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Can't seem to get warm enough

Cancer: Managing Symptoms | Last Active: Aug 19, 2023 | Replies (18)

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@loribmt

Hi, @ajh5285. Oh brrrr. This post of yours, about not being able to get warm enough with cancer, brought back a flood of memories of being wrapped in several hot hospital blankets trying to stop the bone chilling cold from within. It quite literally chills us to the marrow. In my case it was chemo induced.

A tough transition after being discharged from the hospital was not having a blanket warmer! I was so spoiled with this incubator right outside my hospital room. Every half hour or so a nurse would pop in with a newly ‘hatched’ blankie to wrap around my shivering body.

At home, my husband used to heat blankets or a load of bath towels in the dryer on high. Then he’d dump them on me on the couch, tucking in all around me. Felt so good!
I also used a hot water bottle or heating pad on my back and stomach.
If you don’t have one, a space heater as @rso suggested really helps warms up the airspace around you.
I also have a pair of spa slippers from my daughter. They go in the microwave to heat up the barley beads inside. But do be careful if your feet are feeling numb from the chemo induced neuropathy. Don’t overheat them.

Another idea…do you have something on your head? We lose so much heat through our heads. I was as bald as a cue ball and sent for these cute little chemo caps from Amazon. They were a great for very little investment. Around $15.00 for 4 caps! I think they’re called Slouchy beanie caps for women or something like that. They look like a sock hat but are stretchy, pretty fabric. They’re not only caps. They open up to be gators for the neck too!
For your feet, it’s most likely another side effect from the chemo. I got a lot of guidance from my doctor and nurses for foot care while going through chemo. Small amounts of our chemo can escape through capillaries in our hands and feet, creating burning, redness, tightness, pain, neuropathy… it has a name, Hand/Foot syndrome. I found an article you might find interesting related to that.
https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/handfoot-syndrome.aspx
I’m hoping spring comes soon to your area to bring some sun and warmth for you.

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Replies to "Hi, @ajh5285. Oh brrrr. This post of yours, about not being able to get warm enough..."

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will look into as many as I can. We have
such a flammable old house that hubby is opposed to a space heater, hence
the infrared lamp instead. But the Barley slippers sound delightful, as do
the dryer-warmed towels.
My hot water bottle is the smaller of our two poodles. She helps a lot!
especially since she has learned to sleep up against my sore belly.
I've wondered if not wearing a hat has actually helped me avoid developing
more confusion ("Chemo Brain"). The once or twice I tried wearing a beanie
it just came off during the night anyway.