The cold weather is not doing any good to me. Except for the fact that it reduces our electric consumption but in totality its creating havoc to my body. Of course there is the severe coughing incident with pleurisy involved but right now I am developing what is commonly called the Raynaud’s disease.

I have been reading a lot of Raynauds in the past since there was an incident in 2004 that I thought I had it already. In 2004, I was on the hospital when my doctor discovered a bluish bruise in my foot. But he told me it due to my coumadin intake.

But a few days ago, I felt some tingling pain in my fingers. And it grow painful when I was the dishes with cold water coming out of the faucet. The pain is disturbing. I am even feeling the pain whenever I dress my little girl or change her nappy. So to satisfy my curiousity I tried googling about the Raynaud’s disease. I discovered that eventhough the disease is not alarming but it really annoying. lol. Just like the other complication of LUPUS.

Anyway here is something I got from Wiki.

The symptoms include several cyclic color changes:

• When exposed to cold temperatures, the blood supply to the fingertips, toes, nose, and earlobes of Raynaud’s disease patients is reduced and the skin turns pale or white (called pallor) and becomes cold and numb.
• When the oxygen supply is depleted, the skin colour turns blue (called cyanosis).
• These events are episodic and when the episode subsides, or the area is warmed, blood returns to the area and the skin colour turns red (rubor) and then back to normal, often accompanied by swelling and tingling. Symptoms are thought to be due to reactive hyperemias of the areas deprived of blood flow.

All three colour changes are present in classic Raynaud’s disease. However, some patients do not see all of the colour changes in all outbreaks of this condition.

I am one of those who does not see the color changes though my hands look a little strange. haha.

Here is how to prevent it :

Patients with Raynaud’s disease are advised to keep warm by wearing gloves and socks. They should also avoid stress, medicines that can constrict blood vessels such as decongestants and touching cold objects. Patients are also advised to avoid foods and activities that may constrict blood vessels such as drinking caffeinated drinks and smoking. Avoiding artificially cold environments, such as refrigerated or highly air conditioned spaces, can also help prevent episodes from occurring.

I went to probed a little more and look up the relationship between LUPUS and Raynaud and this is what I got :

One third of lupus patients exhibit an unusual sign, referred to as Raynaud’s phenomenon, in which fingers tirn red, white & blue in response to stress or cold.
It may be observed in the fingers, feet, tip of the nose & outsides of the ears.

There are many other causes of Raynaud’s, & it can be seen in most other rheumatic autoimmune diseases, & also on its own.

Medications can be prescribed that increase the flow of the blood to the hands.

Preventative measures should be taken, such as wearing gloves, avoiding cold environments, not smoking, & using hand warmers

As of the moment, I just monitoring the condition of my hands. If the pain becomes unbearable then I might go to my rheumatologist. But as of this moment I think I can still bear with it.