Bruises

In the last week or so I've begun to notice a lot of bruises.  I cannot recall any injury to the areas where this is occurring.  My wcb and platelets are a bit low, could this be the reason for the bruises?  Anyone else have this?

jd

[nygirl7]

I was covered in bruises during treatment - I had forgotten all about it now, but yes...I always do have a habit of falling in to things though so I assumed it was just because of that.  You would think with the incredibly low hemo I had it wouldn't really have been so easy to happen.......but I had an awful lot of them myself.

[rita863]

i have brusies but i do notice i bump into things more often.  so between shot bruising and bumping into things, i looked like a battered wife!    are we having fun yet?

[mommaglow]

My Dr told me the bruises are from the low platelet count. I have always been a big bruiser, but the lower my platelets get- OH MY GOD! I am at 72 right now and a big squeeze from my kids and I look like a beeten woman. My husband was joking weth me the other day telling me he does not want to go in public with me. My dog scratched me and I got a huge black eye and from wrestling with the kids my arm is all bruised- isint it fun- HA!

[mikesimon]

A decreased platelet count can be associated with easier and more frequent bruising. To my knowledge a low WBC isn't a factor but I haven't researched it. Mike

[nygirl7]

Ah see - now it makes sense I guess the low platelets and low everything red I thought it would have made less things to make bruises..........

As always I was azz backwards (what else could be new! :)  I must have heard it back then and there when I was treating though because I remember I didn't worry about it and I worried about EVERYTHING on tx!

[Trish77]

Article on low platelets, bruising, etc.

http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_ha/sec3/ch49/ch49c.html

[HectorSF]

Yes, low platelet count will cause brusing and bloody noses as your blood loses its ability to clot. But 72 is not abnormally low. Many people with Stage 4, cirrhosis, including myself, have a platelet count in the 70s normally due to our advanced liver disease. Usually brusing only occurs when platelets get much lower. But everyone is different and this could be the case with you.

Please mention this to your doctor so he/she can keep an eye on your platelets. Interferon reduces platelets.

Unfortunaetly there is nothing you can do to rasise your platelets so it is just one more fun side effect of treatment. When you stop treating your platelets will return to their normal levels.

Good luck.
Hector