Oh YES....I've had two triggers. I'm now 61, had the triggers about five years ago and these were the very first health problems since having my tonsils out as a kid. The first trigger was on my ring finger and developed from keeping a tight ring on 24/7 and various gardening chores over the years. Went to PT where they created a four week treatment of wearing a splint continuously (comfortable and waterproof) and administering twelve courses of iontophoresis. Iontophoresis is where cortisone is pumped through the skin with a 9-volt battery on the site of the trigger to reduce the internal swelling. Sounds ridiculous, so if you google it you'll have a more credible explanation. Anyway, it worked like a charm on the ring finger. My second trigger was like yours, on the thumb, very painful and much worse than the first. This time had to use the big guns and went to an orthopedist, specializing in hand, arm, shoulder problems. He gave me a cortizone shot in the base of the thumb (ouch) which did not work at all. So I decided apprehensively on the surgery. What a huge success! It was only slightly painful afterwards but I did keep it wrapped and in a protective position as recommended and did not abuse it as I was determined to have it heal properly. They also gave me a little silicone patch to keep on the scar for better healing and less keloid scarring. Again, sounds ridiculous, but it worked. I still do a lot of gardening but have learned how to use the hands so as not to bring the triggering back on any fingers. No gripping of large heavy objects, no hanging buckets of water from the fingers, to pulling and yanking with the fingers. I also still needlepoint daily and, although stitching is repetitive, it is gentle. A few months ago we helped my mother and aunt move and I could tell that this activity over a long time could have produced more triggers on my fingers. So from one who goes to a doctor infrequently and reluctantly, I am completely happy with the results. As far as your surgery, here's wishing you good luck. Please give your thumb every opportunity to heal properly and please relearn some daily tasks to prevent more triggers. My best wishes....

Well, here's what I "think" happened... It actually wasn't a wood splinter, more like a little piece of possibly something from knocking against a shrub in my gardens. The weather was so great (yes, I was wearing a shirt! LOL) and since I only had a thin, long sleeved shirt on - I may have been poked (forgetting that) and something came through the thin shirt..I am only guessing. Of course, I shower everyday - but just never noticed it until I felt a pinch the next day. When I looked, it appeared as mentioned "pin sized" and it was dark in color (thinking it may have been dried blood) so that's why I got scared. It is good, though, I think to be extra concerned than to just blow off things thinking everything is okay... So, vala - you were right in taking him to the doctor... better safe than sorry.... Carrie

Hi figittts, I've answered in your other thread too. Just remember, if this med doesn't work for you, there are alot of other possibilities. don't give up! Would you say your health was good before this? Did you have any problems like this before perimenopause started? I began to have problems around l998. I was 48 then too! I think my immune system actually started not working so well, because a few years before that, I got a horrible case of influenza, pneumonia, ear infections. I also had 2 sinus surgeries during that time. It was like I was just falling apart! Then I developed IBS, GERD, horrible migraines, overwhelming fatigue, buzzing in my legs/intestines, chest. I had every test in the book and saw every specialty of doc there is. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Who knows what that really is..... I'm not saying these things to discourage you. I just want you to know that there are other women who have been affected exactly the way you are. I got an aura once while driving the car, and I had to take my headache med prescription to the drug store, and I couldn't even talk! So I understand what you're going through. (if that helps at all). So look up sites on dealing with migraines and see if there are things in your life you can modify, to keep them at a minimum. Hang in there with the migraine med, and if you can't get used to the side-effects, try another one. I took Maxalt........which I would only take as soon as my vision got weird. I would hate for you to be on a medicine every day for something you only need occasionally.

I've had some issues like that back when I used dryer sheets. They can cause a lot of problems. I have difficulty believing it's leftover bleach in the machine for one simple reason: If it's coming from the bleach dispenser, the water should be diluting it so it shouldn't be spots. If anything it should fairly evenly lighten all the clothes in there assuming it's a high enough concentration to overpower the water dilution. Somehow the bleach, if it's bleach, seems like it would be getting on there not only after the wash cycle but also after the rinse cycle and even after the spin it would seem for it to damage only in spots. I assume the clothes are left alone in the room and you're not there with it. I suspect some mischief or an accidental spill in or on the machine are far more believable cause potentials than a machine malfunction. or if you set the clothes on a counter or top of the machine that may have had a chemical spill where it could pick up the problem. Do you use liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets? There are some very real candidates for problems too. And the machines are there and used at your own risk so naturally the management is not going to reimburse you for the clothes. There's probably a disclaimer in your lease/rental agreement and possibly even a caution sign in the room or on the machines. FWIW, to properly use bleach you need to wait a while and let the detergent do its thing before adding bleach. That's the reason for a bleach dispenser. If you add bleach with the detergent, you kill any enzymes in the detergent and according to many it essentially kills the cleaning power of the detergent too so it's a waste of money to put the detergent in there at all in that case.