Question
Sorry to bother you again but I went to see my doctor's nurse practiner today since my doctor wasn't in.  I was totally paniced when I got there.  My right foot heel started going numb while I was driving over there and then my toes on both feet started tingling and going a little numb but weren't really white or blue, I checked while I was in the waiting room.  Well she came in and off the bat I started telling her I noticed sometimes last winter that some of my fingers and thumbs would turn white and I would have to warm them under water and other times it went away in a matter of minutes and my feet issues would pretty much go away after getting off my feet and that it hasn't really happened since other than a few days ago when I was gripping something and both of my thumbs went white and numb. And sometimes when I wear boots or plattform scandals my toes and my heels will go numb. I also told her I suffer from anxiety and was freaking out.  I asked her about Raynaud's and she said that she really didn't know much about that and that she would have to check to see what tests needed to be ran for that.  Then I asked her about Scleroderma and she didn't know much about that either.  She had to go look it up.  She couldn't say that if I had Raynaud's or not.  She couldn't tell me what my chances are of having Scleroderma were.  She did look at my hands and felt them.  She did this thing were I had to make a fist while she applied pressure to my wrist and then I would open my hand I guess to see how long it took for the color to come back to normal.  There was never no numbness.  The longest time was 11 seconds on my right hand and I think it was 9 seconds on my left hand.  She touched and looked at my left foot and my toes were a little white and cold but not numb and my right foot toes were bluish and cold but not numb. During all of this I was on the verge of a panic attack.  In your opinion does this mean anything significant?  The blood test that they are doing are: Arthritis panel, CBC and thyroid, should get results Monday. Since I've started worrying so much I have been experiencing burning sensations over my hands, arms, feet, calves along with calmy sweats, dry mouth, feels like my heart is coming out of my chest, diarhera, muscle twitches here and there, impending fear of death, extremely cold in my hands and feet (wasn't like this before last Friday), constantly looking at my hands, face and I could go on and on. I did do a ice water test last night on my hands which I told my practioner about.  I submerged each hand in water at different times for almost 2 minutes each time and they were cold but there was no real color changes like starch white or blue and no numbness, they only tingled alittle.  Does that mean anything?  Also I noticed lately since all this started that when I'm typing all day at work my hands will tingle off and on.  She said that I didn't have carpnel tunnel. She didn't say anything about it could be from repetive motions, nothing.  I have had 2 ganglion cysts removed from my right wrist about 4-5 years ago. In your opinion from what I have told you, do you know what my chances are of having Scleroderma? I guess I'm so worked up about this because I had one of my high school friend's sister die from Scleroderma and she was only 22 yrs. old.  I'm trying not to freak out and not obessive over the internet, hopefully all of this is anxiety related.  She did state at the bottom of my work up "Parasthesia (either says with numbness or between thumbs-can't really read that part) r/o Raynaud's syndrome?" She also asked me if my hands or feet feel swollen or puffy or any joint pain - NO.  Also, I told her that I do smoke and she didn't really say anything it, other than it can contribute to the circulation issues and to try to cut back and quit and not to drink to much. I'm trying so hard to quit but with all this anxiety its very hard. Do you know if primary Raynaud's is both hands and both feet and if it has to be at the same time? Cause I have read on some websites that primary is both hands and feet where as Scleroderma is either both hands or both feet?  Cause honestly lately anyway (cause I can't remember last winter's pattern - only it was a few fingers and sometimes one foot or both feet), its my thumbs when gripping and one foot or both feet and one thumb. Or even yesterday it was both thumbs and no feet.  All I did was pop my thumbs and they went back to normal. I've even had my left ring finger knuckle on the top of my hand go numb last week but there was no white, blue or red and my right thumb went numb with white and I ran them under warm water but neither really turned back to red, just the numbness went away.  As I'm typing right now, my left pinky finger feels tingly and numb but no color changes.  I guess I could say that it varies. Does Raynaud's even effect the thumb?  Please be patient with me and sorry for being so long, I just don't know who to ask and I feel like I didn't get any answers today.  Thank you tremedously for your time, I really do appreciate it.
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Followup To

