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Body temperature drops and stays low and causes pain and much discomfort.
I'm 54, female, and can't afford to eat much. My body is going through starvation. My body temperature is messed up. If I get chilled, I can't get warm for hours. When I go to work I am cold all day. It took 3 hours with the heat set at 75 and 3 blankets before I felt warm. The coldness is so debilitating when my body temperature won't raise. I can't concentrate. I feel so week. I feel nauseaus when I can't eat and when I can eat it makes me nauseaus. My anxiety level is high as I am afraid this is causing damage to my vital organs. I don't know what I should do. I hate how I feel. I hate being cold. I can't miss work because I won't get paid. I have no one to help me. I am alone. Why does my body temperature drop and stay there? Why can't I get warm?
Best Answer
Ahh okay well if you have credit card or loans, you can seek help with a debt consolidation company. That take all your existing loans and credit card balances and roll them together into one loan that gives you a single and lower monthly payment.
I'm sorry it's taken me a couple of days to respond - I've been dealing with some health issues with my mom.
I'm not sure if you'll have any luck finding a potassium supplement over the counter, other than whatever comes in a good multi-vitamin. Potassium is one of those things that you really have to be careful with - either too much or too little can cause serious complications with the heart and other muscles. So do please be careful - if you can possibly get some blood work done to CHECK your potassium and other levels, that would be ideal because then you would know exactly what you are having deficiencies in and if need be, the doc can prescribe a potassium supplement for you.
I was reading your comment to Red_Star and I'm sorry you're in such a difficult situation with your family. I'm glad you spoke up to your daughter and told her you were no longer able to help her, but I'm so very sorry that she responded the way that she did.
I was also glad to see that you have already gotten some things from the food bank. Please do not feel bad about doing that. They are there to help and believe me there are many, many people out there who are finding they are needing to get that help nowadays that would have never thought about it a few years ago. One other thing I will say is that many communities have more than one organization that does a food bank type of service, so you may want to check out other places in your area that might be able to help - churches, homeless shelters, social services department, etc., all are good resources at least for information about those things.
Do check with social services also about any government assisted programs that you may qualify for - you may not qualify for nny of them seeing as you do have a good paying job, etc., but it certainly does not hurt to ask - and again, PLEASE DO NOT FEEL BAD ABOUT SEEKING OUT THIS HELP! If nothing else, social services may be able to either help with some assistance for your dad - either with food stamps for him, medical assistance for him, finding someone to be able to take him to his appointment, etc., so that you don't have to constantly take time off work to do so, etc. He may end up having to fill out/sign papers for any of this, but social services should at least be able to give you information as to what might be available to either you or him.
You overall "starvation mode" could most definitely account for your low blood pressure. When you get dehydrated, which I'm sure you probably are from not eating properly - your blood pressure can drop dramatically. Be very careful with this - get up slowly from sitting or laying down to give your body a chance to "catch up" - low BP could make you feel dizzy and weak, so also be very careful driving.
I will say one thing about blood work - sometimes it takes a while for any deficiencies to actually show up in blood work, so even though your bloodwork was ok at the ER a month ago, it does not necessarily mean it is ok now. One time several years ago I was really, really sick and was unable to keep anything down except for a VERY FEW sips of water now and then for several weeks. Of course, I ended up in the ER and they did bloodwork. Amazingly it came back "normal", so of course I was released. Two days later, I ended up back in the ER and my bloodwork was sooo messed up and low on things that some things were barely registering. One of those things was my potassium - mine was so low they were very scared about me possibly having a heart attack at any minute. I had to have potassium both orally and through the IV to try and get it raised up and it still took a few days for it to begin creeping up.
Some other things you can try that may help in tryin gto keep your electrolytes and other levels as close to "normal" as possible if you're unable to eat much - gatorade or other sports type drinks can help - they not only help keep you hydrated (as I said dehydration alone can cause problems even if your blood levels are ok), but they also contain electrolytes such as sodium and potassium that will help keep your levels up. Those nutrition type drinks such as Boost or Ensure are also a very good option - they typically contain a good amount of protein too,. so that will help keep your muscles stronger and keep your energy levels up. Of course, bananas and potatoes are both good sources of potassium if you can get some.
I don't know where you live, but I just found a website that you can go to to find food banks in your area. It is foodbanking.org -- of course, put the www. in front of that - I couldn't do it here because sometimes when you type out a website name, medhelp's site will automatically encrypt it for safety sake. Anyway - if you go to that site and scroll down, towards the bottom on the right hand side, there is a place you can click that says "Find a food bank" and then you can look up by your state. I hope it helps.
Please take care of yourself and keep me posted on how you're doing. Also, if you would ever just like to talk or vent, please feel free to send me a message here on medhelp any time. I may not be able to do much in the way of actual help, but I can certainly lend an ear if you need or want someone to talk to.
I'm not sure if you'll have any luck finding a potassium supplement over the counter, other than whatever comes in a good multi-vitamin. Potassium is one of those things that you really have to be careful with - either too much or too little can cause serious complications with the heart and other muscles. So do please be careful - if you can possibly get some blood work done to CHECK your potassium and other levels, that would be ideal because then you would know exactly what you are having deficiencies in and if need be, the doc can prescribe a potassium supplement for you.
I was reading your comment to Red_Star and I'm sorry you're in such a difficult situation with your family. I'm glad you spoke up to your daughter and told her you were no longer able to help her, but I'm so very sorry that she responded the way that she did.
I was also glad to see that you have already gotten some things from the food bank. Please do not feel bad about doing that. They are there to help and believe me there are many, many people out there who are finding they are needing to get that help nowadays that would have never thought about it a few years ago. One other thing I will say is that many communities have more than one organization that does a food bank type of service, so you may want to check out other places in your area that might be able to help - churches, homeless shelters, social services department, etc., all are good resources at least for information about those things.
