Hi RaynoGirl, I know this is a super delayed reply but I just joined the group and I was wondering how is treatment going? I don't have any other health issues so my doc told me I have primary Reynaud's but I shouldn't need treatment. (Honestly she told me to move somewhere warmer--working on it! Haha.)

Hi Ninja_Tonks,

After visiting a rheumatologist I found out I just have Primary Raynaud’s also, so that’s a relief! My Dr. also advised me to move to Florida or Texas but we’ve opted for Tennessee in 5 years when I retire, for other reasons. My cardiologist did prescribe a calcium channel blocker and an 81mg aspirin as a blood thinner. So far I haven’t noticed any difference over the long winter but things have greatly improved just because the weather has gotten warmer.

That is good to hear! Also interesting to know about your treatments. I thought about calcium channel blockers, but I suspect that my body knows it's cold. Treating symptoms just isn't good enough.

I love Tennessee! And I have found that even going as far south as Knoxville helps my Reynaud's greatly, so hopefully you will be comfortable there. :) I have started to notice way too much about the weather, lol.

I have had rhenauds for twenty years...it is mostly in my feet, I had ten badddd ulcers this winter, very painful...a rheumatologist is a great place to begin..they will know how to care for you.. I am five separate meds just for the rheneuads.....but be careful...one affected my liver and now I am on a course of steroids to try to reverse the adverse affects...we go to see her in twO weeks to see if the steroids helped to get my liver back under control...and I can no longer take that med,,,but I.m sure she will have a replacement...they always do.


Good luck...boundle up your affected areas all the time...even in the summer months u can get ulcers....after showers make sure they are full eye dry they wear whooley socks or gloves to keep them warm from the change in the temp during the shower.

Good luck

Be careful with theealcium channel blocker...they can affect the liver...make sure to have periodic bloodwork

I have had Reynaud's since childhood. Brought up on the water, so Mom would periodically have me raise my hands. If the fingers were blue, out of the water siblings and I had to go. For me, effects both fingers and toes. Recently saw a vascular doctor; have regurg in both legs, both upper and lower, and will ask about the Reynaud's at next appointment. I pretty much deal with the blue stage by getting warmer, warm socks, rubbing hands together, etcetera. I am on a calcium channel blocker for heart problems, but doesn't seem to have helped the Reynaud's. Since I like a cool room for sleeping, I wear socks to bed. Due to taking a variety of meds, and having a variety of medical problems, I have very comprehensive blood testing every three months. Hugs to all.

Im seeing a new doctor because the first guy -- great guy -- just didn't know much about Raynauds, acted like it was not a big deal. I came to him with terrible carpal tunnel, lots of pain, and I thought these bizzare colors and pain in fingers was related to carpal tunnel.

He got it right that I had Raynauds -- I had a wild color change right in his office, his CNA knew what it was.

He ordered no test, actually said it was not a big deal.

When I got home I looked it up -- and quickly found Mayo Clinic clearly said Carpal Tunnel can CAUSE Rays. Other people I met on line had exactly same thing -- Carpal tunnel came with Rays. My new doctor -- who has Raynauds himself, said yes, Carpal tunnel can cause Raynauds.

Anyway, my point is, I got a new doctor, and within 10 minutes, he had about 8 tests done for underlying issues. Anything that might indicate I had an underlying problem -- lupus, whatever. He found one issue in my thyroid, had that further tested, did other test, and I had no other issues detectable.

So I have, as far as tests can tell, primary rays. But he said we have to keep checking.

Meanwhile I got of all meds, with the help of my new doctor. I was on blood pressure meds, but I just upped my exercise and got more serious about losing weight healthy food, and now my BP is normal with no meds whatsoever.

Also, until it got warm and I went to Florida for a few weeks, I went to sauna and steam room almost every day. By the way by first doctor thought going to sauna was silly, anything he didn't come up with was silly. My new doctor thought it was a great idea, because it heats your core AND made my hands look and feel great, feet too.

So it depends WHO you get as much as their speciality. My guy has Rays, is a bit younger than me, and knows how to study it, and is very serious about it, very helpful too