Member Story: I Feel Like I Won the Lottery
I have suffered from Raynaud’s for several years but as I have aged the symptoms have increased and have made life a little less enjoyable especially during our cold Midwest winters.
My doctor tried calcium blockers that gave me only minimum relief but I had to stop taking it due to a problem with low blood pressure. I read on the Mayo website about some success with nitroglycerin cream. I took the study results to my doctor and he said there wouldn’t be any harm in trying. Let me tell you the results are fantastic. One application to the backs of my hands in the morning gives me almost total relief for about 8 hours. The only side effect I have experienced is a temporary slight headache. It has improved my life immensely. I no longer have the stinging pain, horrible blue and purple fingers.
I hope other sufferers can have some of the same success I have experienced from using the nitroglycerin cream.
Sincerely,
C.R.
Nebraska
P.S. I am looking at my fingers right now and they look normal. I feel like I won the lottery.
Editor’s Note: The Raynaud’s Association does not endorse the drugs, treatments or products reported and advertised on this web site. Each patient’s needs and experiences may vary. Member tips and product reviews are not clinically-based reports. So please review all treatment options with your doctor and use caution in exploring new
products.
February 27th, 2010 at 9:37 am
I am now Reynaud’s FREE
This is a happy letter, so please read on. While talking about sickness is a bit out of character for me, bear with me for a moment. I have had a lifelong disease called Reynaud’s syndrome, along with hypo-thyroid, and low blood pressure. All of these are called auto-immune diseases, and deal with the vascular system. I have wonderful doctors. And, I have a great deal of faith in my M.D, Cardiologist, and Rheumatologist, and I know they used all of their wisdom and skills to treat me. They all concur that there is no known cure for I have. The best solution I could come up with was to leave my home to spend the winters in warmer weather, and stay on medication. That meant I had to leave my husband, my job, and my home just to tolerate the winter weather. I really tried to justify this situation as “just the way has to be, for us”. I am happy to say, that thanks to the insistence of my sister Shirley, and much coaxing on her part, she talked me into coming all the way up to Sacramento from San Diego, to see her Acupuncturist. I must tell you that I thought it was a pretty crazy idea and if it hadn’t been at her insistence, and the fact that she was getting great relief from her arthritis pain, I would have poo pooded it as another crazy idea. After all, I have suffered with this stuff all my life. I lived it, studied it, and of course had the wisdom of the many doctors that have treated me. All said it was incurable, so not much hope that something like acupuncture could work. But what the heck! I wanted to see my family anyway, so in my mind all would not be lost if I tried it and nothing happened.
Well, to make a long story short, I made the appointment and headed north to Sacramento to see Dr. Jeffrey Kauffman, M.D, Master Acupuncturist. My first visit with Dr. Kauffman really put me at ease and I began to think that some improvement may be possible. My first treatment included an in depth (almost 2 hrs.) interview and many questions about my body, family and past. That seemed a bit strange coming from a Doctor. Usually they want to know what symptoms, where it hurts, and medications I am taking. I guess that’s so they could make sure it was the right medication and dosage. Dr. Kauffman seemed only slightly interested in that stuff, and preceded with the questions about the way my body functions and the trauma or lack of it in my life.
The almost painless treatment lasted about and hour and I left wondering how long it would take to see any results, if there were going to be any. By that afternoon I thought I felt a bit different, in a strange sort of way. In my world, the room temperature must stay at 70+ degrees, or my body starts “shutting down”. Hands and feet go to sleep and I become uncomfortably cold. I have never had hypo-thermia, but I would imagine that the feeling of that be similar. You can’t get warm at all. So up goes the thermostat and on go the coats and sweaters and I stay inside most of the time.
Anyway, I was sitting at my son’s house working on the computer, when I started feeling a little chilly. My first response was to check the thermostat, and fire up the heater. Much to my surprise the temperature in the room was 68 degrees. No big deal to most, but a huge deal to me. The strange thing about it was that I was just cold, but not starting to “shut down”. Since I have never had the sensation of being cold and not shutting down, I really couldn’t understand that this is a “normal” body function. My mind was saying that I was crazy, and that this could not possibly be a result of the acupuncture. After all, this was just a few hours after my 1st treatment. No one was home so I thought I’d push the envelope to see if this could really be true, or just my imagination. Instead of turning the heater up, I turned it DOWN. Finally, at 64 degrees with still no shut down, I put on a jacket and turned up the heater. I was thinking all the while that this was just my imagination. Many similar incidences followed and I am so grateful to say that after only 6 acupuncture treatments I am FREE of all symptoms of this life robbing disease, and I am no longer taking medication.
