8 year old with Raynauds. Need advice how to keep in uniform.

[Carrie37]

Hello,

This is my first post. My eight year old daughter has had Raynauds for almost five years. She finds it difficult to keep to uniform In school as its a skirt and tights don't help him much. She is under the care of a rheumatologist and has tried NifedIpine but it made the pain worse.

The teacher this year won't let her use hand warmers in class as it is "still summer".

I would appreciate advice on footwear, uniform and how to approach the teacher.

Many thanks.

[VivianM]

I would recommend to ask for his email and send him some attachments with information about Raynaud.

Pistures of white hands, information from medical sources ( etc etc )I think it will help to open these teacher eyes!

I fell very angry with that man ignorance, so I imagine your frustration..

ps:If he dosnt have email dont hesitate to print it yourself and give it to him and his principal.

[zenabb]

Send an official letter to the head. Talk to the school nurse. The head should talk to the school at assembly and explain to everyone. It is his/ her job. Don't be shy about it. It is your little girl's right.

[Rp321]

Interesting lots of posts about children - I didn't realise it was so common in children.

Can she wear boots for play time (leather boots not willies) ? I find that my long boots work well to keep my feet warm in this weather.

As for the hand warmers - the teacher needs to get lost!

Maybe see if you can get a letter from your rheumatologist or gp explaining raynauds in more detail and the imperative need for her to keep as warm as possible. Raynauds doesn't respect seasons it can play up at any time of the year. I had an employer that didn't understand it at all which made it difficult but once people understand it's easier for them to help.

I don't know about your little girl but when my hands are cold and hurting I can't concentrate it's really distracting. Maybe you could also sell it to her teacher that way.

[Carrie37]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I met with the Principal last year and explained everything. I have also met with this teacher before. I have sent in a written letter this morning so we will see if that helps.

Can anyone offer advice on thermal underclothes or shoes to help.

Thanks.

[Jensue]

Thin layers are the best, so she could have a t-shirt on under her school blouse then a wool jumper on top (wool is much warmer than man made fibres), try to get a thicker skirt than the standard polyester ( can you sew? Its quite easy to make a skirt in a wool fabric) Thick wool tights along with a pair of good boots with a thicker sole which give better insulation. Sheepskin boots are very warm & you can get them with a good outdoor sole.

If there is a school nurse talk to her because they can then pass on the relevant information to those who need to know such as the class teacher, head & support assistants. For this health issue it shouldn't be needed to discuss with the whole school in assembly but a head would let other staff know who need to be made aware of her condition. You can download leaflets from the Raynauds & Scleroderma website or get them from the Rheumatology department at the hospital to give to the school to make them more aware of the problems encountered with someone who has Raynauds & the importance of keeping warm.

[Yorky]

Hello, just tell the teacher that all rules have the exception. I have never heard such nonsense from a supposedly educated person. Failing that get her consultant to write. Have you looked at the EXO heated clothing site, apparently the do size XXS. May be worthwhile giving them a ring, I have always found them very helpful. Best of luck with school.

[bookworm]

Hiya I wore gloves to work once, and got a drs note, also i agree with the previous comments as raynauds isn't seasonal as I wear gloves and layers all year round. can you get thermals for kids ? I know isn't much help as I only got help when I was at college when I was diagnosed

[graygirl1]

Hi there,

The school absolutely must make allowances for your little girl. Get your Rheumatologist and your GP to write to the head and send the teacher some information about Raynaud's and it's effects on your little girl. Write to the education minister or seek legal advice if you have to. If she was my little girl no way would I send her to school to suffer with not enough clothing and footwear to keep her warm. She should be allowed to wear trousers, gloves and anything else she needs to, when she needs to, be it spring, summer, autumn or winter. How can the teacher be so unbending in this situation. Rules and uniform my foot! Rules are made to be broken when necessary.

I am sitting up in bed right now with my feet under my duvet and my feet and hands are frozen. And yes,the heating is also on. I can scarcely cope with Raynaud's and I'm grown. I can't bear to think of your little girl having this to cope with at her tender age. Ask the docs to try another medication if Nefedipine is not helping her. Don't despair though, where there's a will there's a way. Please give your daughter a big hug and tell her from me that she will soon be ok with your love and support. Please keep in touch and let us know how you're both getting on.

I don't wear any special gloves, or footwear myself but I am going to search to see what I can find out for the forum.

All the best.

Graygirl1

[AHM42]

The RSA has a leaflet on Raynaud's in Youngsters and I would advise that you request a few copies to give to school nurse, teachers etc. A letter from her rheumatologist would also be a good idea. If you would like a letter of support from the RSA please call on 01270 872776 and ask to be put in touch with me (Anne).

AHM

[sana1234]

Hi my daughter has been diagnosed with raynaud's and arthralgia year ago and she is 14 I have been buying her heat packs to wear under her shirts which she sticks on to her t shirt. . along with gloves which she inserts the small hand warms in to the gloves ,these keep her warm for a few hours,

There are hand support bandages that you can purchase from chemist ,they have small pockets you can slide small heat packs or hand warmers in to them.

I have also found a lot of these shops that have outdoor wear, camping things they have reusable hand warmers that well last longer.

As for the teachers best to obtain information from consultant and hand it to the school, so all staff can read up on it and are aware of the condition,

like I said my daughter is 14 and I see her suffer there is no way I will let the teacher tell me what she can have or not on her to keep her warm , hope this helps

[AHM42]

I would suggest that you contact the Raynaud''s & Scleroderma Association and ask for a couple of leaflets on Raynaud's in Teenagers and Youngsters and take these to the school for Headteacher and class teacher. Call 01270 872776 for the leaflets.

AHM