The major problem that I have had with scleroderma has always been the Raynaud’s phenomenon.  I began having Raynaud’s long before I was diagnosed with scleroderma, at the age of 15. I remember that I was in high school on a cold, wet November day, and my hands turned completely white. My best friend and I went to the school nurse to figure out what was wrong; she told me that it was pretty common, and not to worry about it.   From then on my hands would occasionally turn white when I got really cold, if I was skiing or hiking. It wasn’t until years later, after I had already finished medical school and was in training to become a plastic surgeon, that I was diagnosed with scleroderma. From talking with other people, often the first sign of a systemic illness is raynauds. I think that most doctors do not take raynauds very seriously, especially in young women.

I have recently stumbled upon a web-based resource for people with raynauds, both primary (without an underlying cause) and secondary (with an underlying disease causing the process.)  The web site is: www.raynauds.org.  I especially have enjoyed looking through– and adding my own comments to– the discussion boards.  And they have a list of products that are discounted for people who are suffering from raynauds.

Access my description of raynauds here.