How I Slayed the Hot Sleep Dragon With a Bed Cooling Device

Ah, when I was young, all I wanted to be was hot. Now, at 51, I am definitely a hottie, but damn it, I’m hot in too many ways. And the worst way is when I’m hot and trying to sleep.

For me, night sweats have been the hardest symptom of perimenopause and menopause. Why? Because when I don’t sleep, everything else feels worse. Without a doubt, they’re my biggest enemy.

Night sweats are like a horror movie

Night sweats might not sound so bad. In fact, it almost sounds like your favorite cuddly PJs. “Oh, I’m just gonna snuggle on into my cozy night sweats!” No. It’s when your body heats up so much that you can’t sleep. You kick off the covers and maybe even crank the AC (if you can convince the other people in your house), but nothing helps because, like a horror movie, it’s coming from INSIDE THE BODY.

Have you looked at your sheets after a particularly sweaty night? It looks like the aftermath of a scene in Alien, with a body-shaped pool of acid. I’m surprised it doesn’t burn a hole straight through to the floor!
Think about how sleep deprivation affects you. You’re moody, you have brain fog, and you drag yourself through the day. I know that when I don’t sleep well, I feel like crap from head to toe, inside and out. I’m achy, I’m exhausted, and I have no energy to exercise. It’s a terrible cycle.

I found a fix

Well, I’ve found a way to slay this dragon. I learned that BED COOLING DEVICES EXIST!

You might be thinking this sounds like some kind of luxury foo-foo item that only rich people buy. You may be going, sure, why not sleep in a hyperbaric chamber while I’m at it? Why not get a car with a massaging driver’s seat? Better yet, just hire a butler!

STOP.

This ain’t no princess splurge. For me, it’s been a game-changer! Truly, it’s been a quality-of-life investment. You can’t put a price on a good night’s sleep.

There are several options out there, but I can only speak to the ones I’ve tried. I bought a BedJet after trying one at a girlfriend’s home, and I ordered it the very next day! It’s a device that blows a gentle stream of air under the covers to cool my side of the bed. You can control the temperature and fan speed, and you can program it to adjust throughout the night.

The solutions aren't cheap, but they're worth it

I shelled out around $500, but once I experienced a good night’s sleep, that number mattered a whole lot less. It was some of the best money I’d ever spent (and I’m cheap). In fact, they have refurbished ones in the $350 range. Just sayin’.

I’ve also tried a much more expensive system called a Chilipad, which uses water circulating through tiny tubes in a mattress pad. How did I try it? Let’s say I briefly dated someone who lured me in with it. It was fancy shmancy and really worked great (even though the relationship didn’t).

It serves the same purpose as the BedJet, but on steroids. It felt much colder, and there’s no air blowing on your skin, which might be important if you’re sensitive to that feeling. Personally, I usually stick to the lowest fan settings for that very reason.

The downside to water-based systems is the price, plus the need to keep distilled water on hand for refills. My air-based device is always ready to go. And I’ll admit, I probably wouldn’t have spent that money if I hadn’t experienced the benefits for myself.

This is not an ad for BedJet or any other cooling device, although I’ve practically become their unpaid spokesperson. I’ve been telling everyone about these things for years!

An added perk

Bonus: You can also WARM the bed. Why on earth would you want to do that? Well, sometimes after a hot flash passes, you actually get chilly. Sometimes you want to slip into a warm bed and then cool it down. It can be strangely fun to play with warm and cold, like those McDonald’s burgers from the ’80s that had a cold side and a warm side. But I digress.

OH! Did I mention that if you have a partner who likes a different temperature, they can get one for their side of the bed, too?

Slay this dragon, and you might be surprised how much relief you get from your other symptoms. I’m so much more of a hottie when I sleep well. I’m happier, I’m rested, I have energy to exercise, and I can actually think! Dare I say, I’m downright glowing.

What’s hotter than that?