dealing with being cold: My husband... - British Heart Fou...

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dealing with being cold

EllenMcC profile image
21 Replies

My husband will be 3 years post LAD stemi single vessel two stents in July. Apical scar tissue His EF was 38%on discharge and increased to 40-45% the following year and was unchanged last January on follow up echo. Overall he has recovered well. He works as a mechanic and we have a small farm so although he doesn’t excersize he is active. BP and cholesterol are well managed on meds. Non smoker Lately though he is getting very cold after supper. He is on the usual cocktail of drugs 2.5 bispropol entresto (the low dose) a statin spirolactone colchicine (sp?) aspirin. He has a doc appt next week but wondering is anyone else has heard of this. Thank you in advance I appreciate having this forum to talk to

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EllenMcC profile image
EllenMcC
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21 Replies
Yumz199725 profile image
Yumz199725

Hi EllenMcC.Glad your hubbys EF has improved. Mm that is interesting about getting cold after eating. That always happens to me so I thought that was normal. Yeah could be a sideffect from all the meds he's on but I'm glad he has an appointment next week and hopefully they can find out what's causing that. Take care ☺️.

Dear EllenMcC

Thank you for your first post and an interesting one at that.

I am cold all the time but notice it more after a large meal, but if this is because Ive wound down for the day I couldn't tell you.

But my coldness is from a combination of the drugs that almost mirrors your husbands, that was from my Cardiologist and she was not concerned with what she thought was a minor side effect of the medication.

I tend to just get on with it as I know that the drugs are helping me survive.

But if I was him then get it checked out, especially for Raynaud's

My fingers/toes/nose and penis are the coldest points with numbing to the finger tips and toes.

Hope that you both find answers, please keep us informed

Take care of each other

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

I felt the cold dreadfully until it was discovered that I had an underactive thyroid. Taking drugs to correct that means I'm always warm now.

Jean

EllenMcC profile image
EllenMcC in reply to jeanjeannie50

Last fall bloodwork was ok

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to EllenMcC

Did it include a thyroid check though? In the UK a full blood test doesn't. Has to be specifically asked for.

Rosie1066 profile image
Rosie1066

I have recently started suffering from the cold. My body temperature drops to 35 and sometimes 34 and I find that the tips of some of my fingers go white and I have numbness or Pins and Needles. I don’t seem so bad now the ambient temperature outside has increased up but still find I put a blanket over me in the evenings. I had a HVR and also suffer from AF. I just put it down to bad circulation.

EllenMcC profile image
EllenMcC in reply to Rosie1066

thank you

Hi,

Beta blockers (bisoprolol) can cause patients to feel cold... I know I do in the evenings sometimes.

How long has he been taking colchicine for? Most folks I speak to only take this for 3-6 months - it has some side effects like pins and needles. I take it for myopericarditis, but it is traditionally used for gout.

EllenMcC profile image
EllenMcC

he has been on it for at least a year. That and the spiralactone were added at his one year appt. He has mentioned pins and needles more often lately

Lonmayloon profile image
Lonmayloon

I notice the cold in the evenings. I put it down to the fact that this is the time when I am sedentary for longer periods, reading or watching television, rather than being triggered by meals. My nose runs most of the day and extremities take a while to warm up with exercise during cold weather. I put it all down to bisoprolol 5mg as I was always warm as toast before starting it.

looseylaw profile image
looseylaw

I was feeling the cold, hands, feet and nose until my surgeon took me off Bisoprolol and Atorvastatin. Now I have no issues. Even wearing short in the North of Scotland. Worth a chat with the Dr and see if there is an alternative. I believe it it was the Bisoprolol.

MountainGoat52 profile image
MountainGoat52

Hi Ellen,

Medication affects us all in different ways, but feeling cold in the evening is probably largely due to tiredness (even though he may not feel particularly tired) in combination with the effect of being medicated. Being on Aspirin with thinner blood certainly affects how warm he will feel. I know from experience... I used to radiate heat before my HA, but less so now (though I still wear teeshirts in winter). Eating a meal will direct blood to the stomach to digest the food and this might also be having an effect.

Hopefully the doctor will be able to provide further advice next week.

Gerald

Pollypuss profile image
Pollypuss

Yes my husband always says that I complain of feeling cold after meals . This was years before my bypass also

Cruise1 profile image
Cruise1

I feel cold a lot of the time and put it down to the aspirin I have been prescribed. It’s really annoying as my wife is the opposite and tells me to turn heating down and we have to have separate beds too. The same thing happens to my neighbour. He feels cold after his cardiac arrest and subsequent meds but his wife, too is always warm.

Caterham80 profile image
Caterham80

Cold extremities are a common side effect with Bisoprolol. In addition, blood gets diverted to the gut after a meal. This may make a person feel even colder.

gorillaqueen profile image
gorillaqueen

This seems to be common I’m cold constantly ( writing this sitting in my conservatory as it’s so warm 😂) my cardiac nurse says it’s the meds and Bisoprolol is known for this side effect. I’ve not noticed any difference after eating though just so cold constantly. Hope your hubby gets the answers he needs at his appointment good luck 🌞X

Callie456 profile image
Callie456

I feel the cold more since starting all the heart meds too. I think it's to do with circulation. For me the beta blockers are slowing heart rate and other meds are lowering BP. Circulation focuses on the main areas first, like the heart and brain, but if circulation is a bit sluggish I suppose the arms and legs are the least 'important', so for me those get cold and even pins and needles at times.

I know that after eating a big meal, circulation goes to aiding digestion, so less would be sent to arms and legs for awhile after eating. Depending on the person it may be enough to notice symptoms of poor circulation if that's what it is. See what the dr says, I'd be interested to know the outcome.

EllenMcC profile image
EllenMcC in reply to Callie456

his gp told him it is meds and he has low BP all which contribute to feeling cold

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply to EllenMcC

Did they have any helpful suggestions as to how to keep warm or warm up when it happens?

EllenMcC profile image
EllenMcC in reply to Callie456

No they didn't :-(

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply to EllenMcC

Oh, that's a pity. I guess it's a matter of putting extra layers on then.

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