Raynards syndrome

[misdee]

dh is being referred to check for this, after his hands feeling numb for ages now. anyone suffer with it?

GP doesnt think the numbness is anything to with heart transplant. its hard for dh to keep his hands warm, he hs worn glovesd in the house, but not always practical

I think this is Raynaud's Syndrome and that my sister might have it. I posted elsewhere asking if anyone had any experience of Heat Therapy gloves but got no response. If I do get a response will let you know.

Raynaud's is a condition that causes extremities to be very vulnerable to cold temps. Characterised by bluish/purplish nails, white fingertips, bluish tinge to lips etc. in cold weather.

misdee, when you say your DH's hands are numb, are they bluish around the fingernails? are they icy cold numb or like they've "gone to sleep" numb? If the latter then it could be more neurological.

I suffer from it. Have done all my life but only diagnosed recently because it's related to my autoimmune disease. I can't go into the freezer anymore and sometimes the fridge, my hands have become stiff pouring a drink and the bottle had to be removed from my hands quickly before I poured it everywhere. I also get very cold all over, I struggle to maintain my heat. I'm currently wearing a jumper with a cardigan on top because I'm so cold.

I find wearing manicure gloves inside and putting thick gloves on top when going out helps.

Agree with:

"are they icy cold numb or like they've "gone to sleep" numb? If the latter then it could be more neurological."

Although I do get gone to sleep but that's after the cold numbness, I've had to "resuscitate" my arm in the night when I've not noticed it go cold and gone past that stage.

his hands are icey cold numb. they just go cold for no real reason. it has been colder than normal, but he is always wrapped up warm. his lips dont go blue. but from what i've read this doesnt always happen anyway. his nose and ears also go icey cold. he hasnt stepped outside with this snow about.

There is a Raynaud's (& Scleroderma) Association which is very helpful.

Sounds like Raynaud's as other posters have mentioned. It can be as a result of an underlying auto immune disease.. or just occur for no signficant reason other than to make life at this time of year uncomfortable. I can sympathise.. it cuases me problems most months of the year and is often worse in the spring and summer!

I have it, also get lots of little chilblains if not careful. It doesn't have to be sub-zero, a sudden cool summer breeze can have the same effect on me so it's changes in temperature rather than just the actual cold. I manage to work outside for a few hours most days whatever the weather, but I have to wrap my extremities extra well.

there was a discussion about it recently, quite a few people here have it, might be worth a trawl?

We think my son has it (going back to see peadiatrician in a couple of weeks).

He was horrendous on Sunday at football and had to pull him off the pitch..his ears had swollen red and burning..his cheeks were blue with strange white blisters appearing and his lips were navy blue! He looked horrendous.

He gets pain in hands and feet in the cold weather-excrutiating at times. Even standing on the lino in the kitchen can cause problems on some days. And blue tinge to lips when a slight change in temp even in the summer.

He went for an ECG just incase it was connected to the heart but all was clear there.

It's not nice...extra layers are needed.

My lips are the only place I don't get it on my face too (ears, nose and cheeks). When I first started breastfeeding I had it in my nipples - it's actually possible to only ever get it there - I have it there now with a new baby but not as bad as the first time. Sounds odd as Tink was born in the middle of a heatwave and Fifi was born in winter, but I think in a way that is why.

I was diagnosed with raynauds when i was a teenager, my nails and lips go purple when cold and i find 3/4 lenght sleeves a nightmare as it makes it worse, ive found just wearing thick thinsulate gloves and wearing layers the best thing, you can use handwarmers aswell but i never really took to them, the trick is never to get cold in the first place, i have gloves in every coat/ bag etc as if i forget them and go without my fingers really hurt. Ive also found that wanging(technical term!) your fingers around really quickly helps improve the circulation and brings dead hands back to life