Dead white finger tips when really cold?

[RatherBeOnTheMulledWine]

This has happened a couple of times recently, not to all but to two or three fingers. It is also just at the ends, like the last joint to the finger tip.

I think its because they have just got very cold, and I have always had chilblains on a couple of toes since I was little. Maybe its a circulation thing?

I had it last night after DC school carols and as my fingers recovered you could see the blood flow restored so was so eeeuuuuwwwww it was fascinating! When they are like this, they feel like ice to me, but not if you touch them ( at least thats what DH said lats night)

I imagine prevention is the key here, I'm not sure what else could be done.

Does anyone else get this?!

[walesblackbird]

I get it. Just to the tips of my fingers when I'm very cold. Could be Reynauds?

[RatherBeOnTheMulledWine]

I did have a little look at google and it did suggest it was like Reynaulds, but you never know with google do you?!

Do you just do your best to avoid it?
ie prevent it I mean. Its just difficult at this time of year, esp when it is snowing and fffrrreeezzziiinnng

[Butterbur]

Sounds like Reynauds. Try some thick mittens, so that you can curl your fingers into the palm of hands if they get cold.

[walesblackbird]

I've never been able to avoid it - even wearing thick gloves. Putting my hands in warm - not hot - water helps me to regain the feeling.

[TheNextMrsClaus]

It's Reynauds. I have it, and every winter it gets a little worse - now I have to wear gloves the moment the temperature dips. Something as simple as touching a cold milk bottle can set it off.

Isn't it weird how it strikes random fingers, though?!

[RatherBeOnTheMulledWine]

Do you ever bother with those gel hand warmers?

I just rubbed them yesterday to warm them up, but I can see water would be quicker. It looks so peculiar doesn't it? DH was a bit

[Iwasthefourthwiseman]

Yep sounds like reynauds. I think there is a certain b vitamin that can help but I found it gave me palpatIons.

It seems to go when I am pg though so there is one solution . But really you just have to try and avoid getting cold.

[Dumbledoresfairy]

I get this. Even walking round the supermarket picking things up in the refrigerated section is enough to make my finger tips feel very cold even if they don't actually go white.

Gloves don't tend to help me much. I have various heated hand warmers to use. Prevention is definitely easier than cure.

[RatherBeOnTheMulledWine]

Dumbledore... Now I have done a bit more reading on this I saw one girl who couldn't hold a cold drink inthe summer. That hopefully is extreme.

I had it today, it was -5 but I did have thick gloves on. One of the photos on reynaulds looklike their fingers are dip dyed. Quite extraordinary.

[NoahAndTheWhale]

I have been getting this in the past couple of years. Last year got horrible chilblains that got infected but this year have been OK so far.

It often seems to be bit unexpected and only one or two fingers. Did have all the fingers on one hand going blue a couple of weeks ago though and that was very painful as they came back to life again.

[RatherBeOnTheMulledWine]

Like pins and needles? REally not nice.

I do have two chilblains that were so bad last winter, one of them is purple now. Infected chilblains sounds foul. What do you do to treat them?

[Dumbledoresfairy]

Well, I have to say, the first time I got it was about 18 months ago, so in the summer. I didn't realise what it was at first. I was lying in bed (so was actually really warm ) and felt my fingers going numb - really odd. The next time it happened was also in the summer but I was up a mountain. The air was quite cold that time, but I was boiling hot as I was walking uphill.

Since then, I have only been affected a few times, but, as I said in my earlier post, I definitely notice now that I cannot touch refrigerated (or frozen obviously) things without losing the sensation in my fingertips, though they don't usually go white (but then I am really careful about not letting them get that far gone).

So yes, I can imagine people not even being able to pick up a cold drink in summer, but yes I do think that is an extreme case. I think all you can do it be aware that you could be affected and try not to expose yourself to triggers.

[Bearcat]

This has recently started with my middle left finger. About 3 X in last 6 weeks. I just sit and rub the finger between the fingers ogf my other hand and yesterday warmed up the lavender wheat bag in the microwave and used that.

[Trop]

Definitely poor circulation, possibly Raynauds.

Ginger is supposed to be good for improving circulation so add plenty to your meals.

[spiggy]

I've had Raynauds all my life (genetic in our family) and last year DP bought me battery heated gloves and insoles for my boots- fabulous for the winter. They don't get very hot, just warm enough to keep the circulation going. You do need rechargable batteries though or it costs a fortune!

Ginkgo Biloba was recommended my my Dr to try and boost my circulation but I didn't notice a difference.

[RatherBeOnTheMulledWine]

I've just had a gingerbread latte - HTH!!

Funnily enough though, I had a lengthy snowball fight with DS and my hands did get very cold, but NO white fingers today, so its not consistent! Also I never seem to get it when we go skiing, but then I suppose I've got heavy duty gloves and socks on.

I like the sound of battery heated gloves and insoles though.Do you have an idea where they are from?

[SnowMuchToBits]

I get it - it's usually the same two fingers that are affected. I often get it if I go swimming in the sea in Britain! In the summer (although I use that term loosely...)

[RatherBeOnTheMulledWine]

I was going to agree with TheNextMrsClaus - for me it is random fingers it seems

LOL at swimming in the sea in Britain in the summer, makes me go




let alone have problems with white fingers!!

[SnowMuchToBits]

Well, I'd rather be swimming somewhere warmer, but don't always have the choice!

[duchesse]

Sounds like Reynauds to me.

[spiggy]

DP said he got the gloves etc from Maplin

These are the glovess www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=264171 Nice and warm and waterproof even without the batteries on.

These are the insoles www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=218156

Just spotted that they have heated waistcoats now...I might be amending my Chistmas list

[OhYouSnowySnowyKitten]

heated bra would be good!

[RatherBeOnTheMulledWine]

Thank you Spiggy - that really is useful to know...

On one of my recent flicks on Google, it says you can get Reynaulds of your nose. That must be really uncomfortable and weird looking.
Blimeee Maplin could start making heated nose warmers!

[SnowMuchToBits]

Kitten - heated bra would be good for Coldtits!

[RatherBeOnTheMulledWine]

LOL