I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: angieskidney on August 23, 2006, 10:12:16 AM
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Angie, It sounds like you have Raynaud's phenomenon, and I know it's hard to get doctor's to listen to you. My fingers turn really, really white; then, as they warm up, they turn almost black. Here's what it says in WebMD for treatment:
"There is no cure for primary Raynaud's phenomenon, although the condition often can be effectively controlled. You may be able to limit or lessen the severity of attacks by keeping warm; managing emotional stress; and avoiding medications or other substances that affect blood flow, such as nicotine, caffeine, or cold medications that contain pseudoephedrine. Avoiding beta-blockers, which are often used to treat high blood pressure and fast or irregular heart rates, is also advised. Beta-blocker medications slow the heart rate and decrease how forcefully the heart contracts, causing even less blood to flow through your capillaries and making symptoms of Raynaud's worse.
If Raynaud's phenomenon can't be effectively controlled with home treatment and it interferes with daily activities, your health professional may prescribe medications. Medications such as calcium channel blockers (including nifedipine), angiotensin II receptor antagonists (such as losartan), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (such as fluoxetine), and vasodilators (which are used to treat high blood pressure) may help increase blood flow to your hands and feet and relieve symptoms. Severe cases that don't respond to these therapies may be treated with bosentan (Tracleer), an endothelin receptor antagonist that blocks spasm or tightening of the capillaries. Treating Raynaud's with bosentan is an experimental use of the drug that is currently being studied.
Some alternative treatments have shown promise in treating Raynaud's phenomenon. Gingko biloba was shown in one study to reduce the number of Raynaud's attacks.2 Certain behavioral therapies have also shown positive results. Biofeedback training or autogenic training, in which a person attempts to control blood flow and skin temperature, may help in treating Raynaud's phenomenon.
If the condition is related to an underlying disease, a drug, or a specific activity (secondary Raynaud's), treating the underlying disease or stopping the drug or activity may also decrease the symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon."
I heard that if you take Co-Enzyme Q-10, two 30 mg capsules in the morning and one in the afternoon, it will help. I haven't done that because I haven't had a chance to ask my doctor about it, but I have a friend that swears it works for Raynaud's. If your doctor agrees, it couldn't hurt to try it, I guess.
Thank you for all that! Some of that I have to check with the Nephrologist about because sometimes my pulse goes up and also some things might contradict with things I have to take while on dialysis. I know that when I had my transplant that I was told to stay away from some of the herbal supplements that may help.
Anyone else have anything to contribute since I made this new thread?
I also wanted to say that I belong to a Raynaud's phenomenon forum (http://www.raynauds.org/forums/forum/index.cfm) and I will be posting there to see what info they can offer to me!
How many people have Raynaud's phenomenon?
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I had it in the past, but it seems to of gone now. I used to just get a really cold finger, and nothing I did warmed it up unless I held it in my other hand for a fair while. Then I sliced my hand open and it got quite worse. My knuckles took on a bluish tinge, and I thought it might of had something to do with the cut, so I went back to the doctor and he said it was raynauds phenomenon and there wasnt much you could do about it.
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I had it in the past, but it seems to of gone now. I used to just get a really cold finger, and nothing I did warmed it up unless I held it in my other hand for a fair while. Then I sliced my hand open and it got quite worse. My knuckles took on a bluish tinge, and I thought it might of had something to do with the cut, so I went back to the doctor and he said it was raynauds phenomenon and there wasnt much you could do about it.
It can go away?? ???
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My finger turn really white and very cold and numb, but the Doctors told me it was because of the fistulas I have had in both arms. The fistula slows the blood flow down to your hand. I was told it was called "Steel Syndrome".
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I dont know if it can go away angie, sorry didnt mean to mislead you. I just know I dont remember the last time I had any symptoms. I wonder if better dialysis has had anything to do with it.
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My finger turn really white and very cold and numb, but the Doctors told me it was because of the fistulas I have had in both arms. The fistula slows the blood flow down to your hand. I was told it was called "Steel Syndrome".
Ya I already been told that from the Neph but like I already said, I told him that I had this since BEFORE I ever even had a fistula or was ever on Hemo in my entire life.
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I got it before I started dialysis and before I got a fistula as well.