Feeling the Cold: Hi Everyone I... - Oesophageal & Gas...

Oesophageal & Gastric Cancer

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Feeling the Cold

SteveJ profile image
22 Replies

Hi Everyone

I am only asking this question out of interest. Has anyone found that they feel the cold more since having Chemotherapy ?. I used to be a Firefighter and also worked on fishing trawlers so I was well used to being out in the elements and the cold didn't bother me much, but now I find I need to wear more clothing, even in the summer.

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SteveJ profile image
SteveJ
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22 Replies

Without doubt.Before had my chemo back in 2010 I would not be bad with cold weather.Always worked outdoors as Postie with shorts.Since chemo suffer with the cold even summer.I am on chemo again at present so double the cold!!!!!! So yes its normal Steve

SteveJ profile image
SteveJ in reply to

Hi Griff

Thanks for that. I was afraid I was becoming a bit of a wimp. lol.

Good luck with the chemo.

Kind Regards

Steve

yorkshirerose profile image
yorkshirerose

Oh yes, I am always cold, I wear so many layers I look NanNook of the north. I am sooooooo looking forward to a warm summer so I can shed some of the layers :-0

Best wishes

Edwina

SteveJ profile image
SteveJ in reply to yorkshirerose

Thank you Edwina. I really agree with you. I'm looking forward to a warm summer too. Dont we deserve it after this cold winter.

Kind Regards

Steve

patchworker profile image
patchworker

I didn't have chemo, just the shark bite surgery, but I feel the cold, much more now.

I think it's because I've lost a lot of weight.

Have you, Steve and Griff, lost weight too? Could it be that rather than the chemo that makes us feel the cold?

SteveJ profile image
SteveJ in reply to patchworker

Hi Patchworker

Yes I did lose weight at first but now I'm 6 years post op and almost back to my original weight, but still feeling the cold.

Kind Regards

Steve

in reply to patchworker

Yes lost weight but medical fact that chemo and the surgery makes you feel the cold but of course weight loss will mean feeling more cold.I lost 5 stone !!

Lynleahy profile image
Lynleahy

Yep - big yes to that one - the damage caused by chemo with relation to peripheral neuropathy where all the nerve endings are damaged causes you to feel the cold much more - like Griff , Nielsen is presently going through chemo again and is being very badly affected by this cold weather - we have actually been told that one of the meds he is on - Oxalaplatin will cause all sorts of problems with cold - he is not to go into the freezer, go out without hats , gloves etc and generally be very careful - we attempted to go for a walk yesterday but had to turn back when he could no longer feel is nose due to the cold - so no you are not being a wimp !! Wrap up warm and all the best.

Lyn

in reply to Lynleahy

Yes Lyn the pins and needles certainly are a bind!!! hope things are going well? I get scanned soon to see how chemos working x

Lynleahy profile image
Lynleahy in reply to

Please let us know Griff - as always thoughts are with you. Lyn and Nielsen x

margie1 profile image
margie1 in reply to

thinking of you Griff please let us know how you are doing xx

SteveJ profile image
SteveJ in reply to Lynleahy

Thank's Lyn and Nielsen.

Yes it looks like this is quite a common thing for most of us.

Good luck Nielsen with nyour chemo.

Kind Regards

Steve

medway profile image
medway

Definitely and not because its winter. Even though my weight has returned to near normal I still feel the cold. I used to wear T shirts at home, now its jumpers and central heating turned up. I think it must be the same for any major surgery.

I did not have any form of radiation treatment, just the big Merendino interposition.

Danko profile image
Danko

Hi Everyone

I'm glad this question was posted and the comments are interesting and reflect my experiences since my chemo and op last summer. This winter has been difficult and whilst I have been looking forward to warmer weather (??) I feel it is wrong to be wishing time away given our condition. I have escaped to Spain for two weeks and this has done me the world go good although its raining now :)

Best wishes

Martin

I also wonder whether it is because the body's energy is being used up in healing itself so that there is not so much energy left for keeping itself warm?

It is 12 years ago since my surgery but I still keep wearing the thermals in winter.

Chaskell profile image
Chaskell

With temperatures of minus 1-6, I stay in doors as much as possible, well wraped in warm clothes and the central heating on full. .After 9 seriel of Xeloda chemo, I have peripheral neuropathy in my fingers and feet. Does anyone know of a successful treatment for this?. .

liz_crisp profile image
liz_crisp

Nice to know its not just me that is a delicate shade of blue when everyone else is in t-shirts

EnzoFerrari profile image
EnzoFerrari

Hi Steve J. In answer to your question, I don't think your a wimp any more than I do myself. I put my feeling cold down to the fact that during the run up to my diagnosis and confirmation of mycancer, I lost nearly three stone in weight which of course included a lot of fat that used to keep me warm. I have regained my warmth but have generally stabilised. However, the period between End of November and now has been a very cold and miserable period.

SteveJ profile image
SteveJ

Hi again everyone. It seems that this is something most of us will have to put up with.

It sounds like a combination of chemo and surgery are the cause. Thanks to everyone who answered my question.

Kind Regards

Steve

margie1 profile image
margie1

yes steve i still feel the cold alot more since chemo and surgery i just put it down to me getting old lol

Phil5 profile image
Phil5

Yes Steve, I have just finished 6 cycles of chemo and I am really feeling the cold. I am not only wearing my vest as my mother told me 50 odd years ago but also have started wearing a sweater. I have bought a hand warmer which does seem to help, not only with the hands but I stuff it down the back of my pants.

best wishes

Phil

gutlesswonder profile image
gutlesswonder

I used to be infamous as a contractor ,often working in the Middle East ,for prancing about in the desert wearing a three piece suit.

Only mad dogs and English men ..............

Now I seem to be hyper-sensitive to both cold and heat.It is worst in bed ; either lying there shivering or throwing off all the covers.

To add insult to injury my skin can no longer tolerate deodorants .

......My poor Wife.......!

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