suddenly I'm bruising really easily?

[jaggythistle]

As title really.

I did have DC2 6 weeks ago and suffered a really bad cold, so am a bit sleepy and have crashed into a few door handles etc, but not to the extent that my arms and legs would have so many!

I'm going to have to wear long sleeves for the time being as it looks horrendous :(

Will prob go to the doc this week, but interested in what might be causing it.

I'm sure you are just being a bit more clumsy, and you have very probably just bashed yourself even more than you realize, but do go to the doctors, as infections and more bruising can be signs of leukemia. But but but, before you panic, your immune system will be knocked out by pregnancy, hence the real reason for the cold. I very very much doubt it's anything serious, but do get a quick blood test, just to be cautious.

Nb you're not taking a post natal blood thinner are you? That can cause amazing bruises!

no, no blood thinner. only medication recently was a bit of Ibuprofen or paracetamol for sore head and face with the cold.

i suppose some of them could be flailing toddler feet or getting whacked with DS1's toys that i haven't noticed. toddlers do get a bit enthusiastic when jumping about. :)

Thyroid? Underactive can cause bruising and is common (even if only temporarily) after childbirth, but is often masked by general tiredness, aches & pains, confusion/forgetfulness, depression that is mistaken for PND. Keep an eye for any other symptoms and if it doesn't improve ask for a test - took me 10 months for GP to finally listen and test me. x

It's worth a quick blood test for thyroid and anaemia - both common after pregnancy

It's worth a quick blood test for thyroid and anaemia - both common after pregnancy

thanks all, will try to get seen this week. :)

I do generally bruise very easily, but it's noticably worse in pregnancy for me.

jaggy - how bad is the bruising?

Any other aches and pains?

ITP is also a possibility (I have it) idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura causes low platelet count - bruising, bleeding gums, rash

But there's not really much point guessing a blood test will pick up anything.

Most likely explanation is that you have in fact been bashing into things a bit more than you've noticed!

I think I read somewhere that hormones can affect bruising somehow, think it said women bruise more when premenstrual so maybe it is to do with hormones. Wouls still get it checked though.

thanks again all. i have a couple of big ones that i know i bashed off things. but a whole load on my upper arm and round about my wrist which have me .

i also have one on each knee and some on my shins/calves, including some odd wee dots.
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no special aches, arms and shoulders maybe but figure thats from carting small people about!

hopefully I'm just so busy getting used to having a queue for nappy changes that i haven't noticed quite how many doorframes I'm bouncing off.

jaggy - I mailed you -you need to sort out a blood test. ITP comes on after childbirth sometimes

sorry toothbrush ndant to say thanks for the mail.

No problem :)

Not sure if this will link... Petechiae small pin prick bruising? It does need checking out if this is what you have

You need to have blood tests. Low platelets can cause bruising

Toothbrush.. This is what my skin looks like. Arms, legs boobs and stomach!

ITP bruising can also look just like normal bruising. If platelet count haven't dropped low enough there may not be petechiae (though I'm not sure if technically it counts as ITP if petechiae haven't developed yet).

Iam seeingstars - is this recent? Have you seen a doctor? Do your gums bleed?

i've got petechiae everywhere now that i've looked :(

I bruise easily too but it's been worse since I had my baby and she's now 8mo!

The bruises on my upper arms are awful, and mostly explained by her pinching me while breastfeeding I think. Dunno about my legs tho!

I was drawn to your post and look into the advice you've been offered

Sounds like ITP - I'm afraid I wouldn't leave it until next week. Can you go to a GP walk-in centre at a hospital and they can arrange a blood test for you. If your gums aren't bleeding then its probably not too bad. Provided your platelet count isn't too low they will treat you as an outpatient.

If your gums are bleeding and you are bruising instantly when you knock yourself or you are getting nose bleeds get someone to take you to A&E immediately, do not pass go, do not stop to collect your £200!

ITP can be a mild chronic or acute condition or very rarely it can be more urgent. Even the more urgent cases are generally relatively easily treated.

Doc first thing tomorrow for me. I'm assuming it's not out of hours worthy?

x-post - could go today if i call NHS 24 I think.

gp open session is 8.30am tomorrow.

not bruising instantly, no bleeding gums.

If you aren't bruising instantly and no bleeding gums then I would guess (caveat - ITP patient here not doctor!) your count is somewhere around 30 - 50 which isn't dangerous so no, no need for out of hours service. However if gums start bleeding or bruising become significantly worse you MUST go to A&E immediately.

Depending on your platelet count they may not even treat they may monitor as its possible post- pregnancy disappears (not sure - mine wasn't post pregnancy and was significant).

FWIW I think the slight sleepiness is baby related not ITP related!

Bear in mind I am a bit paranoid about ITP as my platelet count was zero and life threatening so I tend to err on the side of caution.