Raynaud's Phenomenon and cold sensitivity from HRT

[Bobbie]

So I just had a second episode of what seems to be Raynaud's Phenomenon, I'll be talking to my doctor about it this week, but in reading up about it, it seems to have a lot to do with levels of Estrogen, it doesnt sound too dangerous but from what I read its important to stay warm and avoid cold.
I've been SOOO cold this winter, I thought it was because I'd lost a lot of weight, but now I'm thinking its because of the HRT maybe both.
I'm worried that when I tell my doctor she'll recommend stopping or reducing estrogen levels, but it seems like a fairly minor problem, hoping this wont happen.
Has anyone been diagnosed with Raynaud's Phenomenon from HRT? has it been simple to deal with?
I found it quite scary thought my finger would fall off at first but after reading about it, I feel a bit better.

[KayXo]

So I just had a second episode of what seems to be Raynaud's Phenomenon, I'll be talking to my doctor about it this week, but in reading up about it, it seems to have a lot to do with levels of Estrogen

What exactly did you read? You have to be careful before jumping to conclusions. Was it just an association or a cause and effect? Did you read actual studies or just assertions on a website with no supporting references? Was the estrogen bio-identical or not? Did individuals take anything else? Were women more prone during the first phase or second phase of their menstrual cycle? What about during pregnancy and nursing?

I find a higher estrogen level helped improve my blood circulation. Estradiol dilates blood vessels (due to increased nitric oxyde), like alcohol.

[Bobbie]

I dont know much, I only did a brief google search to find out what was going on with my finger turning white read about  Raynaud's first time I'd even heard of it. from what little I read it sounded to be more common in women, then did a search of Raynaud's and estrogen and read a couple places talking about possible links.
I dont know any of the details or if this has any validity, was hoping this would be old hat to others here.

[KayXo]

Like I said, don't jump to conclusions, seek solid findings, credible sources, question what you read.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

Go to this site, type in "Estradiol" AND "Raynaud" NOT "Ethinyl". You might begin to get a clearer picture.
Also, you might not even have this syndrome. Your doctor might clear up things with you.

Do realize that as androgen levels drop, your skin becomes thinner, hence the cold feeling. Enough estrogen (helping with blood circulation) and bio-identical progesterone (also increasing body temperature) may help.

[.Christy]

im glad i learned about this last semester.

anyways, raynaud's disease is a genetic thing. if what you were experiencing was before you started HRT then you would know it ran in your family. it can't possibly be from the estrogen. your cold intolerance is most probably from losing all that weight. fat is the body's natural insulator. but still, talk to your doc next week and get your thyroid checked out too since that also has to do with body temperature regulation.

[Bobbie]

Thank you very much,
guess not everything has to do with HRT, I'll have a better idea whats going on once I speak to the doctor, just had some blood work done and I think thyroid function was one of the things looked at. Will also ask my sister if she's had anything similar.

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

I have raynauds. It's not a biggie. You can get raynauds later,  but that's usually as a result of handling vibrating equipment very frequently,  like drills.

If you are diagnosed, you should tell surgeons during preoperative assessment.

[JoanneB]

I've had Raynaud's about all my life. It is not just "feeling cold". It is blood stopping to flow into extremities such as fingers and toes. I had a snowball's chance in hell of making snowballs as a kid. Totally frozen fingers. Trips to the grocery store, even in summer, means my fingers are white for a good 20 minutes after checking out. I can have frozen fingers and frozen toes and be sweating like a pig. They won't warm up on their own untill blood starts flowing.

On HRT, especially with an AA, you loose muscle mass. Muscles keep you warm. A big reason why women complaining about the AC being too cold and guys are too hot. I often resort to thermal underwear to cope with the AC in the summer. Being too hot & sweaty outside of the AC, like in the car, is easy compared to being frozen and painfully cold fingers & toes.

In my case age, more so then I can say HRT, has had more of an affect. I can't say that in my first year on HRT the Raynaud's progressed any further/faster, then in the years before

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

Yeah my fingers go numb when I am in positions with my hand level or above my heart like driving. I have to keep rotating one hand down by my side.

Have you tried using centrifugal force to get the blood into your hands by spinning your arms around fast before you go out and when you  get back in?  It's very good! 

[Bobbie]

I've only had two episodes with Raynaud's each time the same finger, my first thought was "oh my god my finger's not getting any blood, I'm going to loose my finger!!!! what do I do?" but after a lot of rubbing and holding it under water the blood came back. Is there any real risk of loosing a finger?
This has come on fairly late in life, I'm 50, but most of my life I've been over weight and sedentary, lately I've been doing a lot of biking in very cold weather, so maybe I always had a mild version but it was never an issue until now... at least I hope thats it.

[Kizzy]

I first noticed this after a long walk in the cold. Several of my fingers were a little cyanosis, were cold to the touch and numb. They couldn't warm up on their own. I had to add heat externally (warm running water/hot tea cup). I've only experienced this phenomenon two or three times now.

[Ashey]

Well, HRT can affect your sensitivity to cold, and especially if you're on your period you might feel especially cold one moment and then warm the next. Your skin will also have thinned a bit. Losing weight can also be a cause. But really there could be a number of reasons. See a doctor, and idk... wear gloves or mittens when you get cold? Or move your fingers or shake your hands to try to stimulate blood-flow. My hands used to get especially cold just using a computer for a while, because of the position of my hands on the mouse and keyboard. Just have to make sure your bloods are circulating well enough.

[Phlox1]

I just saw this thread and want to reply since I also have Raynaud's.  It mostly affects my toes and to a lesser extent my fingers, mostly my right thumb.  It will begin to turn white and go numb from eating a cold salad or bowl of ice cream with a stainless steel fork or spoon as the case may be.

I also usually get chilblains on my toes during the winter and this is apparently fairly common if you have Raynaud's.

My doctor prescribed a calcium channel blocker that helps blood to flow better.  My BP tends to be a tad high so it helps in that respect too.

To help keep the Raynaud's at bay I wear long underwear in the winter and heavy wool socks.  In slightly warmer weather I wear tights and pantyhose that help provide warmth under my slacks.

From what I've read, Raynaud's is about 9 times more common for women than men.  This makes me wonder it is more common in transwomen (MtF) than in the general population.  It's interesting to note that several people in this thread have it.

[Deborah]

That white finger thing happens to me periodically when I'm outside and it's cold.  I didn't know it had a name and never thought much about it though.  It happened both pre and post HRT so I don't think hormones had much to do with it.


Sapere Aude

[ChloëAri]

Before HRT, I had Raynaud's for over a decade, and shocked others with my cold handshakes and purplish fingers all the time. Now, I haven't experienced any Raynaud's symptoms in over a year.

[Lucie]

I have always had cold hands. At home I have to wear fingerless gloves almost all the time, except during the heat of summer. But I don't think it's the real Raynaud's disease. Also HRT has not changed anything to my cold hands in either direction.