Random Bruising

[Potter52]

Bruising on arms.

I’m 4 months post AVR and double bypass. I’ve started to get random bruises on my arms without an obvious cause. Could this be anything to do with medication or after effects of Op?

[ITSINTHEBAG9]

Potter, I would get in touch with your GP on Monday. Failing that if you feel unwell 111 before over the weekend... Are you on any blood thinners

[Potter52 in reply to ITSINTHEBAG9]

I’m on bisoprol and aspirin.

[ITSINTHEBAG9 in reply to Potter52]

If you are worried 111. You've had AVR so do need medical advice or a GP on Monday. I'm sure it's nothing but best to get advice. Keep in touch with us.

[Hidden]

Amazed you're not on Ticagrelor or similar as well as Aspirin.

[gilreid1]

Bruising is common with certain meds after heart surgery but I have not heard of anything with what you are taking. I had a lot of bruising but was taking a lot more meds A word with your GP to put your mind at rest

[Palpman]

My wife often goes through phases of what she terms Instant Jesus Tattoos. Out the blue a matchbox size purple smudge would appear on her arms or hands.

I once asked her to write an "L" on her arm with her finger pressing rather hard. Within minutes an L shape appeared in purple.

She takes no tablets.

[Ellester]

Hi after taking my meds following a heart attack for a few weeks i started seeing large bruises on my arms and legs. I asked my cardio nurse and she informed me because of the blood thinning tablets i was taking, if i brushed against a cushion i could bruise. I am now more aware to be more careful. Hope this helps.

[080311]

Hi, have had AVR, on 75 mag aspirin and only have to have an itch and have a great bruise!

[Potter52]

Thanks for your replies and advice. I’ll get it checked out. Sorry I forgot to say that I am on Ticagrelor as well.

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Potter52]

That explains it - I was on Ticagrelor for 12 months and frequently woke up with a bruise and had no idea where it had come from. It's a drug that does its job of thinning the blood very well, but the side effect is that you tend to end up covered in bruises regardless of how careful you are - it's a common side effect.

nhs.uk/medicines/ticagrelor/

[Potter52 in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Thanks for that mate.

[Hidden in reply to Potter52]

That is your answer, Ticagrelor. That’s why I was surprised when you hadn’t mentioned it.

[Qualipop]

Oh aspirin and ticagrelor will cause massive bruising at eth slightest touch. I looked as if I'd been in a boxing match or hubby beating me up.

[gilreid1]

Yes normal side affect of these drugs. Don’t worry too much they are doing their job.

Gil

[Fish4Info in reply to gilreid1]

Rather than Ticagrelor and aspirin I was on Clopidogrel and aspirin. Individually these are all antiplatelet ('blood-thinning') therapies. More correctly they reduce the risk of blood clotting. Taking two together adds to the effectiveness/strength of the antiplatelet therapy and bruising is more common. I'm not sure what the current advice is; my CABG was 14 years ago. But dual therapy used to be recommended for 6-12 months post operatively.

If you are getting bruising, it's worth discussing with the GP or consultant ... and it may pass in any case. The one thing I wanted to warn you about (because it happened to me) is maybe to watch out for gastro-intestinal bleeds. You can't feel these, but they are manifested by black stools. This is more serious than the bruising and merits an urgent GP appointment (or 111 call).

While it's understandable to be worried ... I think it's just part of the early phase of living with heart disease and its side effects. As I said it's 14 years since my op ... and I largely live a normal life free of most of these issues - just a few tablets to take every day.

[Potter52 in reply to Fish4Info]

Thanks for the information. Very useful.

[Potter52]

Thanks for your support.

[Sheba2020]

Are you on an anticoagulant? If so your dose may need adjusting. If not, see Dr to rule out a clotting disorder with blood test.