Raynaud’s - YouLookFab Forum

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Raynaud’s

Aquamarine

Veteran

Anyone suffer from Raynaud’s? My young adult daughter might have it and it appeared to come on suddenly a few weeks ago (in her fingers). Her doctors are aware (via office portals/messages) and not really concerned but she hasn’t seen anyone yet. She’s a cancer survivor and there is some correlation between one of the chemo drugs and Raynaud’s but not sure if that will ever be proven.

Looking for tips on managing it, best gloves, experiences, etc.

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25 replies

Latest reply was from Aquamarine

DonnaF

Veteran

I’ve had Raynaud’s (associated with scleroderma) in both fingers and toes for more than two decades. I am very, very careful and carry my fingerless gloves unless temps will be at least in the 70s and don’t wear sandals unless temps are in the 80s or more. So far so good; no sympathectomies (fingertip amputations).

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Aquamarine, if you search the site, I am certain you will find multiple mentions of it. I’m not certain who, but I know for sure that several people here deal with it.

Aquamarine

Veteran

DonnaF…yikes! That sounds quite serious and life-altering. <now I’m really stressed>

Stag…for some reason, I cannot use the search feature. It doesn’t work for me, at least on my iPad.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have a mild version in my hands. It's worst for me when I am driving. I think it is the angle of my hands (and the cold we get in the frigid north). My husband has it far worse.

My husband uses those little warming pads sometimes and wears gloves a lot in temps that wouldn't bother most people. He also wears warm wool socks. But he gets symptoms even in warm weather. He uses what we call a "warm buddy" (one of those beanbag or flaxseed things you can heat up in the microwave) and holds onto it whenever he's at the computer and not typing.

I avoid driving (seriously!) and wear mittens, not gloves, when it is genuinely cold. I look forward to the day when we have a heated steering wheel.

JamC

Veteran

I’ve had Raynauds for years in my fingers and toes. It happens when I am cold. My doctor advised me to be proactive, that is anticipate and be proactive to avoid the symptoms, which can be painful. Like Sue’s husband, I wear gloves or mittens when others don’t and have rechargeable hand heaters (OCOOPA from Amazon) that I use inside mittens or just hold when I am in the house. These changes in my behavior have resulted in significantly less severe occurrences. I take it seriously but don’t worry about it!

Laurie

Veteran

I have also had Raynauds for many years. I believe it might be hereditary - my Dad has it, and my 27 year old son seems to have recently developed symptoms. I am on a never-ending quest for hand gear. Used to be a runner, and that was always challenging. Mittens, not gloves. Great suggestion above on the handwarmer packets. We keep a large stash around, and I always tuck them into my pockets just in case. Harder to get feet to warm up. I can remember starting out on runs and I felt like I was running on 2 ice blocks until the circulation got going.
Shopping in the cold section of the grocery store can cause the blood to drain from my fingers.
Running hands and feet under warm water when they turn white is the fastest solution for me.
I am also a cancer survivor and was told that the chemo I had in my 30's would exacerbate the Raynauds. And nothing to be done about it.

Runcarla

Veteran

I have Raynaud’s as a symptom of CREST (also known as limited scleroderma). My specialist prescribed daily low dose ASA (baby aspirin), and it has helped. Like others, I wear mitts and gloves - almost year round, use activated charcoal hand warmers in mitts and pockets, and a microwaveable barley bag if the house is cool. We have a car with a heated steering wheel, and it is wonderful! I do very well in hot summer and during vacations in warm/hot climates.

I’ve experienced one episode of prolonged finger tip ulceration which resulted in the loss of a nail, but which did eventually resolve and the nail grew back. I’m in the process of dealing with another (on a different finger) but it’s on the mend. Managing stress is always a factor for flares - like any other condition.

I don’t let the condition stop me from doing much, though I do let the men-folk deal with snow shovelling and other cold weather outdoor tasks.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Suz…I had not heard the angle of the hands was an issue. Interesting! We live in a four-season climate, so there’s plenty of cold and damp around. Still, there’s a point where everyone gets sick of gloves and mittens. That happened a few days ago…it was maybe 50F but raining and my daughter said she didn’t have gloves on because it was warmer than it’s been…well, that was a mistake. She took a photo of her hand and three fingers holding an umbrella were a shocking white.

JamC…hand heaters sound heavenly. Yes, it sounds like being proactive is the name of the game with this.

Laurie…yes, she did run her hands under warm water after the first scary episode, and it helped! Chemo…the gift that keeps on giving…sigh.

