how to warm up

[Mividauk2]

i am looking for tips in how to warm up, what works for you?drinks, type of blankets, hot water bottles? Type of clothes?when you are outdoors? Etc.

not nice to live with hypothyroidism

[RedApple Administrator]

Mividauk2, Possibly the most important tip is to make sure your thyroid medication is optimum for you! Without good levels of thyroid hormone, we struggle to be warm.

[Mividauk2 in reply to RedApple]

but in the meanwhile. While the meds start working and eventually reach optimal levels, what can I do?

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Mividauk2]

Exercise is always good for warming up. But I remember when I was first diagnosed and not on my optimum thyroid medication, I was too weak to move around much and spent a lot of time on the sofa with a lightweight fleece throw over me. I didn't go outdoors much because I was too ill. Current fashion trends mean you can legitimately live in PJs all day, every day! 😀

[Mividauk2 in reply to RedApple]

thank you 💖 I just had cataract surgery (vision and hearing affected by hypothyroidism) can't exercise until doctor say is ok. But yes exercise helps. I was very weak a few months ago and pilates has been helping me. Can't wait to go back.

Many years ago I lifted so many heavy weights at the gym and did so many squats...ironies.

I got 2 blankets right now and thick duvet plus hot water bottle. Hands still icy.

[Vickijw in reply to Mividauk2]

can i say i use fingerless gloves bought from turtle doves- they are the best and keep hands very warm

[DippyDame]

Layers!

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to DippyDame]

Yes DD, The Hitchhikers Guide says The secret of Life is 42 - but I know it’s not. The secret of life is layers’

Seriously though Midivauk, my thyroid is fine at the m9ent but I really feel the cold - I feel the heat too - my husband says my body thermostat if wonky.

Anyway, I bought some thermal high neck, long sleeved underwear from M&S . I also bought their thermal shorts and wear them over my pants and this year I have splashed out and bought their thermal socks. They are amazing! No more cold feet. Nor do they cause sock marks on my ankles! I’ve got thermal tights but don’t like the feeling of wearing them under trousers. I’ve got a pair of fleece lined walking trousers too.

I have fingerless gloves for arthritis that I like to wear both indoors and out and also for outside I have hand warmers - I bought mine from FatFace last year, they are fuzzy and lovely to wear and I find they keep my hands warmer that gloves with fingers. Then a scarf of some sort round my neck both indoors and outdoors is really helpful too and I top it all off with a warm jumper that will fit over all of my layers.

When I had a dodgy shoulder last year my husband bought me a heated cape that is really nice to wear in the evening when I’m watching TV - or anywhere else near a plug. Lakeland plastics have a nice heated poncho that is much larger than the thing I’ve got - it’s quite pricey though but I bet that would be good. I often sit with a hot water bottle on my knee when I’m reading or watching TV. If all else fails I go sit in a nice hot bath, then fleecy pyjamas and a fleecy dressing gown over my clothes works well. I sleep under a down duvet with a beautiful wool blanket over it. When all else fails I use those self heating Cura Heat heating pads for people with arthritis - you get them in Boots and Tesco. I stick them on my lower back, for years I stuck them directly onto my skin then I read the instructions and discovered you’re not meant to do that so now I try to have s9mething between it and my skin.

Like you I do Pilates - I go three times a week, once in person and twice on Zoom plus I usually walk for an hour every day.

Hope some of my tips are useful for you 😉

[tattybogle in reply to DippyDame]

my solution is layers too ,but .... "these are not just any layers ...these are silk and cashmere layers ".......

(if you can't afford silk shirts and cashmere pullovers , go visit some charity shops in well to do country market towns like erm ... Harrogate .

oh ....and putting a hat on indoors .... and sleeping on a sheepskin rug , or two ... or three

[nellie237]

I know how you feel, I've always got cold hands and feet, and sometimes my bum. I don't know if it's the hypo/poor circulation or bisoprolol. If I'm at home sitting still you'll find me in a fleece, fingerless gloves, thick wool socks (always) and sheepskin slippers.

I really don't know how much is thyroid related for me because I've been slightly over-medicated.....and still cold.

