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!

Someone may have suggested this already.
My husband cycles in all weathers and swears by merino wool base layers.

I seemingly feel the cold much more than anyone I’ve ever met. So o wear:

Ugg boots, sheepskin lining

thermal socks, the M&S ones for boys in size 4-7 for school are cheap

layers, with my top layer jumper to be a high, roll neck, so that the cold air doesn’t go down my back

i tuck as many tops into my trousers as possible for no draughts

m&s cosy jeggings (new this year, I think) are soft and warm, failing that, thermal fleece lined leggings underneath other bottoms

a ski jacket, rather than a traditional coat, that covers my bottom and has a built in skirt

I wear wool in cold weather, the only things that thaw the icicles that serve as my fingers are leather gloves. A few years ago I bought a shearling jacket. With that I hardly need gloves.

I have a couple of cashmere cardigans, warm enough but light enough to wear in “warm” weather too.

Also, I have merino wool long sleeved vests.

In terms of keeping warm at home, I’m comfortable with about 24C, DH and the German Shepard would probably collapse when the temperature creeps above 16/17. So, I use my dressing gown over my clothes when I’m sitting and a fleece blanket on my side of the bed. We use a top sheet with the duvet so I put the fleece blanket under the duvet.

I feel the cold terribly and the only thing that I have found that keeps me warm is a onesie and slipper socks. I got them last year and they have honestly been life changing, previous years o have been wearing 5-6 layers and still felt freezing. I usually wear leggings, a thermal long sleeve top, a long sleeve cotton top and a sweatshirt under the onesie.

I was about to say this.

I feel the cold but what you’re describing is way beyond normal OP, feeling cold with the temp at 24 and with multiple warm layers on? I would be getting all the health checks tbh.

Do you exercise? Are you sitting still all day (I used to get freezing wfh at a desk all day and then struggle to warm up)? How is your circulation, do your hands/feet get particularly cold? Do you get blue lips?

Have you had iron tests? Thyroid - try to ask for your TSH level, the NHS “Normal” range is way too generous.

You need to focus on keeping your wrists, neck, ankles, waist and feet warm.

Amazon (other cos are available), sell foil backed shoe liners, with a fleecy top.

I bought DD elbow-length fingerless gloves for when schools had all the windows open during the covid years

You sound quite petite. French kidswear co, Petit Bateau (who do big enough sizes to fit a chunky size 12 me), often sell woollen/silk vests (if not in store, on their website) and polo neck underlayers.

Have you had your iron levels checked recently? I was found to be very anaemic last year (PMB) and one of my symptoms was feeling chilled to the bone even when the house temperature was 70F.

I would speak to a doctor, it’s not normal to feel cold like that.

I’m cold a lot. I’m a teacher. I’ve had my dress, cardigan, gilet on in the classroom. But then other classes have their hearing on and I need to de layer!! I then added a long super dry wind cheaper type padded warm coat for travelling - it was -2 this morning defrosting the car. I’m contemplating switching out my Dr Martin boots for my Ugg boots this week which I often wear right through til late spring, unless it’s raining!! I was also given some socks to try from my podiatry shop where I buy my insoles from. Socks are ones that are quite tight fitting around the middle of the foot for arch support but this particular one was meant to be better for cold feet as I mentioned I have really bad cold feet when they suggested Ugg boots are bad for you!! Just got home and my house is 18 degrees as I’ve still got the fleece/gilet and cardigan on. Body feels ok but I’m off to dig out my indoor uggs too. Think the teddy bear bedding might come out this week. I love my heated blanket I received for Xmas last year. I’d contemplated one of those heated jackets or gilets for out and about. I generally avoid going out when it’s cold!! Apart from when I’m on outdoor duty at school.

Hi OP, I sympathise and in my case it is thyroid related (and also being small and slight). Do you know the cause of your hyper event? Graves’ disease? Or could you actually have autoimmune underactive thyroid (Hashimotos) which can cause temporary flares of high TSH levels? I’d go back to GP and ask for antibody tests to check as that’s the only way to know - mention your extreme cold intolerance.

My daughter has Reynaulds Syndrome. I found some excellent socks and gloves on their support website with silver in them- she says they are very good.

SRUK Shop

I feel your pain, OP - I have lived in the UK for 30 years and have never got used to how cold and damp it is all the time. It makes me utterly miserable.

I wear 1 or 2 layers of silk thermals, that trap heat but don’t add bulk, and then a thermal polo neck, with a polo neck jumper over the top. Silk mix socks, and alpaca socks over those - and then Heat Holders socks on top of those, if I’m going to be spending any time outside. Winter shoes 1 size too big to accommodate all the socks. Ultra light down gilet, under ultra light long sleeve jacket, under ankle-length down coat. Heat Holders neck warmer.

The hardest for me is the constant feeling of cold on the back of my neck / between my shoulder blades / hands, feet, wrists, ankles.

Are all these layers in addition to central heating?

