Raynolds questions

[scheetzie]

I should know all of this for all the years I've been dealing with SD and reading about it (was diagnosed in 2000).......

Anyway, It was a very cold day in January, and I had to go grocery shopping - so I dressed very warm and out I went - had two pairs of gloves on even........

I found the grocery store was actually as cold as it was outside - and by the time I hurried through the store for what I really needed and got home, my hands were pure white and hurt like all heck - so I went to warm them up as I usually would do..........

Now - I'm not exactly sure if it is from this date, but it is very close if not - anyway, since then I seem to have numbness in both thumbs, and both index fingers...........
I had seen one doc for an ulcer on another finger and mentioned to him - well really got no response........

Had an appt with Rhuemy last month - and once again, I felt there like he didn't really listen to me - he is to be one of the best in my area, but his 'bedside' manner s*cks big time..........

I did get the riot act read to me because I still smoke & yes, I know that is one of the worst things, but I also take a beta blocker because I have had Tachacardia since my early 20's (I'm now 56yr), and the other types of meds will not keep my heart at a decent pace.........I was also told "don't wash your hands so often" - which I try my best not to, plus when I do mostly anything around the house, I wear gloves or my hands get really sore............

I guess what I'm asking has anyone suffered permanent damage to their fingers that would cause this numbness due to being exposed to cold............

Thanks for sharing any experiences you can or any kind of help you can give me.......
{{{{HUGS}}}}
Donna

[steve201]

yes...it's called vascular damage to the extremities and will cause numbness as well cold fingers and ulcers....what you need is something that opens the blood vessels up....I take diltiazem...500mgs x 1 per day....

Steve

[scheetzie]

thanks - have to get my butt to a doc - hopefully a different one

[jeffn]

I have read that Raynauds is possibly caused by nerve spasms that constrict the bloods vessels and limiting blood supply to the tissue. I feel this is true in my case as I may have some vascular damage but my hands and fingers are not cold all the time. I find that when I go outside first thing in the morning my fingers will turn white, even when wearing warm gloves, within two or three minutes of going outside long before I feel they could get cold on their own. All of a sudden I have NO circulation in my fingers. Interestingly as the day goes on the inside outside effect appears to diminish but that first trip out usually results in white fingers. I also note that caffeine makes the Raynauds worse. I don't drink a lot of soda but do notice that my morning soda effects things for a while.

My problem is confined mostly in the winter summer not so much. When I swim I am assured of white fingers but they warm right back up.

[Cubby]

When my Raynauds was really bad, I took Adalat. That kind of did the trick. I had very few symptoms but I was such a mess otherwise, I might not have noticed.

Every once in awhile, now that I am off the Adalat, my hands get cold and turn blue for a minute or two. Fortunately, this is very rare.

[scheetzie]

Just a quick reply: as I mentioned in my last post, I 'think' I have a problem that is basically a combination of Raynold's and Carpal Tunnel..........I know my Beta Blocker (Tenormin) is not helping matters - but all other forms, such as calcium channel, etc, will not control my Tacharcardia like the Tenormin does - and it does no good to take both, they will be fighting each othere..........

And of course, I have that ONE Diet Pepsi a day with caffeine and still smoke a few cigs a day - but have really cut down on the cigs.................all good things take time - lol...........

[Cubby]

I mentioned in another post that sometimes, scleroderma mimmicks the same symptoms as carpal tunnel syndrome. I drink caffein every day. Always did. About a cup of coffee a day. I am glad I quit smoking 21 years ago, cuz that interferes with circulation but I know this is probably an impossible time to try to quit.

[scheetzie]

Yes Cubby - years ago I could wake up one morning and say I wasn't going to smoke, and I didn't - would go for months, until something upset the apple cart - then it was a cig..... : (

I was down to about 6 cigs a day for a few months, and then all kinds of stuff was going wrong, and now back up to around 14 or so, but I do not smoke like I once did.................