Viagra?? It's for my hands...!!

So as you may remember from a previous post I have recently seen a rheumatologist who has diagnosed me with a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers Danlos-Hypermobility type. In addition to all the ways that hypermobility has affected me, in July last year while on holiday in Devon, while swimming in the sea I experienced my first instance of what I would later know as Raynaud's Syndrome. Raynaud's Syndrome causes my hands and feet but predominantly my fingers to go stark white because of the lack of blood flow as the blood vessels are restricted, usually because of the cold, this doesn't have to be just the cold weather, I find shopping in ASDA is a huge trigger for me as seemingly ASDA like to ensure you are so cold that you get your sh*t and get the f**k out as quickly as possible before you freeze to death... either that or the cold is the only thing that will keep the barrage of germs at bay... In the summer months it isn't usually too difficult to manage, the odd flare up by holding a cold drink or ice cream but otherwise manageable however come the autumn and winter months, and you will find me wearing gloves like a serial killer around the office usually warranting quite a few odd looks from people who don't know me or what the crack is with the weirdo wearing gloves inside an office. Comedy aside this condition has meant that when I have had a flare up I find it difficult to use my fingers to do even the simplest tasks such as zipping up my jacket or putting my key in the front door because my fingers are completely numb. With this numbness comes stinging, burning and searing pain as the blood eventually rushes back in to my extremities. Funnily enough we rely on touch screen technology so much but when you have no blood in your finger tips causing them to be as cold a corpse suddenly you can't even use your phone or much to my frustration when I am trying to checkout of ASDA as quickly as possible (because I am fairly certain its warmer at the arctic circle) but the self scan check out wont recognise you tapping the blooming screen because your fingers are as cold as ice, it starts to really piss a girl off and has been known for me to be a bit cranky. I had spoken to my GP about medications before to ease the symptoms of my Raynaud's but because I have low blood pressure already and the medication commonly prescribed to manage the condition lowers the patients blood pressure, it was decided it was too risky for me to take them as I already have something called postural hypo-tension which is low blood pressure exacerbated by a change in position such as standing up, which for me causes me to go temporarily blind and feel a bit dizzy until my blood pressure regulates. I maintain consciousness throughout these episodes but can't see for 5 or so seconds. After having a conversation with my rheumatologist and explaining how debilitating this condition is he has prescribed me none other than Viagra! Queue awkward conversation with Pharmacist, well the awkward conversation started with the receptionist at the chemist who wasn't sure she was reading it right to then the chemist informing me that he did not have enough in stock as it would seem that I have been prescribed half of Hampshire's allowance of Viagra to selfishly manage my own dead and lifeless limbs....It has been 2 days in to my taking the viagra and so far I feel as though it may be having a positive impact and although I still feel the cold more in my hands than I would class as typical they haven't turned deathly white and painful yet despite a run in 10 degree weather sans gloves. But this also got me thinking of whether regularily taking a vasodilator would have any impact of my performance be it positive or negative.. Only I could have the luck of being accused of performance doping via viagra. LOL...

There is still so much I am learning about my body, and I aim to share it with you all. I do not at all intend it to be a pity party nor am I asking anyone to feel sorry for me, but simply to show you that we all have our obstacles in life but no matter what they may be, that we can dream and achieve, it just might take some detours along the way!