Hi Rayna,

  Don't laugh, but take a lesson from our forebearers. Wear a knit woolen
cap on your head while sleeping; it helps keep body heat in. Also, you
might try thermal tights. I use them and have no difficulty with cold at
all. There's a company in the US with distributors in the UK - Damart is
the name.

  A lambswool mattress pad may also be of some help. You can get the ones
that are heated, with dual controls, depending on the size of your bed.
With my adjustable bed with massage, I was advised not to use the form
fitting heated mattress covers nor electric blankets that one covers with
as the bending feature of the mattress may break a wire in the blanket or
pad creating a potential fire hazard. I'm looking into the heated mattress
cover that is not form fitting for next winter when I'll be a year older
and more crotchety than I am already :) There's one company that sells
adjustable beds with heat, but I was told by an insurance agent that
they're not recommend as they can nullify a household  insurance policy.

  Taking niacin before bed if you have circulatory problems, starting at
low doses, will also help with the cold factor of winter :)

  Hope this helps.

Cheers!

Carla
http://www.brunnet.net/terrier


Rayna Lamb wrote:

> Hi everyone.
>
> We have now crashed into winter over here, and I am having my usual
> difficulties with the season.  I have difficulty keeping warm in bed
> at nights, and the cold accentuates my spasticity.  It is getting down
> to 3 or 4 degrees C here in Perth at night which is very unusual.  I
> bought a duckdown quilt a couple of years ago, which used to do the
> job, and it wasn't too heavy.  I have found that if I have too many
> covers on the bed I can't turn over.  Lately though, the quilt hasn't
> been enough.  Hot water bottles aren't an option, pouring boiling
> water into one is risky, and they are unpleasant when they cool down
> during the night.  I was using a wheat pack which I warmed up in the
> microwave, but I was told that they have a tendency to spontaneously
> burst into flame unless they have air circulating around them
> constantly.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can keep warm
> at nights (I know I'm setting myself up with this question, but I'm
> serious)?  At the moment I'm wearing 4 or 5 layers of clothes to bed
> which restricts my movements in turning over.  Any suggestions would
> be great.
>
> Rayna
> (cold, miserable and cranky, roll on summer!!!)