I am so cold all the time

[StandingOnaCornerInWinslowArizona]

I am 53 in a few weeks and 8 years into Perimenopause so, in theory, I should be feeling on the warmer side of things during this stage of my life but it's quite the opposite.

I have always been a chilly person and I had put that down to years of being very low in iron stores. I had iron infusions and sorted out my heavy periods 3 years ago but I am still the same.

Obviously, it is much worse in Winter but I only ever feel warm during the heatwaves in Summer and then I flip to the opposite where I will feel so unwell as I can not seem to tolerate feeling very cold or very hot, there is no in-between for me.

But I don't know why I am like this? I move about and walk the dog every day, all of my blood tests always return as normal (thyroid, vitamin D, B12, Iron etc). I don't drink hot drinks as I have digestive issues and find warm fluids exacerbate those but I don't drink ice cold fluids either.

I go everywhere with a hot water bottle attached to me and not only does this ease my IBS and endometriosis issues but it keeps me from feeling miserably frozen. I wear many layers and socks etc from Autumn to Summer but I still never feel overly warm unless I am sitting right in front of my log burner or wrapped up in bed.

No one else I know feels this cold. Is it normal for some people to never feel warm no matter what they do?

I wish I could find a combination of HRT which works for me. I have endometriosis, adenomyosis and some other gynae issues and as a result I am under a menopause specialist but all the combos I have tried have made my pain worse.

The breathing tricks covered James Nestor in his book Breathe are fascinating; he describes monks melting snow around them as they meditate using a particular breath which makes their bodies exceptionally hot. And being able to cool and heat different fingers at different times on command.

He has a a good website with links to some video. Butyeko breathing seems to be the most beneficial for peri menopause and asthma

Ooh this landed today - I’m so pleased they’re talking about hypothyroidism and the importance of iodine.

it could be a very good listen @StandingOnaCornerInWinslowArizona

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/zoe-science-nutrition/id1611216298?i=1000753341024

That's a very basic thyroid test, they need to test your T3 and anti thyroid hormone too. Lots of places will do the full thyroid panel that you need, but you'll have to pay for it privately - it costs about £120.00. it would be worth it to you though if the results indicate hypothyroidism or Hashimotos as you can take them to the GP and ask for a referral to an endocrinologist. The cavalier attitude of the medical fraternity when it comes to thyroid issues really fucks me off - so many women are suffering needlessly, but then women don't matter do they, unless they have a cock and then the whole world fawns over them!

Thank you. I have a GP appointment this week, I will ask her about getting further bloods taken but if she refuses I will go and get them done privately.

The problem may not be with your GP though, because even if she requests FT3, the lab won't do it if your FT4 is in range. Just the way the NHS rolls and very frustrating.