anyone have problems with getting their hands to stay warm along with their feet... My feet go purple sometimes kinda worries me... Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
My guess is that you have Raynauds SYndrome but you should talk it over with your doc- I had that along with a lot of other things from Lyme, Ehrlichiosis and Babesiosis!!! It is gone now. I used to be able to stick pins through my feet and not feel them!!! Ew!!! ************** http://www.lakeside.ca/Patient_Info/raynauds_phenomenon.htm RAYNAUD'S PHENOMENON
About Your Diagnosis Raynaud's phenomenon causes temporary decreased blood flow to the fingers, toes, and ears, and less often the tip of the nose. Raynaud's phenomenon usually occurs with exposure to cold temperatures when blood flow decreases in the fingers and toes. The skin in the area involved will first turn white because there is no blood in that area. Next, the skin may turn blue, and once the blood flows back the skin becomes purple or red. If Raynaud's is not treated, sores or ulcers may develop in the areas with the decreased blood flow. If the blood flow is decreased for a long time, the skin in the affected areas could turn black and die. Rarely, Raynaud's phenomenon affects organs inside the body.
Raynaud's phenomenon may occur at any age but usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 40 years. It occurs more frequently in women than in men. Although we do not know the cause of Raynaud's, it is not an infectious illness. To diagnose Raynaud's, a physician obtains a medical history and performs a physical examination. There are no specific blood tests to diagnose Raynaud's, but a physician may perform certain blood tests to determine whether Raynaud's phenomenon is associated with other conditions.
Living With Your Diagnosis Raynaud's phenomenon may cause pain and numbness when the affected areas turn white. Some individuals have swelling, warmth, or a throbbing pain when the affected areas turn purple or red. To prevent these problems, you should keep the body warm and avoid any unnecessary exposure to cold. If you have a job that involves working outside or that exposes your body to cold temperatures indoors, you should see whether your job can be modified or explore other employment options.
Treatment The best way to manage Raynaud's phenomenon is through a combination o therapies and preventive measures. To keep the body warm you should dress in layers, wear lined mittens rather than gloves, wear a hat and scarf, and always carry a sweater with you to adjust to the room temperature. To avoid exposure to cold, have someone warm up your car in the winter, use an oven mitt to get items out of the refrigerator/ freezer, and warm up the bathroom by letting the warm water run for a while before you take a shower or bath. Smoking also causes the blood vessels to close down, leading to less blood flow in the affected areas and a greater chance of sores or an infection developing in those areas. Therefore, individuals with Raynaud's must stop smoking. If emotional stress seems to cause a Raynaud's attack, relaxation and biofeedback may be helpful to increase the circulation in certain areas of the body. If the Raynaud's is severe, a physician may prescribe a medication such as nifedipine that can improve the blood flow. The most common side effects of this medication may include swelling in the hands and feet, lightheadedness or dizziness, and a rash. If these medications do not help and your symptoms are severe, your physician may suggest a type of surgery called a sympathectomy. This surgery involves cutting the nerves that cause the blood vessels to close down, thereby increasing blood flow.
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