Hot flashes

I have noticed since having my jpouch that I am much less tolerant to heat. I still find I get to hot to often. I am a male if that means anything. I don't have any explanation except other people on this forum have also said that they experience this as well.

Hi @PouchLogic, thanks for writing.

I had not seen others on this forum commenting on this phenomenon, but not at all surprised that you've had the "too hot" experience.  I'll search to see if I can find those posts.   I liken my episodes to menopause hot flashes, but they're definitely not the same. It's just the only thing in my own experience I can relate it to.  

Hope others will also comment here if they have had changes in their tolerance to heat or episodes of warmth that aren't related to ambient temperature.  

These episode are likely not at all related to the J Pouch, per se. They are more likely related to hormonal changes, which could be due to any one of a number of factors. I would see an endocrinologist, as it's their specialty. I have one of the very best in Connecticut- Dr. Philip Goldberg.

@CTBarrister,

I think it is hormonal, but related to hormones secreted by the gut. I don't understand the endocrine system, but I have returned to this article on GI tract hormones from time to time, trying to think through it. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537284/

I'll definitely ask the next endocrinologist I run into about it!

AMB,

What I have learned is that sensitivity to hormonal changes or hormonal substitutes seems to vary widely by the individual. When I had surgery to remove a cancerous thyroid in 2015 (thyroid cancer is the only cancer treated exclusively by an endocrinologist and not an oncologist), I read the thyroid cancer message board, which is very similar to this one. There were many people on that board complaining that their doctors couldn't get their synthroid dosage right and they were excessively lethargic and drowsy or hyper. Some of these persons didn't have all of their thyroid removed as I did, and I suspect that they may have had vacillating weight issues as well (synthroid dosage is predicated entirely on body weight and adjusted based on TSH levels). I was really worried I would have the same issues but since my thyroid was removed, my dosage has only been adjusted slightly and when my TSH levels were off. I never felt anything unusual or abnormal when they were off the normal range.

So the metabolic reflection of hormonal changes may well vary. I should note that I once asked my PCP what would happen if I crash landed on a desert island and didn't have my synthroid. He told me I would die within 2 weeks and it would be a very, very unpleasant death before multiple organ shut down finally killed me.

Anyway I believe an endocrinologist can conduct tests which will potentially determine if something is off and potentially why it's off. In my case I am tested quarterly for TSH and thyroglobulin. I never did have a recurrence of the cancer and they would know if I did by virtue of a blood test. This was a good result because I was stage 3 with metastasis into 2 lymph nodes, which were removed.

My concern in posting here is that the J Pouch is blamed for something that is entirely different in origin. I have observed a tendency on this board to attribute causation of myriad issues to the J Pouch when it's likely the case that something else is going on. I urge you and anyone with these symptoms to consult an endocrinologist. My endocrinologist sends me emails on Yale Heath's network after every one of my quarterly blood tests and comments on the results. In 8 years on synthroid he has made 2 minor adjustments on my dosage. Other persons have their dosages changed constantly and can't seem to get it right. I maybe am lucky, or my system is adaptive. Not sure but things are good and never had hot flashes. I did have chills when I got Covid and they were horrible, so I sympathize and hope you can find a good answer and proper treatment.

Good points - association and causation are two entirely different animals. Still, my uneducated hunch - at least for me -  is there is some relation to removal of the colon and reconfiguration of the small intestine.   If ever I do get worked up by an endocrinologist, I'll report back.

Interestingly hot flashes also occur with re-feeding phenomenon.  If you have been malnourished for a time and your body is getting back to normal your metabolism goes a bit bananas and will often "rev"up at the most inappropriate times.