It sounds like your issue is more with the position of your handlebars, not the position of the shifters on the handlebar (are you comfortable in the drops?- moving the shifters around usually makes either the hoods or the drops feel better, but might make the other feel worse). A shorter stem with a steeper angle (to raise the handlebars) might be the best thing (more narrow handlebars might help too, but only if the ones you've got are too wide).
Hope that helps