need positive vibes- might need to go to ER

pamela

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Starting Sun nite, I started experiencing soreness in my left wrist and the pain gradually got worse. At first, I thought it was just a flareup of CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) since I already have that in my right hand (had 2 surgeries on that hand) so I wore a brace for the last day but it's not helping. In fact, the brace makes it hurt more. Now I don't think it's CTS- it's different than what I experienced with CTS..

As of now, I can't use my left hand much and I can't touch it much. Part of my wrist is swollen and a bit red. The veins are standing out more and I have tinglingness, burning and throbbing in hand all the time. The pain now shoots from wrist to tips of fingers AND to my elbows. Now typing with right hand only so its frustrating for me at work and in communicating (I use sign language in communicating).
I don't recall causing any injury to my hand, getting bitten by a bug/spider so I have no idea what is causing this.

I HATE going to drs or ER-ALWAYS get bad news such as having to do surgeries...
I just made an appt to see a dr next wed about this but 2 co workers doesn't think I should wait that long and to go to ER. I am going to wait overnight and see how it feels...

PLEASE SEND ME POSITIVE VIBES that my hand will stop hurting and go back to normal overnight so I don't have to go to ER...
 

ash_bct

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Oh no
LOTS of vibes coming your way!

BUT please if it continues to get worse before tomorrow go to the ER!!
 

catherine

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You better go to the ER NOW!!!!!!

It sounds like a blood clot to me from what you described. I had one 2 years ago when I was 26, it can strike anyone!!!!!

DON'T PLAY AROUND WITH THIS!!! Now get up and GO!!!!!!
 

catherine

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Originally Posted by Pamela

:
I HATE going to drs or ER-ALWAYS get bad news such as having to do surgeries...
I just made an appt to see a dr next wed about this but 2 co workers doesn't think I should wait that long and to go to ER. I am going to wait overnight and see how it feels...

:
I hate going to DRs. too but it's better than a trip to the morgue! I don't mean to scare you, I'm just worried. When I had my clot, I let it go thinking I had pulled a muscle. By the time I finally went to the ER, they told me had I stalled 1 more day or even bumped that area I would have been dead.

I'm sending you good vibes, but please GO!
 

coolcat

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I´m so sorry to heard that Pamela...
......
my best wishes to you for a soon recovery..


Listen to Ashley please...
I know is difficult to go with Doctors but It´s better to put us in hands of someone who know about our sake...( I mean Doctors of ER...)

I´ll make a prayer for you right now...
 

valanhb

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Oh gosh Pamela!! Sending lots of good vibes your way!

But PLEASE promise us that you will go STRAIGHT AWAY if it gets even the slightest bit worse, or doesn't improve by morning.
 

talon

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Originally Posted by catherine

You better go to the ER NOW!!!!!!

It sounds like a blood clot to me from what you described. I had one 2 years ago when I was 26, it can strike anyone!!!!!

DON'T PLAY AROUND WITH THIS!!! Now get up and GO!!!!!!
Clot was the first thing that came to my mind too.

I'll keep postive vibes coming your way!
 

pat

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You bet I'm sending positive vibes your way, but I agree...waiting until tomorrow morning might be a huge mistake. Please go now.
 
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pamela

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Originally Posted by catherine

You better go to the ER NOW!!!!!!

It sounds like a blood clot to me from what you described. I had one 2 years ago when I was 26, it can strike anyone!!!!!

DON'T PLAY AROUND WITH THIS!!! Now get up and GO!!!!!!
I really appreciate your concern regarding this. I have a few questions- after you mentioned blood clot, I did some research and am not sure if I have this. Where did you have a blood clot? Was it in a leg because from what I've read, it is mostly in legs..

I also had a friend check my hands to see if the "hurt" hand was cooler compared to the normal hand since that's 1 of the symptoms for a blood clot- difference in temperature and both hands are similar in temperature... So I am not meeting all the criterias for the blood clot as far as I can see.. But again, I'm not a doctor.. I will call a nurse just to be safe right now and see what she/he says.

The pain is not EXTREME-it's more of a discomfort (dull throbbing) if I don't use my hand. If I use my hand then the pain is stronger and spreads out. The redness is not DARK- it's more of a pink/red coloring.. The swelling is not BIG- you can see if you look closely so I don't think the swelling is BAD..

I also forgot to mention in my original post that the pain is a lot worse in the morning after I wake up soooo that won't fit in the criteria for blood clots right?

I PROMISE all of you- I will go to ER tonight IF my hand gets worse at all.

I really appreciate all ur concerns. Pls continue to send me positive vibes tonight. I am going to go call a nurse and see what they have to say then hopefully lay down and a cold compress on my hand.

