Have you ever had a physical reaction to wearing a watch?

[HomeOnTheRanch]

When I was pg with my oldest 14 years ago, my left side went numb. It started with my pinkie and over the course of a few days moved up my arm until my whole left side--leg, face, etc.--had a tingly feeling. My ob figured I had a pinched nerve or something and sent me to a neurologist. I had an MRI of my head, exam, etc. Nada. They didn't want to be too intrusive because I was pg.

I mentioned it to someone and they said they had a similar reaction to wearing their watch. I took off my watch and the symptoms disappeared. I figured it was a pregnancy fluke. I never got around to wearing a watch again.

Fast forward to now. I've been working out and wanted a heart rate monitor. DH got me one of those wristwatch types. I put it on and within a half hour I noticed the numbness in my pinkie. I don't wear it anymore. When I want my heart rate I take it out of my pocket and just lay it across my wrist to get the hr and then back in my pocket it goes. I tried putting it on my right wrist this morning, but within 5 minutes I noticed my right pinkie going numb.

I was talking to DH about it when I got home from the gym and he says that it kind of sounds like carpal tunnel, but it is weird that it only happens when I wear the watch.

Any ideas?

[Jenn in Mo]

No idea, but I know a friend of mine sees a Naturopath who recommends she not wear watches or even use an electric heating pad (hot water bottles only) because of the electricity messing up the body. I have another friend who can't wear watches or even jewelry because she gets sluggish and tired. I found out because I was asking her if she thought it was possible for my watch to be contributing to my tiredness. I lost it for a week and was suddenly not as tired. Still tired, but I did notice a difference. Quite possibly just a coincidence though.

[Deidre in GA]

i wonder if this could be a nickel/metallic allergy reaction. are you able to wear pierced earrings? although the watches i have are not problematic, i have had to get nickel free attachments for all my ear rings. my symptoms are infections in my lobes within a few hours of wearing the wrong kind. this allergy has only surfaced in the last ten years. i'm told once you have it, though, it never goes away.

[Jenn in Mo]

Wait - I do remember a House episode where a guy came in with "heart problems/numbness" and House just looked at him at told him his watch was too tight and then walked away. Any chance your wrist just needs lots of room?

[HomeOnTheRanch]

Thanks, Jenn and Deidre. I don't think it is an allergy since I don't have a rash. I've never worn any type of jewelry, so I don't know. The hr monitor is a "man sized" watch, so the back surface area where the metal contacts my skin is about 6x the surface area of the dainty watch I wore before.

I don't know. The symptoms disappear when the watch is gone, so I'll just not use it anymore...anyone want to buy a barely used heart rate monitor that may or may not cause extreme numbness? :p

[Audrey]

I tend to get a little rash from most watches, so I stopped wearing one ages ago.

[Lady Katherine]

Well, my dad and my son both cannot wear watches because of their nickel allergies, but that usually causes contact dermatitis / hives. I don't know if it could cause your symptoms.

[Amy in Orlando]

I've never had a reaction like yours but after my first son was born, I could no longer wear watches. Within 15 minutes of putting on a watch, they stop. It's weird.

[HomeOnTheRanch]

Oh, Amy! You just reminded me! I did try to wear my watch again after the pg, but the battery was dead. I got the battery replaced and it quit, so I figured the watch was bad. I put it away...and I haven't worn one since.

Oooooh...it is all starting to make sense. I wonder if it has anything to do with that UFO....just kidding.

[Amy in Orlando]

Oh, Amy! You just reminded me! I did try to wear my watch again after the pg, but the battery was dead. I got the battery replaced and it quit, so I figured the watch was bad. I put it away...and I haven't worn one since.

Oooooh...it is all starting to make sense. I wonder if it has anything to do with that UFO....just kidding.

LOL :eek: You saw it too? :eek:

[HomeOnTheRanch]

Rofl!

[Holly IN]

:( I do. I haven't worn a watch for about a year. I am going to try again but with nail polish on the metal parts that touches my arm. I broke out in hives big time with severe itching. Somebody just told me recently to try clear nail polish on the parts that will be touching my arm. I can't even wear leather bands either.

Holly