Ann S
01-12-2001, 11:23 PM
Hi
Raynaud's phenomenon is a problem of the small blood vessels that supply blood to the skin. During an attack, the blood vessels become smaller (constrict), limiting the flow of blood to the hands (more rarely, the feet, nose, or ears). This often causes fingers to turn pale (sometimes blue) and feel cold and numb. As blood flow returns, the fingers may become red and swollen, tingle, throb and become painful. Raynaud's phenomenon often develops when fingers or toes are exposed to
cold.
This condidtion mainly occurs in women & I think I just found a diagnosis for myself - the Dr. couldn't figure it out!! Anyway, after doing research on it, I have a lot of questions before I try any of the treatments. Please respond if you have any knowledge about, or experience with this condition.
Thanks, Ann S
[This message has been edited by Ann S (edited 01-12-2001).]
Raynaud's phenomenon is a problem of the small blood vessels that supply blood to the skin. During an attack, the blood vessels become smaller (constrict), limiting the flow of blood to the hands (more rarely, the feet, nose, or ears). This often causes fingers to turn pale (sometimes blue) and feel cold and numb. As blood flow returns, the fingers may become red and swollen, tingle, throb and become painful. Raynaud's phenomenon often develops when fingers or toes are exposed to
cold.
This condidtion mainly occurs in women & I think I just found a diagnosis for myself - the Dr. couldn't figure it out!! Anyway, after doing research on it, I have a lot of questions before I try any of the treatments. Please respond if you have any knowledge about, or experience with this condition.
Thanks, Ann S
[This message has been edited by Ann S (edited 01-12-2001).]
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Lori
01-13-2001, 04:30 AM
Hi there,
My Mother has Raynauds Phenomenon. She isnt on any medication for it, though medicine she is taking for another problem is suposed to help (it doesnt). She says its very frusterating when her fingers are like that, so if anything works for you,please post back and let me know. :)
Take Care,
Lori
My Mother has Raynauds Phenomenon. She isnt on any medication for it, though medicine she is taking for another problem is suposed to help (it doesnt). She says its very frusterating when her fingers are like that, so if anything works for you,please post back and let me know. :)
Take Care,
Lori
Sheilamom of 3
01-13-2001, 11:05 AM
HI my SIL has it. When the symptoms are bad she eats oranges until she feels better. It's the only thing that works (meaning not tangerienes or grapefruit )
Ann S
01-13-2001, 05:29 PM
Lori,
Does your mother live in a cold climate? I live in MN and I warm up my car, wear heavy mittens, and only drive 5 min. to work, and my fingertips freeze and turn white, then blue.
I'm going to try cutting out some of the things that can cause the one type and see if that can help. I think the home treatment reccomendation(with the water) sounds good, but with working, I don't know how to fit it in my schedule.
Thanks for the responses, Ann
p.s. I didn't read anything about fruit helping it
[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 02-20-2003).]
Does your mother live in a cold climate? I live in MN and I warm up my car, wear heavy mittens, and only drive 5 min. to work, and my fingertips freeze and turn white, then blue.
I'm going to try cutting out some of the things that can cause the one type and see if that can help. I think the home treatment reccomendation(with the water) sounds good, but with working, I don't know how to fit it in my schedule.
Thanks for the responses, Ann
p.s. I didn't read anything about fruit helping it
[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 02-20-2003).]
Lori
01-15-2001, 01:31 AM
Hi Ann S.,
I talked to my Mother and she said that her's was triggered by Verapamil (spelled wrong maybe?) which is a high blood pressure medicine that she had to stop taking because of the Raynauds Phenomenon. Unfortunately she kept the disease. She did some research and discovered that Alpha, Beta and Calcium blockers can cause it. The doctor told her to move out of Minnesota (yes,we live here too, oddly enough! *laugh*) and avoid stress.
Thanks so much for the link, she's still researching it and trying to find ways to aleviate it also. If we find anything that works for us, we'll post back.
Take Care :)
Lori
[This message has been edited by Lori (edited 01-15-2001).]
I talked to my Mother and she said that her's was triggered by Verapamil (spelled wrong maybe?) which is a high blood pressure medicine that she had to stop taking because of the Raynauds Phenomenon. Unfortunately she kept the disease. She did some research and discovered that Alpha, Beta and Calcium blockers can cause it. The doctor told her to move out of Minnesota (yes,we live here too, oddly enough! *laugh*) and avoid stress.
Thanks so much for the link, she's still researching it and trying to find ways to aleviate it also. If we find anything that works for us, we'll post back.
Take Care :)
Lori
[This message has been edited by Lori (edited 01-15-2001).]
Ann S
01-15-2001, 11:01 PM
Lauri,
I just got a call that one of my blood tests was positive for connective tissue disorder. It's also one of the causes, but they have to do more tests to try to narrow it down to which one. I've had a bunch of unrelated things (or so I thought) over the last 18mo. that other Drs. haven't been able to figure out and now it's possible that they might be conected to this. There's a person on the 'Rare Disorders' health board that responded to a similar message that I posted there. She's from MN too and says she works with people that have Raynauds'.....so I'm hoping for some help there. She reccomended going to Google.com and do a search there...I did & it came up with some really good information sites too. Keep checking here & I'll let you know what treatments I try & how they work. Ann S
I just got a call that one of my blood tests was positive for connective tissue disorder. It's also one of the causes, but they have to do more tests to try to narrow it down to which one. I've had a bunch of unrelated things (or so I thought) over the last 18mo. that other Drs. haven't been able to figure out and now it's possible that they might be conected to this. There's a person on the 'Rare Disorders' health board that responded to a similar message that I posted there. She's from MN too and says she works with people that have Raynauds'.....so I'm hoping for some help there. She reccomended going to Google.com and do a search there...I did & it came up with some really good information sites too. Keep checking here & I'll let you know what treatments I try & how they work. Ann S
Lori
01-16-2001, 02:18 AM
Ok, thanks Ann S.! I will do the same :)
Take Care,
Lori
Take Care,
Lori
MOULTON LAVA
02-07-2003, 04:14 PM
Hi
Have you tried acupuncture, it really does work. After having this for years I went to see an acupuncturist and she's cured it ever since.