Until now, I had never experienced holding a glass of ice water and thinking how refreshing it felt against my warm hands. Nor being able to walk a couple of blocks in 45 degree weather, to arrive at my destination. Usually, I would have to be dropped off at the nearest doorway that would take out of the cold. Something as simple as taking a shower, without being afraid to turn off the warm water and grabbing for towels and robe is a whole new experience. I am able to do all of that and more and am really seeing how much of my thought and time are spent on keeping warm. I am so looking forward to being able to go into a swimming pool, or fishing without the fear of getting wet, go out into the snow (we live in Idaho) or go camping again. It’s just great to be able to go outside and feel the cool breeze, .without all of the trauma.
I don’t want to give the impression that I am anti-Doctor. Quite the contrary. I have great Doctors and along with my Acupuncturist (who is also a Doctor), I know that my health will be taken care of. There is likely to be following up treatments, so I am actively looking for an acupuncturist here in Boise. However, I would not hesitate to drive to Sacramento to see Dr. Kauffman, if I can’t find the right connection here. By the way, many insurance companies cover this or at least the part of the office visits. While it would be nice to say that it doesn’t matter because it’s sooooo worth it, the reality is that any medical treatments are a big load to handle without insurance.
I wanted to share my story, in hopes that my own Doctors will consider this procedure an additional tool for their skilled hands, and may be able to help more people overcome disorders. I am also in hopes that it will tell all of my friends and family that I am well! And, encourage this alternative a possibility for them, regardless of what disease or disorder you are concerned about. If you research it at all you can learn a lot about how the body wants to heal itself. There are many great Acupuncturists in the world, and I hope we all find the right one. Like any other industry their skills are widely varied. Most Chiropractors and acupuncturists use their skills for pain relief, and admittedly don’t even come close to being able to treat disese. Well worth the time and money. It might be something you would like to try yourself. The benefits of being in alignment (mentally) are equally as important as fixing a disorder. I am going make it an ongoing practice, based on the results I am getting both physically and mentally. The brain needs proper alignment to function too. A thought I had never considered until now…..I can’t believe the stress level (low) I am enjoying along with the physical….wow!
If you are interested, Dr. Jeffrey Kauffman can be reached at Holistic Health Associates, 916-488-8454, http://www.drkauffman.com.
There are so many other GREAT side effects that I am receiving, that I am happy to tell you about them if you want to call. I am always available at 208-484-3420. What I can tell you is that there is a huge difference in acupuncturists. I would recommend that you stay away from anyone who has not been practicing for 15 or 20 years and is deeply seeded in Eastern style acupuncture as a medical practice.
Blessings,
Linda Lake
Boise, Idaho
March 25th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Thanks for your note- very helpful. I was recently diagnosed and am wondering what was the problem with the low blood pressure and calcium blockers? My doc is still running various blood tests but mentioned several drug possibilities to help with the reynaud’s. She was concerned though because I have very low blood pressure as a regular matter of course. What was your experience? Thanks!
M.M.
Illinois
March 30th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Thanks for your question M.M. Calcium channel blockers work to open up or dilate the blood vessels so that the blood flows more freely. These are the same medications given to people with high blood pressure to help lower it. That’s why Raynaud’s patients who already have low blood pressure may not be good candidates for these drugs.
However, one of the calcium channel blockers called nifedipine also comes in a topical form (a gel) which can be applied directly to fingers or toes. So if your doctor is reluctant to prescribe the pills, you might ask about topical treatment alternatives.
Hope this input is helpful.
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May 21st, 2010 at 3:40 am
Hi there can I use some of the insight from this blog if I reference you with a link back to your site?
May 21st, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Anabelle,
Thanks for your request:
If you should reprint the blog in any form, we’d need you to display the copyright line from the bottom of our web site:
Copyright © 2010 Raynaud’s Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
If you plan to summarize or paraphrase the entry, yes please reference the Raynaud’s Association and our web site as the source for the material and provide a link to the full blog entry.
Thanks for helping us spread the word about Raynaud’s and treatment options!
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January 31st, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Thanks for the positive feedback Leeann! Some of the best material – like this post – comes from our members
September 9th, 2011 at 6:09 am
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