I'm planning ahead for the cold weather (I'm sure most of you like myself are starting to feel it already)!
My reynauds has gotten increasingly worse each year and my joints aren't a fan of the cold weather either, so I'm planning ahead to be as snug as humanly possible throughout my seasonal hibernation!
So I thought I'd post this question on here in hopes that any responses might help others too.
So....
Does anyone have any suggestions for good thermal clothing? I mean stuff you can actually wear out that's comfortable and feels nice on your skin (so not really base layers or underwear etc) but actual leggings or pants, jumpers, boots etc
I've worn thermal leggings for the last few years with fleece linings, which were great but they're getting old and tatty now and have a weird seam down the front (looks creepy when paired with nice jumpers)!
I've been down the extreme weather route but ended up feeling like an expensive looking marshmallow due to the puffy layers!
I'd like to be as warm as possible but still look relatively nice and not 4 sizes bigger due to the 8 jumpers and 3 layers of bottoms I'm wearing (surely not too much to ask)!
No suggestion is a bad suggestion... unless it's bubble wrap and tin foil blankets
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Croft1987
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Hi, I really love Marks and Spencer's thermals and you can't beat cashmere for warmth (and softness) of course the latter is a bit expensive but I have a hat and gloves and wear them every year
PS a trick I learnt as a kid riding horses in wintertime was to wear tights under my jodhpurs- works a treat at keeping you snug plus you can wear your normal trousers no one would know
Hi, I've had primary Raynaud's for approx 15 years. I’ve detailed the way I dress to cope - sorry it includes underwear and loads of layers. I’ve put in loads of detail including who I buy from - I hope you can pick out some ideas that will work for you.
At the end I’ve covered the ideas that I find essentiall for me and detailed who I buy from and what they sell
1) Long sleeved vest & Long Johns form Damart - they have 5 different levels of warmth - some are preety colours. You could also try Patra (silk specialists). Personnaly I cannot cope with Viscose next to my skin as I find it constantly feels cold. In summer, if we get above 22C, I wear Cotton Traders long sleeve Base Layer tops (and bottoms if above 25C) - these are 100% Combed Cotton and look like a T-shirt.
2) I wear 3 layers of socks around the house - I use a thin thermal sock purchased from Damart or Patra (silk, they have a range especially suited to Raynaud's and Diabetics). This is followed by a thermal walking sock (currently the ones I've got are from Cotton Traders). Then I wear either a boot sock or a knitted and lined slipper which I buy from Boots in their Christmas range. I always try to took my long johns into the outer sock so that they don't "ride-up" and leave your ankle/bottom leg cold
3) I have found that by creating a single layer all over my body it is a lot easier to cope.
4) I now wear a maxi dress or Cotton Traders T-shirt & Maxi Skirt. I used to wear a Damart long sleeved Silk & Thermal ribbed top and velour trousers. I actually find the maxi long sleeved dresses work very well (he skirt and t-shirt works fine as well). I think it is again because it is a consistent layer. I know maxi length is not always practical, but you could try a midi length.
5) I used to then wear a combination of fleece tops and zipped jackets (as cardigans) mainly from Cotton Traders, occasionally from Damart. Both companies provide fleeces with a feminine touch. As you say the problem is you feel bulky.
6) I now wear cotton cardigan as a jumper (allows you to regulate temperature by unfastening) or wool mix (Woolovers or Cotton Traders) inc cashmere or wool (Woolovers or Cotton Traders). I also buy from Sports Direct online - I find Pierre Cardin, SoulCal, Lee Cooper, and Firetrap give a nice mixture of weights - both mens and womens styles)
7) This is topped with a long cardigan, long jacket or long waistcoat, again Cotton Traders and Woolovers. Coatigans are great for the colder month s- Sept to April :O(
8) If I still need more I wear wraps (the ones which sit on the shoulders). I purchase these from Edinburgh Wool, Cotton Traders, Woolovers, Marks & Spencers.
9) Sometimes I put a long, wide scarf on as well
Yes you are correct things start getting bulky but layers are the best. I have tried wearing one thicker jumper and what happened? I kept getting hot and cold over my body and started getting a Raynaud's attack.
So the thing that I found works best are:
(a) getting a consistent all over layer. As I said I did this with Damart Thermals and now I have two consistent layers by wearing a maxi dress - which makes me feel very feminine.
(b) I also find wearing long "cardigans", over 30in is good, 35" to 45" is great.
(c) Adding wraps. shawls, etc to your wardrobe - they are less bulky than a jacket, they are easy to slip on and off as your body temp changes, they look elegant and feminine.
(d) not to do with keeping warm - I try to buy clothes that are bright or pale so that they look ok in summer eg winter white is usually a nice vanilla or pale cream which can easily pass as a summer colour.
