Getting Cold Feet...

Quite literally!

Since I've started Babesia treatment, my feet are FREEZING all the time. I've always sort of "run cold," but my feet (and occasionally hands) have been going through these long periods of being ice cold for hours on end. I've tried thermal socks, wool/shearling slippers, heating pads, etc - NOTHING gets them warm. It's so weird and uncomfortable.

The only thing that works is a hot bath, but the relief doesn't last long.

Anyone else have this problem? Any solutions?

I wonder what causes this? Who knows - maybe it's not even Lyme/Babesia related, but it definitely seemed to get a lot worse when I started treating the babs.

Hi Lynn, warm packs is a great idea.

Many times this is due to hypercoagulability of the blood- or what we Lyme patients call "thick blood". This is completely treatable though. You should talk with your doctor to see how they wish to handle it, but usually they will have you take something that thins the blood some. Turmeric can also thin blood for those doing an all natural protocol.

I was infected with Anaplasmosis from my most recent tick bite, and had cold hands and feet a lot, especially my feet, which I found is a common symptom of Anaplasmosis, which lowers the bodies white blood cell count. Foot baths with hot water seem to help, and also boost the immune system when you put Epsom salt in them.

Not sure why you said I was wonderful, Lymeinthecoconut, but thank you.

I forgot to add that once I healed from my first set of infections, for the very first time in my life, I did not have cold feet and hands!! Now I'm the one saying, are you warm enough yet? LOL!!!

So funny...I'm sitting in front of the fireplace now with two pairs of socks and wool lined slippers on. I get super cold hands and feet occasionally, so much so that they ache. We have an electric mattress pad which I highly recommend. My Lyme doc told me to note it in my journal and let her know if it goes on too long. Lyme is the freakiest thing ever! Thanks for the heads up about the turmeric. We already have some capsules for my hubby's arthritis which I may raid.

So, the craziest thing just happened. I came on here because my feet are so cold I can't stand it. I wanted to post about it, and as I started posting, I was like...WAIT...I think I posted this already. Sure enough, I had!! I have no memory of doing it. I usually check back every few days after a post, but I forgot about the post (probably the second after I sent it - my short term memory is caput). LYME BRAIN IS CRAZY!!!!! haha.

Anyway, it was great to get all these wonderful answers. It sounds like I am not alone in this ice cold feetie toes situation. It is driving me nuts. I bought some thick woolrich slippers and heavy duty thermal socks, and my feet are STILL freezing to the touch. It's freaky.

sayyadina - I am gonna check out LL bean. I think I just need to just keep trying stuff until something works.

Traveler - I'm definitely gonna ask my LLMD about hypercoagulability. I actually did ozone, ultraviolet blood irradiation therapy one time, and I remember the nurse telling me my blood was taking forever to drip down the IV bag. I wonder if that's because it's thick? Is there a test for this?

Lynn,
If you will notice right at the top of each thread, literally sitting on the top post, you will see that you can subscribe to a thread. This will send an email to you each time another post is added to a thread. It's the only way I can keep up with what threads I've posted in and need to watch!!

Yes, there is a test to see how "thick" your blood may be. I have significant knowledge with this as my hubby has to test his blood for this every week for the rest of his life due to being disabled by massive amounts of blood clots in his legs & his lungs -I was told by 3 doctors that this is usually diagnosed by a mortician when it's as bad as my hubby had it.

The test my husband uses all the time is known as PT/INR - Prothrombin Time/International Normalized Ratio. I'm not sure that you need both sides of this, but you can ask your LLMD about it.

Buhner recommends red root herb to treat rouleaux caused by babesia and bartonella. Rouleaux can cause RBCs to roll along the surface of the endothelial tissue that lines arteries/arterioles, slowing blood flow.

http://www.redrootmountain.com/red-root-balance-the-body-by-way-of-the-spleen/66

http://bearmedicineherbals.com/ceanothus.html

I have found that adding this herb (5 drops 3x daily) to our protocol has improved my extremity numbness/tingling and cold feet/hands/nose as well as improving my brain fog significantly.

I forgot to mention our Biomat. We use it quite a bit, especially in the winter. I'll often nap on it with a low heat and have it on a higher heat when I'm awake and it will warm me up for quite a while after getting up.

I use a plastic bottle from some kind of soda. Fill it up with hot water and just have it in one hand for example where ever i sit. It will warm the whole body in some time and is so relaxing when watching tv.