Just get on with it........

[Mcgruder]

I was wondering if anyone had had the same kind of response from there doctors, I have had raynaud's for about two years now, and i suffer attacks most days, my hands ache beyond belief, mainly when I get up in the morning, they are stiff, tight and sore, I have seen a few doctors, who really haven't been helpful at all - you need to keep warm, is usually the parting line, put on another pair of socks "but i'm wearing three, and still having an attack!!!" My friend has suggested alternative therapy, has anyone any suggestions?

[Rach18]

I've been experiencing exactly the same, I've suffered with Raynaud's for over 20 years and have always tried to get by with warm clothing, heating devises, etc. but my symptoms have been getting worse in recent years so I've decided it's probably time to start looking at medications that may help. I've been back and forth to the GP several times and never seem to get taken seriously, always told to buy a warmer pair of gloves or wair an extra pair of socks. I've asked a couple of times if I can be referred to a rheumatologist but my doctor seems unwilling to go down this route. The discomfort and inconvenience of Raynaud's is having a significant affect on my life now but I can't seem to get any help with it from the GP at present. I take Gingko as an alternative remedy but it appears to have no affect whatsoever for me!

[Emma2]

When I initially went to the doctors I was given medication which really did not agree with me - I had awful headaches and flushing limbs! I stopped taking it and was advised by nearly everyone I spoke to at the first RSA conference I attended to go and get properly diagnosed. I went back to the doctors and their initial response was to ask if I wanted the same medication that I'd already had but a lower dose! I said no and that I wanted to know what was wrong with me - by that time I was showing clear signs of another condition as my nail beds on my hands were damaged and my raynauds was affecting my hand severely and my tongue when I was outside. They agreed to do the blood test and I was diagnosed with CREST. Since then I cannot fault the treatment I have had from both my GP and consultant - I find sticking with one GP in the surgery is a good idea as the condition is quite unusual and not all GPs know too much about it. It is difficult to know how much alternative therapies help - what helps one person will not help another! I am currently wearing a magnetic bracelet which a friend of mine had read might help me. I have been wearing it for quite a few weeks but it does not seem to have helped me. I think it is nearly impossible to stop attacks - minimising them and knowing the best ways to "bring your hands back" is really important too.

[Hidden]

I've had a similar experience to Emma in that when I was first diagnosed by my GP in Hull they put me on Adalat Retard (Nifedipine) which blew me up like a tomato. When I went back to my GP he was really helpful and changed my medication to Amlodipine instead which seemed to work fine.

When I moved to Huddersfield my condition got worse and started to affect my feet aswell (I put it down to being slightly higher up in Huddersfield). I also developed the problem of my hands and feet swelling up in the warmer weathers, deciding to see my GP again I found I had to explain Raynaud's (and Erythromelagia) to them and I ended up taking some leaflets with me from the RSA just to make sure they didn't think I was making it up! When I wanted to see a rheumatologist I had to persist but I got to see one in the end.

I found, like Emma, staying with one GP works best and just sticking by your guns, don't take no for an answer. I really do feel the RSA publications can help with your GP's understanding, after taking the leaflets to them they seemed to take it a little more seriously. Saying that I really can't fault the manner I was treated in and I think with a little more understanding things would have moved alot quicker.

[Hidden]

Geordie_Kate had suggested in her blog that she had some alternative therapy suggestions - maybe check out her blog raynauds.healthunlocked.com... and ask her? There's also the Questions module where you can kick off questions about particular therapies and treatments: raynauds.healthunlocked.com...

Katie

HealthUnlocked