Anyone have reynauds like this? Pics

Posted , 3 users are following.

hello all! I was officially diagnosed with raynaud's this year, even though I suspected I had it for many years. My toes turn a nice shade of reddish purple when sitting at my desk and not moving for about 20 minutes or when being exposed to cold. When standing, moving, warm, or elevated they look normal. After exercising, the toes turn bright red and feel hot for about 15 minutes. Anyone have these symptoms? I thought it was only triggered by cold, but I've been told that the pressure change of sitting will trigger it too.

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    SORRY NO ONE's gotten back to you. I'll write later today.

  • Posted

    hi, Christi,

    I've had raynaud's for years now, and the major problem has been hands turning white if I don't use hand warmers or rubber doctor gloves when temps go below 65.

    Never had any foot problems until recently, but now I've noticed my toes feel numb when I climb into bed after sitting for a couple of hours. there is a purple color on top of feet and lower ankles

    I wish you well in dealing with this and hope you don't get depressed.

    take care!

    • Posted

      Sorry Christi to bypass you like this. Eddie, I too have had Raynaud's for very many years but this year (Australian winter) it's really bad. At about your 65 F temp, I can get episodes but really at that temperature my hand circulation is always impaired even without the all white episodes. Now I have been put on nifedipine and though the circulation seems somewhat better the painful fingertips and finger sensitivity is even worse. I have searched for years and find pain mentioned only with returning circulation but mine is there all the time. Have you come across this? Also could you please tell me what hand warmers you find best and how doctor rubber gloves help. I am trying so hard not to touch anything even cool but when you live alone without support and have other health problems it is so hard. Sorry to be downloading all this on you but I am feeling quite low at present.

      Thank you in advance for your help.

      Maureen

    • Posted

      Hi from Maine, USA, Maureen,

      I don't have any meds advice as I don't take anything for Renauds.

      65 is when my hands start getting cold.

      They are always much colder than my partners .

      the rubbergloves form a vapor barrier that make your hands feel warmer, primarily for use inside. I use handwarmers under my mittens and they work well, even at below zero temps.

      I wish you well and am happy you reached out to me!

      Ken (Ed is alias)

    • Posted

      Also, the pain only comes to my hands if I dont warm them up as soon as I can after they get cold. Warm water helps.

    • Posted

      Thank you Ken. I have just read your replies as they don't send me emails when there is a response as they used to. I have ordered a rechargeable hand warmer I found on ebay so that should help. (SRUK in the UK have a better one but by the time I add on the shipping costs to Australia and convert to dollars it is very expensive. Also I found a good looking one on Amazon but they don't ship to Australia at all!) I have a packet of the doctor rubber gloves somewhere, bought long ago but put aside when I didn't need them. I never throw things out but I have searched high and low and can't find these! I have always had some pain in the finger tips, mostly along the sides, and after decades of not knowing why that occurred I read recently that the nerves can become 'irritated' when there is a lack of oxygen. I do wonder whether it can be linked to the Sjogren's Syndrome I have which can sometimes cause peripheral neuropathy. What I do not know is why it has suddenly become so bad this year, 38 years after the Raynaud's first appeared. I find it very frustrating when specialists quote textbook answers to me and refuse to see that I am different! Never mind. It is spring over here, so hopefully things will improve as the weather warms.

      Thank you for replying to me Ken. It is so nice when you find that somebody cares, no matter how far away. I live in Melbourne, bottom tip of mainland Australia, so we are very far apart! It must get very cold where you are. May you have a not-too-severe winter.

      With best wishes, Maureen

    • Posted

      Hi, Maureen,

      I'm glad I could offer some help. I have two of the rechargeable hand warmers too, and I use them to take the chill off my hands when I'm inside. I used the first disposable ones yesterday, as the nights are getting colder. The Hothands ones come in two sizes, 18 and 10 hour. If I use them for less then the max time, I can put them in a plastic, sealed bag until I need them again.

      I'm a Vietnam vet and was almost stabbed to death and I'm no stranger to adversity, so this is just another thing added to a growing longer list of things that could interfere with my happiness, but I can't/won't live unhappy, so I make happy happen!

      I wish you a happy life and as a happy 75 year old, I KNOW YOU CAN MAKE ONE!

      Love,

      Ken

    • Posted

      Dear Ken,

      Thank you for the love. I am 74. I will try to keep going though happiness is far, far away. One day at a time. I will investigate the Hothands. The nifedipine has really helped the circulation but the nerves in my fingers are really unhappy, not just from cold but just touch (including typing). I feel I need to investigate further but don't quite know where to go. If I get some help I will let you know as you have been so kind.

      You have a great attitude to life.

      With love to you,

      Maureen

  • Posted

    forgot to tell you, the handwarmers I use under my mittens are HotHands.

    you can buy a case of 40 for about $23 on Amazon

    I wish you well in dealing with this , Maureen.

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