I know it isn't winter for everyone here and I know everyone's EM isn't so severe it causes significant challenges in just leaving the house but with winter upon some of us it creates different challenges when leaving the house. It creates even more difficulties for the many of us that also suffer from Raynaud's.
The extreme changes in temperature from in your home to the cold outside then into the car that hopefully becomes comfortable, back out into the cold , into the too warm building just to do it all in reverse again!!
I think the best advice I can give is to dress in layers. I dress for summer around the house then when I go out I put on a zip on light Jacket or sweatshirt followed by a warm winter coat. For foot wear I wear my slip on warm fuzzy slippers out to my car and keep those on till my car turns comfortable. I can easily take them off even while driving if they start to burn.
When I get to my doctors office or a quick trip to the store I put on my flip flops and wear only my zip on sweat shirt or light jacket for the quick walk inside. Once in I just take off the jacket and I am dressed for summer again better able to manage the inside temperature.
It's a lot of work and a lot of planning but it greatly decreases my flares of both EM and Raynaud's. I also try to minimize my trips outside the best I can.
For those of you that are just borderline able to eat out I was told a great tip from Dancermom. I just ate in a restaurant for the first time in about 2 years and My EM varies. Sometimes I could never dream of it and sometimes I can at least try. I went and had minimum issues until the food arrived. When the food was served the warmth coming off the food started a significant flare causing me to hurry and leave shortly after. As Dancermom suggested ,I could of asked them to wait a few minutes after it was ready before bringing it to the table so it's not steaming hot on arrival. This may have prevented the flare causing me to have to leave. I also go knowing there is a chance I won't be able to stay. If it is too warm I just tell my hubby what I want and he orders it to take home while I wait in the air-conditioned car or outside if it's cool.
What do you do to manage the temperature changes of leaving your house in the winter? Any specific tips for specific places such as restaurants, stores or doctors offices? Thank you so much for your help.