Erythromelalgia

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I have mixed connective tissue disease and lupus. In 2007, I was diagnosed with Raynauds and EM at the age of 35, but I suffered for more than 10 years with it before being diagnosed. Spicy foods and foods that contain MSG are triggers as well as daily weather changes,hot water, alcohol,confining clothes,sitting or standing too long, ect. I thought that I was allergic to alcohol because every time I had just a few sips, I would begin to swell and my feet and hands would itch and burn. Hindsight, I now realize the alcohol caused a flare up. So it goes without saying that people with EM do not drink. Lol. Both heat and extreme cold temperatures affect me. Just normal daily activities cause me to live with a constant flare up. I wear my rings 1 size larger than I should wear because my hands stay swollen during the day. My hands look like lobster claws. Winter time is especially hard for me because of central heating and wearing long-sleeved shirts and closed toed shoes. My toes have ulcers/blisters and chilblains due to wearing socks with closed toed shoes. It will be ideal to live in a climate that is between 60 & 70° all year round. Every time I go to any doctor they are just fascinated watching me have a flare up in their office. My primary doctor asked me if she could bring me for "show and tell" at her next medical seminar (lol) since most doctors have never heard of EM much less had a patient with it. While it is debilitating, I have learned to live with it.