Toes turn blue? normal?
 

My toes have recently started changing color, certain times one or more of them will look blue. That is a new symptom for me and scary.

Is this normal?

Stacy, some of mine are often blue--fingers also. Others will be bright red. The rheumatologist and PCP both suspect Raynaud's (though I have trouble with heat more often than cold). I think there's been some discussion of Raynaud's here; have you checked for that? If it's the primary symptom, it's evidently not dangerous. But I think it can be secondary to some other things.

Color changes occur with circulation issues as ChaucerFan explains.
There are so many causes for Raynaud's...I've seen lists pages long!

But color changes also come from RSD... now called CRPS..
We have an RSD forum here.

The most common cause of Raynaud's in women is autoimmune disease. Lupus in particular. But the other types of autoimmune diseases often affect the circulation.

I'd see what your doctor thinks.

So my Hashi's is auto immune, could this be a cause?? I plan to but I dont go to my dr for another month.

The autoimmune diseases tend to cluster. So if you have Hash.. you might have another.

Until your appointment, just when you see the blue toes, gently put them in lukewarm water, and see if they resolve. Do some experiments within your comfort levels to see 1) how long they are blue..2) if warmth reverses the color blue, 3) if your toes go very white often, 4) does this happen when you are hungry, and may be low blood sugar related? ... or 5) is there no trigger obvious or rhyme or reason? Things like this...details before your next doctor visit.

This link gives general info...but may not be pertinent to your specific issue:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/003215.htm

There is a condition connected to overuse of Tylenol...it changes the hemoglobin in the blood and creates a blue tint. But it would be a general effect and not confined to the toes.

I did know a gal when I was in art school, and her lips would get blue alot.... and she took HCTZ daily too. I always wondered if that drug was causing, it, because she is in her late 70's now and still alive...so the blue lips were not an ominous sign of lung or heart disease (she was in her 50's then).

Make sure you drink enough water and your blood is not too thick due to dehydration.

There is a condition sometimes connected to thyroid disease (hypo forms) called mucinosis -- which is a deposition of mucin in the tissues.
http://dermnetnz.org/immune/mucinoses.html
Presentation of this varies from person to person.

Raynaud's can be a precursor to a lot of diseases.

http://www.arthritis.org/conditions-...ds-phenomenon/

Best to find out if you do indeed have it. If your fingertips start peeling, cracking, open sores you do have a big problem.

You guys are so helpful. Thank you.

I am worried about other immune diseases since if you have one it usually leads to others. Lupus, is a concern. I only found out about my hashis and my raised TPO recently so I am still planning my next steps. I have a new doctor I am going to see but that is why the month wait, actually, its a little more than a month.

I am also looking into iodine, I no many say with hashi's not to use it but I am very interested in Dr Brownsteins results and my naturopath wants me to do the iodine protocol. I am still deciding but leaning towards trying it. I see her again next week. She gave me names of two local people near me to contact that had amazing results with hashi's and the iodine protocol and even more exciting was one of them has Neuropathy in her feet that has gone away. That is exciting so I plan to talk to her also. She says PN in feet with hashi's is more common than most realize.

MrsD:

Tylenol not a worry, I have rarely used it, mostly advil when I had pain for monthlys.

I drink water and only water. Nothing else, no caffeine, no coffee, nothing.

It mostly happens when I am in a flare, like I was shopping in bad shoes and they got into a burn, swollen flare, and I saw one toe looked blue. Then I used my infrared heat, which is not real hot, on them and not right away but a little later I had a flare, and different toes were different colors. When the flare is over they all look normal.

When I exercise when I am done, they are always red but when I am stretching out, I flex and point calves/toes and when they stretch certain areas are real red and other areas are real white.

Its most always during a flare or after walking I see the color changes.

thank you so much for your links and opinions, everyone.

Something to think about:

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/0...e-is-too-much/

Ya iodine, among other things, is controversial. You have to choose the sources you believe in and go with whichever side persuades you. Iodine is being considered by the government to restrict buying for it. You can google it and see a huge debate. Many are stock piling it since it does not expire.

Now why would our beloved government want to stop us from buying iodine??? It is a cheap thing to buy. I hate government. :mad:

I am falling on the side of Dr Brownstein and others on this but we shall see.

You can find a negative or positive side to everything, but its up to us to decide which side we believe.

Just a thought. When you are wearing shoes is there plenty of room for your toes at the end of the shoe? Sometimes, without realizing it, there is not and your toes are hitting the end of your shoe. So you can have black toes, blue toes, also itchy, etc. The itchy part is not caused from anything else.

I wear sandals or opened toe shoes 95% of the time. Only in freezing cold weather will I attempt a full shoe, and it doesn't stay on my feet long. So no problem with shoes being tight. I try not to wear any at all, lol

Iodine is stockpiled by the government and by individuals.
This is for use in case of a radiation event... nuclear accident, dirty bomb by terrorists, etc.

Iodine in large doses is toxic...I just read in one of my professional magazines about a liability suit in a hospital where a large dose was given by accident... it is used in large doses only to treat thyroid storms, or dangerous Graves' situations. It kills the thyroid.

So I have misgivings about this naturopathic treatment too.

Ya, maybe, but you can also find a lot of studies where it works. And I do not plan on large doses. I know both sides of this coin, have read hours and hours and hours on it, both sides.

Sometimes we just have to pick a side. I guess I will find out.

But I understand your concern. People feel strongly on either side. thanks!