Raynauds type symptoms

[Shirts1]

Hi - I'm new to this site and hope I'm posting in the right place . As it has turned colder I seem to have symptoms similar to Raynauds. Tips of fingers and feet are painfully cold in cold weather. If I dip my fingers in warm water it feels like it is boiling hot but an elbow test tells me it is nothing like. I wonder is there any link to cirrhosis and these symptoms or is it likely to be completely unrelated. I was admitted to Intensive Care in the summer, with Acute Onset Chronic Liver Failure. I seem to be stabilising now. I'm going to seek medical advice on the circulation symptoms,obviously but I wonder if there is any known link or if anyone else experiences this. Could be completely unrelated of course. Many thanks

[Kristian]

What you describe sounds like a normal reaction to the cold. However, that's not to say its not. With Raynaulds you tend to find your fingers lose all colour, they go very white. If that isn't happening then it may not be. However, only way really to tell is get it checked out.

If you've been in the ICU then all manner of things could have occurred as a result of whatever got you there. I wouldn't be surprised if those included circulatory problems. So all the more reason to get it checked. Your doctor won't mind given the circumstances.

Do you know what caused your liver problem? If it was immune mediated then you may be a bit predisposed to other immune system conditions.

[Shirts1 in reply to Kristian]

Thank you - I think it's more than a normal reaction to cold as I know how I was before cirrhosis. I don't think I have Raynaud's as my fingers don't lose much colour and certainly don't turn blue. I was just curious as to whether it was something other people also had noticed. I will check it out. My liver problems came via alcohol so not auto-immune. But I will check it out with my GP - thanks for taking the time to reply

[Porphyriamaniac]

Hi, with raynauds my fingers and toes turn totally white and numb, not one bit of blood in them, sometimes patchy for me but on one occasion my full hand went and it looked like a corpses, was scary! It is when the blood starts to come back into them when it hurts like hellfire. If you are worried definitely seek advice as it can't hurt. X

[Shirts1 in reply to Porphyriamaniac]

Thank you for responding to my query. hat is interesting and makes me certain I don't have Raynauds. Could be general circulation issue or even a meds side effect. I don't get the loss of colour - just painful extremities that take a long time to return to normal body temp and does hurt while that happens. I need to get to he bottom of it but good to know this probably isn't it. Thanks for your help

[Kristian in reply to Shirts1]

Oops, I should've said before. With cirrhosis, it isn't unusual to be cold. The liver has a role to play in that energy making process and I do believe that a common effect of cirrhosis is not being able to adequately generate heat. It certainly was for me. I was always cold, even in the summer I'd need my jumper on. I'd also be running my hands under the warm tap to get a bit of heat into them as they did tend to get cold too. So, whilst it may not be Raynaulds, it is quite likely to be associated with your cirrhosis.

[Porphyriamaniac in reply to Shirts1]

Glad it helped some ☺ good luck. Xx

[Shelly217]

Hi I am responding to your message because I have been diagnosed with both Raynaulds and cirrhosis. They are unrelated health issues. Raynaulds does hurt like a bitch at times especially touch ice and hurt when you squeeze them when it is winter can also be the worst (no snowball fights 😂) but stress triggers it too! Also there are mild and extreme cases so you might have more of mild case. It can be caused by smoking, medications, etc. You can read more about it on Mayo Clinic Website there’s other websites too, but Mayo Clinic is very legit.

[Shirts1]

Thank you- I will check out Mayo clinic. I will definitely see my GP but I like to read around first to get it framed in my mind. Squeezing doesn't hurt so I may just have very poor circulation exacerbated by Cirrhosis. The acute onset liver failure hit in early summer last year so it could be why it just never came up as an issue before. All good things to think about so thank you

[Febeli57]

Hello now that I read what you wrote i had cold shivers im shure there must be a correlation between liver cirrhosis and these circulation Problems because I have the exact same problem went from doctor to doctor but nobody seems to care her in Germany.when I sit it's the worse my feet turn blue and ice cold do u have alcohol related cirrhosis?? Because I read that they have also most of the time problems with the heart .or another thing I heard is that the heart rate will go down in the stage of cirrhosis and most people have low blood pressure maybe the heart isn't as strong as it used the be anyway my heart goes out to u

[Shirts1]

That is interesting Febeli57 and thanks for replying. You have given me a few things to consider - yes alcohol related and because of that I did have very high blood pressure. It is now normal range (but therefore much lower than what it had been for years). I doubt there is any treatment for it but is good to know the bigger picture I think, so thank you for comment and your kind thoughts!