Monday, June 20, 2011

I Need Your Help, Dr. Internet Friends

Because I'm sick of going to the doctor for this, that and the other, I'll just ask you: What does it mean that my hands keep going numb at night? 

I wake up 3 - 4 times each nights and both hands are numb.  It only takes a minute to get feeling back and I go back to sleep but I can't figure this one out.  At first I thought I was just sleeping on them or something but it doesn't matter where my arms are - my hands continue to go numb.  It's been going on for a few weeks.

I did ask my BFF Google and it tells me it could be a variety of things but that, most importantly, I need to see my doctor. 

Hogwash.  My doctor is sick of seeing me and my never-ending string of "stomach episodes" lately and I hereby vow to go at least one full month before seeing my doctor again.  Which, btw, tmi, it cost me close to a grand to waltz into the hospital, poop in a bowl and waltz back out and then find out nothing's wrong.  W. T. F.

So here's where you come in, friends.

Any of you have this problem?  Heard of this problem?  Have any guesses?  Are you good at the Googles, interwebs and tubes and can you find an answer? 

Did you stay at a Holiday Inn last night and now you're a doctor? 

Enlighten me.

9 comments:

Cindy said...

You could write to Dr. Gott in the Lincoln paper. Of course he's going to tell you to diagnose it correctly you should really see your doctor. :o)

Mike said...

Yup - I get this too on occasion. In my case, it has to do with decreased circulation as a result of weight gain and sleeping almost exclusively on my back (because I wear a CPAP mask). Again, I can only speak from my own experience, but the principal remedy in my case is losing weight.

Yo-yo Mama said...

The first time I had it, it was pregnancy related.

The second time was a result of catching fifths disease from my daughter.

Since I'm confident it's neither of those for you, then I'm going to diagnose you like your family practitioner: you are sleeping on your arms/hands wrong. Try wearing a couple of wrist braces to keep from pinching the nerves that are putting your hands to sleep.

I will guarantee you that they will test you for carpal tunnel and lady, that shit ain't fun.

Anonymous said...

Been there. Paid jillions in medical tests. Don't know much more. Stress can be a problem.

amy said...

Carpal tunnel syndrome

wrist braces can work to control the symptoms - wear them tight!

surgery is an option if it is greatly interfering with your life

virg_nelson said...

Could be the pinching of nerves that everyone else mentioned. The spine is a tricky thing and it isn't hard to pinch a nerve in your neck that makes your hands feel numb or 'go to sleep.'
Another possible cause is circulation issues. I have Raynaud's disease, which causes poor circulation. Other symptoms are that when it is cold, your extremities are even more susceptible to it, even turning blue and hurting when everyone else is comfy in the AC.
Of course, I am not a doctor. I just play one on TV. :D

Steph said...

Well I had it the first,time I was pregnant, My doctor called it pregnancy induced carpal tunnel. Since your not pregnant ya got me!

a. peg said...

sounds like carpal tunnel to me mine do that when i have worked on some craft project and braces at night might help you

Anonymous said...

The same thing happened to me when I started taking Glipizide for type 2 diabetes. My doctor said he had never heard of Glipizide causing such a symptom but when I stopped taking Glipizide, it went away.