[kdlynn (OP)]

sometimes when i first wake up my hands are swollen for a few hours. i don't lay on my hands or my arms while i sleep. this has happened for as long as i can remember. does this happen to anyone else? what causes it?

[_Stefan_]

Which reminds me... when I wake up my hands and feet have a slightly sticky, (extremely slightly) itchy, uncomfortable sensation. But there's nothing I can think of that would cause it. (And for those of you with dirty minds, it's not bodily fluids of that type either).
Any ideas what causes it?

[paul.fr]

sometimes when i first wake up my hands are swollen for a few hours. i don't lay on my hands or my arms while i sleep. this has happened for as long as i can remember. does this happen to anyone else? what causes it?

Firstly, i would not accept a medical diagnosis from an internet forum. Even if it came from someone as knowlegable and trained as our very own Dr Chris. I would seek proper medical advice from your own doctor, anyone can give a multitue of ailments from a given sympton but only your doctor knows you, your history and such matters.

If you have had this problem for such a long time, i would definately be seeking medical advice.

Which reminds me... when I wake up my hands and feet have a slightly sticky, (extremely slightly) itchy, uncomfortable sensation. But there's nothing I can think of that would cause it. (And for those of you with dirty minds, it's not bodily fluids of that type either).
Any ideas what causes it?

again Stefan, i would refer you to the answer i have given above. although, out of curiosity, i would ask if you sleep under a duvet or sheets? seeing as you live in Australia, sleeping under sheets is far healthier than a duvet.

[iko]

Firstly, i would not accept a medical diagnosis from an internet forum. Even if it came from someone as knowlegable and trained as our very own Dr Chris. I would seek proper medical advice from your own doctor, anyone can give a multitue of ailments from a given sympton but only your doctor knows you, your history and such matters.

If you have had this problem for such a long time, i would definately be seeking medical advice.

I'd like to agree 100% with you, paul.fr.
But the real world is sometime different and things happen in an unpredictable fashion.  Shortly, I cannot exclude that an Internet diagnosis made by Chris someday, somehow will save one or two lives.
Times are changing my friend.
Take care

ikod

P.S.
I know the rules, but I also know that in particular emergency cases where distance is a problem, good doctors can make proper diagnoses and suggest treatments by phone.
No difference with this new way to communicate.
Internet is actually much, much better!

[iko]

I forgot to mention an example of telephone
diagnosis posted some days ago (as a joke!):   []

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=7385.0

[_Stefan_]

I sleep under a duvet. It's too cold for sheets, especially in winter.

[paul.fr]

I'd like to agree 100% with you, paul.fr.

that is the first sign of madness!

But the real world is sometime different and things happen in an unpredictable fashion.  Shortly, I cannot exclude that an Internet diagnosis made by Chris someday, somehow will save one or two lives.
Times are changing my friend.
Take care

ikod

P.S.
I know the rules, but I also know that in particular emergency cases where distance is a problem, good doctors can make proper diagnoses and suggest treatments by phone.
No difference with this new way to communicate.
Internet it's actually much, much better!

i agree that in emergencies, medical advice over the phone, etc can be a life saver. but, the people talking to you are trained nurses or doctors.

[chris]

Lots of people do find themselves slightly puffier in the morning, especially women in the pre-menstrual phase. It's probably because when we are active during the daytime muscle movements repeatedly squash lymphatic vessels and veins, which contain valves, and this helps to push the body fluids back out of the tissue towards the heart. This is known as the muscle pump or "vis a tergo" (force from behind).

But when we go to bed the lack of the muscle pump means that the fluid in the lymphatics can stagnate. Lymphatics are important because they skim off and return to the circulation the tissue fluid filtered off from capillaries but not reasorbed into veins. The accumulation of this fluid leads to pooling of more tissue fluid in the subcutaneous tissue, producing mild swelling.

This is also known as lymphoedema, and it's the reason that your feet swell up on an aeroplane. Immobility leads to fluid pooling in the lower limbs.

It can also be triggered by certain pathological conditions including low protein (known as albumin) in the blood; this can be caused by liver diseases, malnutrition and protein-losing intestinal or kidney problems (e.g. nephrotic syndrome). Lymphoedema can also occur when lymphatic vessels become blocked up by parasites (as in elephantiasis), malignancy (such as breast cancer which can cause arm swelling on the affected side), or fibrous tissue (caused by radiotherapy or surgery). However, the fact that in your case it's been going on for a long time, it's mild and self-limiting is very reassuring that there's probably nothing untoward happening.

Chris

[kdlynn (OP)]

i just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas. it's not a huge problem i've just been curious about it. i usually try to guage whether or not things are worth asking my doctor about before i actually do

[Karen W.]

Which reminds me... when I wake up my hands and feet have a slightly sticky, (extremely slightly) itchy, uncomfortable sensation. But there's nothing I can think of that would cause it. (And for those of you with dirty minds, it's not bodily fluids of that type either).
Any ideas what causes it?

Stefan I am no Doctor but that happens to my adult son also and it has since he was born. He sweats a lot during sleep mostly his hands and feet occasionally his neck area, but when he wakes he has usually kicked out from the covers and is dry, but he has a sticky feel about his hands and feet.


Funny thing this also happened with my mom she smoked a lot and when she stopped smoking, she experienced this. We always put it off as to being the nicotene leaving her body. As if she was surrounded by people smoking again, even though she had quit long since, for several days after exposure this would happen again, and then it would stop. until the next time. That is just been our experience with it not a professional opinion!

[Karen W.]

I forgot to mention an example of telephone
diagnosis posted some days ago (as a joke!):   []

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=7385.0

I just rechecked that thread and had not known I was right! LOL I just posted again.LOL Thanks IKO! I do know kids are always putting things in there mouth..

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Maybe there is something wrong with sleeping on a flat bed. Try inclined bed therapy, raising head of bed by 6 inches or fifteen cm's and see what happens the very next morning, and please do come back and tell us what happens.

Andrew

[pingu]

You know what House would say?  LOL.. does anyone actually watch House.. well he would suggest Lupus because he always suggests Lupus.  Of course for him it never actually is although Lupus does in fact cause swollen fingers in the morning although they are usually stiff and slightly painful at the same time.

[kdlynn (OP)]

i love house!

[Andrew K Fletcher]

 People wake up with puffy eyes / face and swollen limbs most mornings. Astronauts  get the same problems but much worse and don’t have to go to sleep to achieve it. NASA use flat bedrest to cause the same problems, relating it to microgravity conditions in space.

Inclined bed rest on the other hand enables the user to wake up without swollen feet, hands, or puffy eyes and face. However, if an ongoing problem with oedema or edema (fluid retention) an initial shift of fluids towards the feet and hands will occur when Inclined bed therapy is used. This usually resolves over 4 weeks as more fluids are drawn from the surrounding tissue into the veins due to improved tension in the venous return presented by a noticeable reduction in varicose veins.

Andrew

[iko]

You know what House would say?  LOL.. does anyone actually watch House.. well he would suggest Lupus because he always suggests Lupus.  Of course for him it never actually is although Lupus does in fact cause swollen fingers in the morning although they are usually stiff and slightly painful at the same time.

...we DO need some Dr. House right now!