Way OT let me pick your medical brains

Okay, so I woke up this morning with my right hand soooooooo swollen.  I cannot see my knuckles, I can't close my hand to make a fist, and you cannot see any of the bones in my hand...I have NEVER seen anything like this.  It looks like I have a mickey mouse hand on one hand...lol  

Anyone out there have any suggestions as to what this might be?  I have been in the medical field for over 20 years and I have NO clue.  First thought was lymph edema...but that is usually calves and upper extremities not hands...so I dunno.  

I will go to the doc if it does not go down on its own by tomorrow, but am just wanting an arm chair quarterback diagnosis from one of you :)

luv ya all!

Laura 

Maybe it's arthritis? You may have irritated a joint or something and it's responding that way. It happens to me occasionally.

Carrie

Do you have arthristis? Inflammed arthristis in the hands/fingers can cause a tightness, redness, and/or swelling.

Did anything bite you? Do you notice any bite?

Edema can be in arms or legs/feet.

Traci
 

Well that is scary! 

has it gone down any?  I was thinking bug bite...ouch!

I'm thinking bug, allergy? I totally sleep on my right side ALL the time and sometimes I wake up and my right hand is really swollen. Something could have got pinched off wrong or something is what I usually think. During the day it goes back to normal. It happened a LOT more when I was bigger though. Could you have injured it? Infection? Any cuts?

Those are my wonderful non-medical 2 cents worth.....LOL I hope it's just a case of nuttin' at any rate! A fluke of nature......lol (sometimes I think I am a fluke of nature......LOL)

Is there any discoloration to the swelling?

Get a sharpie or a pen and mark the line where the swelling ends.  If the swelling continues to move past that line, say in a few hours, you NEED to be seen.

 Thanks ladies for all of your suggestions...I am going to vote for the less dramatic I slept on it and cutt off my own circulation...lol  However, the arthritis thing does intrigue me, as I did have an ANA and sed rate come back elevated this last year and they were questioning either rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.  That issue has gotten pushed to the VERY VERY back burner because of everything else that happened, so maybe it is rearing its ugly head since the other things are settling down.  I am going to lie in bed with my arm propped up on pillows and see if it goes away (great excuse to lie in bed and it is a sucky weather day out here..it is 8:30 and still dark cuz of all of the clouds) so a great day to be in bed until noon :) 

I will keep you all posted.  My feeling is, its a long ways from my heart, so I should be okay...lmao  If it doesn't go down or gets worse, I will go to the doc!

Thanks again for all of your wonderful diagnoses :)  I will list them and take them to the doc with me if I end up going and watch him roll his eyes and sigh...hahahaha 

hugs to all!

lAURA

You got some great answers already. I was going to say allergic reaction - that has happened to me twice - first time I got bit by a spider while I slept (CREEPY!) second time was cat scratch fever and ended up in the ER - fun!

Feel better and keep us posted!

Liz

how is it now?

 Hi Lexa...actually, it has gone down some.  Not completely gone, but doing better!  My hope was a strange fluke of sleeping on it and cutting off the circulation!  As long as it doesn't get worse and there is no pain i will ride it out.  If it gets worse or pain starts coming..into the doc I will go!

Thanks for you concern..you guys Rock!

Laura