What's wrong with my hand?!?

[CMSdividend]

Finger started swelling this morning, and is itching because it is swelling, like when skin stretches in pregnancy.
Doesn't feel too hot but am struggling to bed finger now and between 3 ish and 5.30 it spread to my hand. I drew a line and went to see the pharmacist who said it was very strange and just to take piriton and rub some hydrocortisone on it. How long do you think it'll be until I see an improvement? Anyone got an experience of this?

I’d want that checked out to be honest. Could be anything from a weird blood clot to a reaction to an insect bite. I think you need to go to urgent care if you have one local to you or ring 111.

For pity's sake don't leave a ring on a swelling hand. Get it off whilst you still can,

Have you banged it on something, been gardening and got bitten, or suffer with arthritis. If its spreading and is painful I would ask for a doctor to look at it, call 111 or go to a local walk in. It looks very puffy. I would remove your ring just in case it spreads and you cant get it off. At the bottom of your finger are there 2 small marks, like puncture bites.

I’d take the nail polish off too.
Have you had a manicure ?

Have you been bitten?

What's that red dot on your knuckle of the swollen finger?

Please call 111 that really should be checked

Yes, ring is coming off.
The dot on my knuckle is a spot that's been there a while. I think it's some form of dermatitis (the spot). The swelling seems to make it appear worse.
I don't recall being bitten but there is a small bump that I've managed to get some liquid out of at the base of my finger. That didn't appear until halfway through the day though.
I said to the pharmacist should I worry. I'm home alone tonight with a toddler and will be for the rest of the weekend so can't just whip her to out of hours. She just said to try the piriton and see what happens.

That does seem very swollen, I'd take the ring off and get it looked at, hope you're ok!

If it doesn’t come down with piriton you need to get seen I think .

I get similar swelling from stings, and Puriton definitely alleviates it.

• piriton

Do you have tenderness along the finger on the palm side of your finger? When you try to bend your finger is it very painful? Or when you straighten that finger is it painful?

Looks like my hand after a spider bite and a horse fly bite as both reacted similarly. Itchy like crazy with the spider bite, burning sensation with the horsefly bite, both were better with antihistamines.

You can call 111 and if a doctor rings back on your mobile you can show them your hand. When did you take the portion, has it made any difference, it looks sore.

Piriton not portion

@LeroyJenkinssss Both, hurts to bend and straighten it, especially in the knuckle.
I'll take another dose of piriton at 10, and rub on some more cream then too.
Toying with the idea of wasting a bag of frozen veg and shoving my hand in to see if that helps too!

I wouldnt put your hand into a bag of frozen veg, you will get ice burn. If anyone suggests cooling it them you wrap a bag of frozen stuff in a tea towel and put that on your hand.

It does sound & look like that you may need antibiotics.

It does hurt when you have swelling like that.
Sympathies

Honestly I know it’s a faff with the little one but you should get that checked out. It’s hard over the internet to get a gauge and it could just be an allergic reaction but I’d at the very least want baseline bloods and would probably start antibiotics.

If you are unwilling to go in (and I think you should) then very high hand elevation and if the pain or swelling gets worse you should definitely go in. Are there any friends or family that you could tee up to come and sit in your house if you do need to? That would be much easier to arrange now rather than dragging toddler out of bed.

I also have a friends who started with that kind of thing and had cellulitis. Get it checked.

Sensible advice from the pharmacist. Have you taken the antihistamine yet? If worsening despite antihistamine 111 will see you, but looks like a localised allergic reaction at the moment. Agree with removing the ring!

2 more doses of piriton and hydrocortisone and I now have a whole swollen hand. No tracing though. Will give it a bit to see if it goes down at all then call 111