A question about somatoform stuff

[biowham]

So...as I posted previously, my last neuro (now not my neuro) decided that I had half of a conversion disorder and that the other half of my symptoms were "real," seeing as how he just couldn't get around the hyperrflexia, bless the man. I've been obsessing about his idiotic assumptions since then, and even have asked myself when I feel a zap if "it's just all in my head."

So...I get ice-cold hands and feet. Not all at the same time--sometimes one hand, sometimes both, sometimes both feet but not the hands. Sometimes just part of one hand, in an ulnar nerve distribution. Anyway...does anyone know (Quix?) if it's possible to somaticize your extremities to be ice cold (i.e., use your amazing mind powers to make them cold)? They do not, by the way, turn white or go through color changes (which would be Raynauds). My left hand turns blue sometimes, but that's from RSD that I've had since 2000.

Thanks!

E

[zdogg]

i thought i was crazy but i guess not.ive been diagnosed with ms.it started out as shaking bad couldnt hold anything they said parkinsons and put me on primidone and it stopped.then i swelled up like a ballon and they thought it was my heart it wasnt.it was ms symptoms are not always the same for everyone.mine started as uncontrolled leg shaking never thought anything about it never has it again for 7yrs.then the hands followed and i thought somethings up.well the feet freezing is normal for me i just never know when it will happen.migraines were the worst though but they put me on percosette and the headaches are much better.this is a very painful disease and most doctors dont understand.and it feels like your being shocked sometimes just learning to live with it.goodluck

[Rena705]

I am usually the same way, up in the morning and quite comfortable that it is darn cold in here before I turn up the heat for the day but as the day progresses I seem to get colder and colder, especially my NOSE!  It drives me nuts, you can put socks and gloves on but what am I to put on my nose!

Wait a minute, doesn't Quix knit...she could make me a nose warmer maybe????

However, this a.m. I had to get out of bed cause I was sweating profusely and my nightgown was soaked in sweat.  I came out and made a coffee and felt just really warm and uncomfortable until around 9:00 so that was 2 1/2 hours...maybe it was cause I overdid it yesterday??? Who knows but right now my legs are really cold!  Oh Yeah...it was really strange cause I was sitting on the couch last night and I remember saying to my hubby that the BACKS of my legs were freezing...I was sitting on them...go figure!

rena

[TiredPT]

I'm the exact some way!!!  Although the first thing I do in the morning is turn on the heater in the bathroom, I'm relatively comfortable.  The longer the day progresses, the worse that icy-hot sensation gets.  I've also noticed that it goes along with all the other funky weird stuff that I experience -- when it is worse, the other stuff is too.

[ELT]

  I was huddled in layers and layers of fuzzy sweatclothes on the computer last night.  The gas range in the kitchen had the temp in there at 74, I sit right next to the kitchen on the computer.  The furnace was keeping the rest of the house at 71/72.  This morning, I sit here in my nightgown and slippers, nothing else, sleeves pushed up, and I've just noticed, I'm nice and comfy at 67 f.  

   So, mornings my body is fine with it cold in here, afternoons I can't make it hot enough.  sigh

   I'm indecisive, so, I guess it's normal for my body to be indecisive as well? lol

   Erica

[shoshin]

I get the icy cold hands, feet, calves, nose, etc. Don't know about the selective somaticizing of that, but in the opposite direction apparently there are some Tibetan monks who can mentally cause their body temperatures to rise enough to melt snow (http://www.pbs.org/saf/1310/teaching/teaching.htm or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tummo). I sometimes think that would be a convenient ability.

I used to get migraines as a kid and the doctor once told me that when I felt one coming on, I should try to think my hands warm and that would send the blood away from my brain to my hands and possibly prevent the migraine, but it never worked for me. I'm not sure if he thought my hands would actually get warmer.

[TiredPT]

My husband dies because I turn our heat up to 74 when he isn't looking and still walk around in polartec stuff.  I reorganized our monthly budget just to allow more money for propane bills :)
Just ordered a down alternative comforter from overstock.com -- great prices and found it to be super warm.  I often have to get out of bed at night to take a hot shower just because I am so uncomfortable -- multipurpose.  It warms me up and fatigues me enough to get to sleep.

My right hand does the block of ice thing with the mouse also -- thought it was just weird but never gave it too much thought recently until now.

Teresa

[ELT]

  Haha, patent it. LOL

Erica

[CtResident]

If it were possible to somaticize coldness to your extremities, then by extension, couldn't we somaticize warmth to our cold extremities? If your (dippy ex) dr. thinks you can do this, I'd be interested in your powers.

