How a cold climate causes calamities for this CAD patient

I was enveloped in a deliciously warm environment, floating as if on a cloud, bathed in warm sunshine. I stretched out my arm, which immediately whapped against the bedroom wall. My luxurious sleep had ended.

I reached down and lifted up my laptop from the bottom shelf of my bedside table. As I opened it, I blinked my eyes and adjusted my vision. The first website I checked was weather.com, because I wanted to see how cold it was outside. The most important detail on the site for me is the current temperature, as it’s imperative for me to be prepared for cooler temperatures, due to my cold agglutinin disease (CAD). Next, I checked the hourly temperatures for the day.

If I can control my blood’s exposure to temperatures below 65 F, CAD remains in the background of my life. But exposure to low temperatures means that my red blood cells will clump together. These clumps are seen as rogue elements by my white blood cells, and they’re promptly destroyed in a process called hemolysis. Controlling my exposure to cold weather is the best prevention of such destruction.

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Last Monday was a busy day for me, as I had an appointment here in the U.S. to remove stitches from a recent skin graft. Although the temperature was supposed to be in the upper 60s by midday, I still had to be careful going to the appointment. I took a heavy sweater with me.

I also double-masked when going from my car to the exam room. Our lungs have a surface area of approximately 70 square meters (753 square feet). This is where the air we breathe hits small air sacs called alveoli. When I breathe cold air, it feels like swallowing a handful of sharp quilting needles. As I move through different air temperatures, I’ll constantly tug the mask off or put it on again.

Next on my agenda that day was a trip to a large hardware store. This meant walking a long distance through the store. I’ve considered using the store’s electric scooters, because CAD causes anemia and fatigue. However, I felt I could walk that day.

I spent the bulk of the day assisting my father, who turned 99 years old on Dec. 31. I was “supervising” some electrical work being done to his car, so I went in and out of his house as needed. I had to constantly put on and take off my sweater.

I noted some tingling in my fingertips, another frequent symptom of CAD. Our extremities don’t have the benefit of good blood flow. I’ve also experienced acrocyanosis, a mottling of my hands or feet. I’ve commented to friends that I show my patriotism by turning my fingers and toes red, white, and blue!

That evening, when I’d finished the projects, I went to dinner to celebrate my dad’s 99th birthday with a family friend.

Sometime in the last few days, I apparently experienced hemolysis. I don’t know how to explain it, but when this happens, I can’t push sufficient air past my vocal cords to speak or sing. Usually, I can still whisper, which is how I ordered my funghi ripieni and chicken parmesan.

I feel ill-prepared to be in a cold climate. I really don’t have winter clothes, as I expected to be home in the tropics right now. I haven’t experienced too much difficulty, though. By paying close attention to the weather, I can get through these winter months without having to request medical intervention. And that, in Shakespeare’s words, is a “consummation devoutly to be wished.”

Note: Cold Agglutinin Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cold Agglutinin Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cold agglutinin disease.