Raynaud's Disease

Does anyone else have Raynaud's Disease? I was diagnosed 2 years ago with Raynaud's just had bloodwork done and my ANA titer was high but SED rate low and was told that sometimes the ANA can be high in people with Raynaud's. Does anyone know that to be the case or should I be concerned about my ANA? This was all done by my internist who was doing bloodwork looking for connective tissue disorders because after my 1st and only pregnancy I had multiple pelvic organ prolapse with no explanation as to why (no big baby, no traumatic birth etc)

[888mom]

i have raynuads.  It's common to have raynauds with other immune disorders.  My doctor's latest thing is I have lupus, though she's rethinking it again.  I was diagnosed lupus many years ago, rediagnosed fibromyalgia, then rediagnosed lupus.  Doc says I definitely have a connective tissue disorder (high ANA and extremely high SED rate along with joint pain, fatigue and vitamin deficiencies and some other things).  Raynauds is not a big deal for me, since I have a lot of issues to deal with like joint pain and fatigue.  Having cold hands (that occasionally turn blue in the winter) and feet don't seem like a big issue.  I do wear gloves a lot in the winter.  You can find gloves that have open fingers as well, so you can use them indoors.  My grandmother had (she's passed on now) and my mother has raynauds.  She just tries to keep her external joints moving or warm with extra layers.  And sometimes you just get blue or pale white hands/fingers and just live with it.  I've had raynauds probably since i was a teenager, around age 14.  I've had the autoimmune problem since about age 18 symptoms started appearing.  I also developed allergies and asthma at age 18 in addition to the joint pain, and I started getting illnesses like ear infections and bronchitis left and right too.  

Well, anyways, let me know what you do.  I don't seem to have bad symptoms in the summertime or maybe I just don't notice as much.  My feet are always getting pins and needles, going to sleep, whatever you want to call that wierd sensation thing.  My hands do that sometimes too.  

[ChronicCaroline]

I have Raynauds also, as a side order to the several other autoimmune diseases I have. Raynauds kicks my butt in the winter in addition to the non-stop flare state I am in. I did so many different things to get comfortable when wanting to use my desk/comp for a night-ace bandages, gloves I cut tips of fingers off just to type a little less pain-free, tights&socks, feet wrapped in blankets, heating pad under feet, electric blanket ect. SOOO FRUSTRATING! On super hot days it is an issue also.

I truely understand and have tried some corky things to gain comfort. Please share any you have used that helped or what doesn't, and I will do the same!!

Best Wishes!  

[888mom]

Oh... if you have a spouse... ha ha ha... do not go to bed without socks on in the winter.  I remember after first getting married my husband screeched loudly (doesn't sound very manly I know) and he jumped out of bed thinking something bit his leg off my feet were so cold.  I actually wear socks in the summertime too.  My hubby likes to keep the AC at around 72 at night... too cold for me.  I l ike having the ac up to like 75 or higher.

[ddeiman]

I know my hubby can't get over my feet. Mine are cold even in the summer months. The worst is changing my 10 month old's diaper. Poor kid has to deal with mommy's cold hands. I did by a wipes warmer to warm the wipes so that makes up for my cold hands, lol. OK so this is crazy but I read on some website that they are looking into using the same creams that men use for increasing blood flow to maintain erections to increase blood flow to the feet and hands in Raynaud's patients. Too funny but also I can see the concept behind why they would research this. I use foot warmers and hand warmers in the winter months and usually can find them cheap in Walmart's camping area. I am concerned that my ANA was high but since the SED rate was normal my dr. said not to worry but I wonder if I should be following up with someone else. Who specializes in autoimmune things?

[Want to feel well!!!]

A rheumatologist would be a good place to start.

If your ANA is positive there are specific blood tests to try to determine why.  A rheumatologist will take TONS of blood, but it is quite helpful.  Do you know how high your ANA result was?

I too have had Raynaud's since I was quite young, however the past few years it has become quite an issue in the cold weather and is worse when I am having a flare of joint/muscular pain with low grade fever.  You do need to keep your hands and feet warm and it seems as though you taking the right measures.

My SED rate has always been normal, but there is enough other positive findings for evidence of connective tissue disease.

Hope you find answers soon!
Wanna

[Junerin]

Thanks for the response. I think I will contact a rheumatologist to further look into this. Thanks!