Winter is coming..

[Ianc2]

When it gets cold I get Reynaulds syndrome - fingers go blue an then a horrible shade of grey, a circulatory problem. I don't want to take another pill and I have some pretty good gloves. Any suggestions?

[Lezzers]

My husband gets severe reynaulds, just the slightest drop in temperature is enough to bring it on and he gets it in his hands & feet. His nurse advised to just keep hands warm, always wear gloves plus you can get pocket warmers which help. Wearing gloves & socks in bed will also help.

[Ianc2 in reply to Lezzers]

Thanks for the reply. Do you use zippo handwarmers or some other type?

[Lezzers in reply to Ianc2]

I'm not sure of the name, they're a bit fiddly as you have to put them in boiling water to reheat, but they do warm your pockets up

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi lanc2

Please let winter not come too soon!

I have Raynauds Phenomenon as well as my coronary vasospastic angina they are sort of related.

My Raynauds has improved but then I take calcium channel blockers to help manage my vasospasms.

The answer is to keep your extremities warm fingers, toes and nose. I do mean all extremities including nipples. You can also get Raynauds when you're breastfeeding something that effected me but maybe not an issue for you🙂

I wear special silver thread gloves which you can buy from a Raynauds support group.

srukshop.co.uk/silver-glove...

I also layer up with special thermals from Uquilo

uniqlo.com/uk/en/search?q=m...

I put fleece liners in my boots and shoes and wear 2 pairs of gloves and socks.

I take keeping warm seriously!

[Lezzers in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi milkfairy, do the gloves work well? And can you drive in them?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Lezzers]

Hi Lezzers,

I wear them under a pair of driving gloves.

Blimey I can't quite cope with saying I have driving gloves how does that fit with being flighty 😂

[Lezzers in reply to Milkfairy]

😂

[fergusthegreat in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi Milkfairy, I'm just after some advice please.

For several years I have experienced chest pain brought on by stress / anxiety whether it be work related or trying to clear a big jump on my mountain bike, which always disappeared with hard cardiovascular exercise.

Because of this my gp always assumed that it was not heart related. Although 30 months ago I received a stent I can exercise to a very high level without any chest pain although I still experience pain at rest when stressed.

I'm starting to wonder if stress somehow causes my arteries to vasoconstrict and cause discomfort.

Just wondered if this sounds like some sort of coronary spasm or micro vascular angina to you?

If so can you suggest a medication that I can ask to try to see if it helps.

Thanks in advance, Mark

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to fergusthegreat]

Hi Mark

You have caught me just before I go on holiday.

I can exercise too. I get my chest pain in response to exercise later always at rest usually in the evening and at night.

When I had my perfusion MRI a few weeks ago the adenosine didn't cause me too much bother but once I came out of the machine I started having chest pain and my ECG's showed ST elevations and depression along with T wave inversions all signs of vasospastic angina.

I was sent to A& E to check my bloods etc. This confused the hell out of the doctor doing the test as my coronary arteries are clear. He knows all about Vasospastic angina now!

The BHF Vasospastic angina information was written with input by leading researchers into Microvascular and vasospastic angina and an expert patient advisor.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

That's why emotional stress and the cold are at the top of the list of stressors.

I suggest you print this information out and discuss your symptoms with your GP. The information also suggests possible treatment.

Usually this is GTN spray and Calcium channel blockers.

Non obstructive coronary artery disease is not well understood and baffles many a Cardiologist.

Even with my written report confirming my diagnosis I still feel as though I am asking some Cardiologists to believe in unicorns in fairyland when I ask them to look beyond the blockages 🦄🧚‍♀️

One thing you can do for yourself is learning how to manage your stress and anxiety.

I use Tai Chi, yoga , breathing and relaxation techniques and meditation.

Again maybe speak to your GP about which strategies would suit you best.

It is also possible to have microvascular and or vasospastic angina after stents have been inserted or a Coronary bypass.

This is Jennifer Waller 's story.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

I hope you find some answers soon. It is important to keep telling your GP that you are having chest pain at rest.

[Lezzers in reply to Milkfairy]

Have a great holiday Milkfairy

[Lezzers]

Er no, you have to put the hot water into the hot water bottle not put the hot water bottle into the hot water ☺

[Lezzers]

😂 😜

[Prada47]

He has to be an ex Seaman I apologise on behalf of the Royal Navy Engine Room Branch.

[fergusthegreat]

Hi Gunsmoke, as you suggested I just had a look at the bhf website and my symptoms sound more like coronary spasm than micro vascular disease as I've had an ECG with chest pains and it was OK.

