[January]

Can anyone tell me why my feet get even more ice cold and painful when I go to bed? It seems to me that they can get more blood if I'm in bed. It's getting worse and worse and I've got to manage to go to sleep even though my feet are freezing and hurting.

Any help will be most appreciated!

Thanks for reading this.

Jan

Ummmm.... I know nothing of RS other than what I've read, but I found this to be interesting and it could be exactly what's going on with you.
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Under normal circumstances, when a person is exposed to cold or is under emotional stress, arterioles constrict to return blood flow to the core of the body, for warmth and protection.

In individuals with RS, the normal reaction is exaggerated—blood circulation in the arterioles is greatly restricted, resulting in a visible progression of symptoms as blood flow to the affected areas drops. Skin first turns white as it is deprived of blood, then turns blue (cyanosis) because of the lack of blood and oxygen.

Oh poor Jan. I really know what that feels like-- I also have Raynauds Syndrome-- have had it all my life.

I sleep with thick fuzzy socks on my feet(fins ) from October thru April-- it's so very hard to get to sleep-- sometimes impossible when ones feet are so uncomfortable.

Try some relaxation techniques too-- like-- tensing up your whole body while laying in bed and then letting everything go limp... also try a few slow deep breaths in and out.

Hope this helps some-- sister raynauds sufferer!

Jan--

mandy

[January]

((((((((((( Pet & Mandy )))))))))))

Thank you both so much.

Mandy, I wear up to three pairs of thick socks at a time... Thank the good Lord I have an electric blanket. It does't really help, but it makes the rest of me feel warm. Does that make any sense?

Hugs,

Jan

Hey Jan,

I have found that the MORE layers I put on my feet the more constricted they become-- thus making the raynauds worse! One very thick, semi-loose layer does much more for me than 2 or 3 thinner layers. My raynauds will really act up if I wear more than one pair of socks....

There's been times when my feet have turned purple due to the circulation stopping! It was bad-- but that was when I was much younger and didn't know the best things to do for me..... it's all trial and error and hopefully you'll find just the right things that work best for you.

Oh and the cold is just horrible too. I always disliked snow when I was little-- I equated it with needles being put under my toenails and fingernails-- the cold would hurt me so much. For years I thought everyone felt those needles and I was just wimpy about tolerating them...

Ignorance is not always bliss... perhaps i wasn't quite the wimp I thought I was....

Good luck coping with this-- I'm here if you want to talk about any of it.

Jan--

mandy

[January]

Oh goodness, Mandy! I had no idea I was making it worse.

I did have a lovely little heater that I would prop my feet near and they would finally warm. When I told my physical therapist and my orthodist, they were horrifed. I have nueropathy and they said I could make 3rd degree burns on my feet and not know it. Well, if my feet can get that cold, why can't they feel the heat? I don't understand!

I saw some socks you can put in the microwave to warm your feet but they cost $60.00!!!!! I am trying to figure out a way to make some of my own.

Hugs,

Jan

[sabby]

Hi Jan,

I don't know if this information would be helpful to you or not. You probably already know about it, but I figured I would post it just in case. Hope you warm those tootsies up!

Take action during an attack--An attack should not be ignored. Its length and severity can be lessened by a few simple actions. The first and most important action is to warm the hands or feet. In cold weather, people should go indoors. Running warm water over the fingers or toes or soaking them in a bowl of warm water will warm them. Taking time to relax will further help to end the attack. If a stressful situation triggers the attack, a person can help stop the attack by getting out of the stressful situation and relaxing. People who are trained in biofeedback can use this technique along with warming the hands or feet in water to help lessen the attack.

People with secondary Raynaud's syndrome are more likely than those with the primary form to be treated with medications. Many doctors believe that the most effective and safest drugs are calcium-channel blockers, which relax smooth muscle and dilate the small blood vessels. These drugs decrease the frequency and severity of attacks in about two-thirds of patients who have primary and secondary Raynaud's syndrome. These drugs also can help heal skin ulcers on the fingers or toes.

Hugsssssss
J

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
I saw some socks you can put in the microwave to warm your feet but they cost $60.00!

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Oh they sound great! I've never heard of them.
but gee, $60 seems like an awful lot to spend on socks.

Good luck with making your own and also with keepin those tosies warm.

and .... --sabu reminded me of a good point... soaking my feet in VERY warm water just before bed and then thoroughly drying them and putting on the fuzzy socks works quite well for me most nights.......

mandy

[January]

Oh thank you for the wonderful tip!!! I'll try it.

Hugs,

Jan

january, i suffered from extremely cold feet for years. painful. i bought a heated mattress pad and turned it out before i took a warm foot bath and put warm socks on...........it helps ALOT....somehow the warmth from beneath really does keep you warm. they are cheap. and they have a thermostat setting thing.

i also was given one of those cheap, heated foot massagers and i would use it at bedtime. the circulation really improved........good luck, pat

[January]

Oh that would be a great idea. I will have to look for a heated foot massager. I've never had an electric mattress pad, but if it will help, I'll try to get one of those, too. I probably won't be able to find one until fall I imagine.

Hugs,

Jan