Why does my extremities feel like menthol/ vapor rub in cold weathers?

[ChillyChica]

For years, I used to say that my limbs feel tingly. (It might have sounded cute).

Now, I have been feeling a vapo rub/ menthol/ peppermint cold, burning sensation in my extremities especially in cold weathers. As a child, I used to think that anemia or sinusitis made me feel cold.
Having received a few acceptance letters for schools in Canada, I have hesitated to live in winter countries with these symptoms.  
Also, I was working in Canada one summer, when one day, we had to work outdoors and while other colleagues had weathered the very cool  breeze with a jacket or sweater, it was unbearable for me. ( My contract was not renewed the following year, the leader might not have believed my cold symptoms which was also a surprise for me.
I have been chilling with these symptoms for over twenty years.(I am younger than thirty)

On the contrary, I also seem to have a heat intolerance when switching from a cool to a warm area in a short space of time. My skin would feel like tiny ants are biting all over and I almost always want to take my clothes off to escape the stings.

Another experience with cold feelings, but not quite frequent, had captured my body when I was having difficulties passing my stool.

I felt like I was going to pass out ( I couldnt even sit on the toilet seat).  I had to lifelessly stoop down in the shower (half stoop/ half strecthed out), and barely breathing, a bit of soft stool was out. Feeling relieved, being able to restore breathing and thinking straight, I didnt say a word to anyone. ( I thought I was dying and I´m glad no one had knocked on the bathroom door).

Other times, I might have feel a cold chill run through my body, a more sensual chill without reason.

What is really happening with me?


How may you help me?

[ChillyChica]

I'm happy someone has finally responded. Anything I have mentioned has happened more than once, I just speak to the worst occurrence.
With a moving pain, worsened symptoms when taking antibiotics, terrible period ( before and during the cycle, crawling sensations when trying to sleep and an annoying chronic fatigue, I'm thinking to get some Lyme test done, but I have to find doctors who I can trust.
I know something is wrong because the last time I was taking strong antibiotics for a dental surgery, I became so restless and miserable then the following day, I was crawling to the bathroom; my legs were feeling weak and dead, I felt like I was going to die.
So, I'm mentioning Lyme based on a cluster of symptoms that won't go away. Plus, I do remember being bitten by a ticks and was feeling weak, and lifeless as a child. ( I had found it strange that I felt better when the ticks was removed. Unfortunately, I was picking at the ticks for two days, not being sure why the small bump was itching me so much, until I saw a head in the bump moving, then struggled to remove it with the help of an adult.)

[specialmom]

It sounds like you have been dealing with this for a very long time!  And it sounds a bit frustrating and at times painful.  I'm not sure the incident in the bathroom is related.  Perhaps at that time, you were constipated (which can be different than people think of it and what you describe does sound like that to me) and it was painful and your body reacted. I call that clammy skin.  And it can be a form of pain reaction or shock so to speak.  (we can also get it with anxiety attacks, heart issues, etc.)   It does sound extreme and a memorably bad moment, for sure.  But if it was a one off thing---  that I'd chalk up to a bad experience.  

So, over the years--  I'm sure you have had physicals.  Have you expressed these situations of feeling cold or being heat intolerant due to the way your skin feels?  Things that I've read that make the body feel cold or have a hard time warning itself are anorexia, anemia or hypothyroidism.  Have you had blood work done?  This could be telling.  I've read a little about fibromyalgia as well which has symptoms of tingling in legs and feeling cold.  Honestly though, check out hypothyroidism.  There are other symptoms too associated with it.  

For the heat situation, a couple of thoughts.  So, it seems like it may happen just before you sweat.  I've read about a 'stinging bee' sensation when this happens and the reason why people are saying that happens to them is that they have dry skin and as they sweat, it causes this sensation.  Dry skin, by the way, is a symptom of hypothyroidism.  And it is especially true for people that do not sweat very often.  

So, my best suggestion is to write all of this down and get a complete physical to discuss.  Let us know what they say! good luck

[ChillyChica]

Specialmom, thank you so much. I will soon give you some feedback