Thank you....I checked it out...my symptoms not not consistent with this... Could food allergies do this? Does mine sound typical of PN?

It is possible for some .... gluten intolerance would be the most likely culprit.

If allergic you should see improvements with using antihistamines like Benadryl, and H2 antagonists like Zantac.

Allergic reactions often have redness, tingling, and heat.
The only way to test this accurately is to go on an elimination diet.

The swelling in your abdomen, may be the fluid swelling up in the intestines. This messes up motility and results in gas because of the bacterial overgrowth that may occur. Absorption of nutrients may be affected because the intestinal walls are so swollen up food cannot pass thru the lining.
GI symptoms are often the first sign of HAE.
And not everyone gets the same symptoms, and this complicates diagnosis.

Some foods release histamine, but you can block that with antihistamines and H2 antagonists. You can see an allergist, who BTW will also possibly be certified to evaluate for HAE.

Epstein Barr is implicated in causing lymphoma. However, most likely if you had this, your arm(s) would be swollen too. Lymphoma can cause backup of fluid in the lymph system. This can occur in the abdomen or elsewhere. The fact that yours is only in the hands, doesn't suggest this.

You can try wearing the wrist splints for carpal tunnel anyway.
These keep the wrist in a position so that fluids can enter and leave the hands, properly and not build up. The carpal tunnel is very tight in some people. There are also compression gloves, made for those with arthritis:
http://www.lymphedemaproducts.com/sh...FYw-Mgodxy8AHw

Lastly there is TOS--thoracic outlet syndrome.
Here is our forum on that:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

The swelling in allergic conditions is mediated by histamine.

The swelling in HAE is mediated by too much bradykinin.

Since the causes are very different antihistamines do not work much for HAE.

Your description "a mind of its own" is more like HAE IMO.
In HAE bradykinin cannot be metabolized away properly and builds up. When a trigger presents it dumps into the system causing swelling.

There is a swelling potential also with Crohn's disease. This is gastrointestinal inflammation. Mostly this can be with the feet,
but any site can be affected.

PN can be primary or secondary. Secondary is caused by something else. Certain when things swell up the nerves get pressed on and signal that. Fix the secondary cause, and the nerve pain goes away.

Keeping a daily journal of what you eat and what your discomforts are may help you pinpoint what is doing what.

Thank you so much....any suggestions on how to track down an allergist that could look for this in me? Good it sounds not good. I suppose my allergy testing is a good start.

Google your location and the keywords "Allergist immunologist"
or call your local hospital for a referral.

Not all allergists are immunologists, but many are both.
I would get the compliment testing and inhibitor levels done.
Rule it out, if possible.

When you find a doctor, do a Google on them for reviews.
Sometimes that helps avoid frustrating types.