8mo ago

I have Raynaud's Syndrome. Occasionally, my fingers will lose all circulation.

70 comments

Have you tried turning your fingers off and back on again?
- That appears to be exactly what they are doing.

What's the risk of them dying and falling off?
- Unless it's a very severe case that's not likely, for most people it's just uncomfortable. Raynaud's does make you more vulnerable to frostbite though.
- Exactly what Lemmenym said - they won’t fall off, it usually passes within 10-15 minutes.
- 3 or 4
  
  Ducks?
- Depends

Don't waste it and go rub one off!
- This made me laugh, thank you.

My best mate has this. I'm always worried!
Is there anything, as a friend, that I should look out for to help?
- The only time I would worry about it for myself is if I’m out in the cold without any protection, and I have to stay out there for a bit. Otherwise, it usually passes before any serious damage can be done. I think you are an awesome friend for caring so much!
- You can offer to suck their fingers a little too help puno the blood

I get this if I’m shopping in Waitrose. I think it’s from gripping the shopping cart so tightly whilst looking at the prices.

Is this similar to waking up at night when you cut off circulation to your fingers and they’re cold and you can’t move them? Or is that just me?
- How do you do that to just your fingers? For me it's usually the whole arm from somewhere between the shoulder and elbow.
  
  Sounds like a different issue. There is one that arms go numb if hands held above head for a minute. That was can be helped with the right exercise. (But see a doctor for diagnosis if it bothers you.)
- Feels a bit like that, yes.
- It's just you. Everyone has a super power and that's your.
- How do you manage to do that?
  
  Believe it not, boner pills help. They're vascular dilators.

How do you get it circulating again? Is it the same kind of pins-and-needles you get when a leg falls asleep?
- I stick them under my husband’s arms and steal his warmth. Or if he is not available, I’ll use warm water or just my own body parts that are warm.
  
  Men are portable heaters that snore
- I actually have this too! For me, it usually happens when my extremities get too cold, and it can take me a bit to even notice it's happening. It usually happens predominantly in my big toes for some reason. For me it just feels like like it's gone completely numb, and I lose all feeling in the digit. I usually break out the heating pad and try to warm it back up until I can feel it again.

This thread suggests there are enough people around with it to warrant starting a community.
- There was a community on the old site.
  
  9.2k subscribers.

it only happen to your hand?
- Yes, only to my fingers. I suppose it's possible that it's happened to my toes, and I just didn't notice.

This happens to me rarely. Very scary the first time it happened
- Yes, first time I freaked out, called my doctor. I thought something very bad was happening!
- Same, happens sometimes to a few of my toes while driving for a long time, had it happen once with one of my fingers

I get this on my toes on cold days. It always freaks me out even though I know what's going on.

I have this happen sometimes when it gets cold out. My fingers may turn this shade or just bluish purple. Warming them, rubbing them, etc seems to bring them back.

Samesies! Happens almost anytime I'm drinking a cold drink.

Primary or secondary? Mine is most likely secondary to lung disease but I also have a family history of primary Raynaud's. Got any good glove recommendations?
- Primary. And my best glove recommendation is… a mitten! When the fingers are kept together in one chamber, they are warmer. And if one or two go “rogue” the other ones can warm them up. But of course you lose dexterity with mittens.
  
  I lose dexterity anyway and get pain as arthritis like symptoms. That's why it's probably secondary despite the family history and it starting in my teens. Mittens are a good idea, thanks. I usually wear isotoner driving gloves under heavier gloves while outside in winter. That way I can take the heavier gloves off when the heater starts warming up the car.
- I use a number:
  Silk under-glove that is useful in a lot of general circumstances around the home. I need a new pair as I bit the top off one finger.
  Thinsulate fingerless gloves. These are my general go-to glove and I need a new pair as my original one are getting a bit frayed.
  Driving/cycling glove. They work with touch screens and are sensitive enough for most tasks when I am out and about.
  Ski glove - for walks in the cold.

Does it hurt? Can you still use them? Are there adverse risks?
- It does hurt, starts out as a numbness and then there is a some mild pain. And then pins and needles when the blood comes back. I can still use them but it doesn't feel the best. The biggest risk I'm aware of is frostbite if I am out in the cold. I like to have gloves or mittens with me at all times when it's cold out.
  
  That really is mildly interesting. Thanks for the explanation. Hope you are well!

Your nose or ears are ok?
- They do get cold, but I don't know if they ever lose circulation like that.

Oh hey, same disease
- There's dozens of us! Dozens!

My hands and feet are nearly always cold. Maui, sunny day sitting on the beach, cold feet. My hands never look quite as radical as yours, but the dermatologist says it's Raynaud. When I have to handle frozen food or whatever it literally hurts in my chest. Kind of a lot. Do you get that too? ... Weird how I sometimes forget to ask the internet about this stuff but I just googled and apparently chest pain isn't uncommon.
- Chest hurting sounds bad. Not a Dr but have Reynaud's exacerbated by ADHD meds and haven't experienced chest pain. Are you sure it directly follows handling frozen food etc? Could be related or coincidental - so many things can cause chest pain, from harmless but temporarily hurty intercostal pain all the way to cardiac arrest. Other details (weight, age, genetic history, other medications/treatments, smoking/drinking/substance status) also matter so it's worth bringing up with your doctor, unless you're in America in which case just ask ChatGPT.
  
  It's an immediate response to cold hands. Even handling refrigerated chicken, not just frozen stuff.
- I don't get any chest pain from it, just numbness in my fingers and then pins and needles when the blood comes back.

I take procardia as needed in the winter; works like a charm.
Edit: spelling

My mom gets this but not very often.
- Ditto. She always called it "poor circulation" and explained it's genetic. Didn't know it warranted a name.
  I always blamed these particular genetics for my cold induced urticaria.

My wife has this as well

I get this and my Dad suffered from it too. It's all pretty unpleasant but I have raised my glove game and that has really helped.

Same.. sucks pretty bad during the Swedish winters since i work outside in construction.... My turns blue now that im older...

Only one hand or including the hand without the ring?
- It happens to both hands sometimes, sometimes to just one.

What happens when you drink alcohol? I think alcohol thins the blood, right? So, does it happen less?
- I stopped drinking a while ago, so I can't answer that accurately. but check out what I found:
  An extensive body of data shows concordant J-shaped associations between alcohol intake and a variety of adverse health outcomes, including coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, stroke, dementia, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and all-cause mortality. Light to moderate alcohol consumption (up to 1 drink daily for women and 1 or 2 drinks daily for men) is associated with cardioprotective benefits, whereas increasingly excessive consumption results in proportional worsening of outcomes.
  So it sounds like 1 daily drink for me might improve the condition but more alcohol will worsen it.
  Source

Bit suspicious its just those 2 fingers. But thing ring indicates u must have some skill.

70 comments