Do check with social services also about any government assisted programs that you may qualify for - you may not qualify for nny of them seeing as you do have a good paying job, etc., but it certainly does not hurt to ask - and again, PLEASE DO NOT FEEL BAD ABOUT SEEKING OUT THIS HELP! If nothing else, social services may be able to either help with some assistance for your dad - either with food stamps for him, medical assistance for him, finding someone to be able to take him to his appointment, etc., so that you don't have to constantly take time off work to do so, etc. He may end up having to fill out/sign papers for any of this, but social services should at least be able to give you information as to what might be available to either you or him.
You overall "starvation mode" could most definitely account for your low blood pressure. When you get dehydrated, which I'm sure you probably are from not eating properly - your blood pressure can drop dramatically. Be very careful with this - get up slowly from sitting or laying down to give your body a chance to "catch up" - low BP could make you feel dizzy and weak, so also be very careful driving.
I will say one thing about blood work - sometimes it takes a while for any deficiencies to actually show up in blood work, so even though your bloodwork was ok at the ER a month ago, it does not necessarily mean it is ok now. One time several years ago I was really, really sick and was unable to keep anything down except for a VERY FEW sips of water now and then for several weeks. Of course, I ended up in the ER and they did bloodwork. Amazingly it came back "normal", so of course I was released. Two days later, I ended up back in the ER and my bloodwork was sooo messed up and low on things that some things were barely registering. One of those things was my potassium - mine was so low they were very scared about me possibly having a heart attack at any minute. I had to have potassium both orally and through the IV to try and get it raised up and it still took a few days for it to begin creeping up.
Some other things you can try that may help in tryin gto keep your electrolytes and other levels as close to "normal" as possible if you're unable to eat much - gatorade or other sports type drinks can help - they not only help keep you hydrated (as I said dehydration alone can cause problems even if your blood levels are ok), but they also contain electrolytes such as sodium and potassium that will help keep your levels up. Those nutrition type drinks such as Boost or Ensure are also a very good option - they typically contain a good amount of protein too,. so that will help keep your muscles stronger and keep your energy levels up. Of course, bananas and potatoes are both good sources of potassium if you can get some.
I don't know where you live, but I just found a website that you can go to to find food banks in your area. It is foodbanking.org -- of course, put the www. in front of that - I couldn't do it here because sometimes when you type out a website name, medhelp's site will automatically encrypt it for safety sake. Anyway - if you go to that site and scroll down, towards the bottom on the right hand side, there is a place you can click that says "Find a food bank" and then you can look up by your state. I hope it helps.
Please take care of yourself and keep me posted on how you're doing. Also, if you would ever just like to talk or vent, please feel free to send me a message here on medhelp any time. I may not be able to do much in the way of actual help, but I can certainly lend an ear if you need or want someone to talk to.
Thanks so much for your post. I will try the vitamins. Need something for minerals and I have already gotten food from the local food bank. It helps. Cryed for an hour after tho. I have never had to go to a food bank before!
Good to know about the potassium. I will find a supplement for that too. That could explain the huge drops in blood pressure also. I am usually 110/80. Went to ER about a month ago. Blood pressure was 168/98 when I got there, an hour later, it dropped to 98/64. They sent me home said there wasn't anything wrong that they could find and blood work checked out good. No point in going to hospital :( They made me feel like I was imagining it.
Good to know about the potassium. I will find a supplement for that too. That could explain the huge drops in blood pressure also. I am usually 110/80. Went to ER about a month ago. Blood pressure was 168/98 when I got there, an hour later, it dropped to 98/64. They sent me home said there wasn't anything wrong that they could find and blood work checked out good. No point in going to hospital :( They made me feel like I was imagining it.
I have had to help my daughters and father financially. I have missed a lot of work due to my Dad needing driven to docs, when he goes to hospital, etc. as my brothers refuse to help. I missed 6 months all at once because my mom was dying and dad refused to sign DNR papers and mom was dismissed from hospice. Some one had to care for her. They had no money. Brothers refused to help. All on me again. I am trying to get things paid off from all of this. Bill collectors do not care to understand, so...hence....no food! My daughters cuss me out if I don't help them. Oldest told me the last time she requested something and I said 'No more! I can't feed myself now and I can't help you.' She sauid, 'well, you are dead to me then.' I said 'thanks for that and please do consider me dead.'
The job I have is great. Pays well, insurance, benefits, holidays, etc. It's my family :( They literally make me sick.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer! Bless you.
The job I have is great. Pays well, insurance, benefits, holidays, etc. It's my family :( They literally make me sick.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer! Bless you.
Iron deficiency anaemia is likely. Not eating properlay will be causing more than one deficiency state however. When low in calories, a good multi vitamin is a must. And finding another job with better pay sounds high up on the things to do list this year eh? :)
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Low potassium can definitely cause the symptoms you're describing, as well as so can many other deficiencies. If these deficienies are waht the problem is and they continue, they could definitely caus damage to your organs and I hate to scare you, but some deficiencies can be life threatening. Potassium, for one, helps to regulate your heart, so if it gets dangerously low, you could end up wtih heart issues.
I know it's difficult in this economic situation to be able to eat properly, but you need to do the best that you can. Check with your local social services department to see if maybe there are any programs that you might be eligible for such as food stamps that might help. Also check into any local food banks to see if maybe they can help you supplement your own food budget.
Meanwhile, as stated by the above poster, if you could get a GOOD multivitamin, that may help to replace SOME of the nutrients you're not getting from food. They are never a replacement for nutritiion from food, but they could help. Just make sure you get a good quality one and not one that's chock full of non-essential fillers.
Best of luck!