Pamela Peters first noticed issues with her hands in her late 30s after making significant lifestyle changes, including losing almost 250 pounds over three years and taking up long-distance running. Initially attributing the symptoms to a frostbite event in college, she started researching causes and sought medical advice in the winter of 2023 after her symptoms involved extreme color changes and pain until she warmed up from the cold. She was formally diagnosed with Raynaud’s by her general practitioner, a fellow sufferer, who witnessed an attack during Pamela’s visit and became a supportive resource.
Once aware of Raynaud’s and its symptoms, Pamela discovered that the condition was common among the women on her father’s side of the family, but her symptoms were more severe. Her doctor suggested this may be due to the severe weight loss and lifestyle changes. Because Pamela’s running activity significantly lowers her blood pressure and resting heart rate, she sought out more natural ways to manage her symptoms, such as vitamin supplements and yoga as opposed to medication, while still pursuing her passion for outdoor running and hiking.
In her professional life as a broadcasting teacher, Pamela faces cold environments that can trigger Raynaud’s episodes. To combat this challenge, she keeps extra layers of clothing on hand and uses a space heater in her office. Her school’s broadcast studio and control room needs to be kept at a constant cool temperature, so she keeps a hoodie and thin gloves in her office which tends to be cold given its close proximity to the production area.
During outdoor sports productions, she dresses for the weather and carries heated gloves and socks. She always keeps gloves in her car and, in wet weather, makes sure she has an extra pair handy. For her toes, she wears wool socks or heated ones for cooler days.
The key for Pamela is to be proactive in staying warm because once she’s cold, it’s difficult for her to warm up. Given her challenges, she’s always trying different gloves and thermal clothing. For football season this year, she’s now trying a heated vest to help keep her core warm. Her production group’s truck has a heater, but it can only be warmed so much to keep their equipment from overheating. Definitely a challenging profession!
While running and hiking outdoors, Pamela’s had to adjust her routines and clothing choices to accommodate her Raynaud’s symptoms and is careful to layer appropriately. For running, she carefully layers her clothing to avoid overheating while ensuring she stays warm enough to prevent reactions. She listens to her body and adjusts her activities as needed. Pamela finds solace in running, as it keeps her relaxed, grounded and mentally healthy. She has set new goals for herself and feels a sense of accomplishment when she achieves them.
Hiking, on the other hand, can be more challenging due to the slower pace and colder temperatures. She wears heated gloves and socks, layers her clothes and always wears thin gloves under her outer layer. She hikes for relaxation, but is also a semi-professional nature photographer, so she loves finding great views and chasing sunrises and sunsets. Again, it’s all about her physical and mental health.
Pamela’s number one rule after hiking or running, is to immediately warm up after outdoor activities. She gets in front of the car heater on the drive home, then jumps in the shower.
In her daily life Pamela always has gloves on hand and blankets close by around the house, particularly a heated one she uses often at night.
Pamela actively seeks information about Raynaud’s and has found support from the Raynaud’s Association. She values the organization’s resources and advice on managing stress and exploring medication alternatives to alleviate symptoms. What she’s appreciated most from the Raynaud’s Association is learning about how others deal with their symptoms and understanding the disorder is more common than she knew. She feels better knowing she’s not alone, something we hear quite often from our members.
Pamela’s positive and proactive approach to coping with Raynaud’s stems from her experiences with mental health issues and higher education. She believes in seeking solutions and staying positive in the face of challenges. Her advice to other Raynaud’s sufferers is to keep searching for solutions and find a medical professional who will work with them to find warming solutions. Despite the frustrations and limitations of the condition, Pamela encourages others to find joy in their lives and not let Raynaud’s hold them back.
Profiles like this one from Pamela Peters are part of our Raynaud’s Warrior series. If you think your story has warrior potential, we’d like to hear from you, as your approach to dealing with the daily challenges from cold and stress can be an inspiration to millions of Raynaud’s sufferers. To send us your story for possible publication, please share it on our Tell Us About You Form.