Several weeks ago I had my right hand turn into a block of ice. It was resting on the computer mouse, but it got to be so cold that I had to get off the computer and shake it out. Never had that happen before. I was only on the computer for 30 minutes, so it's not like I'd been there all morning or whatever.

Suzanne

[CtResident]

Absolutely. You sound just like me. Dh and son wear shorts (gasp) and t-shirt (gasp) to bed. Even in winter. I tell them they are "sick".

I always dress in layers. There is a basket of blankets in the living room. Dh got me a portable heater for Christmas year before last. And sorry to scare you, but my house is at 65 F, due to paying muchos $$$ for heating oil!

My most favorite thing is my flannel sheets.....ahhh, that is bliss. Dh doesn't like them, so if he gets too hot, he'll go out on the couch. I had an idea several years ago to cut apart two sheet sets, and make one side flannel, one side cotton. Martha Stewart would say it's a good thing. However, I wasn't up for the project.

Suzanne

[ELT]

   I'm sitting here wondering if I can get away with turning the heat up just one more wee notch before the bf gets home. lol  He is always too warm at work, so, 71 F is about all I can get aaway with when he's home.

   I am coldest in the afternoon, evening.  In the morning, same temp in the house I'm in slippers and my nightgown, and comfy.  In the afternoon, I require wool socks, shoes, sweatpants, tshirt, two sweatshirts, and sometimes little gloves.  Then, at night, I frequently wake up way too hot for hours at a time.  Have to stick naked body parts out from under the covers to hang over the edge of the bed for all the monsters which lurk there, lol.

   I do know that my body temp tends to run low anyways.  Well, it has for the last number of years.  My blood pressure is at the low end of good, they always seem satisfied with it.  

   It doesn't always depend on my activitly level, though sometimes it has a direct bearing.  

   Did any of that make sense? Lol.

   Erica

[biowham]

"myelogram." In my mind, one spinal tap a year is plenty.

[biowham]

I'm asking because I'm the one whose doctor wants my lower-extremity problems to be organic but my upper extremity complaints to be "conversion disorder" because that fits better with his idea that thoracic compression of my spinal cord is to blame. So I was wondering if it's possible to somaticize cold extremities. Of course, given this scenario, I'd have to be somaticizing the upper extremities while experiencing an organic etiology for the lower extremities. I just find the idea kind of entertaining, in a way. By the way, I have fired that neurologist, cancelled the CT mylogram he ordered, and moved to a new person. Appt not until May, so I have time to ponder whether every little shock, feeling of water drops, numbness, tingling, stumble, and head spin is all in my head.

E

[TiredPT]

Started with me with cold feet . . . . then cold feet and cold hands . . . . then cold from knees down to feet . . . . then feels like an icy-hot sensation but also like someone is pouring ice water from my mid thigh down my legs and SOMETIMES in my arms . . . . sometimes sensation in both arms, sometimes right, sometimes left . . . . sometimes in ulnar nerve distribution . . . . .sometimes burning, sometimes prickly, sometimes itchy.  Not anemic, no problem thyroid or kidneys.  My hands literally feel cold but to touch, my legs feel warm despite my feeling that I'm being exposed to the freezer aisle with all the doors open.

I also have wondered about the psychosomatic stuff just because people look at me like I'm crazy when I try to explain it.  If it is possible, we are all just SUPER intelligent and should band together to rid the world of all the EVIL physicians who are discounting our symptoms as stress!!!!!

Tired

[dowma]

I can relate to sometimes feeling as if it were " all in your head" thats what happened to me after seeing different specialists.  Because I don't have a specific diagnosis I wonder if it is "all me or what".  I believe some concrete information would definately help me with all this questioning.  It's not easy but try to be patient and don't question yourself, you know your body best.  
I do get cold hands and feet at times but I too am always cold, sorry that cant help with that question.  Best of luck.
Mary Beth

[Super_sally888]

Hi E,

I ask myself the same question every day about how much of this is in my head.  Particularly that testing so far has not turned up anything specific.  I also get cold hands.  Usually my right one is cold, even though the left one is ok.  But then I get cold easily anyway....

Hang out here for a while.  This is as good a place for the limbolanders as for the diagnosed.

Sally
Undiagnosed

[Wobbly]

Hi again...I get freezing hands and sometimes feet almost everyday usually in the afternoon...I don't know why..I wear gloves and use a bean bag that I put in the microwave to put on my feet and ankles.... it hurt quite abit and my palm turn whitish and bluish...I run warm water to help sometimes too...but it doesn't alway help..The Dr looking into Raynauds syndrome?  Guess I'll wait to find out...

take it easy
andie