Any doctors about? Watching bruises appear 😱

[TheSongOfTheSea]

Hey MN,

Trying to decide whether I'd be being a drama llama if I went to the doctors with my symptoms. I feel guilty about taking up any doctor's time at the minute, but I'm a bit weirded out by my symptoms.

Basically, on Sunday, I felt a 'ping' on the palm of my hand. I looked down and watched a bruise form out of nowhere on my palm. Later that evening, the same thing happened but on the fleshy, lower part of my thumb.

Since then, my arm has felt really pressurey and a bit sore.

Anybody had this, or any doctors know what it could be?

I'm feeling a bit woozy and tired too, if that makes any difference.

What do they look like?

Have you been jabbed for covid?

I get this too. I can never seem to explain it to anyone! They always say that I must have bumped myself but I feel it happening, exactly like you said, with a sort of pop! Especially in my hands or my lower legs.

That doesn't sound right. I would definitely call the doctor.

yep, I get it. I think mine is to do with hypermobility syndrome, but never got to the bottom of it. I have dodgy connective tissue. used to be mainly my middle finger, which was, erm, interesting when it would not bend. happens in the palm of my hand now, mostly. I put pressure on to stop the swelling getting too large.

it is worth going to the GP though as they do tests. Clotting is one. I suspsect that there will be more tests now.

Sounds like burst blood vessels. I get them relatively frequently in my fingers. Feels like a ping, or an elastic band pinging against it, then the bruise appears. Apparently not uncommon, but never had them on my palm, always fingers.

I think I have had this before a couple of times but on my thumb, I looked it up and thought it was a blood clot happening?

This was the first one forming. It got bigger and more purple but its hard to get a good picture because the light bounces off my hand

They just look like bruises and they hurt like bruises do, but nothing happened to make them appear.

My arm and wrist feel a bit like I've got a pressure cuff on.

Have a look at Achenbach’s syndrome and see if it sounds similar - in which case, nothing to worry about, but no harm in a call to GP.

If this is a new symptom and it’s persisting I would call your gp and book an appointment in tomorrow. It’s not usual for something like this to just happen. It might well be nothing, but I would ask a person that you actually know is a doctor before you discount something like this.

@NoMoreHGTVPlease

I had the Pfizer jab about two weeks ago. I've largely ignored the horror stories so I don't know whether it's feasible that it's an after effect from that?

I don't even know which causes the rare cases of clotting, or whether it's all of them. Ignorance is bliss

Yeah @ChessIsASport it feels like being stung or bitten, but I've watched it happen and nothing was happening. It's so frickin weird!

Someone else had a thread about similar: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/4229410-random-finger-bruise?msgid=106834323

Do you use a steroid inhaler?

Ido, and (to quote Ross in Friends) I bruise like a peach.

I'm currently sporting one one in my right arm and about three on my legs. I have no idea where/ how I got them.

This is normal for me, so I don't worry. If bruising (and I have never bruised on my palms, by the way) is not normal for you, see your gp asap

I think you should speak to your GP tomorrow

@Thehawki

Thank you, that was good to read. I was leaning towards calling my gp or that other number (111?) - I've never called it before but didn't want to if these symptoms were normal. What you've written has made me decide that I'll definitely call one or the other in the morning.

@MyHusbandTheIdiot I'll look that up, thanks for the info :)

No, no inhaler. No medication of any kind.

Thanks for linking the thread @DownWhichOfLate

I've looked it up and it sounds like a likely candidate in some ways, but all the picture are of bruised fingers so I'm not sure. Good to know though, it might be that or something related.

I worked with someone who used to have this with her toes. She'd just be sitting there and jump a little and say ouch and then her toe would go black. She thought it happened to everyone! Apparently the Doctor had said it was nothing to worry about.

Sorry my last line should have been but I would still call the doctors if I were you.

Yes it’s a thing as per the other thread. I had one in my finger go while hoovering it was the most horrible sensation and made me feel a bit funny for a while just because it was so odd! I really didn’t like it. The whole finger went purple quickly.
However it’s a rare Occurrence for me and would get it checked if it was happening regularly.

This is a symptom that must be checked:

You need an appointment today, and GP should order a full blood count.

Unexplained bruising can have various causes (including just random ‘how the fuck did that happen?’) but it’s really important to check for the serious ones at the outset

I would go. Unexplained bruising/ its a new thing etc ...but also because you describe feeling like you're wearing a pressure cuff, whatever it is i think you need someone to check your circulation isn't compromised.

@BlackeyedSusan

yep, I get it. I think mine is to do with hypermobility syndrome, but never got to the bottom of it. I have dodgy connective tissue. used to be mainly my middle finger, which was, erm, interesting when it would not bend. happens in the palm of my hand now, mostly. I put pressure on to stop the swelling getting too large.

it is worth going to the GP though as they do tests. Clotting is one. I suspsect that there will be more tests now.

Same. Also have HMJS. DH accuses me of walking into things, which I admit I do, a lot. But many of my bruises just appear as well. Mostly in my fingers, but in fairness they do dislocate and relocate a lot in the night when I sleep on my hand.

Good luck OP.

Achenbach’s syndrome is also known as "Paroxysmal hand hematoma".

I've been getting this spontaneously, mostly in my fingers, for years. Often starts with an intense localised itching, slight swelling and a stinging pain, then a redness appears, followed by bruising. Often at the sides of a finger or around the base of a thumb.

Little is known about this condition but it is considered benign.

"In conclusion, there is no doubt that many new studies will be done as the awareness of Achenbach’s syndrome increases. The etiology and prognosis of the disease is still a mystery. It is of great importance to know whether the syndrome is seen in the brain and vital organs. However, it is relieving to know that there is no proven mortality or morbidity of the disease and that the course of the disease is benign." [1]

1 Ada F, Kasimzade F.Analysis of 24 patients with Achenbach's syndrome.World J Clin Cases2019;7(10): 1103-1110 [PMID: 31183341 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i10.1103]
www.wjgnet.com/2307-8960/full/v7/i10/1103.htm

Just wondering how you’re getting on, and if you have seen a doctor yet