These are the people I mainly buy from - usually internet or catalogue/phone. Most of the companies always have clearance items and often have special offers, so it is worth registering with them if you like the look of their clothes.
Damart make thermal "Normal" clothing such as trousers and jumpers and tops and blouses. They also make a good long lasting fleece trouser. Although this is casual, it does have a straight bottom and it is cut for women (as opposed to unisex jogging bottoms)
Patra - have a great range of silk and silk cashmere tops, blouse, etc. Silk is naturally thermal - it may strike a little cold to the skin but I find it warms up quickly and works fine over a thermal vest.
Cotton Traders - provide well sized clothing in different warmths. It is generally casual or smart casual. Lots of tops, cardis, coatigans but good range of trousers, some skirts, some loungewear, etc.
Woolovers - mainly tops, cardis, coatigans, etc but some knitted dresses and trousers. Materials are pure Cotton, Lambswool, Merino, Cashmere and mixtures thereof
Edingburgh Wool - I use these mainly for wraps (also known as Serapes). I buy shawls but look at the dimensions first - I find that sometimes they are a bit to short to stay around me.
Sports Direct - there is always a sale on. The quality and weight varies a bit, but then when you only pay £6 for a men's Pierre Cardin Jumper it doesn't matter so much if it doesn't last very long - and it gives you an excuse to buy some more clothes :O)
Apologies for the length of the reply - I hope it helps.
Frillyhilly answer seems fairly comprehensive, although I like M&S heatgen thermals, silky and lightweight, good next to the skin and easy to slip other layers on top. They all usually do a lined, washable wool trouser, not in stock yet. Landsend do a fleece trouser, although again not yet in stock. I like alpaca socks, just as warm as cashmere, but much more hard wearing. Best of luck in keeping warm, not easy I know.
Don't forget your neck! I like a wool neck warmer maybe to match my fingerless gloves, and even a second scarf. Haven't found the perfect hat yet though...
Raynauds has kicked in big time for me this year. I already have APS 'sticky blood' and hashimotos thyroid so another auto immune issue is now in play. It's currently winter 'down under' and just recently I've taken to wearing socks on my hands in bed as gloves seem too restrictive. And fingerless gloves are my new found best friends. And scarves.
Hi,vI buy cuddle Duds. Not the fleece. I love them. Keep you warm can wear under your clothes, or as a top. The bottoms are great under sweats etc. Does NOT have designs in material that leaves marks or hurt. I bought several in different colors. I can wear with jeans. Look great , fashionable, hole for your thumb to keep your hands warm. All I can wear right now.
The best thermal underwear you can buy, tops and bottoms. Great socks, a warm hat and gloves and i sometimes use the disposable hard warmers skiers use inside my hood mitts if my hands will be exposed for a long period
I am finding thin layers good & strangely the humble cotton vest top has been useful, I also have some with a silk content that are helpful too as I hate feeling ‘bundled up’. I do like a base layer & the bamboo/charcoal ones or the merino wool ones have been game changers when on back of the motorbike or just really cold days. My son bought be back socks from Australia with possum & mohair & they are fantastic for really chilly days. I also find my doc martens / socks great for warmth. I also have a mohair cardi which is a useful thing along with some pashmina type wraps that can be thrown around as an extra layer but still look quite nice too.
I'd advise Icebreaker (or similar) 100% Merino layers from the skin outwards. Merino is warm even in very thin layers (so layering up doesn't end up so bulky in total).
It's pricy - but I've been wearing and rotating the same Icebreaker payers for more than 10 years, so I figure I have my money's worth ... I've worn the T-shirts summer and winter during that time! Contrary to other people's suggestions, I go for all black (you know, Chanel's advice that black is always stylish!) Black is also generally 'thinning'! And I add a flash of colour like a bright scarf or something. And because everything goes with everything, I actually buy less clothes overall, so save money that way too.
Merino also is anti-small so you don't have to wash it after every wear, which increases the life of the garments. But do use moth sachets the cupboards, or know someone who can still operate a needle and thread (I can't because of calcinosis) for any little holes that appear.
It’s another one of those ‘different for everyone’ things but for me in most places it developed really quickly to a peas sized protrusion and then just stopped and sits there not changing. So I don’t really think about those bits anymore except making sure they are well moisturised so the skin doesn’t split. But the ones that are deeper inside the fleshy pad of the top index fingers are different. They developed slowly over years, but any time I knock them they’ll suddenly grow a lot, even overnight, and start hurting a lot. Then it’s a case of being very careful the skin doesn’t split and an infection get in. Which can happen very quickly and I end up using the fucidic acid (antibiotics) ointment I was prescribed and keeping it in sterile dressings, sometime for a few weeks till it has healed.
But if it escapes infection, or once that has healed, the calcinosis seems to sort of evaporate out of the finger by osmosis, the pain from the swelling eases and I realise that I’m back to normal.
