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Cold/numb fingers

#1

Sewmam , 07-31-2012 06:57 PM

I just learned something that may be of use to those of you who have lost alot of weight, like me.

After losing about 150pds, now in maintenance, I have been having trouble with my fingertips being numb and cold and the numbness is traveling up to my knuckles. My doctor had said it was just a function of the weight loss, and would go away eventually. That didn't make sense to me, but I asked him to explain again to me, why this is so.

The body's primary goal is to keep the core warm, i.e., our heart, lungs, kidneys, liver...and when we loose that protective, insulating fat around our middle, it has to prioritize where to send the heat, and fingers are not high on the list. It may be uncomfortable, but your heart is more important. So it's a question of heat transfer and where it is sent. That finally sunk in my muddled engineering brain...

I was worried but now that I understand the reasoning, I can put that to rest, unless it keeps getting worse or something.

FYI

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#2

yowzer , 07-31-2012 08:09 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sewmam
I just learned something that may be of use to those of you who have lost alot of weight, like me.

After losing about 150pds, now in maintenance, I have been having trouble with my fingertips being numb and cold and the numbness is traveling up to my knuckles. My doctor had said it was just a function of the weight loss, and would go away eventually. That didn't make sense to me, but I asked him to explain again to me, why this is so.

The body's primary goal is to keep the core warm, i.e., our heart, lungs, kidneys, liver...and when we loose that protective, insulating fat around our middle, it has to prioritize where to send the heat, and fingers are not high on the list. It may be uncomfortable, but your heart is more important. So it's a question of heat transfer and where it is sent. That finally sunk in my muddled engineering brain...
I was worried but now that I understand the reasoning, I can put that to rest, unless it keeps getting worse or something.

FYI
Well the way you have explained it makes sense. Now I realize why when I have taken weight off in the past, I seem to get colder easier.

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#3

Stefany1769 , 08-01-2012 12:07 AM

Margaret, that is a very good explenation he gave you!
I wanted to bring up rhainods (sp?), my mother, aunt, sister, and I (I know we live in Alaska, not very smart! lol) all have it to some degree. I am lucky and dont have it too bad, yet. Your symptoms sound kind of like it, maybe look it up on webmd just to be sure.

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#4

Sewmam , 08-01-2012 06:53 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stefany1769
Margaret, that is a very good explenation he gave you!
I wanted to bring up rhainods (sp?), my mother, aunt, sister, and I (I know we live in Alaska, not very smart! lol) all have it to some degree. I am lucky and dont have it too bad, yet. Your symptoms sound kind of like it, maybe look it up on webmd just to be sure.

Hi Stefany, it's called Raynauds, and I may have it too. It is auto-immune, and since I have rheumatoid arthritis (also auto-immune), I may also have Raynauds. My docs didn't want to test for it until I show more symptoms. It's all so complex, isn't it?

Margaret

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#5

rainbowsmiles , 08-01-2012 08:04 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sewmam
I just learned something that may be of use to those of you who have lost alot of weight, like me.

After losing about 150pds, now in maintenance, I have been having trouble with my fingertips being numb and cold and the numbness is traveling up to my knuckles. My doctor had said it was just a function of the weight loss, and would go away eventually. That didn't make sense to me, but I asked him to explain again to me, why this is so.

The body's primary goal is to keep the core warm, i.e., our heart, lungs, kidneys, liver...and when we loose that protective, insulating fat around our middle, it has to prioritize where to send the heat, and fingers are not high on the list. It may be uncomfortable, but your heart is more important. So it's a question of heat transfer and where it is sent. That finally sunk in my muddled engineering brain...

I was worried but now that I understand the reasoning, I can put that to rest, unless it keeps getting worse or something.

FYI
thank you for sharing that information....my toes, fingers, nose and ears are always freezing!! i sometimes sleep with gloves on and i live in the south and it was 95 degrees here today and still my fingers are cold!!

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