How to cool down at night

[Watermelonice]

I’m really struggling to sleep due to overheating and feel dreadful.

Apart from light bedding, window open (but then the noise wakes me up), cold flannel, and HRT (doesn’t seem to be helping 6 months in) what else can I do?

It’s not even properly hot yet, our room is about 22 degrees with the above measures. In summer it gets mid to late 20’s.

Im dreading the summer, please help!

I've bought a portable air conditioning unit and it works a treat. It doesn't make a lot of noise and keeps the room really cool.

I keep looking but worried about the expense if it doesn’t work or if it’s too noisy. Wish you could try them first!

which one did you get?

Have you got a fan? DH has one of those super quiet ones as he’s always hot, summer or winter.

If you have a fan or air-conditioning, they will make white noise which has the benefit of drowning out the dawn chorus etc. If might take a week to get used to the background noise but you will.

I have a portable air con too.

I think the trick is to get the room cool and then keep it there.

Start with a fan and (this sounds counterintuitive) start by blowing the hot air out of the room.

The AC is quite noisy but you get used to it. I used to put it on for an hour before bed so the room is cold and then I can switch it off.

Mine is a Livivo 80W Evaporative Air Cooler (just had to check). I've had it a couple of years but I think it was about £60/£70ish.

It does make a noise, but it's really not bad, and I'm a light sleeper.

I stick it on high about 20 mins before bed and then turn it to the lowest setting all night. It's been a godsend honestly.

I feel your pain because I’m always absolutely roasting too! I’ve thought about a small air conditioning thing but don’t they need a hose out of the window, or am I thinking of something completely different?!

Are you keeping your window and blinds closed during the day and then opening them in the evening? Is there any way you can create a draught in the room, by keeping the bedroom door open, and also keeping open another window on the landing or in a bedroom across the way?

have you got a flat or a house?
If you have a house, go and sleep downstairs. It's cooler.

Mine is just a portable unit, you stick some water in a drawer under it and an ice block in the top and it blows out cold air, no tubes or fitting required and it can be stuck away when you don't need it.

Have a cool shower, open the window, earplugs, and a fan.

If your HRT hasn't stopped your night sweats, I'd revisit the dose with a GP or private clinic.

That’s interesting to know. So is that more like a fan than an air conditioning unit? I’ve just remembered I’ve got a fan somewhere where you put water in the top.

You need a fan! I have one of those small handbag size ones so it's super quiet, on my bedside table and directed right at my face.

In the summer I have a cotton sarong that I rinse unsweetened the tap, wring out so it's just damp and then lie under it. Sounds awful but works a treat and cools you down really quickly.

Cooling mat / pillow.
Its a game changer.

That's an air cooler not an AC. Yes if you have a portable AC you do need a pipe out of a window or cat flap or, well somewhere to get the warm air out.

OP

Could you rent an AC for a week to see how you get on.

I have a fan on me at night and just a very light cover. My feet get burning hot so I often get an ice pack from the freezer, wrap it in a teatowel and rest my feet on it! I've also got a gel pad that you can keep in the fridge and slip it into your pillowcase so your pillow is cold.

A friend has a thing which is like a mattress cover, but has clever insides which cool you down or warm you up as needed. Each person controls their own side. She raves about it. I understand it was quite expensive.
https://www.eightsleep.com/uk/?srsltid=AfmBOopyiRatq1MzOpFbp0YyZZ5BwalVHP_358HHy3JxbXgvhsew113y

Flannel on my chest not my head

We had a ceiling fan installed last summer after getting the idea from our Spanish holiday cottage.

It is the best thing ever. Quiet, cooling and has a timer so can turn itself off later in the night when we have cooled down. Sometimes I put it on for the dogs to lie under when its very hot outside.

I have a fan right next to the bed blowing in my face. It really helps.

Damp flannels on pulse points… frozen/ cold hot water bottles, or actually just frozen water bottles.