Ann S

Hi to a fellow Minnesotan!



Thanks for answering! It only started about 2 wks. before Christmas.... my fingertips freeze or turn white(mostly my middle finger on my right hand) from cold. Afterwards, it often turns blue & hurts. I bought heavy mittens, warm the car up, and it still happens even tho it's only about a 5 min. drive to work. I'm going to be real honest with you, (so please no lectures) I'm a smoker. Anyway, I already had an appt. with the Dr. scheduled because of a severe carpal tunnel episode. I've assumed I've had that for yrs. and it was only sporadic that it bothered me, but this time instead of just waking up cause my hands were numb & hurting, there was severe pain all the way to my elbows. Also, some of the numbness would still be there at least an hour after being up. The Dr. prescribed anti-inflamatories & told me to wear braces at night for 2 wks. I quit after about 10 days cause my hands started swelling so much. At the same time, I told the Dr about this new freezing thing, and he said it was poor circulation due to smoking and that if I didn't stop....he's seen people that have had to have their fingers amputated. No matter what I tried, nothing helped keep them from freezing (even when it was only 41 degrees one day). I braved going back to the Dr. & said that even tho I did realize that smoking is very bad for circulation (and everything else), it seemed that this came up rather suddenly, and if it was only the smoking, it should have been more gradual. Before that I used to only wear thin leather gloves, or none at all, and didn't have a problem. I ended up in tears and he said there was nothing that could be done till I quit smoking. Well, I've spent a lot of time worrying and doing research since, and the things I've found out about Raynauds' fit perfectly. Besides the smoking & carpal tunnel, I practically live on Sin-u-tab, because if I don't, I get sinus head aches & ear infection from the congestion I have. Years ago, I was tested for allergies, but they could never get the dosage right for the shots so I gave up on those. It seems to be more constant in the winter because we have forced air heat. I can't seem to find a decongestant without the pseudoephedrine in it. (My reseach listed that drug, smoking, caffine, carpal tunnel, etc. as some of the causes of the one form of Raynauds'). I know I need to quit smoking, but I don't think he has the right to withhold treatment till I do. The onset does seem to coincide with the carpal tunnel episode and my increase in the use of the sin-u-tab.



I've read about the home treatment with the water in a cold & hot room etc. The way I figure that, it would take about 1 1/2 hr. every other day to do, and with work, it's a little hard to squeeze in. I would even find the time, but I didn't think it would work unless they were spaced throughout the day.



Any advice or help would be sooooooo much appreciated. Sorry this is so long, but I thought the details would help. Thanks again, Ann

p.s.I'm sorry, but I'm about to make this longer. I just went to *********** & was reading more info. They mentioned some skin conditions & gangerine. For almost a yr., I've had some areas on my nose that keep peeling & some sores on my lips. The Dermatologist used liquid nitrogin on them & it didn't help (left a scar on my lip). Then he said he had no idea what it was and gave me a sample of cyclocort..didn't help. Also, last summer, the skin on the ends and around the cuticles of some of my fingers got really gross looking. No amount or kind of lotion helps. It gets so thick and awful that I've even trimmed some of it off with a nail clippers (I did show this to the reg. Dr. too). Could these things be related? I have an apt to see a different Dermatologist on Tue. Should I mention this or will she think I'm crazy? I feel like a hypochondriac with all the things going on the last few yrs.(I'll spare you the rest tho, cause I don't see a connection.)

[This message has been edited by Ann S (edited 01-15-2001).]