I had none of the ECG changes that milk fairy talks about in relation to micro vascular disease

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to fergusthegreat]

You need to have the ECG done while you have your chestpain.

The nurses now do consecutive ECGs when I actually have chest pain. It can be extremely difficult to 'catch' a spasm.

Sometimes with microvascular angina you can have only subtle changes that many Cardiologists will consider as ' normal '

An ST elevation is a classic sign of a coronary artery spasm vasospastic angina and it is rare to get an ECG just at the right time to see them.

You tend to see T wave changes with Microvascular angina.

I have both microvascular and vasospastic angina which unusual.

They both cause alot of pain.

I always ask for copies of my ECG's and ask the staff to talk the results through with me.

The interpretation of an ECG is like beauty in the eye of the beholder.

What is important is your pain and that you have chestpain at rest. That is what you perhaps should tell your GP and ask to be referred to a Cardiologist who has some knowledge of MVA or vasospastic angina.

[fergusthegreat in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks for the advice. I have had several ecg's over the years while I have had chest pains and they have only ever showed a high take off at the start of the ST wave.

From people's comments it seems difficult to get a diagnosis so I'm thinking of asking my gp about trying a calcium channel blocker just to see if it helps.

[HectorsDad]

Really helpful discussion, thanks. I also have Reynaulds- started before my HA and meds, so it was linked to a diabetes scare. But reading this I wonder if this was the first sign of MVA.

Returning to the OP.... I use HotHands sachets. Available from some high street shops, but much cheaper in packs of ten from Amazon. It activates when you open the packet, looks like a used teabag, and keeps whatever needs it really warm for around 8 hours. I always keep a couple on me in the winter months (September - May😁).

[Lezzers in reply to HectorsDad]

Thanks, they sound much more practical then the ones you have to heat up in hot water.

[HectorsDad in reply to Lezzers]

They last a lot longer too. (Some of the small gel types, sold on the counter display in ‘outdoor’ shops are especially rubbish).

[Lezzers in reply to HectorsDad]

Just looking into them now and hot hands also do foot warmers, sounds odd!! Have you tried the foot warmers? If so, are they comfortable?

[HectorsDad in reply to Lezzers]

I got some foot warmers last year: toes at a problem🥶. But it looked too uncomfortable, even though I tend to wear roomy ankle boots, so never tried. I suspect they are intended for slippers on this who don’t move much.

Mostly I find if I can get my fingers back, the rest of me warms up too.

[Lezzers in reply to HectorsDad]

Thank you, that's what I was thinking, probably uncomfortable. May think about them just for slipper use though. We're expecting his reynaulds to be worse than ever this year as husband has had his isobard monitrate stopped and that did help control it.

[Ianc2 in reply to HectorsDad]

Hi Hectorsdad

I have been having a look round for ideas. I want to keep my hands warm as I walk.As far as I can see there are 4 types of hand warmers:

Hot water bottles

Sachets - thanks for the recommendation, sound fairly simple and straightforward.

Rechargeable battery devices - Anybody got one?

Zippo/Whitby catalytic heaters driven by lighter fuel which apparently lasts for 6 or 12 hours. They sound ferociously effective. I like gadgets but I am not too sure about stuffing one of these inside my gloves.

[HectorsDad in reply to Ianc2]

The zippo types have been around for years, were often used my musicians- pianists and string players keeping their fingers alive in a freezing church gig, plus singers ‘cause their wimps😃. Never heard of any catching fire, but they did make you smell like a petrol station.

For a time you could get something similar based on a burning stick of carbon, which was better- I think they were marketed for fishermen, so tackle shops might have them.

Add the gel sachets to your list. They recharge in boiling water, as mentioned, and you set them off by bending a scrap of metal in the bag. Weird to watch, and probably environmentally good, but only the really big ones get warm enough, or last long enough to be any use. Then you have to carry the dead sachet (now solid) around all day.

It’s the T bags for me🥵

[Ianc2 in reply to HectorsDad]

just had a look on t'internet. The adventure junkies have zippo at number 1, but too bulky for walking, and hot hands at no 2 and they are suitable for walking. So job done I think.

[Ianc2]

Have also found an American site reynauld.org. Interesting site.

[Lezzers in reply to Ianc2]

Thank you for the link, I'll have a look at that tomorrow. Do you know which high Street shop sell the hot hands?

[HectorsDad in reply to Lezzers]

Some of the high street outdoor sport/camping shops sell their own brand version (though they will offer you the gel type first, and not know the difference) but the independents will be better. Ski shops also sell them.

[Lezzers in reply to HectorsDad]

Thank you

[Ianc2]

You can also get them from amazon