Cold feet and hands

[floralart]

This is my first post on here! My husband has IPF and is in the later stages of it. Just a question, he suffers with really cold feet and hands and nothing seems to warm him up. I would be grateful if anyone else has suffered with this and any tips, even thick socks don't help.

[Hidden]

Hi Flora. I have IPF (later stages too) Cold hands, feet & nose is awful. As yet, I have not found anything to help. I sometimes find eating small, soft titbits warm me slightly. My wife keeps the heating on just enough to take the chill out of the air which seems to help too.

I wish your husband well. Regards. Nigel

[Billiejean_2 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Flora, your husband is probably unable to get about much now and his circulation may have slowed down.

Something he could try is wiggling his feet up and down, or just generally jiggle them around. Like they recommend you do while on an airplane.

I often have a problem with cold feet when I get into bed and finally kept a pair of socks near the bed that I could put on and then take off when I'd warmed up.

I do the foot wiggling and up and down flexing when I'm watching TV. It doesn't need much energy and shouldn't make his shortness of breath worse.

In cold weather, I get the chilly nose as well and just rub it, blow into your cupped hands and the warm breath travels upwards.

The foot jiggling really helps to get the blood moving and definitely helps warm up the feet from the inside out.

[floralart in reply to Billiejean_2]

Thank you, the oxygen also makes his nose cold it's so miserable. I will get him foot wiggling!

[floralart in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Nigel, we have bought a new electric blanket that especially warms up the feet, that helps a bit but he's not in bed all the time. I wish you well too such a horrible disease. Sue

[Lesley_ann]

Hi flora,

I was diagnosed with IPF 2 years ago. My feet and hands are always cold unless it's a really hot day. I have struggled with my circulation for years but the problem I have now is because our extremities are the last to receive oxygenated blood to keep them warm which like Nigel said also includes our nose. My feet especially go blue so I do try to wear socks and gloves in fact my family insist on me wearing them and if I go to the lung clinic in sandals I get told off !!

If you have seen those warmers that you put in the microwave for a couple of minutes they are really good especially if you have been out and need to warm up quickly. If you look online you can get slippers that you can wear or mittens and they keep warm for quite a while.

Take care Linda x

[Elephantstraw in reply to Lesley_ann]

My friend has Raynauds disease and uses an electric foot warmer from Coopers of Stortford. Brilliant. She was "advised" to knit a "nose nappy" but has so far declined to do so!

[spooks36]

hello floralart. i also have cold hands and feet. i knitted myself some hand warmers, different colours to go with different outfits, which I put on when needed. I bought myself a couple of pairs of leg warmers which I wear and, some slipper socks all of which work for me during the day.

i do feet exercises when watching tv. extra when adverts on, by sort of walking on the spot when sitting, just lift up a leg at a time. You do not need to lift then high, j just enough to clear the floor. Sometimes I just raise the heels from the floor. i found it warms the legs also and does not take away too much of my breath. cheers.

[floralart in reply to spooks36]

Leg warmers sound good!

[Hidden]

G'day Floralart...My wife still had cold hands and feet 14 months after a bilateral lung Tx...we purchased an electric blanket, not the type you use in bed, but as a blanket when sitting...watching TV or even whilst reading...do not know if you have them over there, but, the blanket is a GOD send....no more complaints of cold feet or hands...The brand is Easyhome "throw- electric blanket" and we purchased it from Aldi...My wife believes that there are numerous brands sold all around the world...maybe worth a look.....

[floralart in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I will have a search for it!

[WheezyAnne]

You can get rechargeable battery operated hand warmers which are very good. They are about the size of a bar of soap. I got some last year from Amazon. Another thing I have just purchased is some cotton t-shirt material masks, as my nose gets cold in winter as well. A heated throw which can be used on the sofa, or the bed may help. I wear socks to bed, then kick them off later.

[lKeith]

floralart

I too have the same problem, with me it is mainly very poor circulation (Raynaud's disease) and once cold it just stays around whatever you put on. Try a hot fully immersed bath then a good toweling down to keep the circulation going then put on the warmer clothing. Works for me.

Good luck

IKeith

[Caspiana]

Hello floralart .

I have the same issue. Like Billiejean I also have warm socks near the bed. That's all I can seem to do. Its very uncomfortable. You have my sympathies.

Please take care of yourselves.

Cas xx 🌹