Raynaud's Syndrome

[Justina]

I have raynauds too, It can be heraditary, my neice also has it. It is sometimes a sighn of cardiovasuclar problems, do those run in your family? Heart disease is my familys No#1 killer on both sides. Stress can also trigger an attack or frequency of them. Iv'e had my index finger turn dead white and numb while folding warm laundry on an 80 degree day so cold is definately not the only trigger. It can get worse. Mine has progressed over the years but I have not had a problem in a long time. My index fingers and pinky fingers do it sometimes and its so weird. snow white and knumb like theres not a drop of blood in there its really freaky and it hurts. try massage and warm water.

[AutumnBreez]

My dad has had this issue for some time and unfortunately I do tend to suffer as well...so my conclusion is that it is that it is hereditary. Circulatory system is not the best in the family tree. Even mother side with varicose veins...oh yeah...I like the color blue, when it is not poking out of my skin :P

I have even noticed having it (RS) once in a very AC room.
It is usually affecting only my pointer fingers, so far, but who knows what time will hand me later?!

[nuthatch]

My daughter has it and even a cool room can set it off. Just like the others said, spooky Casper the Ghost white toes until we rubbed them back to life. No pain, no sensation of cold. Boy, did it scare us the first time it happened!! It must be quite common.

[trigurl]

This is a great thread! I have been experiencing cold numb white fingers all winter! I spoke to my dr. he said it probably wasn't Raynauds but that I was having vessel spasms. It happens only in my middle fingers of each hand and has happened once in my toes on one foot. My fingers go numb often, mainly when my hands get really cold or if I am holding a cold drink too long.

I also have a hard time staying warm since I lost weight, I seem to be cold all the time. I never take my socks off b/c my feet are always cold and usually my hands are too.

One thing someone told me who is into the reflexology is to pull the fingers that are numb and make the knuckle at your hand pop, I have done that and it "seems" to help them get warm faster, I usually warm them under warm water or stick my hand under my armpit, probably the only warm place after a cold workout outside. I also do some competative shooting, it is quite difficult to shoot with numb fingers, I take along those hand warmers that hunters use, they help some.

[windchick]

I have RS also...I started to notice after minor frostbite while skiing about 15 years ago. It usually only affects two adjacent fingers on my off hand. I often get it while cycling in temperatures as warm as 50 degrees. For me it's not a core temperature issue, just cold exposure to my digits! It helps to move the fingers a lot. I open and close them with my palms on the bar. It often takes me 15-20 minutes to get the blood flowing in the cadaver- like fingers. Tight gloves also exacerbate the problem. I always buy ladies large or men's small gloves.