Raynaud's Syndrome - any good hints and tips?

[feetheart]

Always had bad circulation and felt the cold in my hands and feet but last year my fingers were going white more often and this year its worse again - had 6 white fingers by the veg section in Asda at w/e and hadn't even reached the chiller section

Really need some tips that have worked for others as its starting to interfere with life a bit too much.

Thanks
feetheart - currently typing with ring finger and middle finger!

i don't have raynaud's, but i do get really cold hands.
i sometimes wear white cloth gloves from boots underneath my normal gloves. that helps.
and i always keep my gloves on inside supermarkets (but not other shops) because i can't pick anything up when my hands are cold.

Gloves, hat and scarf at all times, esp in this weather. I only went to my car this morning for the school run and didn't have my gloves on and my hands were white by the time I got in the car and they bloody hurt.

So gloves hat and scarfs when possible.
Try keeping thicker socks on too.

Good tip - feetheart adds white gloves to shopping list

Adds hat to list

Try and time your heating to come on about half hr before you get in or before you get up in the morning as the chill can take it out of you and if your anything like me takes me ages to get warm again and so I look like a smurf for most of the time!

at smurf comment, from the woman still wrapped in scarf and extra fleece although been home for 45mins!

At least I'm typing with my index fingers now

To try to stop it, could only say keep warm ?as other people have said

If it starts, and its convenient, run them under a warm/hot tap as soon as possible
Warms them up again, and the tingling isn?t as bad.

Or car heater / radiator / anything warm to bring them back

Putting them in your mouth works too if its really hurting & you're stuck outside

Another vote for white cotton gloves here. I wear them under a pair of close-fitting leather gloves so my hands don't feel too 'bulky'.

Oh, and Ugg boots, cannot sing their praises enough! I've not had a white finger or toe so far this winter

you can also warm your fingers up by putting them under your armpits.

If you can keep your body core warm then your body is less likely to reduce circulation to your extremities. I found that out through years of riding motorbikes in all weathers.

M&S do very effective thermal vests and leggings that make a big difference. You can also get silk inner gloves to go underneath normal gloves that, again, can be very good. Finally, get a couple of pairs of the gel-type reusable handwarmers (eg, www.millets.co.uk/product/099317.html). It's worth getting more than one pair so you can always be sure that you've got some ready to use.

My fingers and sometimes toes, go white and numb when I get cold (am sitting at kitchen table typing this and right index finger and left toe are threatening to go now!). Nobody else I'm with seems to be particularly cold - is this Raynaud's Syndrome? I had wondered about it but wasn't sure - is there any point going to the GP? Sorry to hijack post

I drink plenty of tea so wrap my hands around a hot mug of tea helps keep hands warm too. I've still got my cardi on and scarf

SantasBigboots - no problem with hijack. Sounds likely. I have GP's appointment booked just to get something on record as symptoms have got much worse/more frequent over past 2 years, up till now I've just put up with it.

nickelbabyjesus - I was the one in Asda on Saturday trying to push the trolley with my belly as my hands were shoved under my armpits, I was a liability

More stuff for shopping list too, thanks everyone for great tips.
Glad I'm not the only one looking like a Michelin Man whilst inside

Gloves

Big expensive thick socks over tights, thick soled boots

A car with a heater on the DRIVER'S side

USB slippers for Mumsnetting

I keep gloves (the inexpensive thin thermal ones layer well) and at this time of year hats too in every coat/bag so always have some with me. I will double up in winter. On jouneys I take a small flask of tea, and am a fan of gilets under coats to keep my back warm.
Uniqlo do a range (heat tech) of nicely cut thin thermal teeshirts and leggins which look silky and lightweight (unlike ski type thermals which tend to be more sport styled) but are surprisingly warm!

I'm going to have to start a thread on hats for the clueless hatless aren't I?

my teen dd has always suffered with cold feet and hands

anyone know any fantastic themal socks I can get her for xmas

Oh hats. Love warm hats. Down deerstalkers, fleece flowerpots, wool berets - I've got them all!! Dh doesn't like any off them!!

I got a nice woolly hat in H&M also came with a scarf for £8 bargain

this morning i succumbed and am wearing socks under my tights and socks over my tights.
3 layers on my feet and my toes were still cold on the way in to town!

i was given thinsulate gloves for christmas a coupke of years ago and they're great (still with the white cotton one underneath though)

I think the main thing is not to let your hands and feet get cool in the first place. Once they are, then putting gloves and socks on doesn't make much difference I've found.

Make sure your shoes aren't too tight and restrictive,
keep socks and gloves on radiators.
Keep your core temp up.

Tis a bugger isn't it. My hands were utter agony after a bike ride this am, couldnt hold anything for ages after. I do have medication for mine but it makes my face bright red and my hands and feet swell so I don't really like it. (better than the ulcerated chilblains I got last year though)

socks in bed, so feet start day warm. I wear a T-shirt or pyjamas too, I hate getting cold, it so hard to warm up again.

I have a set of mittens that have a split palm so I can pop fingers out of mittens if I have to do fidly things like a childs coat zip but not talk my gloves off.

A Buff- its fab tube of fine fabric that is a keep your neck warm scarf with no gaps or a hat or what ever, very snug.

Obvious stuff for keeping head and core warm like .A hat. extra T-shirt . cycle shorts under jeans, all help.

My reynaulds syndrome was worst when I was a teen, not as bad now, but my Gran lost a leg, so I'm carefull.

I have a spectacularly useful tip - get pregnant!

I get Reynauds as well. Never found anything much help - it disappears during pregnancy.

Interestingly it wasn't a problem when I have been in really freezing condition - e.g. climbing Kilimanjaro!

Insoles (thick warm ones) in your boots helps keep feet warm. Only works if they slightly oversize and have enough extra room. Oddly I have some thick soled platforms that are snug too. I have been known to stagger into work in insulated mountaineering boots in very cold conditions ( learnt this trick after breaking a toe).

I really feel for you! I get it in my nipples!