<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Hi all. A long time ago I asked about a possible connection between CD, Reynaud's, and Sjogren's. I heard back from a number of people (responses below) - thanks to all who replied! I think I'll have to hit the medical journals for information on possible connections, too. Thanks again. Chris Silker Minneapolis, MN -------------------- I have Reynaud's and it kicks in when I am just chilly, losing the blood flow in my hands and feet. They turn yellow and go numb. This started happening when I was 13. I am now 60 and have only been diagnosed celiac for 3 years but have had the symptoms since birth. I never connected Reynauds with CD, but perhaps there is a connection. -------------------- Is Reynaud's related to celiac?? I have Reynaud's syndrome (undiagnosed, but I *know* what it is and that I have it!) My son "failed" the celiac blood test and biopsy but we *know* he is at least sensitive to gluten (and lactose) and is on a GF diet. I didn't know of an association between Reynaud's and celiac. -------------------- I asked the question about Raynaud's about a year ago and found a number of individuals who also had it. I am definitely gluten intolerant (on gf diet x 5 years), but no definitive diagnosis of celiac. I began having full blown Raynaud's phenomenia about that time. The episodes have increased somewhat each year. No history of Sjogren's. -------------------- I do have occasional circulatory problems when the tips of my fingers turn blue. That probably is Reynaud's, but I have not been given an official diagnosis, since it happens only occasionally...and I probably did not remember to mention it to my doctor (who I see only every 2 years or so.). -------------------- My mom has CD, Sjogren's. and Reynaud's. Early symptoms of SS were dry mouth and eyes, not all the time, and fatigue. Diagnostic test is a lip biopsy. There is a SS list serve that many people had endless trouble after the biopsy. If you want the address to the listserve let me know and I will get it from my parents. She takes prendisone for the SS and GF diet for CD as well as lacrisert eye inserts and endless eye drops. One of the things that has helped dry mouth the most for her is putting in vaseline all over inside of mouth. -------------------- I was self diagnosed with celiac disease, but my patch of scaly itchy skin is gone since GF diet. I was diagnosed with Reynaud's syndrome 13 years ago approx. -------------------- I was very interested in your post because I think I have one or both of those illnesses (Raynauds and or Sjrogren's); I have never been diagnosed for either of them but a couple (of the many) doctors I have seen threw these words out sort of flippantly; I asked the last one who mentioned Reynauds what the treatment for it was and he said "wear mittens" (don't you just love our typical tradtional doctor?) My main symptomes are an extreme sensitivity to cold (I also don't tolerate real hot weather well either but the cold is worse to the point of painful hands and feet when the temp is under about 55 degrees) -------------------- Sjogren's syndrome mailing list: [log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: SUBSCRIBE SS-L Don't have a lip biopsy until you have asked the people on the list about it. Most don't recommend it. -------------------- I happened to be inthe hospital due to another problem. The doctor checked my toes and found them pinkish purple. He then began asking me do my fingers and toe hurt when exposed to cold temps in the Winter....yes, they get numb and ache. I had to withdraw from snowball fights as a kid because of the numbness in connection with the gloved hand throwing and packing snow. The doctor recommended meditation for me which was training I received at the hospital. I invested in a device from Radio Shack called a Biofeedback Monitor. I haven't used this in years, but it also helped my migraine headaches. Time is a problem now. It is important to keep my pulse rate normal so my body doesn't shut down the blood vessels. Cold also shuts down the blood from reaching the extremities. Me.....I'm just glad it isn't Lupus! -------------------- I had Reynaud's for several years before being diagnosed with CD. The doctor didn't treat it - said if it got too bad it could be helped with surgery, seems they clipped a nerve or something like that. That was 12 years ago so my memory fails me a little. I would have an attack almost daily where my hands would get cold, turn white, tips of fingers blue-ish. I would run warm water over them and then they the circulation would slowly start back and you could see the color slowly returning. After going on a GF diet, my Reynaud's seemed to disappear almost completely. I only have a couple attacks a year now, and I hardly notice them. -------------------- Hi, I too am a diagnoised Celiac and have had Reynauds also diagnoised many years ago. I lived in New York at the time and I remember my thumb for no reason whatsoever getting swollen and blue. (I was very scared). Once diagonised, the doc wanted to know if I had been on birth control, smoked, high caffine -- all the regulars of bad circulation. and advised me to stop any of the "bad" behavior. He gave me a vaso dialator (sp) pills that I took for a period of time. I then made up my mind to move to warmer climate. Now that I am on my diet and healthy I really don't experience much problem -- except if I get a chill (even in the summer) my hands go white and that same old feeling comes back. I do things to warm them up as soon as possible (even if I look contorted with my hands under my armpits or any place is 98.6) -------------------- When you find out what Dr. tests for Sjogren's syndone, please let me know. I asked me eye dr. and she said -"ask your gastroenterologist. I asked my gastroenterologist and he said the eye Dr. should check. So much for the medical confusion that goes on today. There is a www for sjogrens as follows: http://www.sjogrens.org/what.htm - good information on it. I think I read where only 3% of celiacs have Sjogrens.