I’ve mentioned before that I have Raynaud’s Syndrome. If you aren’t familiar with it, you can read a bit more about it here. Because I’ve only had problems when my hands get really cold, one of my concerns about moving from central Texas to Missouri was the Raynaud’s and how much trouble I might have with my hands. We did get some cold days in Texas but not nearly as many as we get here. Surprisingly, I have had less problems with it here than I did in Texas but it’s probably because I don’t go out in the cold as much. No garden. No chickens. No long trips in the cold RTV to the mail box. No running back and forth from the house to the sewing room a dozen or more times per day. No fruit trees. Well, we do have fruit trees but just a few and so far, Vince has mostly been responsible for them. Last winter, I don’t think I had a single incident with it.
Earlier today, I did have a Raynaud’s episode. I was trying to cross stitch and hadn’t even realized my middle finger on my right hand was starting to turn white but I couldn’t hold the needle to cross stitch. It fell out of my hand and then I noticed the finger was white. The nail had already started turning blue.
We each keep an oximeter by our chairs so I grabbed it to see what the reading was on that finger. The blood oxygen level was 50. The first time I checked it, the blood oxygen level was 50 but the pulse was only 32. Don’t worry . . I checked on a good finger and the blood oxygen level was 99. I’m ok . . just one finger wasn’t doing so well.
That went on for a while and I couldn’t get that finger to warm up. It was probably half an hour before I could hold a needle again. It’s so weird!
There are people who are debilitated by this condition. Mine is minor. No problems last year and only one this winter and it’s almost the end of January. My doctor knows I have this and isn’t concerned. I’ve been checked for other conditions that could cause his and so far, so good.
I thought it was interesting to see what the blood oxygen level was when the finger was having the issue.
Vivian Oaks says
I’ve had that issue myself occasionally. The doctor mentioned I might have it, but I hate the cold, so stay out of it as much as possible!! When it’s bad, I almost feel like my skin is like the opposite of putting out heat – it feels like it’s putting out cold, if that makes any sense. It’s a weird sensation, to be sure.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
That is a good description of what it feels like. Today I could not get that finger to warm up. I told Vince I was ordering a heated throw so I could at least stick my hand under that and warm it up. Don’t know if I will actually do that or not.
katie z. says
My mom and daughter both suffer from a mild case. My daughter has more issues as she suffers in her feet. It’s hard to keep feet warm in a 120 year old house over a crawl space in Kansas! She has wool socks and slippers to help, but it surely can be a challenge
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Feet? I never thought about that. I’m thankful I only have it in my hands. So sorry for her.
RuthW in MD says
Someone else mentioned having problems with staying warm, and a heated mat for the floor was mentioned, as well as heated blankets. I think I’ve seen heated slippers too! Maybe there are heated mats to sit on? Take care!
Vicky says
I have some microwave slippers that I put on when my feet go numbingly cold. They help greatly
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Great ideas. Thanks. I ordered a heated throw. Vince could probably benefit from that too so I’ll let him use it and if he likes it, and if it works for me, I’ll order another one.
Paula Nordt says
I have that issue especially with my finger tips and touching very cold items. The tips turn white and go numb. I have to stick my fingers in my armpits to get the circulation going. Looks weird, but it helps me!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I usually just sit on my hands if I’m inside and sitting down. When outside, I could almost always stick my hand in my front pants pockets and that would work. The armpit idea is a good one. Thanks.
montanaclarks says
One of our ATVing friends has Raynaud’s. He was a snowmobiler but had to give it up as his hands couldn’t take the cold even with heated grips. When we ATV at cooler elevations we wait until the day warms up a bit so Ken’s hands don’t hurt so much.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I can see how doing anything in your area would be painful. Poor guy.
Teri says
My daughter friend had that problem. When they were on the school bus my daughter would rub her friends hands all the way to school to keep them warm. I never knew the name of the syndrome…
Cindy F says
My son developed that after having chemo. Since then he always keeps the hot hand heat packs in his pockets during the winter. You just squeeze them and they heat up. You just reminded me we need to order more since they do have an expiration date and don’t work as well or work at all over time.
Gail Hafey says
My husband has Reynaud’s as well, this Christmas I ordered him a pair of rechargeable heated gloves for when he has to be outside in the cold. Mostly he avoid being in the cold as much as possible but when he is out using the snowblower they work wonderfully.