Winter is not Tina’s favourite time of year. Everyday tasks like driving and gardening are more difficult, and she often faces a £200 bill to heat her home. The 60 year old grandmother suffers from CREST, a form of scleroderma. I don’t really understand much about it, admitted Tina. It’s a strange feeling having a condition that affects the blood vessels, inner organs and tissues. I don’t like things controlling me: with CREST I do what I can, when I can and try to be positive.
Tina was diagnosed with CREST five years ago after a routine blood test came back abnormal. I had a lot of aches and pains said Tina, a hairdresser from Exmouth. I’d suffered odd symptoms but I just got on with things. the doctor sent me to see a specialist who told me it was CREST. He asked me lot of questions, including whether my eyes or mouth got dry. I told him that sometimes when I was eating and drinking, certain things were difficult to swallow. He said that was because my tissues were thickening.
Like most people with Raynaud’s and scleroderma, Tina suffers with cold hands and feet. Even though I’ve got gloves on, I’ll be driving in the winter and, before I know it, my fingers feel dead. I have to pull in somewhere to try and get the feeling in them back. My toes do the same thing. The skin on my hands also splits, so I have to use a lot of moisturiser. I get tired more quickly because I’ve not got the energy I used to have. I get breathless doing certain things. Someone has to help with the garden now; I’ll still go out there, but I don’t do as much because my hands and feet suffer. The pain is awful. Simple things like putting out and bringing in the washing are so difficult when it’s cold, because I can’t feel my fingers. When I’m at work - even if it’s not winter - if I’m doing a perm, my fingers will stop working properly but I just get on with it.
Tina regularly sees a rheumatologist and is prescribed medication to minimise the symptoms. She has also found out all she can about the condition and has become a member of the Raynaud’s & Scleroderma Association.
She knows that the hardest part of the year is ahead of her. The thought of winter is awful, she said. I really find it difficult, but keeping wrapped up and wearing lots of layers helps. I wear thick dressing gowns and wear thick socks all year round and I keep the house warm. In the winter my gas bill is £200 - I have to be warm.
Tina refuses to let the condition rule her life. She works part-time at her hairdressing salon, and recently took her grandchildren on holiday. She is also on the Exe Valley Heart Support Group committee and gets involved in charity work.
At times I do get a bit down but I’m only human. I just put on a positive face: the way things have turned out is no one else’s fault, so I try my best to be bright and cheerful. I don’t let anything stop me I just carry on as usual.
