We heard from several fellow Frosties over the past few months sharing tips on what products and strategies work for them, and they agreed to let us publish them in our Spring 2024 Member Tips column.
Alternative to Pulse Oximeters
We’ve all been there in a doctor’s office or hospital where the pulse oximeter is placed on our white or blue fingertips and then it’s “wait, wait, wait” for a blood oxygen level. Really frustrating!
One of our Board members reported several years ago how her respiratory therapist found a creative approach for those of us with cold digits: She places an earlobe sensor on the fleshy area between the patient’s thumb and index finger and finds it often works when the usual fingertip sensor won’t register (Winter 2020 Member Tips). Some of us who’ve tried this approach unfortunately found it wasn’t a consistent solution.
Ed wrote to us with his alternative that more and more high-tech Frosties are finding to be a successful alternative: Digital watches. Apple’s product recently dropped this capability because of patent issues, but if you purchased one of their watches prior to the 2023 holiday season, your watch likely has the blood oxygen feature. Ed mentions Samsung watches as an option. We’ve also found some really inexpensive digital watches on Amazon that work well, too.
Problem is these aren’t considered approved medical devices, so the medical community can’t accept them as a formal reading. But if the pulse oximeter registers “60” and your watch reading is “97,” plus you don’t look like you’re about to pass out, common sense medical technicians will realize there’s something wrong with the device, not your oxygen levels! It can’t hurt to wear or carry one with you on your next doctor visit.
Latex and Nitrile Exam Gloves to the Rescue
Both Dawn and Leigh shared with us how they use latex and nitrile exam gloves to help alleviate their Raynaud’s symptoms. While both types of gloves appear quite similar, nitrile gloves are resistant to oil and some chemicals, plus appear to be a bit more durable. Not sure if these features make a difference, but we’ve heard from several sufferers over the years how rubber-type gloves are helpful in a number of ways. (Winter 2013 Member Tips, Spring 2016 Member Tips)
Dawn uses them to warm her hands during attacks: “THE VERY BEST way I calm my cold hands is with nitrile examination gloves. I blow warm breath into the glove before putting it on and it will warm my white and purple hands in about three minutes. And I wear them under my mittens (which do not work alone) and it keeps the heat in!” Thanks for the tip Dawn. Others have also told us thin rubber gloves make great glove liners.
Leigh uses latex gloves for a completely different purpose: “Two years ago I started learning to paraglide. In January I was in Colombia (where it is WARM) having glorious flights until I would thermal up high. Each time I could feel my fingers losing heat. When I explained to a friend why I cut some of my flights short, she suggested that I use latex gloves under my paragliding gloves. Once I got home I tried it. Loose gloves don’t work, but ones that hug my hands really help. Of course, my fingers have to be warm before I put the gloves on, but when they are, the latex really extends the time I can go before I need to use my hand warmers. Who knew?”
We love hearing about the creative ways Frosties are using everyday household items to help make their lives warmer and more comfortable!
Red Korean Ginseng’s Potential Warming Effect
Trish started using red Korean ginseng to improve her mood and energy. She wasn’t expecting the product to help address her Raynaud’s symptoms, but quickly found her feet – which were icy cold for the past 15 years – were warmer to the touch after her first day on the ginseng. After a couple of days, she experienced “a warming sensation.”
Because she’s extremely sensitive to supplements and meds, she started on a relatively low dose, and later cut it back further to 25 mg once a day. Here’s what she tells us: “I’ve been on the low dose of ginseng for a few days now, and my toes are maintaining their normal temperature! And my fingers seem to be slowly improving as well. I was painting my nails yesterday, and had to keep touching my toes because it was tripping me out that they didn’t feel like I know them to feel. And they’re a healthy color, rather than blue bordering on black on the bottoms of my little toes. I wasn’t expecting this at all when I started the ginseng, so I’m pleasantly surprised!”
While the supplement has not been clinically proven to alleviate Raynaud’s symptoms (no supplements have to date), we are aware of one study examining its effects on “cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet.” The basis for the research stems from the steamed root being used in Korean medicine to invigorate the body, enhance qi, and improve blood flow. Results were not conclusive, but generally positive, warranting further study. Here’s more information we published on the subject, including warnings about how the supplement isn’t always as labeled, can interact with other drugs, and can cause potential side effects, so check with your doctor before giving it a try: Diet and Raynaud’s: Some New Input.
We appreciate fellow Frosties sharing their Spring 2024 Member Tips with us. What are your ideas? What products work for you? Write to info@raynauds.org, post them on our Facebook page or share them with us on Instagram, Twitter or Threads.
