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May 3, 2005
I Have a Phenomenon
Circulation does not run in the family. My mother is always cold, and when it comes to blood flow, I am my mama's child. Lex is now entirely used to me greeting him in the following order: Hi! I love you! How was your day? I'm COLD! and shoving my hands into his armpits for warmth.
A few weeks ago, on a chilly March evening, we went for a walk. We held hands and talked and looked at flower buds and everything was wonderful. Suddenly, I realized that I could not feel my ring finger. I rubbed my hands together. Lex blew on them. We tried to jumpstart my bloodflow with his tropical armpits. No matter what was attempted, my finger remained numb...not tingly, but DEAD. And when we looked at it, it was a sickly yellow-white while the rest of my hand was purplely-red. This was when I became a little scared.
We went home and put my hands on the heater. No response. We ran the tap, hitting the finger to start the bloodflow and, slowly, with the help of scalding water, color crept back up from my knuckle, finding its way to the tip. This was not good.
Over the past few weeks, the tips of my fingers have gone through the same process. Finally, admitting that perhaps this was not the same as my usual lack of circulation inherited from mi madre, I decided to consult a docor.
Everybody, meet Reynaud. I have his phenomenon, otherwise known as "Red, White & Blue."
Oh, I am so proud.
Posted by callalillie at May 3, 2005 7:00 AM | WTF?
callalillie--Many years ago I had the same symptoms-numbness in the arms, especially when I woke in the AM and my arm was elevated higher than my bod. My R leg and foot would go numb if I was on my feet too long. And always cold! Icy hands and feet always. This went on for years, but I just went on and DID wear layered clothing, etc.Lots of other stuff.The DR said just continue living.I did.After a while, it just disappeared.You are stressing yourself. You, I'm sure, will be OK. You have a doc to monitor it. I am healthier than most people my age, and warmer.Take care of yourself.
Posted by: Jane at May 3, 2005 8:21 AM
Oh, I'm not particularly worried about this-- I find it highly entertaining, actually. However, if my nose begins to turn dead white and then blue, I will probably change my tune.
Posted by: corie at May 3, 2005 10:12 AM
"Mr. Gary", the bus driver/custodian at my school has this same syndrome....the doctor diagnosed it many years ago....he is alive and well, but still has cold hands and feet! Wear your gloves and your socks and don't worry anymore about it!
Posted by: nancy at May 3, 2005 11:13 AM
It's very weird. I actually have had the problem with my toes for a long time (them going completely dead numb), but I didn't think about it much because they were usually in my shoes. Seeing your fingers turn that kind of color is rather frightening at first, as is it happening on an increasing basis, even as the weather gets warm!
Posted by: corie at May 3, 2005 12:42 PM
so what happens when you play in the snow?
and those fingers in the diagram are disturbing.
Posted by: tien at May 3, 2005 1:25 PM
it hasn't happened when i've played in the snow...i guess i always wear gloves. it happened to me last night on the bus to red hook, though, as it was rainy and cold.
Posted by: corie at May 3, 2005 1:31 PM
Ah yes, my fingertips (and sometimes my nose!) used to do this on cold days when I lived in Michigan. They would also get painfully swollen so I couldn't move them. It went away when I moved to Georgia. Move to the south! ;)
Posted by: breana at May 3, 2005 2:43 PM
"Red, White, and Blue"
You're just more patriotic than the rest of us.
Posted by: matt at May 3, 2005 10:52 PM
