There are several Autoinflammatory/periodic fever syndromes that have flares triggered by cold or cooling temperatures. These syndromes include cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), such as familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS) and Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS), NLRP12/FCAS2, PLCG2-associated antibody deficiency & immune dysregulation (PLAID), and others. (For a list of autoinflammatory diseases in which cold is often a trigger for flares, click here.) According to The CAPS Guidebook, “Cold foods, air conditioning, weather changes or swimming can set off fevers, rashes, aches, and conjunctivitis.” This can make winter, or even working in a climate controlled office with air conditioning, challenging for some auotinflammatory patients.
Here are some tips and recommendations made by patients with various cold-induced periodic fever syndromes to help reduce symptoms in the winter or when in cool temperatures.
This WinterSilks shirt is silk and washable.
Several recommended wearing long john undergarments, layering your clothes, and just keeping skin covered in general so it doesn’t get cold. One of the most recommended clothing brands for this is WinterSilks. The undergarments are made of 100% silk making them warm yet thin – perfect for layering. They are also washable and will last many years with normal wearing. WinterSilks makes several clothing items, including t-shirts, turtlenecks, and sleepwear.
This long sleeve shirt has hidden heating panels. You can find it on Amazon.
Heated Clothing
There is an assortment of battery heated clothing you can wear from jackets, shirts and socks, to insoles for your shoes. Many will even have different heat settings. In some cases the battery pack and charger are sold separately, so make sure you read the product description carefully when ordering. Also read the cleaning instructions. Many heated clothes cannot be washed in a washing machine because it will damage the wiring. Click here to see what Amazon has to offer in its heated clothing department.
This heated pad is highly rated on Amazon.
Electric Blankets and Mattress Pads
Many say having a heated bed is a must. Not just to prevent flares, but to help with aching joints and muscles as well. This Sunbeam quilted heated mattress pad pictured is highly rated. It has 2 controllers, one for each side of the bed, 10 heat setting levels, and it automatically shuts off after 10 hours – so you don’t have to worry that you left it on when you left the house. It’s quilted so you shouldn’t feel the wires running through the pad.
This is what one mom of a child with a periodic fever syndrome had to say about hand warmers:
These hand warmers are a must for us! R. enjoys sledding at least once during the winter months and his sister loves to ice skate. The hand warmers in his gloves/boots keep his fingers and toes from swelling too badly.
Keep some hand warmers in your car, at the office, and/or in your purse so you can have something warm available anytime. Most hand warmers will stay warm for 6 to 10 hours depending on the brand. One thing to keep in mind, when activating the warmer, it does need to be out in the ambient air for usually 15 to 20 minutes to fully activate. If you put it into your shoe or glove too soon, it may not be as warm or last as long as expected. Most unused warmer packs have a long shelf life, so you can save money by buying in bulk.
Hot tea works well, too!