[Ellie-Louise in reply to nellie237]

I ordered a pair of sheepskin slippers yesterday because I have some short winter boots with wool linings and remembered how warm they are.

Recently, because we are trying to do without heating the house until we really have to, in order to save huge electricity bills, I have been sitting in the evening with a hot water bottle under my feet on the floor, and a blanket over my legs.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

I have an electric throw or blanket on my sofa. Cheap to run, heats up fast and keeps me cozy. When it gets a lot colder I have some fingerless gloves for either indoor or outdoor wear. Layers of clothing are key.

What were your latest blood results? I'm hoping once I add some more hormone I won't need all the warm stuff so much!

[humanbean]

I've recently bought some vests, both long-sleeved and short-sleeved.

I bought the plain ones sold for men from M&S, despite being female - men's clothes are usually much better quality, often cheaper than women's clothes, thicker, and don't assume that necks are 18 - 24 inches wide.

When I get round to measuring myself I'm going to buy some long-johns too, but I might buy women's ones, although I'm not certain yet.

Walking socks are good for keeping feet warm, both in bed and out of it, but if you buy ones for bed make sure they are large, soft, loose and don't leave elastic marks.

I've also fished out some old hoodies that I'd stopped wearing, and I'm putting the hood up indoors - it makes a surprising amount of difference.

Looking at the problem from another angle, I discovered several years ago that getting my iron/ferritin as close to optimal as I could also made me feel warmer, although in terms of my actual body temperature it made no difference.

I'm considering buying some of those huge blanket poncho type things. I think they are also called "blanket hoodies" or "wearable blankets" or Snuggies. Amazon has a lot available. I would only be wearing them at home, so they don't have to look great.

A few weeks ago I also bought a triple pack of rubber hot water bottles, just in case the one I have decides to spring a leak.

I would also like to get some fingerless mittens or gloves, but haven't got round to that yet. I might knit them myself, although I haven't knitted for many years. The ready made ones I find online are often referred to in reviews as being absolutely terrible quality and they fray within days.

My problem with body temperature starts with my nose (which runs in the cold), then my feet and hands, then my bum. On a really cold day my boobs get cold too!

Since turning off the heating I'm having trouble getting my clothes dry too. And I find it difficult to decide whether a garment is still damp or is just cold.

[Mividauk2 in reply to humanbean]

omg I never realised that about drying clothes. I always though they were damp and now I am double thinking.

[Hidden]

I boil the kettle, put the water in a bowl with some cold water and then put my hands and feet in it, then dry the feet throughly when they’re warmed up sufficiently and then put one two LOOSE layers of socks, the layers need to be loose because there needs to be enough space to trap air in to keep the feet warm using the trapped air. If any of that made sense 😅

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

How long on this dose

When were your thyroid levels last tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

Sounds like you are on inadequate replacement dose levothyroxine

[Mividauk2 in reply to SlowDragon]

I am not expecting medicines to start working that soon.

I am having blood test every 4 weeks so my doctor up my medicine. I am on 75 mg

during my pregnancies and breastfeeding times a few years ago I would have horrible freezing attacks I was so scared plus I was on over 150mg of Levo

so I have this cold feelings since childhood I want tips on how to deal with the cold while I get "optimal levels" one day..

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mividauk2]

so why was levothyroxine reduced so dramatically from 150mcg to 75mcg

Likely vitamin levels crashed too with such large dose reduction

[HowNowWhatNow]

when you wear lots of layers think about what the outside layers will be. If you wear Heat tech or other thermals made of polyester and other man made fibres underneath natural clothes I find it makes me more sweaty (despite being cold) than natural fibres. You may / not have this problem.

I recommend a cotton base layer and then a merino polo or thin jumper (Uniqlo in my case) and then another couple of layers. I also wear cotton tights under trousers - bought about 2 sizes too big so they don’t pinch your toes - and a thin pair of socks on top. You can buy wool insoles cheaply on the Internet. I have them in my wellies.

I find the trick to outwitting poor circulation - if you have that as part of the picture - is to keep moving to keep it at bay. So an alarm that goes off every 20 / 30 mins, reminding you to keep going, helps in that regard.

Spending time in public places is also good. I never feel as cold out and about as I do at home, even in the supermarket freezer aisle. Part of this must be the moving around.

