All this from not wearing a coat? What have I done to myself?!

[187s]

Went out without a coat today, rushing to get in the car. Went to a high street so lots of time outside. I was probably outside 15 mins in total, in and out of shops, with a bra and thin jumper on. I felt so cold we had to go back to the car. I have been shivering now for hours. Heating is on, still not warm. Had a warm drink. Is this normal? What have I done?

I'm with you, OP. Any temperature less than 6c and my nips resemble snooker cues.

You went out in zero degrees in just a bra and thin top - are you from Sheffield?

It's normal don't panic you just need a warm bath and a hot drink. You will be fine.

On many occasions I’ve caught a chill in my core/stomach and that’s triggered being ill for a few days. Japanese core warmers (haramaki) exist for that reason. People calling OP silly names for not being ‘tough enough’ sound a bit ignorant. In other countries people are much more careful of the cold and the heat, as they have real effects on the body.

That does sound as though it would be a more productive use of your time.

I read an article on different body types years ago. It explained how some people survived being in the water from the Titanic and other ships sinking.

Some people used to believe that human fat would insulate like whale blubber but the reality was that the more surface area of skin the higher the heat loss.

However, even those theories were debunked and the study came to the conclusion that it really is different strokes for different folks.

As a freezer type with chronic anaemia and circulation problems, the only way I can warm up is with external heat. I used to get in a warm bath (and take paracetamol for the pain in my nipples from the cold) but I can no longer use a bath so it's a heated throw for me.

The heat from mine is comforting and almost as good as a warm bath.

My nan used to sit me in front of the fire with my feet in a mustard bath when I was a kid with chilblains. I don't know if the mustard powder she'd put in did anything but the warm water was bliss after the initial pain!

Change clothes after a hot shower.
Crank up your heat.
Put on sweatpants, vest, wooly sweater of heavy fleece top, woolly socks.
Put on a knit or fleece hat.
Make yourself a mug of warm, sweet milk with a good sprinkling of cinnamon or a cinnamon stick.
Drink it.
Put on gloves.
Get a warm duvet and wrap up in bed or on the couch.

I don't understand. Is this my 12 year old posting from a decade ago?

Had shower, food, drink, heating on, in bed.

Still cold

Hot water bottle and 2 paracetamol.

I can lend you a couple of cats.

OP you need to start wearing layers and a thick coat. It’s 0 degrees out, you can get really ill. Honestly, start wearing a vest or top under your main top, warm trousers (not thin leggings), a jumper and a thick coat.

Have you got socks on in bed.... makes such a difference!

@VestaTilley i thought that wasn’t actually true, you can’t get ill from being cold (within reason obviously)

@Bonbon21 i don’t actually own socks! I’m going wrong somewhere aren’t I!

@187s are you feeling ill at all or just cold? Shivering and feeling cold CAN be a sepsis symptom.
I suggest you call 111.
Are you alone?

@heldinadream how would I have got sepsis from being in the cold though? Xx

You’ve come on mumsnet because you went outside in winter without a coat and now you’re cold?
seriously?!?!

You don't own socks?!

Sounds like you're coming down with something OP. Perhaps getting so chilled has just exacerbated the symptoms. Have you taken any paracetamol?

I also need to understand how you don't own socks!!

Have you got a partner? If so get into bed/under a duvet on the sofa with them, then remove some clothes. - It’s not a joke or a euphemism for having sex, skin to skin contact with another person who’s regulating their temperature correctly, well covered up with a blanket/sleeping bag, is what you do to warm up hypothermia victims in a mountain rescue situation.

Well you may (I am not a medic!) have been developing sepsis anyway by some other cause and getting cold has exacerbated the symptoms.
I'm just concerned. Not being able to get warm for hours after trying everything you've tried is not good.
No harm in ringing them?

How can you not own socks? What do you wear under shoes?

Not if you’ve been out and got chilled. That’s the cause.