Will let u guys know of any updates..
 

kittylover4ever

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Ok Pamela..I'm with every one else, and you won't find a bigger chicken of doctors on this board. Please go now and have it checked out. It is so much better to be safe than sorry...........Let' us know what they say!
 
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pamela

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THIS SUCKS!


I have been online at blue health connection with a nurse trying to type using 1 hand and answering his questions for about 20 min to determine whether I should go to the ER or not and just got disconnected!


This is ONE OF THE RARE TIMES I ENVY
HEARING people- how easy just to pick up a phone, press some buttons then talk while I have to go thru the hassle of getting online, call relay, wait a while for the operator to be available, interprete for me then type my responses back with a hurt hand! JEEZ.....................

I don't feel like calling the nurse back and going thru this again- it hurts to type!
It is tolerable if I don't use my hand...

I think I'll just forget about calling the nurse and just REST my hand and see if it improves. If it doesn't improve in an hour, I guess I'll go to the ER.

Another thing I HATE about going to the ER is the communication issue- having to read lips, guessing what the nurse/doc says or asking them to write then trying to figure out what the heck they wrote. I have asked for an interpreter in the past and they made me wait longer to be helped because they were waiting for the interpreter to show up!

Sorry about all the whining. I'll shut up now and try to rest.
 

catherine

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Originally Posted by Pamela

I really appreciate your concern regarding this. I have a few questions- after you mentioned blood clot, I did some research and am not sure if I have this. Where did you have a blood clot? Was it in a leg because from what I've read, it is mostly in legs..

I also had a friend check my hands to see if the "hurt" hand was cooler compared to the normal hand since that's 1 of the symptoms for a blood clot- difference in temperature and both hands are similar in temperature... So I am not meeting all the criterias for the blood clot as far as I can see.. But again, I'm not a doctor.. I will call a nurse just to be safe right now and see what she/he says.

The pain is not EXTREME-it's more of a discomfort (dull throbbing) if I don't use my hand. If I use my hand then the pain is stronger and spreads out. The redness is not DARK- it's more of a pink/red coloring.. The swelling is not BIG- you can see if you look closely so I don't think the swelling is BAD..

I also forgot to mention in my original post that the pain is a lot worse in the morning after I wake up soooo that won't fit in the criteria for blood clots right?

I PROMISE all of you- I will go to ER tonight IF my hand gets worse at all.

I really appreciate all ur concerns. Pls continue to send me positive vibes tonight. I am going to go call a nurse and see what they have to say then hopefully lay down and a cold compress on my hand.

Will let u guys know of any updates..
Yes, I know that there is not much info on the net about clots being in any part of the body other than the legs.

Mine was in the arm. Which is why I thought I had a sore muscle. It was swollen and tender and a pinkish color. Mine would throb in the morning like you described (I think from the circulation being even worse while your at rest) and during the day it was a constant annoying pain. Nothing that made me run for the asprin, just a dull throb. If I would write or type, it would tingle and eventually go numb. I couldn't feel a difference in temp in that area until the day I finally went to the ER. By the time I went, the clot was in the ENTIRE main artery from my elbow to my shoulder! One doctor said that if it didn't start to dissolve soon he wanted to amputate!!! I quickly got another doc and I've been fine. My clot took 8 months to dissolve......most take 3 months. I've been on blood thinners since and have been fine.

I really think you should go. If it is a clot and you bump it, it could break off and go straight to your lungs causing a pulmenary ambulisim (sp?) which makes your survival rate very poor. It can also break away without being bumped. There is a very simple test that they do at the hospital to find out if it is one. All they will do is take some blood and send it up to the lab.....don't let them take the blood from the arm that is injured. It could cause it to break away if it is a clot. If it comes back positive, they'll admit you (more than likely) and put you on a heprin drip as well as coumain orally.

It's a very serious situation. please let us know what happens. If you have any more questions or if I have confussed you, please PM me.

Take care!
 

catherine

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Where are you Pam? What have you decided? Are you ok?

Pop in and let us know.......I know it hurts to type so just put a post saying either "ok", "going to ER" or "going to doc tomorrow"........anything!
 

beckiboo

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Sounds like Catherine knows what she is talking about! No way would a nurse "talk" to you for 20 min, to say don't come in!

As for communication, can you take someone with you to interpret for you? If not, just go on in, and take a little notebook. Best of luck to you, and I hope it is nothing major!
 
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pamela

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Sorry I didn't post earlier. Took some pain medience and accidently fell asleep on the couch. Just woke up now.

I'm going to the Er now. It's worse.
 

kittylover4ever

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Pamela, your doing the right thing. I know the ER is a scary place, but your doing the right thing! We are all here for you. Please let us know when you can how you are!
 
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