Question -
Bit of background, I'm 29 yr. old female. Have huge level of anxiety and obessive complusive disorder. Anyway, over a year ago I noticed when it was winter time that sometimes my fingers would turn white and be numb so I would have to run my hands under cold water and they would turn back red and be tingly. Also, certain toes would feel numb as well but they returned back to normal once I got inside. It seemed to only happen when I would go get the mail at the post office when I was at work and when I was wearing mid heel boots. I didn't think to much about, just thought it was related to the cold temperatures. It was very sporiadic. I do type all day at work too, don't know if that makes a difference or not. I have also noticed that sometimes when I grip something really hard, it can trigger it too but I can just pop my fingers or move my wrist in circular motions and it goes back to normal. Have no tingly or numbness on ears, cheeks, tongue. Well yesterday I was looking on the internet and I came across Raynaud's disease, I can deal with that. But after looking some more I came across Sclerodema and I am freakin out! I have no symptoms of Sclerodema, no thickening of the skin or curling on my fingers, no puffiness, no trouble making a fist, no calicum deposit under skin,no red spots, no heartburn, nothing that they describe. My questions are: Since its been a little over a year since this started what are my chances of having this deadly Sclerodema? Can one have only Raynaud's symptom and still have Sclerodema? Should one exhibit the tightening of the skin, curling, etc... first and then Raynaud's when having Sclerodema? Should I consult my doctor right away, we just changed insurance and waiting on that to take effect? Also forgot to included that I'm not sure if I even have Raynaud's since I haven't really had the problem since this past winter and I haven't been to my doctor. Also, related to my feet, after thinking about it, when I wear boots and walk alot thats when my toes and sometimes the heel on my feet feel numb but once I get off my feet the numbness goes away. Is there any other possibilites other than Raynaud's or Sclreoderma? I haven't had any espisodes since last winter. Also with my feet I remember that even the heels (especially when I was wearing boots) of my feet would feel numb but would go back to normal after getting off my feet. Could it have something to do with nerves or anxiety? Do I have a great chance of having Scleroderma without having any other symptoms after a year now? To have Scleroderma does Raynaud's have to occur in either both hands or both feet? I have read numerous wed sites that have stated that to have Scleroderma, Raynaud's shows as being in either both hands or both feet. To have primary Raynaud's meant having in both hands and both feet at same time. I have also read that Scleroderma, Raynaud's shows as having hand and feet on one side only. Honestly, I can't remember if it was in both hands and feet at same time or both hands and one foot, etc... I guess I would just like to know what other possibilites there might be other than Scleroderma. I can deal with it if it just primary Raynaud's. Please help clairify (mispelled?) and if there might be any other possibilities. I'm so terrified!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer -
Scleroderma is not a fatal disease.  It can be life-threatening in some people, but the vast majority of us have to learn to live for a long time with the symptoms and complications.
"Overall survival from scleroderma has improved from 50% at 7 years to 80% or more at 10 years."
http://www.scleroderma.org/medical/r&t_articles/Korn_2004_2.shtm

Systemic scleroderma is still a rare disease.  The often-quoted "300,000" with scleroderma in the US includes systemic and localized, a form that's restricted to skin involvement and no vascular or organ damage.

Raynauds.org estimates as much as 5-10% of the population has Raynaud's. All scleroderma is only about .1% of the population, so you can assume that many, many more people have either primary Raynaud's or Raynaud's secondary to a disease other than scleroderma.  Raynaud's occurs in 97% of people with systemic scleroderma, but also about 40% or less of people with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Even those directly related to someone with scleroderma only have a slightly increased chance of having it themselves.

Deal with what you have right now, and make an appt with your doc to talk about the color changes and numbness in your fingers and toes.  Because you describe white fingers when gripping something, talk to her/him about your job or other activities where you grip or use vibrating tools.
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/woodworking/assembly_vibration.html

Limited systemic scleroderma can have a long interval between the first Raynaud's attacks and skin changes, but the treatment for now would be the same as for primary Raynaud's, your only symptom, since there is no treatment for scleroderma.  

If you smoke, stop.  Smoking increases Raynaud's attacks, and besides, it's just not worth what it does you your health overall.

Answer
I wish I could just tell you what's going on, but of course I can't.  That's what your doctor is for.  I'd emphasize again - deal with what you have right now and try not to obsess about what might be.  If you think anxiety is contributing to this, let your doc know just how anxious you are.  There are treatments for that, too.

Amie