This isn't normal, is it??

[Over50usernamesNow]

I have just got into bed. DH is snoring away quite contently. He is in only his boxers and on top of the covers, not under them. So clearly, he's hot!

I, on the other hand, am under two duvets, wearing full long pjammas and have a hot water bottle.

I am always freezing at night. I went to the doc a few weeks ago and they did a blood test and all was fine, so I've been too embarrassed to go back. Feel like I'm making a fuss.

But honestly, I do get soo cold at night that I don't think it's normal! (Despite all my layers and hot water bottle, I am still not warm!..)

So help me Mumsnet!! Is this normal, do ladies just get much colder than men? Or should I go back to the GP?

Thanks!

Yes, IME men don't feel the cold as much.

Are you in the U.K.? It’s pretty late to be going to bed (I’m up this late working) so are you regularly getting very cold before you get into bed? I’m thinking that it’s like camping, where unless your feet are warm before you get into your sleeping bag, you’re doomed to discomfort. It’s easier to stay warm than to warm up…

So there are two separate things, your husband vs you feeling the cold and then your health. The first is it varies between people and the second is you should go back to the docs if this has been happening for a while now and the temperature in your bedroom is objectively warm enough for the average person not to need a hot water bottle, basically around 18c shouldn't need 2 duvets and a hot water bottle but if it's 12c and under then yes, it's conceivable you'd be healthy and find this cold.

Why, what is being constantly cold a potential symptom of?

Off the top of my head and without Googling or a medical degree, anaemia, low blood circulation..
I tend to feel cold before I come down with the flu and when I had Covid.

sounds normal

I have a bed warmer on my side

I thought feeling cold could be a thyroid thing
I regularly used to do a wheat bag for my feet in august pre menopause, I was thinner then though

Yes, a key symptom of an under active thyroid which affects vastly more women than men.

I have an under active thyroid and slept wrapped in my dressing gown and duvet last night.
I am not a small woman, plenty of fat on me to keep me warm but the cold is my nemesis!!!
Unless it is full sun and 25 degrees I am cold.
Ask the gp for a blood test and if you think you have symptoms don't let it drop. Gp's are notoriously shite at dealing with thyroid problems.

Not normal for me, I’m the UK.

I sleep naked, never have a hot water bottle or electric blanket, and use a 10 Tog (I think) duvet in winter, a very lightweight duvet in summer, or a sheet on hot nights.

Have you always been like this?

No its not normal assuming you're sleeping in a house, in the UK.

I'd probably never need that amount of bedding unless I was sleeping on the lawn in winter.

Are you always cold? Do you have any other symptoms?

Is it new or have you always been like this? I always sleep naked and usually just under a sheet or a very thin duvet. My husband always wears long sleeve/long legged pjs with socks and sleeps under a high tog duvet, even in the warmer summer months.

Normal in our household!

I wear flannelette PJs pretty much year round and add long sleeve top and jumper for winter plus I sleep with the electric blanket on for about 5 months of the year. Just as I am thinking I might not need the electric blanket DH is thinking of putting his fan on while wearing only boxers.

Second getting thyroid checked and agree with previous poster who said GPs have very limited knowledge about this problem. :/
Having said that, I am always the first to feel the cold and that’s always been the case. I absolutely cannot compare to my husband or daughter who always feel warm to touch. My son is like me.

It could be a thyroid issue. I found that I was always cold until I started HRT. I used to have to wear ridiculous amounts of clothes before that.

I have no idea whether you have a health problem or not and you should get that checked out, but I find the trick to being warm in bed is to be warm before getting into bed. If I try to get warm by getting under the covers I will be lying there shivering for hours!

Hi, I agree about the thyroid too, it’s really common and there are loads of symptoms but they kind of creep up on you, I only realised I’d had some of them after diagnosis. My sister has hashimotos and far worse thyroid function than me and her being freezing has been a thing for as long as I can remember.

I have an under active thyroid, and I get cold at night sometime. wake up sweating every morning.

Are you a veggie / vegan? This happened to me I was wearing thermals in July and turned out to be low in vit B.

+1 for hypothyroidism.

Whilst I think you do sound a little colder than I would expect, it may also be your husband who is overly warm.