Good luck
------------------
Have you tried acupuncture, it really does work. After having this for years I went to see an acupuncturist and she's cured it ever since.
Good luck
------------------
dmbfan
02-08-2003, 11:21 AM
I too, have Raynaud's, and I too live in MN!!
I don't have a lot to offer for ideas to help...however I will share with you that it affects me most when I'm wet/damp..not necessarily cold. My worst bouts with it have occurred in the summer doing activities in the water. I've also found that air conditioning in the summer is awful for my case. I experience more episodes in the summer simply because of over-aircondidtioned rooms than I do in the winter. I run a lot, and in the spring, fall and winter, if I don't shower right away when I get back indoors and stay sweaty for any amount of time (even in a very heated room), it will kick in.
I think the most important thing (at least for me) is keeping my CORE body temperature up and my body dry.. My hands don't necessarily have to feel cold for it to kick in... I've invested in many pairs of good quality long underware and wear them everywhere. By good quality, I mean NO COTTON...I mean synthetic materials that will wick any moisture away from the skin as quickly as possible. I find that this helps me.
I've read that caffine is a big no-no for anyone with Raynaud's. Stop drinking coffee and soft drinks!
I believe that staying properly hydrated (with water) also helps to a certain extent.
Good luck!
I don't have a lot to offer for ideas to help...however I will share with you that it affects me most when I'm wet/damp..not necessarily cold. My worst bouts with it have occurred in the summer doing activities in the water. I've also found that air conditioning in the summer is awful for my case. I experience more episodes in the summer simply because of over-aircondidtioned rooms than I do in the winter. I run a lot, and in the spring, fall and winter, if I don't shower right away when I get back indoors and stay sweaty for any amount of time (even in a very heated room), it will kick in.
I think the most important thing (at least for me) is keeping my CORE body temperature up and my body dry.. My hands don't necessarily have to feel cold for it to kick in... I've invested in many pairs of good quality long underware and wear them everywhere. By good quality, I mean NO COTTON...I mean synthetic materials that will wick any moisture away from the skin as quickly as possible. I find that this helps me.
I've read that caffine is a big no-no for anyone with Raynaud's. Stop drinking coffee and soft drinks!
I believe that staying properly hydrated (with water) also helps to a certain extent.
Good luck!
*Silverbell*
02-08-2003, 08:28 PM
Hey Ann I have the same thing..however my Dr was able oto Dx me. I had this ever since high school..which is a very common age to start. There is no cure if there is not an underlying cause to the Phenomenon. (like if you have lupus or athritis or conective tissue disease) Your Dr can to some diagnostic and lab test to find out if there is another reason you have this. I live in IL so my hands turn white all the time..sometimes even in my own house. Just try to keep warm with gloves. I just bought fur lined boots, and they seen to help. Smoking and Stimulents are bad too. Take care
Anonymity
02-12-2003, 06:19 PM
My fiance has this as well, and it drives him crazy!! I thought I'd share a couple of things... maybe they'd help someone??
Has anyone tried iron supplements? I'm told they help for some people. My fiance concentrates on never letting his hands get cold. For example, he's better if he almost always wears gloves, even when reaching into the freezer. Make sure you have warm gloves with thinsulate, or something similar, every time you go outside. Even in the summer, keep a pair of thin cotton gloves (like the kind women sleep in with moisturizer to soften their hands) in your purse or glove compartment in case your hands get cold (like in the movie theater, for instance). Try to never wash your hands in cold water, use lukewarm or warm. Keep your hands well moisturized. Beyond that, we don't know!! You all probably already know and have tried all these things, but still! :)
If I think/hear of anything else, I'll post it. ;)
Has anyone tried iron supplements? I'm told they help for some people. My fiance concentrates on never letting his hands get cold. For example, he's better if he almost always wears gloves, even when reaching into the freezer. Make sure you have warm gloves with thinsulate, or something similar, every time you go outside. Even in the summer, keep a pair of thin cotton gloves (like the kind women sleep in with moisturizer to soften their hands) in your purse or glove compartment in case your hands get cold (like in the movie theater, for instance). Try to never wash your hands in cold water, use lukewarm or warm. Keep your hands well moisturized. Beyond that, we don't know!! You all probably already know and have tried all these things, but still! :)
If I think/hear of anything else, I'll post it. ;)
dchc OI
02-20-2003, 02:46 AM
Hi. I have Reynaud's, but also have severe Orthostatic Intolerance and NeuroMediated Hypotension. I've been wondering if they could be related. With NMH/OI it means I'll stand up and BP readings will fall dramatically--enough to make people in an ER go crazy. Last year I think it fell to 80/50 something and I blacked out.
purple2067
02-22-2003, 01:25 AM
Reynauds is an Auto-Immune disorder. It is sometimes accompanied by other auto-immune disorders like Lupus or Sjogren's Syndrome. Check the Lupus board for a lot more information.
dchc OI
02-25-2003, 05:08 AM
Ask your MD about prescription compression hose.
Raymondo
02-26-2003, 02:43 PM
Just remember that it's important for Reynaud's sufferers to keep their vitamin B12 levels up. It's better to be at the upper limit of normal than lower for this vitamin.