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Author
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Topic: ~~Oh Look! Two in a row from me.. but this one's 'smokin'~~
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pixelpixie
Moderator Posts: 3418
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted February 24, 2005 04:35 PM
 
SSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo....
I have been freaking myself out.
Typing in these strange symptoms I have into google.. it's hard to get in to see a doctor, so when I do, I like to be somewhat educated...
I am pretty sure I have Raynaud's phenomenon. I know my cousin has it, and well.. I have the same thing, she'd mentioned before as well.
My symptoms are kinda' different, which freaked me out, as they resembled schleroderma.. although it would be first primary stages.. if any....
BUt when I went to this page, I was like  http://www.4woman.gov/editor/jun04/jun04.htm
These seem unrelated, yet I have had swallowing difficulties forever.*snicker*. I hardly mention it anymore, just live with it. My hands are so hard and dry, no matter what i put on to moisturise, and they flush red and hot, swell, and I totally have had times ( mid-summer!!) when they would turn white/blue. I was at a barbeque around lots of people, so they all saw it... strange.
Lately, my heart has been beating erratically... it startles me, but I live with it.
I am flipping out a little though... time to get to my doctor.
Not that I am a hypochondriac, but ... I like to know things, so I can name them and deal and move on.....
Today, my upper lip was swollen and my nose was numb.
WTF!!!????
Anyway.. all this freaking out has lead me to the decision to really try to quit smoking... because my circulation is wonky anyway.. even if there is no medical name for it.. and smoking is the worst thing I could do.
I have added another reason to my growing list.
So.. I have two ciggies left, I WILL smoke them. Then........?????
Please send me willpower ....IP: Logged |
pixelpixie
Moderator Posts: 3418
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted February 24, 2005 04:51 PM
My hands.. this goes on a lot.. they will swell and get tingly and hot.. and RED!!!, mostly along the knuckles and joints. Sometimes it is painful.. I asked my Doctor already about arthritis, and the dryness, she prescribed my a steroidal topical cream. Compare the hands with the skin around them.. my leg and face and chest.. I am pale!!!
Just in case Gia, or anyone else can help lead me.. if they aren't frozen, then they are hot. ( My toes don't warm up either)  IP: Logged |
Aphrodite
Knowflake Posts: 4677
From:
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted February 24, 2005 04:53 PM
I was diagnosed with Raynaud's Syndrome when I was 19. It was scary at the time.IP: Logged |
pixelpixie
Moderator Posts: 3418
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted February 24, 2005 05:14 PM
Aphrodite!!!
So.. do you just make sure to keep your hands warm, and what other precautions are necessary?
Did your hands ever flush red as well?????IP: Logged |
Aphrodite
Knowflake Posts: 4677
From:
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted February 24, 2005 06:08 PM
Precautions? (I'm Aries, remember? Just kidding. Hehe.)My face flushes red. Embarrassing. I remember asking you some time back about that skin condition. The hands and feet turn blue-ish, purple and become numb. The feet go numb/fall asleep when I walk in temps below 55 F. Remember that time when I went to Jasper, Alberta, Canada? I thought I took good precautions and bought appropriate shoes and socks for -25F, even though it was just 32F. It wasn't enough. The doctor said if it gets any worse, I have to take high blood pressure medication to open up the veins. I wear a feather down coat outside (400-fill power), and sleep with a down comforter so I don't wake up in the middle of the night from "the cold." I keep an electric space heater in the bathroom. The apartment gets free steam heat and lots of sun, so it stays warm and doesn't get cold. The most extreme case is at work. The vent blows out cold air onto my desk, and I was always wearing the big puffy coat with the space heater on. The copper wires got too hot and melted. That was bad, and also caused sparks under my neighbor's desk. Well that got fixed, the space heater confiscated, and the repair man put in a pizza box in the vent to deflect the cold air back up to the ceiling.  It's why I live here . . . because it's relatively warm and doesn't get snow or extremely cold rains . . . IP: Logged |
Philbird
Moderator Posts: 3193
From: Here, there and everywhere.
