raynaud's syndrome

[Cindy]

Good morning,

I have a questions for those of you with raynauds syndome. What were your early symptoms and how was it progressed to where it affects your life. Im asking because for the last months my finger tips are super sensitive they turn a bit red when touching something cold. They usually go back to normal with in minutes after stopping touching the cold. Like chopping vegetables that have been on the fridge turns them red but not the 3 phases that I read online. My overall skin has been super sensitive to everything so I dont know if its just my skin being sensitive.

I appreciate your input.  Have a nice day


CINDY

[Pisces24]

I can't tell you much except how it affects me. If it gets too cold, I have two fingers on my right hand that turn completely white. They don't change to any other color until warmed up. They do feel numb but they warm up pretty good and I have no pain associated with them.

My doctor told me once there was some kind of cream you could buy for it but don't remember the name.

[Katybarstool]

Hi Cindy

My initial major problem was cold feet - in the middle of summer I was needing to wear UGG boots in the office. My legs were also very white. The doctor shrugged it off at first, but another doctor quickly diagnosed Raynauds and started me on Nifedepine, which has helped a lot.

My hands were late to join in, and are still more resilient than my feet. But my nose is quite a big problem in the winter. I sometimes think I need a nose warmer for going out! It's not as bad as the poor people who have nipples affected by Raynauds though!

Kathyx 

[SjoGirl]

My hands can crack and bleed and I believe I have neuropathy in my fingers due to Raynauds. My feet are absolutely freezing at night.

My symptoms started about seven years ago after I went through the change.

I would love to know more about the medication as I am not on any and had read the beta blockers are the most commonly prescribed drug for Raynaud's.

I wear crafters gloves at work to keep my hands warm and reduce swelling. I also find that walking a lot helps keep my circulation going and reduces symptoms.

[eija]

SjoGirl, beta blockers aren't used for treating Raynaud's. They are seemed as possible triggers for Raynaud's attacks, because they contstrict blood vessels.

"Some medicines that are used to treat other conditions sometimes trigger symptoms or make them worse. The medicine may cause the blood vessels to narrow. Such medicines include beta-blockers, some anti-migraine medicines, decongestants, and, very occasionally, the contraceptive pill."
(www.patient.co.uk/health/raynauds-phenomenon)

I think I have mild secondary Raynaud's, too. Not dx'd by a doctor, but based on the symptoms.

It started I think last winter, when my toes didn't stay warm with the same clothing that made me comfortable the previous year in way colder weather. My toes (and fingers, too) kept going numb no matter what I did. But I didn't pay any more attention to that, until once I noticed that my hands were looking rather weird when I got cold at work: My fingers were pale, the nail beds were blue and the back of my hand bluish. Then once, after coming from the stable, I noticed in the shower that one of my toes was eerily white - like wax, while the others were healthy red. That has happened a couple of times again since.

I also get weird bluish marks on my toes, like swollen blood vessels. At first I thought it was dirt from my barn boots or wooly socks, but no it's not. And taking something out of the freezer, it's like two seconds of touching it and my fingers hurt like h***. Sometimes even picking up a couple of milk cartoons when shopping makes them hurt.

I've tried to take photos of the discoloration, but somehow my phone camera evens out the colours so that they're hardly distinguishable in the pics. Have to try my real camera when it happens again, maybe that will work better.

I too am wondering about the progression. Somewhere it said that secondary R can progress very quickly - but what is quickly? And does it always progress? My rheumy offered me meds for it last summer when I told him about this, but I said there's no need at least yet, it doesn't bother me much.

[MichBlueEagle]

Hey all,

I haven't been on these boards for a bit. I have recently been diagnosed with Scleroderma on top of my Sjogren's and many other issues since I last posted. I have somewhat updated my signature line to reflect most everything. This now makes everyone correct in them telling me my Sjogren's was my secondary disorder. Thank you to everyone who told me this was the case, with all of my issues. People on this board really know what they are talking about.

My Raynauds did start with just a few finger tips turning white when cold. It has since changed into so much more. Half my hands now virtually turn white to purple. My toes now do the same. I actually have just recently been diagnosed with Vasculitus which can also affect all of my digits.   

I have had digital ulcers which it is something associated with Raynauds. The ulcers need to be watched closely as they can turn into Gangrene. The ulcers I have since learned is also associated Scleroderma. The only thing I can say is to carefully watch all of your digits if your Raynauds gets worse.

Beta Blockers are a big No-No for people with Raynauds. One of my specialists was going to prescribe for my Essential Tremors. Luckily I happened to see another specialist that same day and, he informed me that Beta Blockers cannot be used on people with Raynauds. like previously posted by Eija. I am prescibed Nifedipine for my Raynauds.

Terry

[Elsa]

I always had really cold hands and feet with poor circulation, but just at the beginning of this year my fingers started to freeze every time I handle something cold.  Some of my fingers got inflamed for a period of time and the only way I could get some of the inflammation down was by putting them by the jets in the hot tub.

The only thing the doctor told to me to do was to keep me hands warm but didn't gave me anything for it.  My main problem is that it is really hard to do anything in the kitchen since I am always dealing with things from the refrigerator or freezer.    I looked at the gloves that they have for Raynauds but they are not meant for kitchen uses nor for mixing food.

Have any of you had any of these issues?