Hello everyone,

It's week two for me on the prednisone and I am really not noticing much of a difference..sigh.

Anyway, I have something that has been particulary bothersome to me and I thought maybe someone else might experience the same thing or have a suggestion for me.

I have Raynaud's so I know it can cause all sorts of problems in your fingers and feet but here is my question. My joints in my fingers are really aching. Even when I am not cold. My veins and small capilleries that run over my knuckles are very prominent. When I bend my fingers you can see every one of them. I also have small little red dots on the sides of each of my pinkies. It almost looks like a blister under the skin.

I notice that the veins in my feet are doing the same thing. Especially one in particular that runs right over my shin bone. This was all happening before I started the prednisone so I now it's not from that.

Anybody have any thoughts on this? I really am worrying constantly about it.

My fingertips tend to stay red most of the time too. I know this might not seem serious compared to alot of the other problems people experience but it has heightened my anxiety a great deal.

My most recent labs from last week were normal again including my ANA and SED rate. I just don't know what to think anymore. I feel so freightened.

Any words at this point would be comforting to me.

Thanks, deb

debill, I have the same kind of veins, don't worry about them. Mine have been this way my whole life just a little more prominant as I got older. Some people just have thinner skin or veins and things that are a little closer to the top. The red things on your pinkies could just be little blood vessels or capillaries that have come to the surface. I have those little red looking blister things all over and the doc has said they are nothing just little blood things that do not harm anything. The older I get ( I'm 56) the more prominant my veins are, but they have always been 'showey'. My son is 28 and he has the same kind of veins, but my daughter who is 30 is like her dad, thick skinned and no showing veins.

Try not to worry.

Thanks Glojer,

You would not believe how heightened my anxiety is. Between the pain, depression and no sure fire dx I am a complete mess. I am struggling with this so badly. It has seemed to consume my life now.

I am getting help for the depression and anxiety but it's a slow battle. I am just tired of being scared. I am sure others can relate to that. I feel like I am such a whining little baby.

I am 31 and have been riding this merry go round for 9 years now. Every doctor says I have something they just don't know what.

Thanks again, and I will try not to worry so much. Deb