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Raynauds Phenomenon

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Jimmie84, Dec 19, 2010.

  1. Jimmie84

    Jimmie84 New Member

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    Anyone here have this?

    I really don't like to talk much about my health stuff over a car forum but, I'm sort of reaching out about this thing I was diagnosed with in 2006.

    I always remember my hands and feet getting cold when I was 11 or 12. I never really knew why one finger would be warm and the others frozen. My parents never really thought that something more serious could be going on.

    At times it always hurt when they started warming back up from being outside. Very painful as a kid and not so much now as an adult. I never got frostbit from it either.

    I've noticed over the last few years that I have developed small tiny clots or ulcers in my finger tips. The spot is usually painful and the skin seems to thin out a bit.

    If anyone can add anything or is experiencing this, Let me know.
     
  2. Pinto Girl

    Pinto Girl New Member

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    I'm sorry, I don't know much about what you're describing. I'm glad it's gotten better as you've aged, and hope it won't give you too much of a problem.

    PG
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i am not familiar with this, are you seeing a doctor? i wish you all the best!
     
  4. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    I have Raynauds.

    Anything that you can do to increase circulation will help. Take cayenne pepper, shake your hands out a lot, etc. Avoid touching really cold things, like frozen pipes, frozen meat (ewww, anyway), or cans of frozen juice. Niacin is supposed to help, too, as it can give you a "Niacin flush" - which means all your capillaries open up, and you feel like you are having a hot flash. I'm not sure that it helps for good, though. I found as much benefit from cayenne pepper.

    Oh, and I also drink coffee - a mild vaso-dilator.
     
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  5. PriuStorm

    PriuStorm Senior Member

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    I had symptoms of Raynaud's 11 years ago as a precursor to a much more serious auto-immune disease. Since that disease flared up and got very serious, I haven't experienced the 'white fingers' and pain upon reheating to the degree I did then, though I suffer chronically from poor circulation and sensitivity to cold, and occasional pain upon exposure to warmish water. It only needs to be about 60F consistently before I don the thermals and wear them daily in winter whether I am working inside or out.

    My only suggestion would be to be mindful of the rest of your body and if you start seeing other 'weird' symptoms (like unexpected fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain, vomiting, etc.), to see a rheumatologist if you aren't already and get a work-up.
     
  6. Jimmie84

    Jimmie84 New Member

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    If I could live the rest of my days down in the US Virgin Islands, I'd be there by now. :(

    I usually stay warm in the rest of the body. It seems to be in the hands, Feet, Nose, and ears. Sometimes the back of my arms (tricep area) gets cold or the back of my legs (hamstring area) get cold to touch.

    I did find out that my Grandfather had some form of Lupus, Not sure what it was.....

    Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. I will give those a try.
     
  7. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    My mother-in-law had it as a side effect of scleroderma. Scleroderma, unfortunately, is so bad that Raynauds was the least of her problems.

    Rae's advice is correct. Keep your hands warm. Wear gloves when handling anything cold. Get good mittens for outside. Try to keep your circulation going.

    Tom
     
  8. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    According to the mayo clinic online, Raynauds can be either primary or secondary.

    Primary means you just have Raynauds. Secondary means the Raynauds was caused by something else, which may be something worse. Primary usually shows up in children (that's what I have), Secondary usually shows up or worsens in adulthood. If it seems worse, see your doctor to see if there is an underlying cause.
     
  9. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I'm not convinced that the symptoms you're experiencing now are related to Raynauld's, maybe a late symptom of severe disease, but I'd seen the opinion of a dermatologist or rheumatologist regarding the lesions on your fingers.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    those spots on your fingertips remind me of psoriasis. are they pustules?
     
  11. Jimmie84

    Jimmie84 New Member

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    Nothing like that.
     
  12. Jimmie84

    Jimmie84 New Member

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    I think you're onto something. I don't think I may have Raynauds. My issue is that the major veins in my hands and feet, expand and contract more than they normally should.

    I see images of people with Raynauds and mine don't look like that. My Hands will turn slight blue/purple if they get cold.
     
  13. Aunt Bee

    Aunt Bee Returning Member

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    I was told once that I had Raynaulds's Syndrome. Don't know if that is same as Phenom... fingernails used to turn very blue, but not much anymore. I don the gloves/mittens when the temps start dipping below 45 outside.
     
  14. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    When I was younger, if I touched anything cold, my fingers would swell and get very painful.
    I learned a lot of coping techniques, as I iterated above.

    Now that I'm older, and eat much better (I've convinced that proper nutrition and hydration will allow the human body to cope with just about any sort of "dis-ease"), I have much less trouble with it. Only handling ice, frozen things, and really sub-zero weather bothers my hands, and not as much.
     
  15. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    My SO thinks she has it too but i think she spends too much time around sick people and "mentalizes" most of her symptoms.

    she is always cold. wears a hoody at the very least all year long. has EXTREMELY pale skin and does not tan.

    as far as a diagnosis, i would definitely get one from a specialist first. basic symptoms especially ones related to circulatory issues can be caused by a million things.
     
  16. Jimmie84

    Jimmie84 New Member

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    I did see a a Specialist back in 2004 and was diagnosed with Raynaud's in 2004.

    I will have to see her again (if she still practices) And maybe get a second diagnosis on something else. It sounds like people with Raynaud's go through attacks where it's warm and cold on and off. My hands and feet are cold all the time in the winter. Unless I'm indoors and above 70 degrees.

    The lesions are actually small ulcers or clots under the skin. It becomes painful and bright red around the spot. I recently had 4 more in the past week.:(