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Original poster

Raynaud's Syndrome - any good hints and tips?

70 replies

feetheart · 16/12/2009 12:14

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!

OP posts:
Original poster
feetheart · 16/12/2009 16:28

Right just returned from walk to pick DD up from school. I wore - extra thick woolly socks, dress (over jeans), cardigan, fleece, body warmer, coat, scarf and gloves. NO white fingers and its murky, damp and zero degrees out there.

Thanks so much for the tips, I now need a rummage through my wardrobe for anything I can layer and a shopping trip for thermals, thin gloves and hats - so much for my attempts at glamour

OP posts:
Clayhead · 16/12/2009 16:30

The Raynauds & Scleroderma Association are helpful

MuppetsMuggle · 16/12/2009 16:45

Glamour goes right out the window with Raynauds lol

SantasBigboots · 16/12/2009 16:53

Thank you feetheart - it does sound likely then. Will keep an eye on it - seems worse this year than before so if it gets much worse will visit GP.

princessmel · 16/12/2009 16:56

I get it in my breasts too, it's very painful. Has caused me to faint on several occasions in the past.
I carry hand warmers with me and always wear vests, gloves, scarves etc.
Moulded bras help too , they are just that little bit thicker.
My mum and nan get/got it in their breasts/ hands and feet.

jaggythistle · 16/12/2009 17:06

Me too Divster and Princessmel I have a really cosy Berghaus fleece that I wear in the house which warms me up well. Otherwise I can be found huddled by a heater trying desperately to defrost my chest.
Definitely prevention best if you can stop yourself from getting too cold.

It was so much worse when I was pregnant last winter, this winter I can recommend attaching a small baby regularly to warm your nipples!

SantaClausImWorthIt · 16/12/2009 17:08

These look interesting

I suffer from Raynaud's in my hands and feet - it's worse in the cold generally, but also when there's a change in temperature. I can get it when I get out of a hot shower, for example.

I have never found ordinary gloves to be much help, so just googled 'heated gloves' and was amazed to find these!

Tizzyjacko · 16/12/2009 17:18

Hand warmers in the pockets. i just bought DH a box of 80 (40 pairs) of single use handwarmers, the sort you activate by shaking and which last 6 hours or so. They cost about £18 on Amazon. The wheat filled ones you heat in the microwave don't work for longer than about half an hour so ok when at home but useless when out.

Divster · 16/12/2009 17:22

Tweaking your nipples helps as well (if you have it in your nipples, wont help your feet though) It amazing to watch the colour it goes as the blood comes back!

OhYouMerryMerryKitten · 16/12/2009 17:28

yow to tweaking nipples!

Thats a very reasonable price on the handwarmers. will have to have a look.

NorbertDentressAngel · 16/12/2009 17:42

I get it badly in my hands -usually about 4 or 5 fingers are affected at a time. Unfortunately I've not really found anything that helps other than the obvious gloves.

As well as outdoors, when I first get into the car on a cold day and in chilled sections of supermarkets, I seem to get it a lot when in the kitchen cooking -probably from getting things out of the fridge, hands in and out of cold water etc.

I never realised that you could get it in your nipples or breasts though

Original poster
feetheart · 16/12/2009 17:48

Ow, ow, ow to Raynaud's in breasts
Now feeling lucky to only have it in my fingers.

OP posts:
MuppetsMuggle · 16/12/2009 20:33

I have it hands, feet, boobs, lips, ears

I use heat n click pads, they are brilliant under your gloves

alypaly · 16/12/2009 21:44

the one thing that really helps bad reynauds is nifedipine tablets. They help to open up the capillaries in the extremities and it frequently used for this problem

releasethehounds · 16/12/2009 21:56

I have Reynauds and I hate to admit that mother was right all along - you must wear a vest! I can't bear to wear tops/jumpers without a vest and I must have it tucked in! Yeah I know - I look really hot in low-waisted jeans.

OhYouMerryMerryKitten · 16/12/2009 21:57

It is jolly effective if you can manage with the side effects. One I started on them last winter there was no more chilblains and although my hands were blue, no more acute attacks.

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 16/12/2009 22:00

I get it in my nipples too. I think you've had some good tips here, but also, if you're ever caught out somewhere and you're in pain, an empty plastic bottle filled with hot water from the tap works well to defrost cold hands (or boobs!)

OhYouMerryMerryKitten · 16/12/2009 22:02

poor everyones boobies.

NorbertDentressAngel · 17/12/2009 10:06

What are the side effects of the nifedipine tablets (or any other meds that you can take for it)?

alypaly · 17/12/2009 11:28

her is a link to nifedipine tabletswww.patient.co.uk/medicine/Nifedipine.htm Many doctors believe that the most effective and safest drugs are calcium-channel blockers, which relax smooth muscle and dilate the small blood vessels. These drugs decrease the frequency and severity of attacks in about two-thirds of patients who have Raynaud's.

Brunettelady · 17/12/2009 22:28

Do your hands etc have to go white? My hands and feet get really really cold. I can't stand putting any freezer stuff away. Today in town I was walking along (I can't find my gloves at the mo) and my hands were really painful. My nan did used to comment that my toes were blue, it looks like I'm wearing a very pale blue nail varnish but I don't think I get white fingers etc. And what is it about the computer? My right hand is always freezing when I'm typing. Also I have socks and very big hippo slippers on and I can still feel that my feets are cold.

MrsMorgan · 18/12/2009 10:59

Just been directed to this thread. I had such painful hands this morning that I felt physically sick. Also my toes go completely numb and white.

Does that sound like it could be Raynauds ?

I am not sure if my hands go white tbh, they just hurt so much.

I had gloves on by the way, and I had socks and fur liined boots on but my toes still went completely dead and white.

MuppetsMuggle · 18/12/2009 12:45

Don't like the snow, my hands feet and face were absolutely freezing even with hat, gloves, socks and scarf on. my hands and feet really really hurt

Mrs Morgan, sounds like Raynauds

Cariadon · 18/12/2009 15:19

I swear by my Ugg Boots, Merino polonecks, vests and fingerless cashmere gloves from Brora. Also Down jackets and fleecy hats that cover ears! That just about keeps me warm although one finger has been white all morning. I also allow myself the luxury of as much heating as I need as so miserbale when cold! Good Luck!

MitchyInge · 18/12/2009 15:25

don't smoke (I do though)

or work outside in this weather (oops again)

LONG socks, up to knee

and long sleeves obviously - I find keeping arms and legs warm stops extremities going dead and yellow

lots of layers

length of sock made huge difference to my feet this year, am wearing same number of pairs (3 or 4) but having them up to knee works amazingly well