Carla, finger tip ulceration sounds terrible and I’m sorry for you. How scary. Super interesting about baby aspirin…I haven’t seen anything about that in my internet travels yet. A heated steering wheel also sounds heavenly to me.

Staysfit

Veteran

I have Raynauds. My car’s heated steering wheel is my favorite feature! In addition to many of the the suggestions above I find mittens work better for me than gloves and that fingerless gloves do not help. The fit of gloves, socks, shoes and boots needs to be close enough for insulation but not tight enough to cut off circulation. The podiatrist has suggested soaking my feet and hands for 10 minutes twice a day in tepid water. I never followed through with this because it’s too cumbersome. I see no one else suggesting this which may confirm my suspicions. Has anyone checked to see if his recommendation is backed by scientific evidence? I never bothered, although now I am tempted since it’s so easy to check…..I may report back on this later…..

Runcarla

Veteran

@ Staysfit - I’m considering a paraffin bath https://www.sallybeauty.ca/bea.....48800.html.

Maybe for Mother’s Day?

Aquamarine

Veteran

Staysfit…that’s interesting. Have not come across that at all in my reading yet but couldn’t hurt.

DonnaF

Veteran

I forgot to mention that I live in a very mild climate which is a big help. If you find yourself without mittens, gloves, hand warmers, or pockets and a Raynaud’s attack is coming on, try windmilling your arms or at the very least shaking your hands to get the circulation going.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Thanks DonnaF…I will pass that on to my daughter.

Anonymous

My DD has had Raynaud's since since puberty. First noticed it in her fingers while playing the piano in a cold room. In addition to warm gloves (fingerless gloves also help) she bought arm sleeves; basically knit arm sleeves that hook over the thumb and partially cover the hand. Keeping her arms warm helped with the fingers and hands. In addition, she wears warm socks and even double layers because she developed chilblains in her toes.

I want to note that when I was younger I had the same problems with my fingers and toes, but as I have gotten older I have not had any problems.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Thanks for weighing in, Danni, and for the tips.

Bijou

Veteran

I have mild Raynaulds and find that doing push ups, star jumps or burpees helps to get my circulation to my fingers and toes. I live in a warm climate, so there is minimal risk of frostbite. Cashmere lined leather gloves do a good job of keeping my hands warm.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Oh good tips Bijou!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

The only time I get Raynaud's symptoms is when my iron stores are low. Did you all get your ferritin levels checked more than once? Simple anemia test is not helpful.

Many of the above techniques work well for me, exercising, hand shaking, warm water - not handling frozen things for too long, etc.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Interesting texstyle! Will pass this on. Bloodwork in June.

Meegie

I also have developed mild symptoms. In addition to handwarmers, mittens, and such, it also helps to keep your core warm. When your core is cold, your body shunts blood away from the extremities back to your core. Good excuse to have a nice wardrobe of puffer vests!

Isabel

Veteran

I’ve had Raynaud’s since I was really little. I have memories of being 4 , pre kindergarten , and my hands and toes looking pale yellow and white.

For me : mittens over gloves. And lined with something plush and windproof.

I only wear merino wool socks in cold weather. Many times , two medium weight pairs or one lightweight and one a bit heavier. Cotton just gets damp and feels damp. That exacerbates my Raynaud’s.

Their are also wonderful glove liners and liners to wear under socks. And if she’s outside for long periods of time , especially in damp weather , waterproof lined boots.

I have found through the years that I do better with layers than with one bulky thing or other. And it’s super important that she moves her fingers and toes to keep blood circulating. I am constantly wiggling my fingers when I winter hike or sitting at a football game etc.

Good luck !

Aquamarine

Veteran

Meegie…good point about your core. Hadn’t occurred to me but of course you are correct.

Isabel…great tips, thank you!

April

Veteran

Mr. April has this quite badly in his hands. His best solutions include driving my car instead of his own (mine has a heated steering wheel) and dropping those little "shake to activate" hand warmers into his coat pockets in cold months.

PamelaK

I have had Raynauds since I was little too. Second, third-ing, and fourth-ing the microwave barley bags and “shake” hand warmers. And the merino socks! I wear them in all but the hottest temperatures. They have been game changers. I agree about keeping the core warm helps; I usually wear a merino or Uniqlo heattech underlayer in temperatures below 60-65. That has also helped.

Texstyle, thanks for that tip. I also can fall low on iron quite quickly. Another reason to track that carefully!

Aquamarine

Veteran

April and PamelaK…it sure sounds like Raynaud’s is pretty common and I appreciate your tips for coping with it…thanks!