Years ago I had 42s on my road bike, and it was a big adjustment, and a rather long one, to my Cannondale that came with 38s like yours. But actually I've grown to like it. I ride on the hoods now - which gives me a lot more control than riding with my hands on the corners of the bars as I tended to do with the wider bars.

The weight that's placed on my hands, goes on the meat and webbing of my thumbs. My wrists are actually outboard of the levers, and my palms face in - as though I'm holding a box between my hands. So my wrists are straight but my elbows are bent, and my hands are always in position to shift or brake when needed.

You've had that bike for a while now, yes? Have you experimented with different stems? Do you feel like you've given the bars enough of a chance to be sure?