Raynaud's Phenomenon: The Mystery of the White Finger
Hockey games can definitely induce Raynaud's... |
For about as long as I can remember, my fingers have turned white when exposed to cold. My toes, too, actually. Sometimes the entire finger or toe; sometimes just part of it. They usually get at least a little numb, too. Sometimes it lasts for just a few minutes, sometimes it takes much longer for it to go away. The funny thing is, I didn't realize that this wasn't normal until I was eighteen years old. I just thought that's what happened when you got cold. Somehow, these colorless appendages had escaped the notice of my parents for a good number of years. Then, one day while my family was out to eat, my mom noticed that my fingers had turned white. I was drinking ice water, and the glass was obviously cold, so I thought nothing of it. My mom, on the other hand, was freaking out. I told her, "They do that when they get cold. They've always done that." She wanted me to go to the ER. We compromised and I agreed to see the doctor about my "symptoms".