topic Re: Raynaud syndrome in Wellness

Raynaud syndrome

panda1234 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 09:51:30 GMT

just wondering if anyone is living with this and has any tips to share.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

catter70 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 12:22:46 GMT

My mother had it. She was told to move to a warmer climate, which didn't help. They did a sympathectomy to help, but not sure that didn't just cause other issues. It is quite painful for hands and feet. Check with your doctor for treatment.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

50Mickey — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 12:28:33 GMT

My sister had it. It was the first symptom of Scleroderma. If you have been diagnosed with this you should be under the care of a rheumatologist. Keep gloves handy. The slighest cool temperatrue would cause her hands to turn blue. She used to run them under warm water to get the blood flowing again.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

Tennesseegal — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 12:34:46 GMT

I have had Raynaud's since I was a teenager. It is especially bad in my hands more than my feet. There's not much that you can do but I have learned a few things. Grocery stores are especially difficult- so wear your gloves when you handle cold items. When outdoors, always wear gloves in the cold weather. Hand warmers are helpful when you are going to be at an outside event. As for gloves- it is recommended that you wear mittens but I don't function very well with mittens. I have found that gloves with a looser weave keep my hands warmer. I have an expensive pair of leather gloves but they are tighter on my fingers which seems to make them stay white longer. My friend bought me some cashmere gloves and they are the best. Hope this helps.

Remember my motto:

Cold Hands, Warm Heart!

Re: Raynaud syndrome

Nonametoday — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 12:39:12 GMT

Has any one of you been prescribed nitroglycerin ointment. Do you take aspirin or NSAIDs. Cashmere and kid or leather gloves a great idea.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

SilleeMee — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:10:08 GMT

I've had it for almost twenty years along with scleroderma. I just keep my hands from getting cold but in the beginning of my scleroderma diagnosis I was put on a Rx vasodilator, nifedipine, so that would help prevent my hands from turning white. I don't take that Rx any more because I have the Raynaud's under control now. I think the curcumin extract I take now (turmeric) has helped tremendously with my circulation as well as with my joint pain.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

LindaSal — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:58:59 GMT

@panda1234 @Tennesseegal is absolutely correct with her tips! I've had this my entire life pretty much, got much worse as a teenager. I never have had to take meds but I try to climate control my hands and feet always! The supermarket is the worse by far. One time I had forgotten my gloves and was in Whole Foods market (which they keep at 40 degrees, I swear) anyway I was having such a hard time, my fingers were so frozen that I could barely feel them (I also keep my credit card easily accessable as this day I could not get it out of my wallet , the cashier had to help me). Lesson learned, I keep a pair of gloves in each vehicle and have to use them most of the year barring July and August !

I always have warm socks on too, the trick is to try to avoid them getting a chill in the first place, which is not always easy.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

MoonieBaby — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 16:05:49 GMT

I have it.

Have had it since I was quite young.

Wintertime:

I wear two pairs of mittens when driving (the first pair is cotton, followed by a wool pair) keeps my finger tips warm.

I wear boots lined in faux shearling.

The grocery stores are murder on my feet if I don't.

I find aspirin has helped (takes inflamation down) and very warm beverages, any kind; hot lemon water, hot tea, hot coffee, bullion, I don't care, as long as I can hold the hot cup.

I even get the symptoms when exercising...particularly in the fingertips of my right hand.

When that happens - I manage to finish the session and then plunge them into very warm tap water.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

KKWA — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 16:41:20 GMT

I have it also. @LindaSal Is right the best thing is to protect your hands and keep them warm. I never hold a cold soft drink, and wear gloves if you get anything from the freezer. One time my Dr and I was talking about taking aspirin, as many older people do, and she said definitely NOT with your history of Reynauds. It is very painful.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

Still Raining — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 17:33:39 GMT

BF has it and she loves cozy socks and gloves of all kinds. I have seen her run warm water over her hands too. There are gloves with fingers for electronic devices.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

millieshops — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 18:16:49 GMT

I wash almost all my dishes by hand - my Reynard-prone fingers love that task.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

BirkiLady — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 20:48:10 GMT

I use a heated mattress pad to keep my hands and feet warm. It does wonders for the pain.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

50Mickey — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 20:57:13 GMT

@Tennesseegal As you said leather gloves can be tight and restricting and the last thing that you need is something that further restricts the blood flow in your fingers. The blue tinge to the hands means the blood vessels are reacting to the cold and closing up so blood is not getting to the extremities.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

IMIV — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 20:58:58 GMT

I have had this for years . Fingertips would turn white and numb.Toes painful. Finally got relief whe MD stated me on nifedipine. Much better very fast

Re: Raynaud syndrome

red&curly — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 02:36:09 GMT

I've had for years mainly my hands.I'm known as the girl with all the gloves! Gloves everywhere. Even to bed as we have a cold house.

Don't take anything. Usually can get by.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

panda1234 — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 04:03:38 GMT

Thank you to all that responded. I can not take a calcium blocker as my legs have swollen. So I will see what the doctor suggests next. It's going to be a long cold winter.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

Flatbush — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 09:15:49 GMT

@panda1234

I have had this condition for about 15 years.

I have never had problems with my feet.

I carry a pair of gloves in my pocketbook and robe all year long. I might even wear gloves when I am on the computer.

One piece of advice the Dr gave me was : in case I needed a blood transfusion, the blood should be warmed up before using. I thought that was a valuable thing to know.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

panda1234 — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 11:09:55 GMT

@Flatbush @Thank you that is a very good tip.

Re: Raynaud syndrome

akaburtonfan — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 17:10:12 GMT

My mom had raynaud's for years. She wore thin winter gloves in the grocery store year round. I bought her a pair of down filled mittens to use if she went outside in the winter. She also wore thin white cotton gloves in the house.

It was kind of freaky to see her fingers when they were blue or white. She had one of those clip on desk lamps set up by her chair in the living room and she would wear white cotton gloves and wrap her hands around the lamp shade for several minutes to warm them up. She would also run them under warm water frequently.
She wore winter slippers year round. I think it was more a problem in her hands than her feet.
I believe she was put on a low dose Norvasc to help -- not sure it did much though.