What would cause someone to feel their insides were freezing?

[mizfiesta]

A family member aged 66 years old, called me today as she had experienced a 'bad turn' last night around bedtime. She described it as if her body (in particular her internal organs) suddenly felt as if "they were frozen - almost like blocks of ice", even though the room was warm and she was well wrapped up. She then said her whole body started to shake. This lasted half an hour and I know it has really frightened her which is unusual. Her health isn't great at the best of times as she has emphysema, but she said this was the first time she had experienced anything like this. I have never heard of anything like it so would like some advice please as to what it could have been? I also realise these symptoms could be linked to 100 different things, and possibly more, but please keep in mind, although it was cold last night, she said it had nothing to do with that. Thanks in advance.

[rowanwitch]

could be rigors caused by a very high temperature she might have a virus..

[Sqad]

Odd symptoms..........no idea.

Rigors............unlikely as she would be hot and sweating.

Monitor the situation.

[wolf63]

Before I started taking medication for my diabetes I used to have attacks of low blood sugar. The really horrible bit was feeling so cold - like ice running through my veins and my 'innards' were cold - and nothing seemed to make me feel warm.

It was a horrible sensation.

[DEN53]

This might not be related - but I have experienced that twice after having an operation - I was told its when the body temperature drops too low, body goes into shock.

[mizfiesta]

Den53, when my family member described the experience that was one of the things she said, like her body had 'went into shock'.

[mike11111]

It happened to me a year ago when I was recovering from acute pancreatitis. It gave me a hell of a fright - I thought I was dying. After 90 minutes it subsided and has never returned. Should have asked my GP for an explanation but didn't bother as it was no longer a problem.

[Hopkirk]

When a medic says 'monitor the situation' it means they just don't know.

[Sqad]

Hopkirk...it MIGHT do ;-)

It might also mean that we know what the cause is, but we are not sure which way the "cookie is going to crumble"

Fools rush in..........................ect

[Hopkirk]

I'll believe you, Sqad.

[Sqad]

Hopkirk....LOL.....why?

[Hopkirk]

I imagine you saying "you can trust me, I'm a doctor"

[bednobs]

on this occasion i disagree with squad. A high temp can cause those symptoms, and people can feel cold without sweating and being hot. I would go for rigors too

[Sqad]

A rigor is a response to a high temperature which is well established and there is no indication in the post that she had the symptoms of a high temperature i,e hot and sweaty. If the body cannot cope with this temperature it completely shuts down, vasoconstriction in the blood vessels of the skin causing pale, cold skin and rigors.
Rigors are the end game in a pyrexial period and there is nothing in the post to suggest that this existed.

If one postulates that these are rigors.....then what is the cause....on attack "out of the blue" with no preceding period of pyrexia.

My first post remains....."no idea"

[bednobs]

Hi squad. I myself have experience rigors/high temps out of the blue which have resolved with no obvious cause and with no feeling hot or sweating. (but a high temp when checked) When i worked in haematology, quite often rigors came on suddenly in patients and went just as suddenly (although i do appreciate that this is a very different situation (ie when people ahve no neutorphils)

[Sqad]

bednobs...fine.