There are a lot of electric heated items around to. Electric heated blankets and electric foot warmers. I went through a phase where I really struggled to the point where I had thick socks, slippers and feet directly in front of a fire and my feet were still cold. They don't seem quite as bad now but still definitely feel the cold. I have an oodie but don't wear it instead i put it over me. I also have an overside saltrock Sherpa lined hoodie from vinted in a bigger size so I can wear another top underneath.

I've tried EVERYTHING mentioned so far (except the balaclava and the sadly out of my price range heated vest) and am still freezing cold.

I have Raynaud's and a nerve disease so I don't move around much (due to the nerve condition rather than the Raynaud's). I'm comfortable at around 23/24 degrees IF I haven't got cold to start with.

I changed my duvet to wool as the feather/down one was triggering asthma and a synthetic made me sweat. Being cold is bad enough, being in a sopping wet cold sweat is worse. I can get into bed feeling fairly warm but start shivering within 10 minutes. I have to get my DP to cuddle me warm but he gets too warm as apparently I throw off heat that I can't feel!

I use a heated throw over me and a heated shoulder warmer (thank you, Aldi and Lidl!) even when the heating's on and in summer anything under 21 degrees.

I bought men's cashmere jumpers in the sale from M&S. They're not a colour I'd wear out and the shape doesn't suit me but they help a little.

I used to swear by sheepskin but these days even if I put warm feet in them they get cold (and sweaty).

I wear fingerless gloves in the house, sheepskin mittens over them outside.

I seems I have a problem getting blood to my extremities mostly as my hands and particularly my feet and legs from the knee down just won't warm up without an external heat source. DP complains that my feet and legs are not just cold but seriously icy. I can't bear to put my lower legs together as they sting with cold. I've resorted to wearing legwarmers and cashmere socks to bed. The socks don't work unless my feet are warm in them but the legwarmers insulate my legs from each other.

There might be light at the end of the tunnel, though. I've ordered an electric underblanket and also, have very recently discovered Little Hotties. They're the air-activated packs you can get on Amazon or eBay. Though Lidl had them last year in a full-length sole version to put in your shoes. I wish I'd bought some now.

The hand-warmer Little Hotties last longer than the toe ones. I open the pack, take one of the pair and put in my boot. I swap them around during the evening then just before bed, I wrap in an airtight plastic bag. No air = no activation so I can get 2 nights out of one single from the pair. The second of the pair stays in the packaging with a Klippit sealing it while in the plastic bag. They're expensive (for me) and I hate the thought of adding to landfill but 4 nights heat from one pair is acceptable. I'm getting too old, my health's not great and my legs are too painful to go without.

I have an oodie and I’m sure it makes me colder when the outside temp is properly chilly. As others have said you’re beating going for layers and cashmere. Cashmere polo necks are the ideal. Make sure you keep your head and feet warm. I go for a brisk walk in the middle of the day and that usually warms me up for a good hour after getting home.

Maybe invest in some good curtains to help keep the heat in your house and also so you can avoid sitting in drafts. When I’m working I put my feet on a hot water bottle.

Hopefully at least one of those will help!

What is your heating thermostat set to?.

I wear merino base layers (often good value on ebay). From oct to April I wear a merino snood as I can’t stand being cold around my neck, I regularly wear a scarf over the top too.

I have a hot water bottle tucked into my layers and take a flask of hot water to top it up.

Only two things work in winter- a scorching bath or my electric blanket.

Go for merino base layer over silk vest to avoid bulk and fitted merino or cashmere jumper on top. Really good socks. Silk liner gloves inside mittens. Didrikson parka or similar - better than ski jacket because they are designed for movement not standing around at pick up. Always have a hat outside.

Hypothyroidism here so always struggle to keep hands and feet warm.
What helps - copious amounts of hot squash (not a tea/coffee fan)
I have a plug in heat mat (one under my desk and one for TV watching) it's like a carpet tile like amzn.eu/d/gyjYrjV
Keeping my ankles and wrists warm helps keep my hands and feet warm. So wristies (turtle dove ones are great) and ankle warmers.

I'm OK when I'm moving about just affects me when I'm sat still.

This may not be an option but I do loads better when I can go to a sauna a couple of times a week. I have no idea why, but it feels like I carry the heat with me for days and just don't get cold "through and through" the way I otherwise do?

Thank you some great tips and websites! Cashmere seems to be something I need to invest in and more merino wool. I have a big cashmere scarf which does help my neck but will need to wait for a couple more pay days (or ask for early Christmas gifts 😃) I’ve also seen a few heated vests. I’ll take more long hot baths but will keep that to a minimum. My flat has a separate water heater unit, so when using hot water I pay twice - one electricity charge and two for hot water unit if that makes sense.

My hyperthyroid was Graves. I had got it diagnosed and treated in my home country by an endocrinologist. Private insurance is the norm there and people are able to book appointments directly with specialists. I was given meds and monitored over two years until it was treated. I’ll definitely go back to my GP here and ask for more tests.

I'm 5'4" and only 40kg due to illness. I wear many layers including thermal underwear, and an oodie, bamboo socks and Uggs indoor, heating on 30 and go to bed early and keep my electric blanket on all night. I'm cold all the time apart from about 10 days a year.