General Medical issues thread

[cgichard]

Also received medication for Raynaulds in my hands

I am a long-term sufferer from Rayanaulds, but was totally unaware of any medication for it. Can you tell me more?
I asked a GP about it a few years back, and she just said "warm your hands gradually in a basin of warm but not hot water"! Now how can I do that when I go shopping on my bike or sit in a draughty train or a cold waiting-room?

 

[Pushka]

I am a long-term sufferer from Rayanaulds, but was totally unaware of any medication for it. Can you tell me more?
I asked a GP about it a few years back, and she just said "warm your hands gradually in a basin of warm but not hot water"! Now how can I do that when I go shopping on my bike or sit in a draughty train or a cold waiting-room?

There is no cure as such for it, just an improvement of symptoms. Read about it here:
Nifedipine - Wikipedia

She’s prescribed the slow release one, take it at night and it releases slowly over the night and day. If you suffer from it in cold weather it’s miserable. Not good for your fingers either.

Most GP’s (probably drron excluded) don’t know much about it. It’s a specialist kind of thing.

In cold months I always wear of pair of fingerless mittens. I have them in all my coat pockets and in my handbag. Surprisingly that works well. The other thing is that it can flare in excess cold airconditoning. This happens to me in Dubai. Twice now. Even though it is boiling outside. If your hands get wet say in the rain, then there is a wind it is quite painful.

 

[drron]

Calcium channel blockers of which nifepidine is one can help.As Pushka says not a cure but can help relieve symptoms.

 

[Pushka]

Calcium channel blockers of which nifepidine is one can help.As Pushka says not a cure but can help relieve symptoms.

I reckon you could open a GP clinic just for AFF’ers!

 

[Flying mermaid]

I am a long-term sufferer from Rayanaulds, but was totally unaware of any medication for it. Can you tell me more?
I asked a GP about it a few years back, and she just said "warm your hands gradually in a basin of warm but not hot water"! Now how can I do that when I go shopping on my bike or sit in a draughty train or a cold waiting-room?

Raynauds can be on its own, or a sign of auto immune diseases. If it is on its own then I don’t think doctors worry about it too much.

In my daughters case they did blood tests to rule out any nasties and unfortunately she came back with a whole range and in the end developed localised scleroderma which destroyed the muscles/nerves in one leg. (This was in spite of being under the care of a Rheumatologist at the time.....)

What the Rheumatologist told my daughter to do fo the Reynauds part was to keep her core warm. So things like heat pads on her chest work well for my daughter and of course gloves/mittens. You can get heat pads for gloves as well and they really keep your fingers warm. This is the one we use (they don’t have the glove ones anymore).

Junten Heat Packs - Natural Pain Relief & Warmth for up to 12 hours | Haru Hot Pads | ph 03 5024 7335

Our Rheumatologist said constant problems with your fingers can lead to the fingers “tapering”, so I think prevention is worthwhile.

 

[Pushka]

Yes, definitely agree with keeping the core warm in the cold weather. But even during summer I would look at my white fingers which because of the summer temps weren’t painful. Once the temp dips below say 18 degrees then the pain kicks in. The backs of my hands are in contrast an ugly purple colour. It’s only been an issue for the last 2 years for me, and initially diagnosed by the rheumi on examination. But since then it’s become very obvious. It’s secondary to auto immune for me obviously.

If you do suffer this it’s worthwhile getting the GP to do all the usual auto immune blood tests starting with ANA. If that’s ok then it’s primary.

 

[QF WP]

I didn’t get into trouble at the Rheumi appointment today . In fact the opposite. My TSH is still way too high (blood test just before I increased dose) so I am vindicated. @drron probably on correct dose now and will retest in a month.

Also received medication for Raynaulds in my hands (fingers turn deathly white) which happens daily but only bothers me when I get cold. So winter will kick that off again. Mitten girl will return.

ANA still up so still auto immune stuff happening. But all else is fine for the next 6 months.

And yes, she laughed at the paint in my hair. Fingers. Toes. Well, I scrubbed but clearly not well enough.

Are your ears and nose affected by the Reynaulds? Haven't had it myself but heard a little about it.

At least there was laughter in the appointment and love to hear that you are okay.

