Helpful Hints and Tips
Helpful Hints and Tips
(Received at the Annual Scleroderma Conference 2014)
- Long underwear.
- Touch pad mouse (Smart Cat)!
- Rolled up yoga mat to wrap hands around to do yoga or push-ups (if forearms inflexible).
- Double up two good winter jackets.
- Take a thermos of hot water to the beach/dock to warm up hands after swim.
- Costco's dried blueberries to keep regular.
- Get out with friends.
- Dollar store carries a great grabber for grocery bags.
- Store cords in toilet rolls, write what it is used for on the side.
- When grocery shopping and your hands get cold, visit the BBQ chicken station, the oven will warm your hands.
- When travelling and staying in hotel rooms, to lift the head of the bed, place pillows under the mattress.
- backpack instead of purse.
- moist heat pads, helps the muscles.
- wear pants with elastic waistbands, so much more comfortable.
- Electric steering wheel covers.
- Hot booties – Walmart.
- you can get heat from ironing, the cover will reflect heat and keep you warm.
- keep small heating pads in your coat pockets (the ones you snap to activate).
- Doubled walled glassware & coffee mugs are nicer on raynaud's.
- Always wear a scarf.
- In public washrooms warm your mitts under the blower dryers.
- Kitchen rubber gloves make putting on compression stockings a breeze.
- Always carry a bottle of water with you.
- You can find electrical, heated socks or gloves in hunting or camping stores.
- Lightweight coffee & tea mugs.
- Drinks lots of water.
- Exercise.
- Ice packs - fill ziplock with popcorn kernels and freeze.
- A hair dryer for warming clothes and shoes.
- Warm woollen mitts in the microwave before wearing.
- Wet sponge in ziplock and freeze for ice pack.
- Always ask for non child proof caps.
- Use bread tabs to hold spot on a roll of tape.
- Make a list of what you want to talk to your doctor about before going.
- Finger ulcers - soak infected finger in a hot compress of bread & milk. Soak for about 20 minutes at least twice a day. Keep compress hot during soaking (can be rewarmed in the microwave).
- After receiving a prescription from your doctor discuss it with your pharmacist who will likely take more time to review the pro's & con's & side effects.
- Reach Out even if it can only be via the internet or phone.
- Try Low Light Laser Therapy for Raynauds and for wound healing (Bioflex Laser).
- Epsom Salt Baths – it improves circulation, helps the lymphatic system and helps with detoxification.
- Ultra red saunas – great for detoxification.
- Before your doctor’s appointment, write down all of the questions you want to ask. That way you won’t forget.
- Buy a steering wheel cover.
- Wear a scarf to avoid a chill.