Are ulcers in my future?

[faith89]

I have found the posts very helpful. I have Raynaud's and wondered if the ulcers i keep reading about are something that eventually happens over time with Raynaud's.

[Hidden]

Hello Faith, I have had Raynaud's with limited scleroderma for 3 yrs now. I too wonder and worry if ulcers are my future as well. I try not to dwell on this although there are days whenever I do worry. I try to keep as healthy as possible by exercising regularly and eating healthly. I don't smoke. I want to give myself the best chances as possible.

[Yorky]

Hello, I have Raynauds for the last 40 years, with limited Scleroderma diagnosed 30 years ago. My ulcers have not got worse, but I think that is because I have become much better at keeping warm. You really need to look after yourself as nuala says, especially the hands.

[faith89]

Does Scleroderma always go hand in hand with Raynaund's or is it something you develop because of the Raynaund's. What causes the ulcers? Sorry for all the questions, just trying to gather some info for peace of mind.

Thanks, Faith

[Emma2 in reply to faith89]

No scleroderma doesn't always go hand in hand with raynauds. If you have primary raynauds (no underlying condition) then it is unlikely your Raynauds attacks will cause ulcers etc. If you have secondary raynauds (where there is an underlying condition such as scleroderma) then it is more likely that ulcers could develop at some point. Not everyone gets them but it is a possibility. It is important to take care of yourself and try to minimise your attacks if you can. The ulcers result from the damage caused to the hands by the raynauds attacks. The lack of blood in the hands, feet etc is not good! I hope that helps.

[scotgirl]

I've had raynauds since I was a teenager (am 33 now) but have never had ulcers. I think I'm pretty fortunate as I also have mixed connective tissue disease also. I try to keep warm (that's the challenge even in summer as my toes are blue just now) and moisturise my hands as much as I can, I do get lots of cuts on my fingers but I've never developed ulcers. I generally don't worry about getting ulcers - I know it's easy to say not to worry but we could spend our whole lives worrying about something that might never happen.

Keep asking questions if you need to - you never know it might help someone else that visits this site too!

[uknlv in reply to scotgirl]

So true scotgirl, and as everyone said it is a case of taking care of your hands as much as possible. Since Raynaud's and Scleroderma are so unique to each person there really is no need to worry about what if's. If you read online all the possible things that could develop from these conditions and let yourself worry about them, I would just curl up into a ball in bed and never come out! I mean at the end of the day a meteor could drop from the sky and crush my house, but I cant worry about that now! hehe Just do as much to keep your hands moisturized and warm and the rest will come or it wont and then you deal with it if it does happen.