Hi everyone,
My 10yo son's hands have started to go really strange in the water. After a few minutes the palms puff up and they become quite swollen looking and really wrinkled. The skin also starts peeling particularly around the tops of his fingers.
EVERYTHING I read online says its a symptom of Cystic Fibrosis. We are in the process of waiting for blood tests to come back. Im so stressed. Hes been so healthy. Hardly ever on antibiotics, really sporty, no chest infections. Hes a bit skinny for his age but then all his cousins were like that so we werent worried. Until now and Im absolutely terrified the doctor is going to phone me with positive results!
I have actually spoken to another lady about this and her child was diagnosed by this hand issue alone at around 10 years as well. God who would have thought!??
Im beside myself. Nothing CF on either side of the family but of course I now realise that we could both be carriers without knowing so therefore our kids could get it. Now I have my two DDs to worry about as well as they really are phlemgy and pneumonia prone! Every time someone coughs I now spin out :(
So my question is ..... anyone out there whose hands do this or their childrens hands do this and definitely dont have CF. Or any CFers that can offer any advice about this?
I wish they would hurry up with the bloods .... but then I dont want to hear they are positive :(
No - he doesnt taste salty either
Thanks
Since that sounds like what every human's hands do in water, are you suggesting that it's more than the norm?
Nothing you have listed sounds like Cystic Fibrosis! Nothing! What it sounds like is pruning, which happens to everyone in water.
Chill
From someone who does have Cystic Fibrosis in our family..this does not sound like CF at all. Symptoms of CF - excessive coughing, usually having a very small build, trouble gaining weight, frequent bowel movements with very loose stools, sometimes sweaty and if you kiss their forehead they "taste" salty, sometimes their fingers are "clubbed".
The test for CF is a very simple sweat test. It does not hurt. I have never heard of anyone being tested by blood work.
PM me if you have any questions about CF and I'll try to answer.
Sounds like the norm for everyone, only your son has it happen more rapidly than those of us who may take 30 mins in the pool before getting wrinkly/pruny?? I'd say that it is lack of hydration. On a hot day when I don't drink enough water, my fingertips will get wrinkly. For me (with no CF, pretty healthy), I consider it my reminder to have a glass of water. So my question/suggestion to you would be - is he getting enough water daily? Make sure he does - not juice, not gatorade, but good ol water.
My sister's hands do not puff up, but they get weird when wet and she often has sweaty hands. We think she has exceptionally thin skin. Other than a few allergies, she's a healthy person. Hope the same for your kid.
