Hemangioma - anyone got experience of these?

[redspottedfrog]

DS, who's 2, developed what I thought was a blood blister on his neck about 6 weeks ago. He scratched it a few days ago and it bled loads. The GP has examined it and said it was a hemangioma. He asked me several times if I was sure it hadn't been there since birth - it hasn't.

He said they generally don't remove them. Advised us to cover it up with a plaster if his clothes aren't covering it, and that if it bleeds for more than a few mins to go to the docs, or the hospital if the docs are closed.

He said that it wasn't sinister, but needing to react that quickly has alarmed me a little! Also I'm now thinking, should I have a plaster on it all the time in case he scratches it at night and bleeds without us realising?

Looking it up on the internet, it seems strange that it's developed this late too but it definitely wasn't there a few months ago.

DS had one - when he was about 12 months old. It slowly disappeared and there is no sign of it now. They do bleed A LOT. DS's bled one night and I thought he would die of blood loss. His room looked like there had been a massacre - there was blood all over everything. I still have nightmares about it now.

grockle that sounds awful! What did you do? Do you need to get medical attention each time? I feel so silly now for not asking more questions. Should I go back to the GP for more info do you think? He's so small he's going to scratch it lots I'm sure.

I did nothing after the original bloodbath (literally - I put him in the bath and everything went red) other than see the GP. He said to do nothing, not to panic if it bled and just to wait. So I did. And it disappeared without a trace. So, don't fret too much but go back to the GP if you have more questions.

Is your G.P sure its a hemangioma?

Its very unusual to get one at 2.

Ignore the advice to cover it with a plaster, thats a crock of shit he is talking! Keep it mosisturised with vaseline to prevent it drying out and ulcerating. I would monitor it carefully and watch in case it grows.

Heres a link to the BSG which has loads of advice

www.birthmarksupportgroup.org.uk/

It does seem a bit strange to just appear.

Most do disappear on their own

Thanks mashy I just looked at the GOSH factsheet and it says it's very unusual for them to develop after 6 months. What else could it be though? It doesn't look like any of the moles in the pictures I've seen either. It's just a very small (maybe 3mm in diameter and 2mm raised).

I think I'll go back to the GP next week and see what they say.

If you dont have any luck with your G.P ask for a referral to a specialist.

It really is unusual for them to appear so late but wouldnt like to guess what it could be. Not a Dr i'm afraid

Had loads of experience with hemangiomas unfortuately but the kind that just kept growing and refused to bloody stop

Theres a private FB group that you can join if you dont get things resolved, message me if you need the link. Great Mums on there who are a wealth of info and linked to the BSG.

Goodluck