Need a breathable blanket. Suggestions?

[Theophania]

Hey guys!

I cannot for the life of me keep a comfy body temp in bed anymore. Being a quad blows somedays. I'm freezing either or overheating....wake up every 3 hrs. I never used to have this problem. I'm pretty sure my sheet+knit blanket+comforter combo is flawed somehow. Does anyone have any suggestions for bedding that helps keep your body temp better regulated?

Thanks!

[Jim]

I don't use a sheet between comforter, seems to help.

[Sue Pendleton]

I skip the upper sheet too. Then an open weave cotton thermal blanket made for summers and a pile blanket to trap warm air on top of that. When it has suddenly gotten cold or I have at least I keep a quilt near by. Too warm and I toss my side of the pile blanket on my better half. :0 By comforter do you mean like a down one covered in a duvet? If so you may need a lighter one for summer and heavier for winter. The Company Store has sales on theirs occasionally and we used those for quite a few years before and after my SCI then I thought they were both too hot and switched back to blankets. Yes, being a quad sucks.

[gjnl]

There is a selection of bedding items (mattress pads, sheets, pillow cases, and blankets and even sleepwear) known as "Outlast."
http://www.outlastsleepsystem.com/

Here are some comments from the website:
"Bedding with Outlast® technology keeps you at a steady, comfortable temperature throughout the entire night – so you sleep better, longer!Unlike traditional fabrics that trap heat, products with Outlast® technology respond to each person’s unique body temperature to balance the microclimate under the covers. Outlast® technology is proactive, continuously absorbing excess body heat, storing it, then releasing it to maintain a steady, comfortable temperature throughout the night."

Below is a schematic of their system.

My wife is considering getting the mattress pad and sheets for this summer.

I prefer sleeping with all natural fibers, cotton and wool. 100% cotton sheet, then a 100% wool blanket (different weights for summer and winter) and 100% cotton sheet on top of the blanket. In the winter, I usually use a cotton flannel sheet under a wool blanket, 100% cotton sheet on top.

Another thing to consider is if any of your medications have side effects that might involve regulation of body temperature. If this is something that has come on suddenly, speak with your doctor about possible medical tests that might help explain the change.

All the best,
GJ

[grommet]

Hey guys!

I cannot for the life of me keep a comfy body temp in bed anymore. Being a quad blows somedays. I'm freezing either or overheating....wake up every 3 hrs. I never used to have this problem. I'm pretty sure my sheet+knit blanket+comforter combo is flawed somehow. Does anyone have any suggestions for bedding that helps keep your body temp better regulated?

Thanks!

I don't know if this will help but though I don't have an SCI I do change body temperature a lot while I sleep, from freezing to way too hot. Anyhow, what I do is go to bed with layers, a sheet, cotton blanket, fleece blanket and then a pretty breathable comfortor. I keep shedding and adding layers as I sleep. I'll push off a layer, put it aside and maye two, then cover up a little again as I wake up cold. I don't know your level of ability so this may not be an option. I used to fantasize about a mattress that would blow cold air through it from underneath. Press a button or have a thermostat kick in and cool you. Could use it for heat too. But how to make it? No idea. Summer is coming which means I'm going to be keeping a stack of t-shirts on the bed with me to change into as I sweat through them.

[sjean423]

I have a sheet, and a heavy fleece banket in the winter, or a woven cotton blanket in the summer. This is topped w/ a lightweight comforter (polyfill lined). Then I have a lap size fleecy throw that I add and subtract during the night.

Like the above poster tho, I don't know what your level is .... I am a para.

And on a really cold night, I sometimes add a second throw.

[acleyba]

We use the sheets and blankets from Sleep Number's Temperature Balancing Collection. Works pretty well for my husband (T4) and we haven't had any problems at night with the temperature.

[gjnl]

We use the sheets and blankets from Sleep Number's Temperature Balancing Collection. Works pretty well for my husband (T4) and we haven't had any problems at night with the temperature.

The Sleep Number Temperature Balancing Collection is made with Outlast.

There are some ideas out there for beds with fans, cooling and heating devices.

A mattress with a built in fan from a Japanese manufacturer.
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09..._gadgets/2.htm

A Bed Fan from Brookstone
http://www.brookstone.com/bed-fans

The ChiliPad PLS Radiant Cooling And Heating Mattress Pad. I might have concerns about this one and not being able to sense how hot it gets and the tubes causing pressure, although the literature says the tubes are not noticeable.
http://www.beyondbeds.com/chilipad-c...tress-pad.aspx

All the best,
GJ

[DIGGER]

I fought that freezing/hot thing for years. Tons of covers and blankets to get warm, then waking up gasping for air and sweating I was so hot. Then I found out I can regulate my perceived body temp by just covering my head when feeling cold with a pillow or a folded up towel or small blanket and easy to slide off when warm. Might not work for everyone but it's been my remedy.

[gjnl]

I fought that freezing/hot thing for years. Tons of covers and blankets to get warm, then waking up gasping for air and sweating I was so hot. Then I found out I can regulate my perceived body temp by just covering my head when feeling cold with a pillow or a folded up towel or small blanket and easy to slide off when warm. Might not work for everyone but it's been my remedy.

"Ma in her kerchief and I in my cap." It works in "Twas the night before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore.

All the best,
GJ

[jschism]

We use the sheets and blankets from Sleep Number's Temperature Balancing Collection. Works pretty well for my husband (T4) and we haven't had any problems at night with the temperature.

WOW, a person can buy a lot of blankets for that price.

[Curt Leatherbee]

I bought a egyption blanket (SP, lol) at Target for cheap $$$, works great, it is breathable. With a solid blanket I wake up just too hot, then again I'm in Florida, lol. But just a high quality 600 count sheet and that Target knit breatable blanket work out fine.

[chick]

I don't use blankets. I prefer a heat lamp. I can control heat/temp and the heat feels frikken awesome on my skin. If I get chills, blankets can not warm me up like direct heat.
I use it nearly year-round.

Plus, no sheet/blanket = no tangled mess to bother with.

[gjnl]

I don't use blankets. I prefer a heat lamp. I can control heat/temp and the heat feels frikken awesome on my skin. If I get chills, blankets can not warm me up like direct heat.
I use it nearly year-round.

Plus, no sheet/blanket = no tangled mess to bother with.

It would be helpful if you posted your set up/type of heat lamps, how you mount them/where. Can you take pictures and post them?

All the best,
GJ

[chick]

It would be helpful if you posted your set up/type of heat lamps, how you mount them/where. Can you take pictures and post them?

No pictures of mine on hand at the moment, but the type I use is linked below.

I use the reflective/radiant heaters, which heat surfaces (me!) than the air, so it's more direct and targeted rather than heating the entire room.

These heaters are rather bright, so if you are sensitive to or are bothered by light when sleeping, then this might not be right for you, but that doesn't bother me at all. Actually, the warmth is more soothing for MY sleep, than dark and cold.

I set it pretty close to my bed, where I can reach it and is close enough to keep me warm on the lower setting. I have it on a small rolling table where it's at the height I need and is easy for me to maneuver, as necessary. I do however get the ones with remote so it's easier to control from a distance or from bed.

Two types of these heaters are:

Optimus H-4500 14-Inch Oscillating Pedestal Digital Dish Heater with Remote
(pic was too large when posted here, so just linked it)

Soleus Air reflective heater