But even afterward, when you’re in the recovery area which is NOT as chilly, you can be tooth-chatteringly cold. I remember this from very recent experience. My teeth were literally clattering. They kept piling warmed blankets on me, even one on my head. I think it’s a genuine physiological response. Your body temp might well be 98.6 but I suspect it’s the same mechanism that causes chills when your fever is spiking.
ETA: per this cite (General Anesthesia: Guide To Intravenous & Inhaled Anesthetics) there may be genuine hypothermia going on when you’ve had general anesthesia. In any case, the phenomenon is so well-known that recovery rooms stock lots of hot blankets.
From what I’ve learned in this thread, (Thanks y’all!), I’m curious as to why they don’t bother to tell you to eat some protein rich foods in your first meal if the chills are giving you trouble. Especially people who are slight or near to underweight. It seems, to me, that would be doing them a great service. For a full two days after any minor surgery or dental visit I get the chills from the slightest thing, I swear.
But yesterday, I had some protein rich foods for lunch and, sure enough, the effect was seriously reduced almost directly.
I always thought it was weird, too, as, when I’m cold, I’ll sit on my legs, and then after they fall asleep, they feel perfectly warm. It always seemed odd that it worked backwards at the dentist.
I’m a bit bummed that they stick a stimulant in, though. That could explain why I always feel like I’m about to jump out of my skin.