Top tips to keep warm in the winter with chronic illness and chronic pain
If you’re new to my blog, when I talk of chronic illness and chronic pain it’s because I am diagnosed with M/E/CFS, Fibromyalgia and Joint Hypermobility. I’m now 10 years into living with these conditions. Over the years I’ve become a dab hand at being resourceful at ways to keep warm in the winter with my chronic illness. All without having to blast my heating 24 hours a day.
In very simple terms my illnesses mean I am constantly exhausted and I’m in pain ALL OF THE TIME! We may say we are ‘fine’ but internally our bodies are screaming. Check out our ‘I’m fine’ code here.
As our house has been extended our bedroom is in a Dorma loft. That would mean me having to heat a 3 storey house with only me in it, when my husband and son are at work.That just doesn’t make any financial sense to me to do that. Just call me Scrooge!
So I have become a bit creative with it all. And I wanted to share my top tips to keep warm in winter with chronic illness and chronic pain,
So, here are my top tips to keep warm in winter with chronic illness and chronic pain
- WHEAT HEAT PADS
These are a godsend in my view. They come in all shapes and sizes. Wheat heat pads are very cheap to buy and provide instant heat when you want to warm up or help with pain levels. Simply pop it in a microwave for about a minute and you’ll have about 15 minutes of gorgeous direct heat.
2. HOT WATER BOTTLES
These are pretty obvious but actually not everyone uses them. I have several ( and I’m also lusting after one of those long full body length ones) and they can be found in pound shops or charity shops. Hot water bottles will definitely keep the heat longer than a heat pad. So, when I’m sat on the sofa or at my table working, I rest my feet on one and that keeps me warm for quite a while. If my feet and hands are warm I will be warm …………genius, right?
3. FLEECE BLANKET
Again this is common sense and most people will generally have throws over their sofa too. Therefore, you have no excuse. Never underestimate the power of the humble blanket. Lets face it even if you have to answer the door to the postman a blanket is a step up from your dressing gown. I have a basket in my lounge with several blankets in there and I can tell you they are well used.
4. ELECTRIC HEAT PADS
I bought myself one of these a few years ago. It is shaped to sit on your shoulders and has several heat settings and a timer, so it will cut off after a certain amount of time for safety reasons. This is perfect for when I am tapping away on my laptop. Not only does it keep you warm but it also helps to keep the after pain in my neck and shoulders, due to the hunching over, to a minimum.
I love the fact it has a few heat settings and it is a gradual heat that isn’t too overwhelming or distracting when you are trying to work. They are reasonably priced and can be easily found on Amazon, or places like B&M stores.
5. WRIST WARMERS
OK I can actually hear you rolling your eyes at this one and shouting something about not being a granny. But hear me out, woollen wrist warmers do exactly what they say on the tin. When you are tip tapping away on a laptop the first thing that will get cold is your hands. Wearing snugly woollen wrist warmers totally counteract that. Think of them as an extension to the sleeves of your most favourite woolly jumper.
They do not disrupt you from tapping away or using your phone, and as a blogger that’s a good percentage of what we do. Anyway, I swear by them so in my opinion don’t knock them until you’ve tried them.
6.THERMALS
Most people when they think of thermals probably think of going skiing, and I know we don’t exactly live in the Arctic but I tell you thermals are where it’s at. They can be bought as cheap as chips from somewhere like Primarni. Thermals work brilliantly under comfy clothes on those days you will be at home all day. The extra layer works a treat and because it’s thermal means you wont look like the Michelin man in 15 layers of clothes trying to stay remotely warm. Go on try it and let me know if you agree.
So, there you have it. My favourite top tips on keeping yourself warm in winter when you have chronic illness and chronic pain. Or even just if you work from home alone. I could list more but these few are probably my ‘go to’ favourites.
Let me know in the comments your favourite tips to keep yourself snugly warm at home in the winter without having to blast your heating 24hrs a day.
