People who REALLY feel the cold

[Itswinteragain]

....as in 20 degrees in summer you’re wearing 2-3 layers - What keeps you warmish in winter? This will be my third winter in the UK, I’m in the South East and nothing has kept me warm. My flat without heating was 19 last night. That is freezing and heating was quickly switched on and went up to 24 but I had on the Uniqlo extra warm top, oodie, leggings AND joggers so was comfortable. This how cold I feel, I know it’s ridiculous to most people but I can’t help it.

Things I have that don’t keep me warm:
M&S heatgen & Uniqlo heattech extra & ultra warm tops & leggings
North face Arctic parka
amazon & primary thick fleece lined leggings
Real wool jumpers
not to mention numerous knit beanies, earmuffs and gloves.

Nothing works for the 3 days a week I have to spend around 3-5 hours outside. I’ve also spent a fortune on those hand and feet warmers that heat up for a few hours.

Help!

I did whilst out running and it’s great

op - you are aware that you can’t recover from hypothyroidism?

Hot food and drinks.

Keep your core warm with heated electric pads etc. I’ve found that the only way to have warm hands and feet is to have an over warm middle!
Are you using neck warmers? I can’t remember what they are called these days, but a chiffon scarf or similar wound loosely round the neck inside your collar makes a huge difference. Along with a hat.

GP
Cashmere and wool.

Move somewhere warm? Sounds like a terrible way to live. England really isn’t a cold country so choose carefully.

That wasn't very helpful. The OP isn't you and this isn't a thread about The Four Yorkshiremen

Real wool socks (a blend is fine and helps with laundering). You can get fantastic socks for hiking that will keep your feet cozy.

Scarves/pashminas.

A poloneck under a real wool jumper with a good scarf and toasty wool socks will keep me warm. You can layer further with a good blazer.

If you're still cold some thermals under everything. Still cold after that and I don't know what to tell you except for maybe looking into serious all - season outdoor gear.

My dad bought me a heated vest for Christmas last year.

it has been life changing.

I had hyper not hypothyroidism but my recent tests were normal. Although I heard that the NHS tests are basic, so I may need to get a more advanced full one?

Not the most stylish or beautiful

but my god it works.

You are me. I only feel comfortable about 23/24. AND I’m allergic to wool/cashmere/alpaca/vicuña and fleece.

Its a nightmare getting warm.

No idea what’s so self righteous about not being able to afford heating, thought I was being helpful pointing out the warming qualities of fur and sheepskin.

I will move back home eventually but for now my work means I’m here and that is more important.

I am a big believer in cashmere, particularly for hands feet and neck as that seems to keep me warm more broadly. Although I don't find cashmere socks that comfortable so am more likely to wear hiking socks with boots (a size or half a size up on my regular size so they fit) or those super fluffy socks that are more like bed socks - but they're not as comfortable when wearing shoes.

I always always wear a close fitting vest - I have a few thermal ones from places like M&S, John Lewis, Uniqlo. They don't work in isolation, but I find them a good base layer. Then a long sleeve t-shirt or similar, then a cashmere jumper is, in my experience, the best for trapping the heat in (wool is massively overrated for me). I actually find they're warmer with a t-shirt rather than a long sleeve t-shirt but that might just be becuase I have mild sensory issues and double layers on my arms have always been a trigger for me.

I have had good success with heavy padded coats from Trespass - and they're often reasonably priced and/or on sale. Longer ones are better as they cover my thighs which suffer.

Cashmere scarf ALWAYS. If you are really struggling, a thin silk (not one of those "silk" scarfs that is satin - it must be proper silk. You can get a good selection at reasonable prices on Etsy and sometimes at Accessorize/Monsoon) scarf UNDER the cashmere scarf works well - silk is surprisingly warm in that it traps heat.

