Re: Systemic Vasculitis/Cyanosis/Circulation

Posted By Terese on July 29, 1999 at 10:07:44
I'm a 39yr old female with a history of systemic vasculitis.  Recently my hands and feet began to turn blue, and I began to get very lightheaded. This occurs only while I'm sitting or standing for periods of time.  My feet especially turn blue, and I get very light headed when I'm sitting and there is pressure at the back of my thighs. I saw my physician and he put me on 240mgs Tiazac.  This has helped, but I still turn blue if I sit or stand for too long.  It's just now I can sit or stand for longer periods.  If I lay down or walk around it gets better.  Plus when all this began I had a very loud pounding noise at the back of my head when I laid down, then after I was put on the Tiazac it clamed down.  Now the pounding in my head is back and the blueness is slightly worse.  I called my physician, but he said it was nothing to worry about, that cyanosis isn't that big of a deal. Now my questions are:
1. Do I need antoher opinion about the cynosis?                          
2. What do you feel could be causing the blueness?
3. The pounding in my head when I lay down?
4. Especially what causes the lightheadedness when my feet and hands
    begin to turn blue?  

[CF-CARDIO-MD-JMF]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD JMF on July 29, 1999 at 13:55:03
Dear Terese,
I would be concerned about your symptoms.  It sounds on the surface that you may have Raynaud's however, Raynaud's does not typically cause lightheadedness. Typically, patients with Raynauds will have their extremities go from white to blue to red. Your sympotms sound somewhat atypical.  The pounding in your head may be related to migraines which may be a component of Raynauds.  
It may be helpful to have an assessment as to other causes of cyanosis and have a full cardiac and pulmonary work up as well as a full assessment to rule out significant causes of vasculitides.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician
can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire
online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.

[sue__0__0]

Posted By sue on July 29, 1999 at 18:11:39
I would like to know more about Raynaud's. Is there any treatment?  My right hand turns very pale almost white when I get cold or if my hand is touching something cold. It only happens with 3 fingers on the right hand. Even if both hands are in cold water, only the right hand is affected. I would think if a person has Raynaud's all the extremities would be affected.










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