Some thoughts and discussions from me.
How I Deal with Raynaud’s Disease
alternative title: how did I end up in Colorado?!
Good morning! 
I hope everyone is having a good week so far. It’s been pretty great around these parts –
Yesterday, I had a KIND demo at Whole Foods in Denver.
Demos are part of my job working for KIND, and often one of the parts I am least excited about. However, yesterday ended up being so much fun! Probably because I was right behind a cute display of mittens and hats and scarves (oh my!) Naturally, a couple of them came home with me – I simply had to had these fold over blue mittens and orange hat.
I’m a sucker, I know. We had a cold spell the first couple of days this week (even though it’s supposed to be back up in the 60’s by Friday,) and it gets me thinking about colder weather – and warmer clothing. Now I just need to find a scarf with a blend of the two colors, and I’ll be set 
You know, sometimes I wonder how I ended up in Colorado. I get cold pretty easily – at least my fingers and toes do. Unfortunately, I have Raynaud’s disease, which means when it’s cold out, all of the blood drains from my fingers and toes. It’s fun to show to show them to my friends, when it’s acting up, because they get completely white. And by fun, I mean, my fingers are tingling, hurting very badly, and if I don’t get the blood back into them in a somewhat short period of time, I’ll be in trouble.
(that’s not my picture, but that’s what happens to my fingers. Gross, I know.)
As far as I know, there’s no real cure for it, aside from finding the nearest sink and running warm water over my fingers for several minutes. My mom also gets it, but not as bad as I have it.
Unfortunately, this puts a damper on any cold-weather activities. I would LOVE to be able to go outside all day in the cold and play – ski, snow shoe, just BE out in the cold and snow, but my Raynaud’s puts a damper on it. It’s actually the main reason I’m a little afraid of how I’m going to enjoy skiing this winter. Sometimes I wonder how I ended up in Colorado, because growing up all of my life, I said I wanted to move south to Florida. The main reason was because I love the ocean, but the secondary reason is because of my darn fingers and toes in the cold. I guess my love for playing in the mountains outweighs both of those reasons
Anyway, so far, I’ve come up with the following things to help me deal with Raynaud’s disease:
1. Wear mittens instead of gloves. I’ve always opted for mittens because it lets the fingers move around more freely, and allows more heat to circulate throughout them.
2. Hot hands!
My mom is obsessed with hot hands, and has passed the obsession (along with the Raynaud’s) down to me. Wearing mittens also allows me to actually hold the hot hands in the mittens.
3. Warm, running water. I freak out a little when it acts up and I’m no where near a sink, which is bad in itself, because stress also aggravates Raynaud’s.
That’s all I’ve got. I’d love for this not to be an issue at all, but I’m also not planning on taking any drugs to keep my blood vessels opened up in my hands anytime soon. For some reason, it seems to be acting up more this fall/winter than last, and I’m not sure why.
Cold weather: love it or hate it?
PS – last day to get in on winning a box of KIND goodies here!
I am definitely not a cold weather fan and I’ve lived in New England all my life! At least I can bundle up as much as possible to keep warm. 🙂
I think I have a slight form of Raynaud’s because my ring finger and pinky on my left hand get white, like the picture above. It is irritating and painful; I can’t imagine having my whole hand feel like that.
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I had never heard of Raynaud’s disease before, but wow, that’s interesting! That is a bummer that it restricts your winter outdoor activities, but I’m glad you’ve found ways to deal with it!
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves recently posted…WIAW: On Repeat
I’ve never heard of that either, very interesting! I get super cold fingers and toes too, but they never turn white like that. They ache a little, but no tingling. I usually hold them under warm water too. I also wear gloves at work with no fingertips so I can still type and work but try to keep my hands warm. People laugh, but it helps! 🙂
I hope you can enjoy your skiing and find a way to do it without too much pain!
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I second that!!!!
I’m so sorry you have to deal with that friend! I’m not a fan of cold weather or being out in it. I would much prefer hot weather year round! (such a baby– I know!) I would gladly lend you my fingers so you could play out in the snow all day long!
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My sis has this & going to pass on the hot hands thing! THX!
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I’ve heard of Raynauds – I was worried for a while that I have it because my circulation in my hands and feet is terrible, but that’s it – just poor circulation. It’s good that you’ve found some methods and products to help you out with it though!
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I actually read a book a few years ago about a woman who did the Pacific Crest Trail that suffered from that. It was very interesting to hear how she dealt with it in the backcountry. I’m sure it’s not easy!
I actually love cold weather. People always say I would get tired of it if I had to deal with harsher winters, and, perhaps they’re right, but I would really love the opportunity to find out!
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Now I want to read that book! 🙂
I want to come to one of your demos! SO fun! My Mom has Raynauds too! It is totally crazy to look at her fingers when she gets cold. I will send her this post!
