Saturday December 15, 2007
Ten days to Christmas. Not exactly an emotional roller-coaster this year, not for me, anyway. The cold snap has brought out a good, painful subset of my aches and moans and, even though I know it’s a bad idea, all I want to do is hide.
The latest minor, irritating affliction is an attack of chilblains on my hands and fingers. I’ve always thought of chilblains as a childhood condition, from my distant past when it was genuinely cold and we didn’t always have warm enough clothing and healthy food. Not so. Checking it out I discover that it’s a condition that can affect the elderly.
Oh well. I’ve got the salve, and I’ve applied it. I’ve dug out my gloves and shall wear them outdoors without fail until April or thereabouts. And if anyone laughs at me I shall bite their bloody heads off.
Standby…. GRRRRRRUUUUUUMPPPPPH! Not to mention HOOOOOOOOOOWWWWL!
There. I feel better now.
The author, webmaster, and minder of the cat
20 responses so far ↓
Maggie // December 15, 2007 at 9:48 am |
Oh John, so sorry to hear about the chilblains.
I remember them from when I was little. Mum used to rub them with a raw onion. Can’t say I recall it helping at all, but thought you might like to hear of an “old wives” treatment!
Best wishes from sunny Liverpool
wayne // December 15, 2007 at 10:20 am |
I am sorry to hear about the chilbains.
louphoria // December 15, 2007 at 11:46 am |
oh dear. Coincidences.
Upon hearing of your affliction, and feeling mighty sorry for you, I went off to see if I could google up a herbal remedy, or just some information that could be of use. I then read the description of what chilblains are and what causes them, and promptly realised what the mystery purply-red blister things on my right foot are. Bloody painful little blister thingys they are too.
Ouch.
bonnie // December 15, 2007 at 12:46 pm |
So sorry John, not something I’m really familiar with so I also will have to go googling. Reminded me of Grandma with her arthritic hands.
Alison P // December 15, 2007 at 1:31 pm |
I’ve never had chilblains – I hope I don’t get them when I’m older, sounds painful
GordoTheGeek // December 15, 2007 at 1:39 pm |
I also Googled them and they sound terrible. John, if it makes you feel any better, it’s currently -16C here in Canuckistan and we’re waiting for a blizzard to whallop us with 15-25cm of snow overnight. I must remember to get provisions this afternoon. :-0
Mary Lee // December 15, 2007 at 2:55 pm |
Guess I”m among the blessed as well. Never had that affliction, nor do I ever want to and wouldn’t wish it on anyone or anything. My heartfelt wishes for a quick departure of the malady from you, John.
wendync // December 15, 2007 at 3:35 pm |
Ah, John, it seems that it’s just one thing after another for you just now. I join the group in wishing you a speedy recovery from this latest affliction.
Jim // December 15, 2007 at 3:41 pm |
Chilblains certainly do not sound like fun. I’m glad I’ve never had them. My winder affliction is cracked skin on my fingers — actually on my knuckls and on my fingers near the nails. (My mother had the same problem.) I’ve attempted to persuade the world that obviously in order to prevent this condition I need to stay out of the kitchen from November through March, no cooking, no food preparation, no washing dishes or pots & pans. Somehow the world (or, at least, my family) is not impressed by my suggestion. *grin*
~ Sil in Corea // December 15, 2007 at 5:10 pm |
Don’t pay any attention to foolish folk who tease. I wrap my head in a woolen scarf in winter. A girl remarked that I looked like a Muslim. I laughed and said it’s better than having the wind blow through my ears, in one and out the other.
Hugs from chilly Choseon,
~ Sil in Corea
Mage // December 15, 2007 at 5:25 pm |
Awwwwwwwwwwwwww……..and a hug. She says wearing her fingerless gloves as she types.
Kate & Jim // December 15, 2007 at 6:11 pm |
Well – I had to Google them too…doesn’t look like it’s something I’d care to have either.
Have you or Jim (from RI) ever tried Burts Bees products? Their Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme works wonders here. I put it on anytime, but mostly at night before bed. It really helps w/ the cracking and dryness.
That’s all the advice I’ve got for today…
Karen // December 15, 2007 at 7:17 pm |
Does anyone know what they call the cracks you get when the weather is cold and dry. The bottoms of my fingers, especially the thumbs, just develop deep fissures and they are really painful.
I too loved Northern Exposure and remember the reason it ended was the actor playing Joel, thought he was going to become a big star in movies. He has had a very mediocre career since and that mostly on television.
Edward McCain // December 15, 2007 at 7:33 pm |
Uh, I’ll tell you guys a secret remedy for those painful, dry cracks if you promise not to laugh… too hard anyway
I too suffer from painful dry cracks on my heels and fingertips in the cold dry weather. Moisturizer is a definite requirement but for quick relief use Preparation H.
Yes, I know it sounds strange but give it a try.
Mary Lee // December 15, 2007 at 10:49 pm |
Another recommendation has been to use a product called Udder Balm. Yes, you read it right, Udder Balm. Keeps cows happy, makes farmers’ hands happily smooth and well, you know. I’ve never had the experience but I did try it on my feet which were giving me the same unhappy problems with my feet. Worked wonders. But good ole Prep H, why not? Makes sense to me.
Beryl Ament // December 16, 2007 at 12:23 am |
Dang, why did you have to mention chilblains? Just as I have dealt with a problem with INS/Homeland Security, extended my green card and booked tickets to England for my first English Christmas in 44 years. I always thought chilblains were the result of sitting too close to an electric fire when the rest of the room was freezing.
And as for those little cracks? This year I am hoping against hope that the answer is a humidifier. Right now I have one churning away in our bedroom, and I have refilled the tank every 12 hours. Anyone have any luck with them?
oldgreypoet // December 16, 2007 at 7:52 am |
I was prescribed a topical ointment containing methyl nicotinate. Works a treat. I seem to remember as a kid that we were given ‘chilblain tablets’. Hate to think what’s in them.
The main snag with chilblains is that they are painfully itchy, and thin the skin so that scratching breaks it open very easily. Then you get infection. Then…
So this is one itch it’s best not to scratch. The ointment reduces the pain/itching almost to zero.
gary // December 16, 2007 at 12:46 pm |
Potter’s know this type of thing well. Open and raw wounds all over the hands, but I think it is simply ‘chapped’, like dry and cracked lips.
Denver doug // December 16, 2007 at 8:33 pm |
Have had chapped hands, cracked skin and such, but nothing resembline chilblains. I hope to never have such an affliction John.
I do find gloves, mufflers and hooded garments a great help in cold weather.
San // January 12, 2009 at 4:54 pm |
I am a 30 yr old who moved from FL to NY in Nov. For the first time, I got chilblains on all my toes. When it got worse, I saw a doctor and he gave me a gel (Voltaren) to apply. It did bring down the inflammation. He also asked me to take aspirin to make the blood thinner, which in turn helps improve circulation. Soaking feet in salty warm water and massaging with coconut oil also helps. Instead of cotton socks, I started wearing woollen ones.