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted February 24, 2005 07:05 PM
I'm so sorry to hear this you guys! My whole life has been a struggle to keep warm! I don't think is a disease or anything, I even have burn scars on the back of my legs from standing too close to the fire place when I was a kid. Sometimes my hands and feet get so cold they hurt! I moved to AZ because of arthritis and to escape the dampness that made me internally cold for the whole winter. I constantly take hot baths, even though it 60 degrees here! I suck heat off hubby during the night, and half the time I wear my clothes to bed. The intensity of joint aches has reduced since moving here. So has the sypmtoms of Bricitis (sp) and deterierationg lumbar. Actually, the weather takes away almost all the pain. I love the temps here!IP: Logged |
Yin
Knowflake Posts: 1215
From:
Registered: May 2004
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posted February 25, 2005 03:12 PM
I'm so sorry to hear that, gals! Sending some positive thoughts!  IP: Logged |
trillian
Knowflake Posts: 3806
From: The Boundless
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted February 26, 2005 07:22 AM
Some of these symptoms can also be attributed to thyroid problems! The swallowing problem, the sensitivity to hot/cold, and the very dry skin can all point to thyroid. Read more at www.about.com, then search under thyroid.If you're going to see your Dr., request a simple thyroid test. They just take a little blood and check your TSH levels. If you get a 'normal' reading, request to know what your TSH levels are. You can also start tracking your basal body temp, too, which can indicate whether you might or might not have some thyroid trouble. I can tell you more, or you can check on the about site.  IP: Logged |
pixelpixie
Moderator Posts: 3418
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted February 27, 2005 03:42 PM
Thank you Trillian!!!My aunt had hers removed, and both her daughters have thyroid problems too.... the same cousin who has Raynaud's.. which is where I heard of it.
Good reccomendation.. I will look nto it tomorrow... thanks so much for the link.... and it might be the link I need, in order to put my finger on it....(My very cold, dry and either pasty white, or red red red finger....  .) IP: Logged |
pixelpixie
Moderator Posts: 3418
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted February 27, 2005 03:42 PM
And oh, hey.. how'd the cleanse go??????------------------
......Everytime she sneezes I believe it's love.......~*Counting Crows* IP: Logged |
26taurus
Knowflake Posts: 10114
From: the stars
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted March 01, 2005 02:07 AM
Green Healing Light from my hands to yours pix.  IP: Logged |
pixelpixie
Moderator Posts: 3418
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted March 01, 2005 02:42 AM
Thanks sweetness!
I see.. Green to counteract the Red?
It's like colour therapy!IP: Logged |
26taurus
Knowflake Posts: 10114
From: the stars
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted March 01, 2005 02:34 PM
Hehe. I picked green because it is the color of Healing. But yeah! It could balance out the red as well!
It is also good for balancing emotions and giving a feeling of calmness.   IP: Logged |
SunChild
Moderator Posts: 3048
From: Australia
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted March 01, 2005 04:55 PM
Lots of healing light Pix ------------------
"And dreams, don't ever forget, are the first step in manifesting wishes into reality"-- Linda Goodman's Star Signs IP: Logged |
Kat
Knowflake Posts: 693
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted March 09, 2005 05:30 PM
Take care and do go see a doctor. Nothing is worse than your imagination creating tons of scenarios of what this could be. I could name a couple of health "labels" of what I think this is, but a doctor is your best bet at getting answers.IP: Logged |
pixelpixie
Moderator Posts: 3418
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted April 03, 2006 02:28 PM
This is old, but still going on.Just wanted to bump it for my own self. IP: Logged |
Azalaksh
Knowflake Posts: 2018
From: New Brighton, MN, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted April 03, 2006 05:34 PM
Have you been smoke-free pix??
K'ZIP: Logged |
pixelpixie
Moderator Posts: 3418
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted April 03, 2006 06:08 PM
um.. hehe... hey, what's that over there?IP: Logged |
pixelpixie
Moderator Posts: 3418
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted April 03, 2006 06:10 PM
Did you know I can tie a cherry stem in my mouth?um.... I can probably make up other talents.... like distraction! I can um.... talk about other things!!! Really well! So tell me more about your accupuncture, honey? How old is the practice? Where was it founded.....
