January can be a really cold month for lots of people and many will wear mittens to keep warm.
Ever since my early 20s, my hands freeze no matter what month it is.
It doesn't take much for my fingers to lose circulation. I could be holding a glass of water or a set of car keys. Or it can set it off by grabbing something out of the refrigerator. When ordinary people can put on a pair of mittens or heavy socks to make them feel warm again, it doesn't seem to help me at all. I can't seem to keep the warmth in.
First my fingers turn white from lock of blood flow and when I place them in warm water to warm them up, (or near a heater), there is an intense throbbing and tingling as the blood flows back in. Similar to the feeling of when your foot falls asleep and you jump up quickly and it feels like bolts of electricity running through it.
When the blood starts flowing again, it turns them quite purple... (nearly appearing black) before it turns to bright red as the blood flows back in them. (Can you see the purple in my ring finger on my left hand?)
I took these photos today during lunch at the local IHOP. It was warm inside the restaurant, but holding the cold silverware in my hands caused the blood vessels to constrict.
It happens to my feet as well. Sometimes I can only walk on the heals of my feet until the blood circulates through them again. I've run on a treadmill for thirty minutes with numb feet before, and though I was even sweating, I still couldn't feel my feet and had to get off by the severe pain of running on feet without blood flow.
It's truly a strange phenomena. And it has a name to it: Reynaud's Syndrome.
Wishing everyone a warm New Years! (But. Not tooo warm where it affects global warming).
14 comments:
Happy New Year, Shawn!
That does sound painful.Our high is supposed to only be in the 30's tomorrow. 'hope yours is warmer!
ACK!! Oh noooooo! This looks much worse than it was in November....and you were out in the cold much MUCH longer then. Oh man...I bet a dozen people just put you down for toe socks and mittens next christmas. Wish mittens would help tho-- ever try those hand warmer packs. The kind mountaineers use? You squeeze em and they wam up...
ouch.
Oh Janet! The high is only going to be in the 30s!?! I think ours will be in the 60s! I do hope you stay warm!
I think the hand warmers would really help a lot, Doodlestreet! Thanks for reminding me about that! One year I received one of those as a gift and I saved it for an especially cold day and do you know I can't remember where I placed it? I think it's gone for good. I think it's time for me to pick up more of those.
Yikes! that must be so annoying and painful...I just looked up Raynaud's and it said taking ginkgo biloba extract helps. Here's wishing you a wonderful and healthy new year to you and your family!
Thanks for your suggestion! Ya know, I tried that about 5 years ago. Maybe I was expecting immediate results and need to be more patient and try it again. Thanks for that kind, helpful reminder.
That is the first time I have heard of this? I hope your 2008 is filled with love and creativity!
Thanks valgal-pal. yeahh, it's a crazy thing. I finally thought I should blog it just in case someone googles it and can tell me maybe some wonderful cure they have found to help them! ya never know! I am wishing you a 2008 filled with love and creativity as well! Lots of it!
...sending more good wishes for your mom......
This does not sound like fun. I am thinking it must be pretty annoying. I've heard of this syndrome before but never knew anyone who had it. Is it painful? Can it cause problems other than discomfort?
Thank you Janet! I SO appreciate you! Her brain and chest appear clear from the cancer at this time, (Thank God!) so on January 16th, she will be having surgery to remove her thyroid and then start radiation treatments, etc.
Hi Rayne! Yes it can cause problems others than discomfort. It can lead to autoimmune diseases such as Scleroderma, Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, certain diseases of the arteries,etc.
And, because of the lack of oxygen/blood flow to the fingers/toes, it can also severely damage the tissue and cause gangrene . I certainly don't want to lose any of my fingers. Think I'll carry hot potatoes in my pockets for those chilly mornings.
I had to read about Reynaud's Syndrome from Wikipedia since I never heard of it. Would wearing wool mitten/socks help, Shawn?
I suppose they would help a great deal especially being outdoors in the winter time. But. I feel sorta bashful about wearing woolen gloves inside a restaurant to eat. Or pulling them out of a kitchen drawer so I could grab the milk out of the refrigerator. Or swimming in an under-heated swimming pool in the summer. ;O)
Hi Shawn, just found your blog and I'm coming back! At last- someone with fingers that go white like mine do! The only thing that works for me is immersing them in warm water for AGES.
Oh Jess! We are common buddies now! Thanks for visiting. I hope you do come back. I'll keep the warm water in the sink for you. :O)
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