Reynaud's Disease. Apparently, I haz it. I can't even believe it's taken me several years to finally consult with Dr. Google & figure out why it seems like my feet are like ice blocks much of the time and why my hands get so cold that my fingers go white. Sometimes, creepy white. It's not only when I am in a chilly environment either. If I am experiencing high stress or anxiety, I notice that my fingers get super cold, even toes will get numb feeling. And when this happened during a stressful and anxiety causing conversation recently, I finally looked it up and learned about Reynaud's Disease, or Syndrome, or Phenomenon. Eh, cold hands, warm heart, right? I don't know if it's a long term side effect from the chemo. I have found some articles online that indicate it might be, but I didn't see any of the drugs I was given listed as known to cause it. And really, I may have been experiencing this, especially in my toes, even before having cancer. So there's that...So anyway.... Haven't had a whole lot to report, which, on a cancer blog is a good thing. I can say that my mammogram in November was still clear and my labs from my physical in December still look normal. So in June, when it will definitly NOT be cold here, I will be 12 years NED.
It's been really hard to even want to write (again) anything for ages it seems. Thanks to the pandemic, and avoiding people, and cooking most of our meals, and then the political climate as of late...just seemed better to just be quiet. On the plus side, the vaccines for COVID-19 are rolling out more and more. We just gotta hang in there a bit longer. We've been at this a long time now... I remember a blog I did where I mentioned how my life was now divided into two parts, bc and ad....
And now it's divided again. BC - Before COVID.
The last two weeks here have been so rainy. Fog, mist, rain, thunderstorms. And now our friends and family in Texas are dealing with a major winter storm situation, complete with lots of snow and rolling blackouts during record breaking low temps. Y'all stay safe and warm.
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| Mask up y'all! |
So, yeah, just felt like I wanted to do a post to just say that I now feel like I know why I'm cold a lot of the time. And to say I'm still NED, as far as anyone can tell. And I miss normal life. I know you do too. I never, ever imagined this is what real life would look like.
Hang in there all. I know there's warm light at the end of the tunnel.
3 comments:
Hi Kimberly,
Ive followed your blog and commented a couple years back. Its been some time since I’ve checked in but im glad things are going well all things considered in this crazy time. Congrats on being 12 years NED. I am a fellow cancer survivor as well (lymphoma) in 2012 when I was 19- so im going on almost 10 years NED. I too get that Raynauds syndrome too. It can be pesky; It usually happens when i go from a hot to cold environment very quickly or vice versa. The most notable practical example is when I am using a pressure washer on a warm sunny day. My hands start out relatively warm and when I’m in action the exercise warms up my hands even more, but then as I keep going they inevitably get wet from the cooler water that bounces back from the blasting water. Factor in that gripping the nozzle trigger tightly probably doesn’t help. I found that a nice pair of work/ gardening gloves helps. Either way I love to pressure wash so it doesnt dampen my day (no pun intended) Hope this finds you well and Happy 2022
Sincerely,
Michael
Hey Michael! Happy 2022 to you too
1 Thanks so much for checking in & congrats on your run up to 10 years NED! That's def one to celebrate! As you can see, you haven't missed much in the last couple of years. I just haven't had much to report & in cancerland, that's a good thing, as you know. I keep saying I want to do a post but I get busy & then forget what I wanted to post about. My chemobrain is very real & might even be getting worse as I get older. Or maybe it's just that I'm getting old lol! Raynauds is annoying for sure! I even get it if I'm in a high stress situation. Like, if I'm in an argument, my fingers will turn dead-white & go numb. I've had it affect my toes for years, even before cancer. But mostly it has to do with being cold or getting my hands wet & then they get cold. Thanks again for checking in. I really do enjoy hearing from readers
Wishing you all the best!
xx
~K
That 1 up there is a typo. Would be nice if Blogger would let me edit my own comments. *eyeroll*
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