Recommend wool fingerless gloves, too.

A friend who has poor circulation makes a thermos of tea in the morning and drinks from it as the day goes on. She says that helps. She also uses heated gloves when running on cold days and raves about them.

And you can try ginseng, ginger, gingko biloba and any of the other supplements / spices that claim to help with circulation.

[Lizzab]

a good quality ice cream try haagen daz vanilla. No I'm not joking.

a bavarium heat pad is low in cost to run. Put your feet on it.

[Mividauk2 in reply to Lizzab]

🤣🤣🤣

[humanbean in reply to Lizzab]

Do you mean those pads for keeping lizards and snakes warm in a vivarium? It sounds like a really good idea for a bunch of hypothyroid people - and the low wattage would make them very cheap to run.

[Lizzab in reply to humanbean]

yes that's what I mean.

[HandS]

hi - I’ve been hypo for 20 years and know that awful cold feeling ! I’m actually really well and happy with my meds - but I always have cold feet! Especially at night - I wear socks in bed or I can’t sleep. But I recently bought a heated fleece from Amazon - think the brand is Warm Home - I can find link if you wish. It is AMAZING ! At night I plug it in and within 10 mins I’m toasty as anything - I use it if I’m watching telly and usually after half an hour I switch it off and am warm all evening . It can be sleep inducing though ! I wish I’d had one years ago . Best wishes

[Mividauk2 in reply to HandS]

oh yes please, it sounds fab!

[HandS]

It’s the CosiHome heated throw : I got mine from Amazon but they have their own website too. It’s gone up in price since I bought mine 😕

This ! CosiHome fleece

[Mividauk2 in reply to HandS]

well not surprised with this government....

 thank you. It looks perfect.

[HandS in reply to Mividauk2]

I know 😞…..I did look at quite a few and read reviews on other sites before I took the plunge - saw one in my local Dunelm which was over £100 and not nearly as nice. This one disconnects and is washable : it’s lovely and soft : I love it - and so do my whippets 😂😂

Dog asleep Under blanket

[BeeOrchids]

I was told HeatHolder socks which are 2.3 tog, very thick and fleece lined, are good. My friend swears by them. Can be found sometimes apparently in Poundland and Poundstretcher so worth looking out for. I will be. I also have invested in a heated throw, again told these are wonderful

[Annajames]

I find Thermoskin fingerless gloves for arthritis to be absolutely wonderful. They are lightweight neoprene and make your hands and fingers feel warm and toasty, which in turn can help warm the rest of you. A good thermal long sleeve top - men’s thermals are far more effective than women’s. Comfier too! Lots of layers. Heated over blanket at home. In the worst of the winter I’ve been known to tie a mini hot water bottle to a long, wide ribbon and wear it under my coat. Reusable heat packs in pockets help too.

[Workingitout]

I know you are looking for tips while medication kicks in, but l found my feeling of being cold all the time was due to having low vitamin B, it is so much improved since supplementing and l no longer walk around wrapped in a blanket for most of the year. I also bought an electric heated throw this year due to the rise in energy prices, it's great for sitting at my desk working and means l haven't needed to put the heating on in the day yet.

[Tillyard]

for when you can’t exercise, and you can’t do that all day. Long hot water bottles ( like a snake!), some have tied for you to fasten around your body. A revelation to me and lovely in the evening. Gilets made of down, often in charity shops and I also find if my mech and upper chest is warm that helps. Thin but windy scarves.

[Knip]

It sounds contradictory but twenty minutes outside and I come in and feel 'oh so much warmer' than I did before I went out! Guess it's mix of often painful exercise coupled with the change in temperature. I have to try to do the former for my Rheumatoid Arthirits...so it's mind over matter, hard as it is sometimes! Take care, I have enjoyed reading the above comments and will re-read them later. Take care everyone, remember that we matter!

[N6ZY]

I split my pills in half, and have half in the morning when I wake up, and the other half mid afternoon. Since I started doing this, I have only felt really cold on a couple of occasions. Just remember to time it so that you have the required gaps before and after taking food. Works for me anyway!

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

I find wearing a buff or scarf makes a huge difference 😉... and all the other tips above!