Extreme bruising

[piccolopuppy]

So the context is, I've always bruised easily. I've now been on blood thinners (aspirin) for over 4 years, and obviously understand the increased likelihood of bruising. I also don't have great spatial awareness (ND).

My legs bruise like nothing on earth. I pretty much always have bruising, sometimes quite extensive or extremely large. However I rarely remember hurting myself (but again, I'm ND).

Should I be concerned? Or just accept that it's the blood thinners doing their job? I currently have a bruise the size of an orange on the back of my calf, which prompted the post!

Yes, bruising is common on blood thinners, do you have regular blood tests to check you are on correct dosage of asprin.

I think you are, in a roundabout way trying to find out if the bruising signals something else. And you are right to think about other reasons for bruising of that size. It more than likely is the aspirin and even the smallest knock can cause massive bruising in some people.

Why not make a GP appointment - even if it's weeks away as a non urgent case, and see what they say? If you are on blood thinners you must have a condition that requires regular checks, so ask at next appt maybe? I think there is a blood test for prothrombin time, it's to do with clotting so that might indicate how things are. I'm not a medic BTW, just someone who is also on aspirin 5 years now, and rarely bruises (yet!).

No, I've never had blood tests for that.

Thanks, the reason I'm on blood thinners doesn't require regular checks (they are a response to a singular event), and no doctor has ever wanted to test or check the blood thinners themselves since I started. But I think you're right - I'll make an appointment just to be sure everything's ok. Interesting that you don't bruise!

How much people bruise is really variable but the combination of aspirin/being ND and bumping into things/possibly being any easy bruise is most likely the explanation.

There isn't a blood test to decide the dose of aspirin, the doses are all standard.

However you will not be the first or the last person worried about bruising to see your GP, just make sure you have photos as you can guarantee that you will be bruise free on the day of your appointment.

Are you on Apaxiban? Or one of the newer blood thinners? If so, I’ve been on Apaxiban for 3 years and never bruise like that. I also have blood tests every 3 months for another condition that do a full blood and platelet count, so if there were any problems they would be picked up. Agree with PP’s, definitely wise to make a GP appointment.

Probably worth at least asking GP to do some routine blood tests and check for vitamin and mineral deficiency?

I do get bruises now and then, but nothing unexplained IYSWIM. I can catch my hip on the door jamb for example or bash my arm against something and then I will bruise but I think anyone would in those circumstances! I do get bad bruising when getting bloods taken, but that's more to do with the poking around they have to do on my very uncooperative veins!

I'm glad to you are going to the GP, it's no harm to be checked out. BTW four years is a long time to be on aspirin for a one off event, or is it? Mine is cardiac related, I have a Watchman device for atrial fibrillation, if interested - look it up!

Sorry - ignore my post, skim read and just saw blood thinners, missed the aspirin part!

Im on blood thinners and also have no spacial awareness im always covered in bruises and half the time don't have a clue how I got them. In blood thinners you really don't have to hit yourself that hard to bruise. The only thing you need to be concerned about is hitting your head

Im on apixaban and bruise really easily it must effect people differently