my TSH was. He informed my surgery that I needed to go on thyroid meds immediately. So like Jazz80 has suggested, find out what the results of your last thyroid test was. Just ring the surgery and ask.Jean

[56dick19]

hi I am always cold and have a low heart rate and blood pressure due to the medication I take my hands is the first thing that gets cold. Wish I could afford to keep the heating on Al the time. I would go back to the doctor again. Hope you get it sorted x

[honeybubs]

hi similar to me I wasn’t believed as tests came back normal for over 13 years except for slight things on ECG but said it was still ok. Recently had an echocardiogram and it showed my EF was 35 and I have LBBB. Now they are doing something about it. Keep on telling them as you know your own body and when something is wrong. I’m now in heart failure and they can’t go enough for me but had no apologies for the years gone. They wanted to treat me for depression instead and I was t depressed so I said no to the tablets. Keep telling them and have an echocardiogram. Good luck x

[Hidden]

Dear AnnieF

When I asked my heart nurse about feeling cold she said that

" I was lucky to be here to feel anything let alone the cold !"

good old, long term, old school, NHS staff, you don't mess around with them !

But the answer she gave { in my case } was the blood thinners, I am only on aspirin 75mg for that, but she was adamant that this was the culprit and Im not brave enough to argue with her.

Take care

[citygirl65 in reply to Hidden]

Nice nurse I had a lady who told me I had first diagnosis of heart trouble by phone which had same trouble with empathy..

[Yumz199725]

Sorry to hear your having issues with being cold all the time I can definitely relate all I hear myself say all the time is I'm sooo cold I'm freezing although having no heating doesn't help the situation. I always thought people with heart problems just felt the cold more 🤔.

Anyway I hope you persist with your gp and don't let them tell you how you feel! 😉

[Windmill6]

Hi. I would have some further endocrine tests if I was you and maybe an ecg as well. ?Your oxygen saturation is at the lower end of normal for someone so "healthy". Trust your instincts not Dr's comments.Good luck to you!

[Aura13]

Am I reading this correctly? Because your blood pressure isn't low. I suffer of hypotension (low blood pressure) and mine is 90/50 and I have high pulse which is normal with hypotension as the body tries to keep you up and tahicardia.And if your fit as you say your pulse is just fine. Athletes have around 40 bpm.

[Aura13]

I forgot to mention I am a qualified nurse, and honestly most of what I read here is valid but when people posts ridiculous things and make you panic over nothing I can't stay quiet. Your doctor is corect, you are very healthy, no offence but people have real serious health issues, yours is not one of them. And very rarely do I see saturation of 100 percent, usually I see 97. Just because yours was a bit lower and you feel cold means nothing. Your BP is perfect and your pulse as well. Felling cold especially when your vegetarian is normal.Listen to your doctor.