Aa
A few "what's up with this" questions
I've noticed a few new things lately and was wondering if anyone can tell me what it is or why it is.
1. While shaving my legs tonight I noticed there are white spots all over my legs. Like when you push your finger into your skin and it leaves a white mark for a second then goes away.. only no one is pushing anything...they are just there all over the place.
2. I noticed something on my arms a little while ago but it was just one so I didn't think anything of it, now there are more. These little brown spots in little clusters of 3 or 4. They are raised. There's only a couple of them but those along with this rash and other non raised brown spots are making my arms look very nice. (sarcasm of course).
3. Also on my arms there are these red spots just little things that look like someone took a red pen and poked it on me every here and there.
4. On my shins, feet and forearms you can see my veins and they are starting to raise.
5. On Friday when I met with my new PCP she ordered blood work. I was not hydrated at all, not at all. Normally that would mean a very, very tough draw and sometimes I have to come back after being more hydrated. (I am normally extremely well hydrated, but there are times when I wake up late and haven't drank that much before the draw, especially if I'm not expecting blood work) ANYWAYS, he had no problem finding a vein, didn't even have to search. First poke and blood was flowing like a river. That never happens. That might not be anything but it's just a very, very strange thing so thought I'd mention it.
6. I also noticed a couple of places on my thighs and one spot on my stomach these little black spots. I tried to just wipe them away but they were like little tiny scabs. I got them off and they bled a tiny bit. It's like I was poked with a pin or something and had bled a little bit, only that didn't happen and I don't recall any injury tiny or not.
I of course wrote all of this down to ask the Doc when I see her in a month but am curious if you all know anything about these things. Thank you for any enlightenment you might have.
Shelley
1. While shaving my legs tonight I noticed there are white spots all over my legs. Like when you push your finger into your skin and it leaves a white mark for a second then goes away.. only no one is pushing anything...they are just there all over the place.
2. I noticed something on my arms a little while ago but it was just one so I didn't think anything of it, now there are more. These little brown spots in little clusters of 3 or 4. They are raised. There's only a couple of them but those along with this rash and other non raised brown spots are making my arms look very nice. (sarcasm of course).
3. Also on my arms there are these red spots just little things that look like someone took a red pen and poked it on me every here and there.
4. On my shins, feet and forearms you can see my veins and they are starting to raise.
5. On Friday when I met with my new PCP she ordered blood work. I was not hydrated at all, not at all. Normally that would mean a very, very tough draw and sometimes I have to come back after being more hydrated. (I am normally extremely well hydrated, but there are times when I wake up late and haven't drank that much before the draw, especially if I'm not expecting blood work) ANYWAYS, he had no problem finding a vein, didn't even have to search. First poke and blood was flowing like a river. That never happens. That might not be anything but it's just a very, very strange thing so thought I'd mention it.
6. I also noticed a couple of places on my thighs and one spot on my stomach these little black spots. I tried to just wipe them away but they were like little tiny scabs. I got them off and they bled a tiny bit. It's like I was poked with a pin or something and had bled a little bit, only that didn't happen and I don't recall any injury tiny or not.
I of course wrote all of this down to ask the Doc when I see her in a month but am curious if you all know anything about these things. Thank you for any enlightenment you might have.
Shelley
Hi Shelley,
As Cirrhosis progresses, people begin to have many symptoms that are away from the liver but are directly causes by the liver not being able to function as well as it should. Some changes have to do with the increase in portal hypertension, some have to do with the increase in bilirubin, some have to do with the change in blood clotting, and some have to do with bile. Some of the skin symptoms are:
Spider angiomata or spider nevi. Vascular lesions consisting of a central arteriole surrounded by many smaller vessels.
Palmar erythema. Exaggerations of normal speckled mottling of the palm.
Nail changes.
Muehrcke's lines - paired horizontal bands separated by normal color resulting from hypoalbuminemia (inadequate production of albumin).
Terry's nails - proximal two-thirds of the nail plate appears white with distal one-third red, also due to hypoalbuminemia.
