Continuing large body bruises

[Gsharon7100]

I am a fifty-eight year old female African American. As a child, I was found to have Rheumatic Fever. Forty years ago, I started getting these round black spots under my chin. At times they were darker, but I was always able to cover them with makeup. Within the last ten years, I have had two episodes with heart problems and three years ago, I recieved a heart stint.  At that time, medical workers noticed I had four small round black spots on the outer part of my right arm. Without close exam, they appeared to be sores. I left the hospital with a script for Plavix. I took them only one month. At present, the tops of my arms have numerous bruise looking discolorations, with the front of my legs being practically cover with same. At first the discoloration stopped at my knees, but then I noticed that above the knees,  small round spot were slightly showing through the skin. In a couple of weeks, these spots increased in color and size. I now have them on my chest, back, top of my left foot and a pattern of the discoloration from the ends on my thumbs curved around other fingers and stop just pass the little finger. The ones on my hand are extremely black. about four shades darker than my normal skin tone. Now I have gray discoloration beginning at my hairline on the sides, covering the tops of my ears, and moving in one large discoloration down toward my face. In the eighties, I had an intestinal bypass for weight loss. Due to complications, I have had to have blocked portions of my colon removed twice,  along with hernia repair at seperate times. I was told I should have a blood test routinely to detect any liver damage. I did not do this, and seemed fine. After I had the stint put in three years ago, I was sent home with numerous scrips, one being plavix, and told to continue taking aspirin daily as I had. I have also, for years, taken benedryl as a diuretic, something I did on my own, but always tell for my medical history. With the plavix, I was told I had to have blood test to monitor liver. Since I was already in danger of having liver problems from the weight loss surgery, and after waking up with blood running down my chest where I had felt a mosquito bite, I stopped taking the plavix. The discolorations are not slowing down, nor missing any parts of my body. I wear scarves to hide the gray coming from my hairline, and always wear long skirts, or slacks, and long sleeves. Makeup makes the discoloration on my hands less noticeable. For family members and a few other who has seen my skin, I just tell them I have the opposite of what Michael Jackson had.  I assume it is due to the weight loss surgery that I have lost all my teeth, only four above gum and rest broken into the gum. I have no idea why I have this problem, and no Doctor that I have seen has tried to find out what it is, so I live with it...mostly indoors. I would love to hear from someone who can perhaps shed some light on this, or if they know anyone who is experiencing the same. By the way, the only time there is anything palpable on these bruises, is if I bathe and do not lotion. Usually I put lotion on four to five times a day. Another thing is, I absolutely hate drinking water, not fond of juices and usually drink tea or sodas. I do eat large amounts of ice. This,  for the last forty five years.

[Missie1967]

My mom had heart surgery last year and is currently  on blood thinner and got a knot on her hand and bruise  that goes halfway up her own arm.. what could it be ?could it be a blood clot?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
For such discoloration, the possibilities of pityriasis versicolor of arms and trunk, acanthosis nigricans, melasma face and hyperpigmentation of the skin needs to be ruled out. Please get it examined from a dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis. Biopsy skin may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.