Feeling Cold

[rv1963]

Greetings. I just donated a kidney to my wife a week ago and all is going well. I am off pain meds and walking 30-45 minutes a day. My only issue is that I am really cold. I was always warm before the surgery and now I seem to be freezing all the time. And I live in Southern California!

Anyone have this experience?

Thanks.

[PastorJeff]

Your body has been through a lot.  Of course, you don't feel normal at this early stage.  Give your body time to heal and blankets are good.

[sherri]

Congratulations on your donation surgery. Glad to hear you are feeling well other than the temperature change. Do you have a fever or chills accompanying the cold symptoms? If so definitely call your center to make sure this is not a sign of an underlying infection. If you still feel like you can't get warm call your contact listed on your discharge summary just to check it out. May be some patients are more sensitive to being under anasthesia and other drugs they use to put you to sleep. Always best to make sure everything is ok. You should be going back for your surgical follow up soon so you could discuss it then as well.

Happy healing and welcome to the club!

Sherri

[Orchidlady]

Congratulations to you both!

Not to question you, but are you sure you are truly cold or is it just the shaking? I had, for about 10 days following surgery, times when I would get the shivers/shakes and thought it because I was cold. Yet my hands, feet and nose were not cold but warm. My cousin, who is a nurse, happened to be over checking on us and I commented to her on it. She said it was the body's reaction to stress - you shake or shiver just as you would if scared or in a very stressful situation - and the after effects of anesthetia also contribute to it. She said the surgery is the stressor that triggers it.

Better safe than sorry, and hope you have checked with your transplant center and all is okay.

[rv1963]

thanks for the replies. I did have my follow-up and it is the anesthesia. I am feeling much better... and warmer! 

[SWB]

I had the same reaction after surgery.  After a while I thought it would go away.  Long story short I was slightly anemic.  So be sure to get checked for that.  Was easy to resolve but I was freezing for weeks before an MD friend in our Sunday school clasz told me something wasn't right and to have that checked.  Some over the counter vitamins pays off aftef raking them for a few weeks.

Your situation might be different but was shocked to see your post since it was like my experience in October/November.