My wife had surgery this week in an attempt to restore the hearing in one of her ears. She now has a Titanium middle-ear bone in it and we think the surgery was successful. We will know for sure in a week or so when they remove the packing on both sides of the eardrum and her ear rebounds from the trauma done to it by surgery.
A serendipity of the experience was something I learned from the anesthesiologist that I can bring back to my general psychology classes when we talk about the brain.
Before the surgery he asked her if she had ever had any complications from anesthesia. She said no, but that she usually is really cold and can't stop the shivers for a while. He said that was common and the name for it was - here's your word for the day - poikilothermia. It literally means "cold blooded."
In fact, the good doctor told her that poikilothermia causes one to temporarily become like a snake, unable to warm her body with her blood (cold blooded).
Anesthesia, which forces deep sleep upon a person, works on the midbrain, the part of the brain responsible for lower-cognitive functions - those functions that take some cognitive ability but that you don't want to actually have to think about - like walking and sleeping. I now know that it is also responsible for regulating body warmth.
I'm kind of glad my wife doesn't read my blog. If I want her to know that I called her "cold blooded," I will be the one to tell her, not you!
February 26, 2010
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20 comments:
I've never been under Anesthesia before so I'm not sure if I'm "cold blooded" or not. If I had to guess I would say that I'm more warm blooded because I hardly ever get cold during the winter. Makes my boyfreind mad sometimes because I keep my room temp. in the lower 70s sometimes 60s. Promise I won't tell your wife. :)
Well im glad your wife's surgery went well. That's kind of werid to be compared to a snake. I hope that if I ever have to have a surgery I will not become "cold blooded", because I hate the cold with a passion. Oh, I will not be the one to tell your wife that you called her cold blooded, you are all on your own with that one.. :)
Mariah Norwood
Good to hear that your wife's surgery went good! This post is a cool way to remeber which part of the brain is responsible for regulating body warmth...no pun intended!
Sarah Raunikar
Glad to hear that everything went well. I thought this blog was so interesting to read. I had no idea that anesthesia had anything to do with body warmth. I have always been hot-natured so when I do get the chills I find it very odd!
Does this happen to all humans under anesthesia? Does this happen to animals also? I always thought it was just to darn cold in the hospital...Huh? Really interesting stuff.
Ya I'm not sure it's a good idea to call your wife that. I usually stay cold all the time i wonder if theres a different name for that. It's so interesting what just one part of brain can do. I also didnt know cognitive was responsible for the blood regulating.
Niki Pack
glad that your wifes surgery went well. I have the opposite problem i stay hot all the time. in the summer i keep the air set on 65 or 66 and my kids wear there sweats in the house or go outside to warm up
I am really glad that everything is going good with your wive's surgery. This is a really informative blog about the part of the brain that is responsible for body temp regulation. I can now tell my husband what is wrong with me. Although, I can't pronounce the name of it. Cause I keep the house in the high 70's or low 80's and he sweats all the time. One of these days I am gonna move somewhere where it is warm all the time lol.
Is it more common in women than men? Most all the women that I know are always much cooler than their male counter parts (who are more like radiators). Is there something to that or is it just random that I know a lot of cold blooded women? Is it psychological, hormonal or physiological? I find this very interesting!
I have experenced that after surgery. My husband may agree with it as well...that's funny! Now if I could pronounce it!
I have never experinced that but I always wake up thirsty. I am glad you wife is doing well!
I could not imagine being "put under". I can fall asleep just fine on my own. I am glad your wife's surgery went well. I bet now you can't whisper under your breath about her anymore.
I honestly didn't know people could become "cold blooded" like that. Thats very interesting thing to know. Plus ive never heard of that word poikilothermia before now.
"cold blooded" is something my partner always says i am and now i can laugh and tell him i am and i got it from my Anestassia lol i had a c-section with my son i just thought it was really cold
well im glad your wife's surgery went well. I would hate if that happens to me, becuase im puerto rican and me and the cold dont get along. Oh, by the way is poikilothermia a english word?
Javier Olazagasti
General Psyc
glad your wifes surgery went well. well being puerto rican i would hate that because me and the cold dont get along. oh, by the way is poikilothermia a english word?
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Javier Olazagasti
General Psyc
Good to know the surgery went well. Strange enough though a woman I work with is always saying how cold everything and I just laugh until one day she asked me to touch her hand and she was freezing but I am the complete opposite and she said my skin was like a heater. Weird analogy.
That's interesting! Especially to know that you cant really function as a cold blooded person like a snake but yet you actually do become cold blooded. My family always says im cold blooded because I'am always freezing but I never knew, since I haven't ever been under anesthesia, that you really do become cold blooded.
ive been called cold hearted but never cold blooded... you better watch what you say around your wife now lol.. she might strike like a snake... glad her suregery went well
All women are cold blooded! Colton Priest
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