Raynaud's
 

Anyone else here have Raynaud's?

I finally gave in and tried some medication for it (nifedipine). So far I am definately liking the results in my hands. Not sure about the side effects yet. I am feeling a tad slow.

Re: Raynaud's
 

I have a brother-in-law who either has that or something similar (I don't know his diagnosis). I know his symptoms are much worse in the wintertime.

I myself get a few symptoms - like tingling/numbness in hands and arms, but have not seen a doc, and chalked it up as a side effect of back and muscle issues that seem ever-present.

Re: Raynaud's
 

My symptoms are much worse in the winter-time. Especially in the damp cold.

They have been pretty bad for a few years. I have to wear gloves when digging in the freezer and I even use gloves for checking in books that come in at the library (the book drop is cold!), which means I wear them in public indoors!

My hands, in the deep winter, when it's say, 0 degrees out, will turn white to the middle knuckle. I have to spend about 10 minutes thawing them out when I get to work and I can't feel them. This is just from walking from the car into the building.

I have tried home remedies for a few years and although they help, they haven't been doing the trick enough. I have a scattering of small red dots on my fingers from where the blood vessels (capillaries or whatever...I should know that in a few months as I am going to be taking an anatomy and physiology class!) have been very aggravated.

My feet aren't as bad. I also wear rubber gloves when washing dishes in hot water. I wear gloves for almost everything anymore! LOL!

Re: Raynaud's
 

Sorry to hear that. Are there no other recommended prescriptions?

Re: Raynaud's
 

Not that I know of. This is the one that a couple doctors have told me about. Why? Are you opposed to using nifedipine? I am going to see how I do before I ask for anything else.

Re: Raynaud's
 

Oh no, not at all, just wondering if this is the most commonly prescribed meds for the condition. Glad it seems to be working for you!

Re: Raynaud's
 

Yes, this is the most commonly prescribed med.

I see you went sledding. I went skiing with my husband and was worried about Raynaud's. As it was, it takes so much energy and blood circulation for that that I had no trouble with it. (No! I just broke my ankle instead!!) This was a few years back.

Re: Raynaud's
 

My Dad had Raynaud's Syndrome in the 50's and 60's. At that time there were no good medications to treat the disease. It is good that you have found some help!

Re: Raynaud's
 

How bad was his?

Re: Raynaud's
 

ILG, our doctor told me many years ago that I have Raynaud's. I don't take anything for it specifically. One of the meds I take for high blood pressure also works on the Raynaud's (I can't remember which one, but I want to say it is the Lisinopril).

I always make sure that I have very warm things to wear on my hands all winter. I've found that mittens do a MUCH better job than gloves. I have a pair that are lined with the stuff that feels like lamb's wool. Those are great.

Used to be that when I would drive to church (1/2 hour away at that time), by the time I got there, my fingers would be white white all the way to my palms. I tried running them under luke-warm water to bring them back quicker. But they would instantly turn BLACK and hurt like nothing you can imagine! I stopped doing that pretty quickly. It was still painful to get them back to normal, but not quite as bad as long as I took my time. The best thing I ever did was get a new van that has a fantastic heater in it! I run that with the blowers directly on my hands and feet the whole time I'm out :)

Re: Raynaud's
 

Unfortunately, very bad. He had complained for years about his feet and hands staying cold but was not diagnosed until it was too late. Gangrene started on his big toe and he eventually had his right leg amputated below the knee and then later above the knee. Before he passed away he had his left leg and his left arm removed also.

However, he was saved and ready to meet Jesus!

Re: Raynaud's
 

Hi Margies,

Yes, what I am taking is a blood pressure med, even though I don't have high blood pressure.

I am SO picky about gloves and mittens. I wear these super-duper heavy mittens in the cold. They are lined on the inside. Indoors, I wear gloves to pull things out of the freezer and other things. The little thin ones work pretty good as long as I stay indoors. When I go outside, that's an entirely different matter. ;) When the weather is not so cold, I find that lined leather gloves (they MUST be large and not constrict the fingers one iota!) work well for me. As soon as it gets about 50 degrees, the gloves/mittens go on permanently outdoors!

A couple of years ago for Christmas (yes, one of the best Christmas presents ever!) my husband bought me a remote starter for the car. That way, I can heat it up before going outside!

You said "Used to be"....is that before you took blood pressure meds? Do your palms turn white too or the total fingers only?

Yes, running them under lukewarm water would be bad, bad!! When mine get cold I find waiting and then using my own body parts, like my neck or torso to warm them little by little works too.

Re: Raynaud's
 

Wow! That is very, very bad! I think medicine has made some pretty good strides since then!

Also, I knew early on I had it, before the dr told me because it is hereditary, so I knew right off what it was.

Still, it's kind of silly....you go through a denial phase before you just break down and start wearing gloves or whatever!

I'm sorry about your Dad, but glad he is whole now....

Re: Raynaud's
 

"used to be" because now we go to a church that is only a few minutes from our house :) No more of those 1/2 hour drives for us.

I agree about the gloves. And I have often had to wear gloves to get things out of the freezer. If I'm going to be in there for more than a couple of minutes, the gloves go on. I've given up cleaning out my own fridge or freezer. I hire that particular job done when it's time.

Re: Raynaud's
 

They put my husband on Norvasc for his. My mom and her sisters have the same problem and my mom even went to a specialist put I'm not sure if they added anything new or just adjusted the blood pressure meds she's already on.

Re: Raynaud's
 

Yes, the science of medicine has come a long way since the 50's and Raynaud's is hereditary... I have 3 siblings that have Raynaud's and they cope quite well. They do not smoke and in the winter they wear thermally insulated gloves and socks and avoid direct contact with cold as much as possible.

Information and networking are helpful!

Re: Raynaud's
 

How are things working for them?

So far I'm pretty pleased with the results with the exception that my right ear is ringing more than usual. I am not sure if it is related to the BP med or not, but I am kind of leaning towards that being the case. I have had ringing in that ear for years and have already lost 70% hearing in it. So, it scares me to lose any more. I am going to keep my eye on this.

Re: Raynaud's
 

Do they do anything nutritionally or medically?