Hello! Welcome to Reynauds Phenomenon.It is completely unrelated to your cardiac symptoms. I wish I could have gotten this note to you years ago, because it's not so bad, really. Do me a favor and Mayo Clinic "Reynaud's." It's fun, really. Ok, not so much, but easily controlled.
It's more women than men, usually under 35 at diagnosis. Sometimes family related. It gets worse with age. so you can be perfectly fine, then, surprise! freezing cold hands. It's about change in temperature, not actual temp. I wear gloves at all times during cold season, and when I'm on the computer, and sometimes my fingers turn blueish and I need to warm them.
Seriously, dig around your freezer for a few minutes, did you start to loose feeling in your fingers? It's because of the sudden change in temp. Your body freaks out and thinks, *OHMAHGAD! We're gonna die. Quick! cut off blood flow to the extremities to save the baby."
Your body is right. All females' bodies cut off blood flow, albeit slowly, to save our babies. However, YOUR body *FREAKS* out and decides you are going to die and causes your nerves to spasm and cut off blood flow to fingers and toes, then hands and feet, and then higher up. The only way to accurately diagnose Reynauds is to stick your hands in a freezer for a few minutes or have a family history.
Because women get it 80% more than men. Win/fail.
Good luck. Honestly, I hope it is Reynaud's. It's easily controlled. And it fits your symptoms. And any decent Dr. will diagnose you in 10 mins or less. I got diagnosed in less than 1 minute. kind of embarrassing. really, like I was an infant. Also, your other options suck. Reynauds is at least unassuming.
Good luck,
Jane
Hello! Welcome to Reynauds Phenomenon.It is completely unrelated to your cardiac symptoms. I wish I could have gotten this note to you years ago, because it's not so bad, really. Do me a favor and Mayo Clinic "Reynaud's." It's fun, really. Ok, not so much, but easily controlled.
It's more women than men, usually under 35 at diagnosis. Sometimes family related. It gets worse with age. so you can be perfectly fine, then, surprise! freezing cold hands. It's about change in temperature, not actual temp. I wear gloves at all times during cold season, and when I'm on the computer, and sometimes my fingers turn blueish and I need to warm them.
Seriously, dig around your freezer for a few minutes, did you start to loose feeling in your fingers? It's because of the sudden change in temp. Your body freaks out and thinks, *OHMAHGAD! We're gonna die. Quick! cut off blood flow to the extremities to save the baby."
Your body is right. All females' bodies cut off blood flow, albeit slowly, to save our babies. However, YOUR body *FREAKS* out and decides you are going to die and causes your nerves to spasm and cut off blood flow to fingers and toes, then hands and feet, and then higher up. The only way to accurately diagnose Reynauds is to stick your hands in a freezer for a few minutes or have a family history.
Because women get it 80% more than men. Win/fail.
Good luck. Honestly, I hope it is Reynaud's. It's easily controlled. And it fits your symptoms. And any decent Dr. will diagnose you in 10 mins or less. I got diagnosed in less than 1 minute. kind of embarrassing. really, like I was an infant. Also, your other options suck. Reynauds is at least unassuming.
Good luck,
Jane