Raynaud's Syndrome

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Over the last month or so I've been experiencing the symptoms of Raynaud's Syndrome and was just wondering how common it is. The literature I've read notes that it's very common in women over 35.

As far as I can tell I think it was caused (exacerbated?) by a very slight case of frostbite to my pointer, middle, and ring fingers that I got in December. Not a bad case, but enough for me to notice some real tissue damage.

The literature doesn't seem to address the issue of timing/onset of symptoms. For example, for the last two evening rides that I've done, I get a little chilly going downhill--nothing I don't normally expose myself to--and about 20 minutes after I'm done with the ride and sitting around, my fingers go completely white and numb and stay that way for about a half hour. Why afterwards and not during? It is supposedly the body's "extreme" reaction to cold (for unknown reasons, apparently). It would make more sense if it was 5 minutes after I am no longer exposed, but 20 minutes???

And it is further perplexing in that I am normally one of those that gets overheated fairly easily (and consequently melt into a blob of useless flesh). So my goal is to dress a little more warmly and try to get over the mental block that seems to accompany overheating. It doesn't really hurt or anything...it just feels really bizarre and make eating difficult!!

Anyone else with this? What do you notice about onset? Is it better to keep the core warm or the extremities warm?

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