When it's especially cold I wear thermal leggings under thick denim jeans, hiking socks and proper boots (the last few years mine have been walking/hiking boots also from Trespass but I've had from other places too. Weirdly, had a good pair of padded boots from Sainsbury's for a few years which, with my hiking socks, were surprisingly warm).

At home, we've abandoned feather/down duvets. The more solid ones from Ikea or similar are a LOT warmer and don't need 30 minutes to get warm in the first place. Electric blankets - either under sheet in bed or a fluffy one for sitting on the couch - are a godsend.

I wear slippers at all time - always in boot form. I've been wearing Bedroom Athletics ones for the last couple of years. The best I've ever had were from The White Company - but they don't do them every year. they did them 2 years ago but don't seem to have done them again recently.

Good luck. I feel your pain.

Well I still haven’t acclimatised after 25 years…
Yes after a few years, you get used to the temperatures, a bit.

But my house is still well over 19~20oC in winter. My wood burner is a blessing.

@Itswinteragain i think head, neck and hands are the most important.
If any of those get cold, then I struggle to get warm overall.
I love the Doves wrist warmer.
I also have a hat on, covering my ears (essential!!) when going out. And a scarf.
Any coat has to be fully windproof - I find it keeps the heat in and cold out better.

Ah I feel your pain op. I am always cold too. I don’t think I have any thyroid issues and I am an average weight for my height so I think I just run cold. The only thing that helps me is a boiling hot bath which isn’t helpful cost wise. Then I get in my oodie and under blankets when I’m at home. Out and about- right now I have a vest, jumper, cardigan and big woolly coat, trousers and docs but am still chilly. Dreading January!!

Do you have a bath? I find a really hot bath warms me up, particularly before bed.

I suffered exactly like you for years, people couldn’t understand that I was genuinely cold, when they were in t-shirts. Interestingly, after I had the Mirena coil out, I warmed up by around 3 degrees, although still cold by normal people’s standards.

Do you have the thicker version of the M&S Heatgen long-sleeve vests and leggings? I switch to these once we reach Autumn, under jeans as they’re still thin. Also cashmere long wrist-warmers / fingerless gloves and one that goes around my waist under clothes. And boot slippers at home, with a heated blanket when stationary and an Oodie when moving around (these are A-ma-zing), and a down gilet. When out, I wear a Uniqlo thin down gilets, then the thin 800-fill down Ghost jacket, then a normal coat or fleece, with a ski jacket on top in a larger size. Plus obviously always a scarf and one of those fleece-lined hats with ear flaps, and silk inner glove
liners with woolly outer gloves on top if needed.

It’s horrible being cold.

Here's some hardcore advice on keeping warm https://tours.aurora-service.eu/what-clothing-to-bring/

That worked for me in -35° so hopefully it'll be of some use. BTW Uniqlo thermals are ok, but they aren't as warm as 'proper' thermals, your need wool or silk really. Good luck.

It is hypothroidism that is linked to sensitivity to cold not hyperthyroidism

Weighted blanket for bedtime is great

I have a finisterre knee-length fleece-lined winter coat which is the warmest thing ever. I can’t wear it in temps over 5 degrees or I melt. I looked for hand warmer pockets as my hands get so cold I can’t manage the dog’s lead (Scotland, minus 10 last winter), and I wear a long-sleeved T-shirt under a cashmere or wool jumper over jeans or joggers, and in really bad weather with tights underneath, and two pairs of socks - a thin pair and a thick pair. The coat is big enough to fit a giant arran knit jumper underneath. Plus scarf, woolly hat, thin gloves and wool fingerless mittens. At my desk wfh I have a blanket on my knee and the dog lies on my feet - highly recommended living hot water bottle!

What's your circulation like OP - are you exercising regularly? Move your body as often as possible, that can really help get your blood flowing and keep you warm.

I thought so too, just think it's the way you phrased it about not turning the heating on until Christmas it may have been perceived as self-righteous perhaps.

I also thought it was a bit of an overreaction @Louloulouenna