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?

Am waiting to have bloods done, BP a bit high.
A&E not too busy but as an introvert this is painful...instead of the chatters chatting to their companion they want to talk to other patients!

How are you OP?

Finally home, battery died in there!
So.... had bloods and they came back fine. They did an x-ray in case it was an arthritic issue and that came back fine. Two doctors later and I need to see a hand specialist which is actually covered under plastic surgery. So he comes and it's still a mystery but seems to think it's connected to the tiny sore on the base of my index finger. Squeezes it hard and takes swabs. In the meantime, he says, I'll be in overnight for some strong antibiotics IV with exploratory surgery in the morning. Told him the very popular MN phrase "sorry, that doesn't work for me" (it genuinely doesn't as am a single parent and one of the kids still feeds to sleep). We compromise on strong antibiotic injection and tablets and I'll go back to see him 10 on Monday. Fingers crossed it goes down but it's worked it's way up my forearm now!

That looks awful. I hope you will be ok over the weekend.

You poor person! How awful. I hope you get some answers on Monday.

I think you’re completely mad not to accept the IV ABX to be honest. Is there really no one in the world who can have your kids for a night? You’re continuing to deteriorate.

i wouldn't leave that until Monday.
i am surprised you didn't stay in to get it seen properly in surgery.
i understand childcare is a problem, but if you had collapsed,
what i mean is, are you alone with children, no one to keep an eye on you.
please try to go back to hosp tomorrow early.
there must be someone you can leave the children with.
who had them when you went today.
what about their father/'s family.
please don't neglect this situation.
good luck.

@Alternista

I think you’re completely mad not to accept the IV ABX to be honest. Is there really no one in the world who can have your kids for a night? You’re continuing to deteriorate.

i agree. i think your situation is not safe, so it;s not safe for the children either. they need to be with someone else, and you need hosp treatment. maybe the condition is making you more ill than you realise, and has impaired your judgment. or maybe you've never seen anything like this in anyone else; i have, and it can really gallop to seriousness. i don't want to alarm you, but i very strongly urge you to go back to hosp.

I'm sure they would accommodate your BF baby and if I were your friend I would absolutely have your kids so you could get that treated Op, it looks nasty.

OP please try and arrange some childcare, maybe a neighbour or friend? Your kids need you to be healthy to look after them and you need to prioritise your well being too. I echo the above posters' sentiments come if I was your friend I'd have your kids in a heartbeat so you could be treated properly x

There must be someone who can supervise DD while you get treated, if it gets any worse you may end up even more incapacitated further down the line, better to get yourself looked after now.

If its spread to your arm then I'd give 111 a ring for advice. I wouldn't leave it. Even if they just say wait for the antibiotics to kick in then at least you'll know.

Where are you based OP? Can any one help? Can you at least call someone , an emergency childcare Nanny? This could be life threatening

That looks like you need to have the IV drip & it could be dangerous. I hope you're ok overnight.

Utter madness , they don’t ask you to stay in for no reason , I hope the treatment you have accepted helps but you really should expediate finding someone to have your children and get it sorted .

How old is your youngest?

I think you are crackers to go home with that. Have you seriously got no one at all who can help?

Hope you are okay OP.

A lot of posters seem to not understand what it's truly like to be a full-time single mother with a child that breastfeeds overnight.
My 3yo still does and would have done the same in your position.

How is it today?

I apologise if I was harsh, I hope you're okay op, I speak from a place of caring, not to be hurtful.

@user77hjjy Thank you, you get it! It's not that easy to just get someone else to do childcare. I don't just have the one child either... Daytime is fine for childcare but overnights are definitely not.

I did say I would return first thing this morning if absolutely necessary and he did say I would be on the emergency surgery list so could be bumped as it's the weekend, whereas weekday surgery is more structured. Hence the return tomorrow morning, youngest is in nursery and the others are at school so I have a full day where I don't need to worry about them. If there is a need for surgery I have a provisional slot booked.

It's not worse this morning, if anything it's slightly better - I can bend my fingers again. Still swollen though but will crack on with the co-amoxiclav today.
I'm not allowed to get it soaked so if anyone has any idea how to get the iodine off it would be much appreciated

Glad it’s looking better . 💐

I think the reason people are asking if you're definitely sure about childcare is because it would be significantly worse if the decision was taken out of your hands.

I hope it improves today.

Alcohol gel on some cotton wool should remove the iodine stain. Hope things keep improving.

Hope it clears up soon, you can just wipe the iodine off with cotton wool and soap but I probably wouldnt rub it just at the moment until its cleared up and if you do need surgery they will just use iodine again.