Clubbing - angle between the nail plate and proximal nail fold > 180 degrees.
Dupuytren's contracture. Thickening and shortening of palmar fascia that leads to flexion deformities of the fingers.
Jaundice. Yellow discoloring of the skin, eye, and mucus.
Bruising and bleeding.
Jaundice as a result of decreased processing of bilirubin.
Itching (pruritus) because of bile salt products deposited in the skin.
Cirrhosis can cause immune system dysfunction, leading to infection.
I'm sure there are others as well. As for the raised veins in your shins and legs, it will be important to keep a watch for circulatory problems. If you notice an increase in bruising and swelling of those veins, if you have wounds that won't heal, or if you begin to notice edema and/or pain in your legs, you should ask your doctor for a referral to someone who specializes in the vascular system. Circulation problems, edema and problems with infection are not unusual for Cirrhotics and can become a concern.
I hope this helps. I know there are more skin related issues, but these are some that I'm aware of.
Advocate1955
As Cirrhosis progresses, people begin to have many symptoms that are away from the liver but are directly causes by the liver not being able to function as well as it should. Some changes have to do with the increase in portal hypertension, some have to do with the increase in bilirubin, some have to do with the change in blood clotting, and some have to do with bile. Some of the skin symptoms are:
Spider angiomata or spider nevi. Vascular lesions consisting of a central arteriole surrounded by many smaller vessels.
Palmar erythema. Exaggerations of normal speckled mottling of the palm.
Nail changes.
Muehrcke's lines - paired horizontal bands separated by normal color resulting from hypoalbuminemia (inadequate production of albumin).
Terry's nails - proximal two-thirds of the nail plate appears white with distal one-third red, also due to hypoalbuminemia.
Clubbing - angle between the nail plate and proximal nail fold > 180 degrees.
Dupuytren's contracture. Thickening and shortening of palmar fascia that leads to flexion deformities of the fingers.
Jaundice. Yellow discoloring of the skin, eye, and mucus.
Bruising and bleeding.
Jaundice as a result of decreased processing of bilirubin.
Itching (pruritus) because of bile salt products deposited in the skin.
Cirrhosis can cause immune system dysfunction, leading to infection.
I'm sure there are others as well. As for the raised veins in your shins and legs, it will be important to keep a watch for circulatory problems. If you notice an increase in bruising and swelling of those veins, if you have wounds that won't heal, or if you begin to notice edema and/or pain in your legs, you should ask your doctor for a referral to someone who specializes in the vascular system. Circulation problems, edema and problems with infection are not unusual for Cirrhotics and can become a concern.
I hope this helps. I know there are more skin related issues, but these are some that I'm aware of.
Advocate1955
Thanks Meadowbank. I know that these things are not serious things. I'm just curious about what they are and why they are. I appreciate your sharing your info with me. :) I already have a red rash that is on my arms and chest (that has been there for a couple of years) so I hope those little red dots are not the beginnings of spider naevi. But if it is I guess it just makes me a little more interesting to look at. ha ha ha.
Thank you again
Shelley
Thank you again
Shelley
I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination but I was told by my gastro doc that the white spots/patches on my legs were due to vitamin b deficiency. I am on prescribed vit b supplements now but I still have the white spots.
I have spider naevi (spelling???), like a red thread vein but it has a central red spot and then finer lines radiating from it. When they started appearing I used to get just a red dot initially then the finer veins grew. It's common in liver problems so I was told. Mine are on my upper chest and arms.
Can't help with the rest of your post sorry and yes, best to talk to your doc about it as you are planning on doing.
Best wishes.
I have spider naevi (spelling???), like a red thread vein but it has a central red spot and then finer lines radiating from it. When they started appearing I used to get just a red dot initially then the finer veins grew. It's common in liver problems so I was told. Mine are on my upper chest and arms.
Can't help with the rest of your post sorry and yes, best to talk to your doc about it as you are planning on doing.
Best wishes.
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