I had a friend who had Raynaud’s Disease. Maybe you should move South! 😉 I am NOT a fan of the colder weather. Hence why I haven’t moved from SC in 13 yrs ha!
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I like cold weather because it means holiday season!
I have it – pretty severe too. I even lose circulation in the grocery store if I stand in the cold food aisle too long. It’s a little awkward paying for your groceries with completely white hands!!
I don’t really have any tips, besides move to a warmer climate. I’m in Missouri, which isn’t much warmer than CO. Guess we’ll just have to suffer through the winter!
Jean, I have Raynauds happen in a grocery store at times too when I’m buying frozen foods. Trust me, just keep a hot hands in your purse for emergencies, but use it before the fingers get too white. After that, you need warm water; no drugs for it. And when walking or running in the cold, have a hot hands open in your gloves or mittens to prevent it just in case. Good luck.
I have Raynaud’s, too. It’s no fun with it flares up. I hear anxiety can cause a flare up, interesting.
I wasn’t a fan of cold weather, until we visited Breckenridge in January. There is soooo much fun stuff to do in the snow that you can’t do here in the midwest! I skied (liked it, don’t love it) and snowshoed, and snowmobiled (loved both). We just bundled up and drank lots of warm drinks and never had trouble staying warm. The ski lifts all have warm places to head inside when you need a break.
I purchased a pair of ski mittens that also have gloves on the inside and a super handy zipper on the side that opens when your hands get too warm or you need some mobility for your fingers. Best cold weather purchase yet! I think these would be perfect for you, you could also store your hand warmers in the zipped area!
I also have Raynaud’s and it is no fun when you are on the slopes. I actually got frost bite once because I ignored it. I would just say make sure you make it to the lodge when you feel it flaring up. 🙂
Whenever it flares up and I’m in the car I stick my fingers straight into the heat vents. Such a strange thing.
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I do the exact same thing!
I do that too
I do that too! Desperate times…
Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) recently posted…COFFEE and Gluten Free Apple Spiced Donuts
I have Raynaud’s as well, I was actually surprised at how many people deal with it!
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I just can’t with that photo of you. YOU ARE TOO CUTE! Perfect color combo for you. Great purchase. 😉 Hot hands is perfect. I have those suckers everywhere during the winter.
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I too have Reynaud’s. I hate don’t care for the cold weather because of it. It does freak my friends out when they turn white. It doesn’t help that even with gloves on it doesn’t help too much – even in the 50 degree weather. I had a pharmacist that head it tell me years ago that you can take medication to help circulation (think male meds) and we both decided that we would rather run them under warm water.
I have a very mild case of Raynaud’s, and you’re right – it’s no fun! I think I also read somewhere that stress can contribute to it? Don’t quote me on that one though.
I’m SO not a cold weather fan… I mean, it’s OK occasionally, but I’m from Phoenix so I love my sunshine and warm weather. Drinking hot coffee or tea helps me!
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My fingers do that! I never knew there was such a thing as Raynaud’s. How do they diagnose it? Just look at your cold hands?
I have it as well. But not being into skiing or anything, it’s not too bothersome for me.
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I have it too!! I usually can get by with putting my hands against a warm part of my body if I’m not near warm water. ( Yes, I look funny when I do this). I usually get it the worst when its around 40 outside…strange I know. It really does stink. The hot hands ALWAYS help. I used to freak out when it happened, but my mom also suffers from it. I also tend to have blue lips when I get cold thanks to the disease. Good luck!! Great Blog!
How did I not know?! So sorry friend, but I know god is using your situation to encourage others.
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xoxo
Really as long as I can get them warmed back up, it’s more of an annoyance than anything else!
I have it too and I noticed too that mine is flaring up this year more that last year already. So strange. I need to try the mitten thing. I also drink a lot of hot tea when I can so I can wrap my fingers around the warm cup and it keeps my insides warm.
Yes! Love drinking hot drinks – just so I can hold something warm, hehe.
I have Raynaud’s also and have found taking a low dose blood pressure medicine (procardia) helps wonderfully!! I only take the meds in the winter since it is much worse then. I get white tingly fingers all year round- when I reach in the freezer for food. Since I run outside in the winter, I’ll have to look for Hot Hands.
I too have Raynauds, have had it for a few years now. It is quite painful. I also wrote a post on my site a few months ago on this very topic:
http://www.jodiepilates.com/service/blog/tag/raynauds
I have been going to an acupuncturist and this has helped me a lot, I am also a part a group on FB, really good info. Thanks for sharing. Have a good weekend.
Checking out your post, now, and I’d love to be a part of that FB group!
It’s the raynauds association on Facebook.