to think normal people don't have chilblains

[MitchieInge]

. . . in this day and age? I am like a Victorian pauper :(

also why are they so painful? why?

I've never suffered, but I know a few people who do. You need warmer hands/feet Missus - neoprene boots and fleece wristwarmers topped with Sealskinz gloves to go out to the horses.

They hurt so much because of the density of nerve endings in your hands

I've got one at the moment and also thought it was a problem from the olden days! It is painful and it decided to split and bleed yesterday. Owww! The nurse asked if I walked around with bare feet...not flippin likely 3 pairs of socks and slippers generally!

??
I've had chilblains.
i think I'm (reasonably) normal.

I read chilblains as children when I read the title - I was very confused there for a while.

Although, children have led us to pauperism....

there's only one bit on my hand, it's my feet - every toe and most of the ball of each foot, don't think have ever had such a large area affected before

just feel a bit stupid saying 'no I can't walk properly, it's because a third of each foot is on fire with chilblains' :(

keep an eye on your thyroid - I had chillblains a few years before being diagnosed hypothyroid, it's v common! if you get your thyroid tested, ask to see the results and reference range and if you are near the top end, go back again for another test a while later as it can be slow onset

my thyroid is checked frequently anyway (I take something that slowly destroys it) but it's a good point isn't it

I think chill blains is an old word for a group of different symptoms these days.

I never had them when I lived in central Sweden, but I have since I moved to the UK. I think it is something to do with the damp climate+ floors being colder. It's been particularly bad this year, the heating in my office wasn't working.

maybe the thyroid is the cause of them? do you take levothyroxin? do you know your tsh level? sorry - only asking because it turns out hypothyroidism is a bit of a hidden scandal of under-diagnosis in this country, I had no clue til I was diagnosed.

haven't had chilblains since I started on the levo, nor have I had reynaulds, which I'd started getting too
it's a bugger being cold
sympathies

Aren't you meant to wee on them? Apparently it's the ammonia or something.....sorry - gross.

It's the urea as well. And because it's all warm mmmmmmmm

I don't know if it is TSH, there are all different tests I think? It might be worth double checking, I'm practically the only woman in my family not on synthroid or thyroxine type things. I have tests about 3 monthly usually but have feeling the thyroid function is only done every other time.

I've got raynauds but can't remember ever not having it.

oh god....i used to have them terribly on my toes. i remember the agony even now...you can get some ointment from a chemist. it works. get some.

btw - i was told it was to do with circulation. i was 11 when i had them. my feet were always freezing. our house was always freezing and i think my mother cheerfully crushed my size 3 feet into size 1 shoes which probably didnt help much.

I'm not even sure what they are.

I know I have my heating set to sahara levels so maybe it's why I haven't had them. I know a couple of people my age who get them.

I get them every winter. Had them really badly as a teenager for some reason- not so bad now but still get them. They really hurt. I have low blood pressure so I think that's related.

Mitchie do you wear leather or rubber riding boots (I know you're a Tack Room girl).

I used to get one on my middle toe when I went to the stables and was waiting for the horses to be brought in. I was in rubber riding boots and dancing about. They were in thick mud and no hurry to leave the filthy puddles.

Vicks Menthol Rub in an emergency. Warm,dry socks but not too much bulk.

am getting central heating before next winter, how could I forget the misery!

thank you for sympathy, that's all I want really. Lots and lots of sympathy :)

weird they have appeared just as weather gets warmer, maybe I relaxed my foot temperature vigilance slightly and went out with only one pair of socks on or something

I have Reynauds too and know how painful it can be. Two years ago, after getting in the bath and watching my poor feet turn purple and white, I decided to take action and went out and bought some sheepskin boots - (not Uggs!)

I can honestly say they changed my life. If my feet are warm and comfortable the rest of me is. They have made such a difference and are well worth the money. I really recommend them.

Leather 70, tall leather ones with hunter welly warmers, socks, tights under jodhs - insane but I have to or feet go numb

spring won't be long will it?

I have them. I've had them every winter for as long as I can remember and I'm old.

I'm sitting here in my centrally heated home in socks and slippers and my feet are still cold, the only time they are warm between Nov and March is when I get out of the bath.

Definitely connected to the Raynauds Mitchie.

mmm I have some great snowboots that did the trick last winter, sadly never found anything that sorted out the fingers though, they just used to go blue then white, yuck
but they don't now
so well worth chasing up the thyroid test, esp given your family history. go onto a thyroid website with the results and they can talk you through if you show signs of hypo, then go see the gp

Just googled chilblains because I've never been sure what they are and just realised that the little sores I've been getting all over my hands every winter are those! Thank you OP - my doctor told me he had no idea what they were! Time to change doctors I think...

time for chilblain awareness campaign so do not have to go through it alone, stigmatized and sad :)