 

[Pushka]

Are your ears and nose affected by the Reynaulds? Haven't had it myself but heard a little about it.

At least there was laughter in the appointment and love to hear that you are okay.

Just my fingers thankfully.
Yep, she is a keeper. Very professional etc. She also treats my niece and she takes a great interest in the family links. My niece changed her hair style recently and wears glasses like mine; her first comment this morning was how much alike we are. It’s rather weird as that look is carried through my brother to her, usually it’s a female to female thing. My niece posted a picture of herself to FB a couple of weeks ago and even I saw the immediate likeness. Specialist said we even talk the same. There are some awful rheumatologists out there but this specialist is fantastic.

I’ll post a photo next time when they are ghouly.

 

[love_the_life]

Just my fingers thankfully.
Yep, she is a keeper. Very professional etc. She also treats my niece and she takes a great interest in the family links. My niece changed her hair style recently and wears glasses like mine; her first comment this morning was how much alike we are. It’s rather weird as that look is carried through my brother to her, usually it’s a female to female thing. My niece posted a picture of herself to FB a couple of weeks ago and even I saw the immediate likeness. Specialist said we even talk the same. There are some awful rheumatologists out there but this specialist is fantastic.

I’ll post a photo next time when they are ghouly.

I seem to remember that you were lucky to get to see her as she only takes a few new patients. You did have the misfortune of a shocker before her.

 

[Pushka]

I seem to remember that you were lucky to get to see her as she only takes a few new patients. You did have the misfortune of a shocker before her.

Oh yeah. He was awful. Nasty. He also does assessments for workcover. Enuf said.

 

[cgichard]

Many thanks, Pushka and Flying Mermaid, for the help and sympathy. I'll see how much it bothers me this coming winter. I'm not aware of any other potentially auto-immune symptoms. Coincidentally, I had to locate a new GP only yesterday (first time I've needed a GP in 12 years!) about an unrelated problem - a flare-up of age-related hip osteoarthritis, so I would now appreciate recommendations for Melbourne specialists in that area.

 

[drron]

I reckon you could open a GP clinic just for AFF’ers!

Except as they say I am not just a GP.In fact I am a General Physician.That is a specialst in the field of medicine without a particular subspecialty.We are still the backbone of specialists in Medicine in rural areas.hence all the places I work.

 

[Pushka]

Except as they say I am not just a GP.In fact I am a General Physician.That is a specialst in the field of medicine without a particular subspecialty.We are still the backbone of specialists in Medicine in rural areas.hence all the places I work.

Ah. You da man! Doctor of all Doctors.

 

[straitman]

Except as they say I am not just a GP.In fact I am a General Physician.That is a specialst in the field of medicine without a particular subspecialty.We are still the backbone of specialists in Medicine in rural areas.hence all the places I work.

According to the TV ads you are now the patient's 'Specialist in Life'

My Dr fell on the floor laughing when I told him that.

 

[drron]

According to the TV ads you are now the patient's 'Specialist in Life'

My Dr fell on the floor laughing when I told him that.

No.They are the GPs.
I know it is hard but officially I am a consultant Physician.In the States I would be known as an Internist-but not intern.

 

[JohnK]

Is it worthwhile to have the flu vaccine twice a year or a waste of time? Is it likely to provide longer coverage?

 

[blackcat20]

Is it worthwhile to have the flu vaccine twice a year or a waste of time? Is it likely to provide longer coverage?

Likely a waste of time.

 

[straitman]

No.They are the GPs.
I know it is hard but officially I am a consultant Physician.In the States I would be known as an Internist-but not intern.

I understand what your saying drron but to the average punter out there a GP is a GP irrespective of what the 'P' stands for.

 

[Pushka]

No.They are the GPs.
I know it is hard but officially I am a consultant Physician.In the States I would be known as an Internist-but not intern.

Which explains why you know so much stuff. You solve jigsaw puzzles. In people.

I think people who have puzzling health issues know that is when you call in the Physician. A referral from the GP is needed. Or maybe I just remember that because a guy I went to primary school with became one. Or because I’m one gigantic puzzle

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Yes you are right Pushka, when your GP doesn't know what is wrong with you he sends you to a Consultant Physician to sort it out