The ‘knock’ that starts the cycle can be as simple as touching the table top a bit more firmly than ususal. Or misjudging slightly the distance of my hand to a coffee cup. Definitely includes using a keyboard or clicking a mouse too often in one go, so computer based employment is hard. I’ve realised that over the years I’ve learned to keep my index fingers curled in a bit, unused and out of the way. Or if housework, doing the shopping, diy or lugging rucksacks is on the horizon, I wear a big sticking-out plaster to remind myself to be careful!
Thank you so much for your reply, mine is somewhat different...bits are the same...oddly seem to get worse with taking calcium!?? And I have osteoporosis!!++..wish there was a calcinosis group, do you know where there is one? Would love to speak more on all this..
I don't know about a calcinosis group, but the SRUK did a webinar about it recently which I assume will be available other Youtube channel (I think here youtube.com/@WeAreSRUK. the talk is here: youtube.com/watch?v=bTUtT9B... but there are lots of other useful talks inter videos tab ... one on digital ulcers and wounds, for eg).
Or if you have a local/ regional SRUK support group that has meetings or zooms you could ask others about it. I've learned a lot about how to look after things from other members of our group (the Sussex one).
From the webinar, I get the impression no one knows what causes it; taking calcium doesn't make it worse as they act through different channels in the body; in itself it's not harmful an any way; its just that, being usually in areas of greater wear and tear there is a risk of the skin breaking and letting in infection, which with Raynaud's and Scleroderma we find hard to fight off coz not enough blood arrives to the location to fight the baddies.
Hope you find people to talk with and maybe answers to some of your questions in the recording of the webinar.
I know the original post is 6 years old, but it looks like people are still replying and finding the info useful, so here's what I find helps in the winter (from someone with systemic scleroderma and severe Raynaud's):
- As everyone has been saying, layers are so much better that one thick item of clothing. Also remember to keep your core warm, and prevent heat loss from your neck and head by wearing a scarf and hat.
- For clothes: Like others, I'm also a big fan of the M&S Heatgen range. Their long-sleeved T-shirt tops look like normal clothes, so you don't need to hide them under other clothes. They do tops in different levels of thickness - the thinner ones have a more satiny feel and are great for wearing under other clothes as they aren't bulky, and the thicker tops are great for wearing as a normal long-sleeved top or under a jumper if it's really cold. It looks like they now do lots of trousers and leggings options too (even thermal jeans), although I haven't tried these yet. A colleague also suggested Uniqlo's thermal range to me, but I haven't tried these yet. Woolly tights can also be easily worn under most trousers and don't add the bulk that leggings do. Longer-length chunky cardigans are great for wearing over a long-sleeved M&S Heatgen top to keep my core warm.
- For footwear, I find boots better, because you can normally wear thicker socks with them. When it's really cold, I wear 'Just Sheepskin' brand boots, which has a sheepskin lining. I layer a pair of normal socks, a pair of thicker socks (sometimes thermal socks or slipper socks), and then the boots. The boots weren't cheap to buy, but I've been wearing them for years now and they really make a difference for my Raynaud's. Other fleece-lined boots don't seem to keep me as warm. For something smarter/dressier, knee-high heeled boots can be worn with skinny jeans or leggings tucked into longer socks, with the boots on top. In the house, some fleecy slippers/slipper boots work well.
- For hands, my favourite is a pair of M&S cashmere-lined leather gloves (or other warm fleece-lined leather gloves), because I can keep them on for driving, paying in a shop, etc. I also have warmer options like Ugg mittens, but find having to keep taking them off to use my hands defeats the purpose.
- Hats and scarves: I'm a big fan of blanket scarves when it's really cold, and they can look quite fashionable too. They're also great for doubling up as a lap blanket while I work! And a woolly beanie hat or bobble hat can make a big difference. I've recently been given a thermal Heat Holders one, so will be trying that out this winter.
- Outside of clothes you can wear, my biggest help in the winter is my faux fur heated throw on the sofa. If I'm really cold, this warms me up fairly quickly. Again, it's not cheap to purchase, but is economical to run and the one thing I'd struggle to live without. I'm looking to get something similar for my desk chair for working from home. I also have a heated electric sheet on my bed - which again I'd struggle to manage without.
-And finally, just a reminder to make sure your Raynaud's is as well controlled as possible, using appropriate prescribed meds if needed. I'm currently on sildenafil, bosentan (to prevent ulcers) and going to have iloprost infusions to help me get through the winter. Speak to your doctor if you think your Raynaud's isn't well controlled at the moment.
I hope that helps. I have to be honest, I dread winter each year, and really struggle with feeling cold even with the above measures taken, but little things can add up to make a difference and take the edge off the cold. Stay warm everyone!
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