Mattress Warmer....

[mssfire]

I have to tell you, that I have found the most fabulous invention ever known to man (after Gastric Bypass, of course!!!). It's a Mattress Warming Pad... not an electric blanket, this is a pad that goes on the top of your mattress and under your sheets. I don't know about you, but since my surgery I'm cold all the time (ah, the joys of loosing all that body fat....and an extremely cold winter)...and this thing is the best thing in the world to warm you up! Nannette has one, and she agrees with me. They have all kinds, and all prices...(I got mine on EBAY for around $30), and they have dual controls so you don't drive your partner out of bed while your being nice and toasty! Check it out...DEFINITELY worth the $$$

[Sissy]

That sounds good - I've been sleeping in long johns & wool socks!!! Very sexy indeed!!! Darla

[NCatena]

Ok guys-you all know my secrets now!!

Yes, the electric mattress pad is, without a doubt, my ALL TIME FAVORITE THING! Mine was a birthday gift from my kids, who I assume were tired of hearing me complain about being cold. I plan on leaving it on year-round, since my husband keeps the a/c at sub-zero in the summer. I am hoping it will drive away the icicles that typically form on my toes by late July.

Anyway-mine came from Linens and Things. I have also seen them at JC Penneys. I'm sure they have them all over.

Enjoy.....tonight would be a great night to have one!

Nanette

[terrys]

Hello everyone, I was going to ask at the next meeting if any one eles was cold, I have always been hot sleeping with the window open in the winter, but now OMG I am always cold, But I feel better knowing that I am not the only one. Thank you,
Theresa

[NCatena]

Hi all-found a great article on "Why Bariatric Patients Feel Cold". Makes a lot of sense.......

Nanette

It is common during the period of rapid weight loss for bariatric patients to feel cold or chilled, even when their temperature reads normal. People who experience the massive weight loss associated with weight loss surgery experience feeling cold for two reasons: loss of insulation and less energy generation.

Fat is a highly efficient insulator. Consider animals native to cold climates: for example sea lions and polar bears. They are loaded with insulation and thrive in cold climates. When gastric bypass patients follow the rules: eating protein and exercising, the weight lost can only come from fat or stored energy. In effect you are losing your insulation. Less insulation increases the likelihood that you will feel cold.

The second reason for feeling chilled is that the metabolic cell processes are not working as hard as when you were heavier; it takes fewer calories and less energy to maintain and move a smaller body. Think about using an electric mixer: if you are whipping egg whites for a meringue the mixer will do this task effortlessly. But use the same mixer to knead bread dough and it will become warm to the touch, it is working harder because it is moving more mass. The same thing happens with your body; the more mass it must move, the harder it works. As a result more heat is generated.

The body has two well-tuned mechanisms for regulating body temperature: sweating and shivering. What overweight person hasn’t been embarrassed by a sticky bout of sweating at the most inappropriate time? Sweating is a mechanism for cooling your body when it becomes too hot inside. The body rids itself of excess heat by expanding the blood vessels in the skin so the heat may be carried to the surface. When this energy or heat in the form of sweat reaches the skin’s surface it evaporates and helps cool the body.

Gastric bypass patients become more familiar with the second temperature regulator, shivering, as they lose weight. When you are too cold your blood vessels will contract reducing blood flow to the skin. The body responds by shivering which creates extra muscle activity to help generate more heat. If you allow your body to shiver it will begin to feel warmer. But this is also a good clue that it’s time to put on a sweater or turn up the heat. I think most weight loss patients will happily wear a sweater – a sweater is much easier to shed than that insulation we’ve worked so hard to lose!

Most weight loss patients report that their body temperature regulates after their weight is stabilized, usually eighteen to twenty-four months after surgery. Keep in mind your body is rapidly losing weight and the rest of your body’s functions are caught off guard when this weight loss begins. The body’s thermostat needs time to catch up to the weight loss, and it will. Patients who incorporate exercise in their weight loss program experience less chilling than patients who do not exercise.

[sarrah345]

Dear Friends,

I wear short sleeved tops all winter! I have my A/C on in the bedroom every night.....even now. I don't own a single sweater. I wear short sleeved nightshirts meant for spring and summer to bed all year long. Sometimes I wear socks to bed, but not always.

I haven't used an electric blanket in YEARS! Don't have a comforter on my bed now....have a summer throw instead.

I sweat in stores.....like last night in Target. I hate it!

I can't wait to be normal again!!!!!!

I'll be GLAD to give up my "insulation" any day!!!!!!!

I'm sure all of you can relate!

Hugs, and see you at the support group meeting, TWO DAYS BEFORE MY SURGERY!

YAHOOOOOOOOOO!

I'd like to meet as many as I can of you all, please find me and tell me your name! I need as many ANGELS as I can! I'm also going to try to remember to bring my digital camera with me. My hubby is coming to the meeting too!

Also, here is my name in case any of you want to call me or stop by when I am in the hospital! Catherine Monsell.

I can't wait to see you at the meeting! I am SO excited, it's REALLY happening!

Love and hugs,
Cathy
Lap RNY for 2/22/07
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!