Most people with fibromyalgia report being extremely sensitive to cold and/or heat. As with most FM symptoms, this seems to be related to the general state of
hypersensitivity that occurs with fibromyalgia.
There may, however, be another explanation that is important to check out. It's not unusual for people with fibromyalgia to also have hypothyroidism. Since the thyroid gland regulates body temperature, any
thyroid abnormality could affect how the body responds to external temperature variations.
It's important that FM patients have their thyroid levels checked regularly. Standards of what is considered to be "normal" thyroid levels have changed recently, but not all doctors and labs have caught up with the changes yet. Many FM patients who fell within the normal range under the old standard, but are now being treated for hypothyroidism under the new standards, have experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms.
(To learn more about thyroid disease and the tests needed, visit patient expert
Mary Shomon's site.)
