Good day all, has anyone had problems with body temperature fluctuations. In the winter my left hand (stroke affected side) is ice cold and takes ages to warm up, yet my feet especially at night are always hot. I’ve only had this since my stroke in 2020
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Hi @chris67 my affected side (left) hand and foot often feel cold but are normal to the touch. I think it’s quite common post-stroke. 
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I’m the exact opposite my legs always feel they are on fire when I wake up on the morning you have this hot sensation
I asked my GP and the stroke doctor and they could give no explanation it was just dismissed as if It was nothing o had my stroke last Xmas I even had this sensation in hospital
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I seem to be cold all the time ,it makes my jaws chatter it’s a very unpleasant feeling I’m dreadin the winter when it’s reall cold. Someone told me it’s the blood thinners that cause this.
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Hi everyone. I am permanently cold at all times. Even during the recent heatwave I didn’t suffer from the heat. In fact I am still using my winter duvet and have done all summer. Lilian.
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I’ve had fluctuations between hot and cold. To start with I felt cold all the time but I did get an odd warm feeling in my leg. I sometimes get very warm now but that could be a menopause thing as I was taken off my HRT. I think blood thinners can make you feel colder.
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In late 2020 I was taken by ambulance to the urgent care centre after calling 999. I was having palpitations. When the ambulance crew arrived the heart had calmed down but the paramedic did alot of routine checks. He found that my temperature was just 34 degrees and he advised he would have to take me to see the Doctors at the hospital. The reason for this temperature drop was never really identified. I do however feel cold most of the time despite eating well, keeping well wrapped up and keeping sufficient heat on.
I have not had palpitations anything like that since. I do have permanent AF as well as the stroke issues so maybe that is a factor in my low body temperature.
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I feel the cold a lot more now. I think it’s probably the blood thinners. My right (affected side) foot is often cold and the worst thing is a cold runny nose - I sometimes think I must be turning into a dog. I still can over-heat at night (a menopausal symptom I think) and try to wear plenty of layers so that I can regulate my temperature.
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I also take blood thinners. I wonder if that may also be a factor in my cold feeling.
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I’m another who’s rarely felt warm since my stroke, which was the time I started on blood thinners. There’s a common denominator here.
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Chris, my left hand and forearm have always been cold since my stroke in 2016
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More likely to be circulation
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Hi all i tend to wear a woolly hat now i only f eel cold on my right face side tingling and constant floaters in the eye on a plus side the strokes have hoodwinked and masked the cluster headaches i have suffered from for a good many years
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I said the same thing to my family my left said is cold and my hand also feet with the cost of living trying to keep warm will be a fight
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I agree, this is certainly another factor in my cold feelings.
I also have taken to wearing headwear indoors in the winter.
Wearing extra clothing indoors is certainly something I will be doing over the winter months to keep my energy costs down. I remember how we used to dress indoors in the 1960s when we had just one coal fire. I will be digging out the thermalwear soon!
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I have the same since my stroke 2. 1/2yrs ago.left side affected and before I never felt cold,it is weird ☆
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Thank you everyone. I have dug my gloves out and thermal socks, this winter is going to be tough. as don’t qualify for cost-of-living payments. so not much heating being on. lots of blankets
I don’t think it is “blood thinners”, if you are taking Clopidogrel it doesn’t thin your blood, it just makes the platelets more slippery so they don’t stick as much. However, an anti-coagulant like Warfarin does thin the blood by reducing the production and amount of vitamin K in the blood stream.
Personally, I think the cold feeling might come down to the amount of increased energy used by the body when it gets cold, and the brain having a, greatly, reduced supply, making it more susceptible to it. Just a theory.
I take Pradaxa which according to the patient information leaflet contains the active substance called Dabigatran Etexilate. This works by blocking a substance in the body which is involved in blood clot formation. As you say it is an anticoagulant.
I agree my coldness is more likely to be a circulation issue. My heart rate is medically slowed down. The Specialist said that the most likely cause of my multiple small strokes was atrial fibrillation and that is why my heart rate is medically slowed down. To prevent the heart rate from dropping too low I have a back-up pacemaker fitted (only operates when pacemaker detects a significant low heart rate)
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Oh, that’s a relatively new one and works in a slightly different way than Warfarin, but is classed as an anticoagulant as opposed to an anti-platelet med like Clopidogrel.
I wear my thermals all throughout winter, I like to feel snug wherever I go.
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