Can anyone recommend a way to warm my hands up when I get an attack?

[JPhlps]

I've tried keeping my hand under runnig warm water but they just get cold again. I've tried wearing gloves but nothing seems to be effective. I'm 20 and have been recently diagnosed with Primary Raynaud's. Finding it a bit difficult to adjust as I thought it was just normal.

[NigelC]

Hi

Whenever i have an attack and I don't have access to any artificial heating aids I find the best heat is body heat, therefore you'll often find me sitting with one hand under one arm and the other touching my shoulder. I realize it is not always feasible but i find it helps. I often sit like that anyway watching TV as my hands are cold all the time. I used to like hot air driers but I have a problem with temperature change as much as the cold so even those are not always good for me, same with hot water. I've had Raynaud's for 11 years now and over time you'll find the ways that suit you best.

regards

[zenabb]

At 20 you don't want to limit your life but you can do some things to prevent your hands getting cold and also to deal with them when they are cold. What I do, what works for me, is the following:

1.If I keep my body warm; it prevents blood rushing to keep my body warm thus depriving my hands and feet. I prefer to wear layers I can shed if I get too warm. You may not like that at 20 but it helps a lot.

2. If I am at home I use the penguin I have bought from the RSA, heat it in the microwave for two minutes and I put it on my stomach with my two hands on it. It looks like a cuddly toy.

3. If I am out I use silver gloves (from the RSA) with MYCOAL hand warmers. They last 8 hours which gives me a lot of freedom, but if they get too hot in the gloves I take them out for a little while and put them back.

4. Sometimes I keep my head warm with a hat.

Enjoy life!

[uknlv]

I use the silver gloves as well, they work a treat and you can get fingerless which helps when you need to do things. I have a battery hand warmer as well.

[LynnCox]

I use the silver gloves and wrap my hands around a hot drink while wearing the gloves. I also wash my hands in hot water and after drying them put the gloves on.

My rheumatologist explained to me that it's important to put gloves on when hands are warm as the gloves absorb the body heat and if you're already cold the gloves are not going to improve temperature very quickly.

[Noni1]

I use a combination of a bean bag heated in the microwave when I'm at home and gel handwarmers are always in my bag when I go out along with gloves. This normally works! Hope it helps.

[bookworm]

Hi i know its hard wen ur young, as i've been diagnosed with raynauds about five years, i often wear layers,so i can take them off, when i get too warm. I sometimes if iam out, will warm my hands, in an hot air dryer. Sometimes i put my clothes in the airing cupboard over night, to warm them up, which sometimes helps. Having raynauds doesn't mean your not normal. Your'll probably hate to hear it, but it took me while to adjust. i find that running my hands under running water, makes them worst. Try to avoid draughts, and being near open windows.

Try to say positive as stress and anxiety can make it worse, finding ways of relaxing listening to music, sometimes helps me.

The RSA website has helped me a lot, and so as health unlocked website.

[Rp321]

Im also a young(ish) person with primary raynauds (23). I was diagnosed at 18. my ways of sorting/preventing attacks are:

- brightly coloured summer gloves, winter ski mittens are an absolute must.

- as some one else said; wearing lots of layers and bright coloured jumpers in the summer to look summery. in the winter i end up wearing the hugest amount of cloths and cant really be too fashion consious.(does anyone know of some where that sell thermals etc that are tageted at a younger customer? i would love to know)

- keep moving your fingers, i find not moving them can bring on an attack to.

- socks called heat holders (i got mine form matalan).

- when at home always having multiple blankets for when watching tv or other things which involve keeping still.

- heatbands, they are a special material that you just put around your wrists (google it on the internet they really do make a difference, they dont stop it all togther though for me but they help defintly wortha try).

(im also on medication as my raynauds is really severe, but its not a rout to go down if you can help it i think. There are natural remidies that may be helpful to).

The main thing is to keep as warm as possible ( i to am sick of people telling me that but it is true, annoyingly lol),

I think the under lying thing is prevention is easier then making it go away once it has happened.

As someone else has said you do get used to it. It would be weird for me to not have raynauds now.

[JPhlps in reply to Rp321]

Thank you to all the replies. I am taking note of everything everyone is saying. Generally I try to keep warm, but even the slightest of draught and I get an attack. I will be having a look at the silver gloves and other "products" etc and thank you all for your suggestions.

I find it really annoying when I get into bed with my partner and cant cuddle because my hands and feet are too cold. That's the main part that gets me down, but its great a cooling yourself down during a hot flush!

Thanks again and I will take a look into everything you have said!

[Jane18 in reply to Rp321]

I recently bought some thermal underwear from Primark, leggings and a long sleeved top with a thumb hole so that you can pull right down to cover you wrists. They look pretty trendy, you would not know they were thermal. They also have thermal camisoles, which I can wear underneath tops with a low neckline.

The heatbands sound promising, will have a look on the internet.

[NikkiDoggett in reply to Jane18]

Ooh yes that’s a good idea. Thanks

[Hidden]

hello, I bought the hot rox from the RSA and found them very good. They are small enough to slip into your gloves and retain the heat for a long time. They are easy to recharge by just plugging in. Also i agree with the other comments about keeping the main body warm with thin layers. You can peel a layer off if you get too warm. Also try to keep healthy and don't smoke.

[Hidden]

Hi,

Mine started at about the same age... When I have an attack I find the best way for me is to use hot water for my hands. For the feet it's more complicated, but I try to move close to a source of heat.

All the best!

[horseman694]

I wear gloves that are made for arthritis . The finger tips are left open , but what they do is keepsame the blood moving in your hands . Mostly at bed time . There is some times I wear them during the day . I have Raynauds in my hands and feet . My son was diagnosed 2 years ago . He is only 16 years old . If they are really bad like yours , I then put them in really warm water .

[NikkiDoggett]

Swing your arms round like a windmill , you look a bit silly but it works!

[Inamoment]

I find my fingers get cold very quickly and it can take ages to get the blood round again. Flapping my hands vigorously works well, just smile at people as though it is a perfectly normal thing to do!