 IP: Logged |
Azalaksh
Knowflake Posts: 2018
From: New Brighton, MN, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted April 03, 2006 06:23 PM
YOU are avoiding my question, my sweet!!! That trying-to-change-the-subject-to-not-answer-a-question thing is NOT going to fly with moi!! And this is a thread about your (possible) Raynaud's, not about My Adventures With Needles I put up another thread on that a couple below this one.....  K'Z PS: I find it frightening to have to resort to what seems like a barbaric procedure (thyroid gland removal) to prevent other health issues. But hey, look who's talking -- I just had a hysterectomy. It just seems like there's gotta be a way to get the hormones back into harmony and not swinging wildly one way or the other and producing all these reactions..... Your hands look much like mine with psoriasis -- the red knuckles and patches.....  IP: Logged |
LeoSweetHeart
Knowflake Posts: 525
From: California, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted April 03, 2006 07:59 PM
Have you see the doctor hun? And hey you brought up a good point when you were avoiding the subject..acupuncture. I think you should try seeing an acupuncturist!! Often they are the best at targeting circulation problems and other catching illnesses by the early symptoms before they worsen. I've heard many cases where a western doctor will say "I can't diagnose you with anything, come back if it gets worse" and then they go to an acupunturist and they can pinpoint the signs of danger and treat it immediately. The goal is not for it to get worse! Anyway just a recomendation. I'm going to start studying to be an acupunturist next year! Yippy!
Oh and I jus read Aphrodite's symptoms for Reynauds, and now I'm a little scared.. My face turns bright red/blushes very easily and my hands and feet go numb quickly in the cold too! Especially the toes. hmmm I'm going to research too and maybe send myself to my french acupuncturist buddy.
Anyways keep us posted, k. IP: Logged |
Azalaksh
Knowflake Posts: 2018
From: New Brighton, MN, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted April 04, 2006 06:40 PM
Well Ms Pixie, Madame Z is still waiting for an answer to that question..... (**taps foot impatiently**)  K'Z IP: Logged |
Nephthys
Moderator Posts: 2408
From: California
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted April 04, 2006 07:31 PM
I have had cold hands and feet my entire life. Even in the summer I wear light socks on my feet. Also, my ears and nose gets really, really cold in cold weather.
I have never been diagnosed with anything like Raynauds, but I probably have it. I have Kaiser and they never help me with my medical issues - they just want to prescribe drugs. I do have low blood pressure. I have always flushed easily but I always just thought it's because I am shy and don't like people to stare/look at me.  Aphrodite - Wow, I think S.F. is freezing and I could never live there. That day I visited you, I was just freezing. I sleep with winter sheets from Canada (no, they're not flannel), 2 blankets, comforter, quilt, and my father's wool army blanket on top. Sometimes I am so cold at night I can't fall asleep. One thing I did read that using cayenne pepper in cooking increases circulation. IP: Logged |
Nephthys
Moderator Posts: 2408
From: California
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted April 04, 2006 07:33 PM
At this very moment my hands and feet are  COLD IP: Logged |
Azalaksh
Knowflake Posts: 2018
From: New Brighton, MN, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted April 05, 2006 09:39 PM
pix, Aphrodite, LSH, Nephthys ~After only two sessions with an acupuncturist I'm converted and I've gotta Witness!! Please have a look at these links -- and see if you might want to try it too..... Acupuncture and Raynaud's Disease
http://www.chiro.org/acupuncture/ABSTRACTS/Raynaud.shtml Raynaud's Phenomenon -- Signs/Symptons/Treatment Options:
"One of the most important preventive measures you can take is to stop smoking because nicotine shrinks arteries and decreases blood flow."
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsConditions/RaynaudsPhenomenoncc.html Changes in the angiographic pictures in Raynaud's disease following acupuncture treatment:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_u ids=846670&dopt=Abstract Treatment of primary Raynaud's syndrome with traditional Chinese acupuncture:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ uids=9077368&dopt=Abstract Natural approaches to Raynaud's phenomenon:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_4_62/ai_61361488 The Chinese have used acupuncture to successfully treat Raynaud's Disease for thousands of years:
http://www.eastwestacupuncture.net/home.htm Savvy Patients:
http://www.savvypatients.com/raynauds.htm Food for thought.....
'Zala IP: Logged |
Lindaland
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