Hello Friends!
As the temperatures plummet to unseasonably cold for mid September, I thought I'd share this serendipitous discovery of one economical way I will be keeping warm this winter.
Of all things, it's a cooling gel pad!!!
I bought it way back in the spring in anticipation of a hot summer and the need to cool down. Therefore, I must take full responsibility for the lack of summer here in west Wales.
Since developing Parkinson's I struggle to regulate my body temperature so I don't feel cold when I am cold, or hot when I am hot. I must take responsibility for ensuring I maintain the right core temperature by manually balancing it myself by way of heating and cooling aids.
With no discernible sight of summer, I decided to try it out regardless, so one summer afternoon, I put the pad on my chair and sat on it. It is as simple as that. I immediately felt my back and legs get noticeably colder. However, after about five or ten minutes, I noticed that the pad was now getting warmer, obviously absorbing my body heat, and instead of keeping cool I now found myself getting warmer as the pad absorbed and reflected my own body heat back at me. Not much good as a cooling down aid then. Total waste of money, I thought . . .
or was it . . .
The other evening, I sat here bordering on shivering as the temperatures dropped to unseasonably low. Suddenly, I had an epiphany as I remembered the cooling pad that made me warm! If the cooling pad reflected my heat back at me, would it work now? I put it back on my chair. I braced myself for the cooling surface, shuddered and shivered for a few moments as the cooling phase happened, but then the magic I'd been hoping for happened!
My own body heat started to reflect back on me! Hurrah! It kept me toasty warm all evening! Even when I went to make a cup of tea it retained the heat! More Hurrah! Cheaper than a hot water bottle, and also covers a greater surface area than one too!
Treasure wanted in on this one! He gives it a BIG TWO THUMBS UP!!! 👍👍
If you want to give it a go, just type in "Cooling Gel Pillow" to your search engine. This one is a pillow size one, but larger, bed size ones that would do well on a sofa are available too.
Who'd have thought? Glad that it has worked for you - though in a reverse way :)
ReplyDeleteI know! only problem is it has a plastic cover and can get a bit sticky. TMI, right?
DeleteThat's going to be very useful in the months to come.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, then again I hope it will be a mild winter!
DeleteGood for you Deb! Where there's a will there's a way. Surely since it's Treasure approved it's a winner. Have a happy Sunday, my friend.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's a positive out of what could have been a waste of money.
DeleteHow very strange but a lucky discovery
ReplyDeleteSerendipity!
DeleteThis sounds just great! I've never heard of this -- definitely worth a look!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you can find them over the Big Water!
DeleteGoodness me! That was a turn up wasn't it!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased that you discovered this ... and thanks for passing it on.
All the best Jan
I'm just pleased I remembered what happened when I tried it out!
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