15 replies to this topic

[JJ-Knitter]

OK, why, when it is 95ºF plus out there and we have no A/C, are my hands and feet cold? NO, I am not clutching a big glass of iced tea in either my hands OR my feet, folks. I thought Raynaud's was only supposed to kick in upon exposure to cold~

JJ-Knitter (Ayup, it's wool on the knitting needles!)

[truman]

Stress also plays as a factor.

[lizzie]

Hi JJ, I had the same problem last weekend. Was the first proper summer weather we have had this year in the N of England, not even a breeze. We went out for a walk and had a rayauds attack with blue hands. The rest of my body was too hot! Reallly really don't understand why!
Lizzie
P.S JJ do you have a connection with Yorkshire in the UK- the word Ayup is such a Yorkshire expression!

[JJ-Knitter]

Hi Lizzie,

Sure do - my husband is from the Sovereign Kingdom of Yorkshire, born in Halifax, educated in Huddersfield. And you know what Friday is, don't you? Yorkshire Day!

We live on the left side of the pond now and it's the 17th straight day with temperatures above 33ºC.

JJ

[Peggy]

This hot weather is terrible if you go out and about too! We were in a Dairy Queen that had it so cold in there I was shivering. Thank goodness I was able to talk my husband into eating outside in the shade or I would have frozen to death! I would rather have just the fans and not the cold AC. I hate even going into the grocery stores right now as it's so cold. I look like some idiot in that I have a sweatshirt on and have my hands in the pockets.

Warm hugs ,

Peggy

[georgette]

[size=4]hi , I was just wondering if there is a difference between raynauds and vasculitis ? if so then maybe that could be why your still getting a reaction in the hot weather , my doctor told me that I had both ,once in the summer months when he examined the feet they were the traditional blue but right at the very tips of my toes they were white as white he said that the reason was because I have both raynauds and vasculitis ??? so ........ just a thought hugs georgette

[JJ-Knitter]

Hi All,

I don't know what vasculitis is and how it differs from Raynauds, but I'll sure look it up. Boy, sclero sure makes competent researchers out of all of us, doesn't it?

Tru, stress definitely could have been a factor! I had 5 contractors coming and going to give us bids on central A/C. Just thinking about spending that kind of money gives me a major panic attack, but months of 'artificial hot flashes' every summer is such a bummer. My hubby works in super-cold A/C and just about dies when he comes home to the hot house.

Peggy, I hear you on these sub-artic shops, etc. (I keep a pair of gloves tucked in the pack for my portable O2.) There have been a couple of movies out lately that I'd have like to have seen, but between the 60º temp and the sound system cranked up to stun, I figured I could wait till they come out on DVD!

[Peggy]

You are so right about how cold theatres are. I never even remembered that - that shows how long it's been since I've been to a movie - but now that you mention it it's probably a good thing as I would freeze to death. I will have to remember to bring my gloves - I have them with me in the winter never in the summer but I guess that should change as I am getting so cold all of the time. The hot flashes lately have been terrible too. I go from being cold to be soaking wet with a hot flash. The night sweats are the worst too - I actually have to change pj's as they are soaked.

Warm hugs,

Peggy

[janey]

JJ and others,
I love it when these questions come up because I've asked them also, but have never taken the time to find an answer. So what is the difference between Raynaud's and vasculitis. According to the American Heart Association's page on Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD),

PVD "refers to diseases of blood vessels outside the heart and brain. It's often a narrowing of vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys. ..Raynaud's disease is an example of "functional Peripheral vascular disease."

The Mayo Clinic's site on Vasculitis defines vasulitis as

Vasculitis is an inflammation of your blood vessels. Also called angiitis, vasculitis causes changes in the walls of your blood vessels, including thickening, weakening, narrowing and scarring.

The UC Davis Vascular Center states "Some of the most common types of vasculitis are

* Raynaud’s Disease (Raynaud's Phenomenon)
* Buerger’s Disease (thromboangitis obliterans)
* Takayasu’s Arteritis

So it looks like Raynaud's is considered a type of vasculitis. Makes sense.

I'm another one that gets Raynaud's episode in hot weather. As Tru mentioned, Stress can cause it as well as cold. I believe it! To counter refrigerated air I wear long sleeves year round. I have 3 short sleeve shirts, everything else is full length with a couple of 3/4 length. When I go to cardiac rehab I wear long sleeves. Even though I'm up to 53 minutes of continuous exercise (WhooHoo!) I still have a hard time staying warm because they keep it so cold. IF I am able to actually break a tiny sweat, it makes it worse because then I get chilled. They bought an ear oximeter lead just for me.

Stay warm and calm!

Big Hugs,

[JJ-Knitter]

Oh Peggy, aren't hot flashes just the icing on our cakes?! What I really enjoy is getting really chilled from being soaked to the skin... To avoid waking my husband up, I keep a spare pair of PJ's in the spare bedroom. I go in there and get changed and then crawl in that bed for the rest of the night. (I also keep dog treats in a jar in there to bribe a nice warm dog to snuggle up.)

I keep a pair of wooly gloves on top of the refrigerator, not just in the O2 pack! Actually, I have them scattered all over the place. And I went to the home improvement store and bought several pair of heavy, cotton-lined, rubber gloves meant for working with paints and so on. They're blue and yellow and pretty flexible. Anyhow, I marked one pair with C for cleaning and one pair with F for food. Now when I want to wash veggies in cold water, I use my F gloves! Helps.

Somebody on this forum suggested using those microwaveable hot packs to rest your hand on when you are using the mouse on the computer. A friend made me a couple of rice packs covered in cotton flannel and they have been just great.

It's going to be interesting having the A/C (it arrives next week). We have already done the Menopause Battle of the Thermostat for the furnace. Another whole field of conflict is going open! Bless his heart, though, he always lets me win.

[Buttons]

Lizzie, I'm just the same, we've had quite humid weather here and I'm still getting raynauds attacks even though it's hot. Still can't go out without socks and shoes rather than a pair of sandals!

JJ-Knitter I used to work in Halifax until 4 years ago, I do miss the hills, I lived near Hebden Bridge for nearly 20 years. I'm originally a Lancashire girl but really like Yorkshire.

[truman]

JJ:

We at work, used to call the hot flashes "summer moments" .

[lizzie]

JJ: Your husband must be such a gentleman because he is a Yorkshireman. ( I'm married to one too and he is so nice and so unselfish- I always get my own way!). I didn't know that Friday was Yorkshire day - and I live in Yorkshire. Think it should be a Holiday!

Lizzie

[JJ-Knitter]

Oh, you all, I just love this forum!

I don't even own a pair of sandals! As for sleeveless and short-sleeved shirts, nah, even without the chill factor, my 'bingo wings' are better kept covered.

Hebden Bridge, we had good friends from there. My husband's Gran was from Stainland. Himself did his earlier education at the Royal Lancaster Grammar School and Uni in Huddersfield.

Oh, Tru, I love you! "Summer moments" indeed!

Huh, Janey, those excepts about vasculitis and Raynaud's make a great deal of sense~ Funny how cold they keep doctors' offices, rehab facilities, and hospitals. It's a bad sign when the receptionist and front desk people are wearing hoodies over their scrubs!

[Karenlee]

JJ you just had me laughing so hard! Bingo wings!!! I had to think for a moment what you meant by that but when it struck, boy did I have a good laugh! Thanks!

[JJ-Knitter]

Hey KarenLee,

If my bingo wings get any bigger, I'm changing my moniker to The Flying Fox!