Constantly cold when it's absolutely boiling in the house

[Victoriawould24]

My Dad who has limited mobility (largely by choice/lifestyle) is constantly saying he is cold and is blasting out the heating, sitting with a heating blanket etc.
He was angry today saying he was 'freezing' in the night and wanting to have the heating on all night too.
It's hard to be in the house and he isn't cold to the touch but it's a complete nightmare for my mum.
Has anyone experienced similar and might it be a legitimate medical thing or is it more likely a MH thing or due to lack of moving.

We have a doctors appointment so it'd be good to be informed before we go.

Could he have low thyroid levels?

Do you live together, and if not can he afford the heating?

Thyroid problems can make you feel cold to the bone when it isnt cold, no amount of heating and blankets seems to touch you. Its really depressing and uncomfortable, painful in fact

I would say that's quite normal. Older people are colder, often thinner and circulation wouldn't be great perhaps. My DDad wore layers and layers and still liked the heating on!
Perhaps have a nice cosy blanket over his knees, a nearby plug in radiator that won't effect your mum as much. Heat off in other rooms but on in his?

Sorry I missed the thing about your mum, yes it will be uncomfortable for her too, probably make her feel quite sick to have it so hot

limited mobility “by choice”

what do you mean? 🫤

Its fairly clear isnt it, he doesnt get up and move around much but is able to if he wanted to I presume?

My dad is the same,his house is tropical. We have to wear t shirts on winter as it's so warm. If you're not up and moving around you won't get warm. Pretty normal for older folks to keep the heating cranked up.

so he doesn’t have limited mobility.

He is sedentary

There’s a difference

Thanks , I don't live here but occasionally stay over.
He has limited mobility because despite being told by the doctor to keep active and moving he refuses to so sits napping in his chair all day.
It's a bit of a vicious circle because he struggles walking because he's so unfit but then he's so unfit because he doesn't walk.
He is an intelligent man and has made a choice to not try to improve his health (I appreciate there are many complex issues at play here) so we (his family) have had to try and make peace with that while also trying to support him and my mum.
He has blankets etc and layers the issue is that it is unbearable for my mum and will be worse if he wants heating on all night.
They can afford the heating.

I will mention the thyroid thanks everyone

It can also be a symptom of alzheimer's. My mum has the thermostat at 28 and frequently calls out British Gas because " thevheating isn't working because the house isn't heating up". When I visit I am sweating in a t shirt, have an insulated bottle of iced water waiting in the car and the radiators are hot to touch.

This happened to my Dad, as his Dementia progressed & the disease destroyed the bit of the brain that controls core temperature, but he was freezing to touch, regardless of hot house temperatures.

If it's overnight when he's is bed why don't they get a heated under blanket which has dual controls so he can adjust the settings for his preference on his side of the bed and your mum can leave her side of the bed off?

He has limited mobility, no matter the cause, why are you being so pedantic, its obvious what OP means

Apparently some heart medicines can make people feel the cold

If on statins that also has same effect - DH is, and is always cold in bed while I am sweltering

Can he get an electric blanket. There are some that you can only heat one side. And use a hot water bottle. Fleece pajamas and thick cotton or wool socks in bed.
A long sleeved thermal top under the PJs.
Thermal long johns under the PJs.

I'm on statins and no colder than normal.

Is your Dad particularly overweight or very thin?

OP, how many bedrooms / reception rooms do they have?

Could you put thermostatic valves on the radiators in each room? Then your mother could sleep / spend her time in rooms with the radiator on low or off, and your father could sleep / spend his time in overheated rooms.

That would at least make things more comfortable for your mother.

Sometimes dementia or parkinsons sufferers say they're really cold. Or my auntie is the other way and claims it's too hot and refuses the heating on in winter!
It's bound to be partly his lack of movement. Are there any kind of physio exercises he could do sitting down? I guess he sounds like he'd refuse anything like that.
Could he need more vitamins and minerals? Magnesium, iron, folate, b vits? If you got him the tablets would be take them?
I used to be really cold when I was having malnutriton. Does he eat OK?

This is common in elderly or ill people.

I am disabled and have restricted mobility and have this.

I would recommend:

Electric blankets for the bed overnight - you can get singles that go in one side.

Heated throws that he can sit on or under.

I also in the winter wear thermal socks, tracksuit bottoms and usually t shirt, thin fleece, oodie and body warmer.

Basically heat the person not the house.

Thanks all , the issue isn't really how to keep him warm he has an electric blanket, thermals , woollen blankets etc it's more about concerns why he is so cold and how to address that at the root cause if that's possible.
I will ask the doctor if his medication might be the cause and also explore the possibility of thyroid and dementia.
He does have heart failure and is overweight.

Yes it can be a medical thing.

The part of the brain/nervous system that controls body temperature is known as the autonomic nervous system.

It's common for various medical conditions to impact it so that the body is not good at regulating the core temperature anymore.

Previous posters have mentioned thyroid issues; any kind of brain issues - dementia, Parkinson's, neurological issues can also result in this being a problem.

Peri menopause wont apply to him of course but Ive noticed in myself now in peri that I cant regulate temperature, either hot or cold, cant get comfortabel and then I think my thyroid is low and spent most of last year freezing cold, wearing jumpers and jackets when everyone else was sweltering in t shirts and shorts.

Could be anaemic? Or just low iron. Or maybe vitamin D, or B12. I’d get a full run down of his blood.

Also simply lack of exercise. Like when you’re hiking across the hills feeling comfortably warm, sit down to have lunch, and when you get up you feel really chilly.

Or working on your computer all afternoon compared with giving the house a deep clean