Bruises

[Andra13]

Is it normal to get bruises when you’re on aspirin?

[Mich10]

Hi

I was going to ask a similar question. I wonder whether it was part of my condition (ET) or the aspirin. My bruises just appear and are quite big.

[Andra13 in reply to Mich10]

I think it’s the aspirin got a really big bruise on the inside of my wrist,not due to knocking it against anything.

[WileyFrench in reply to Andra13]

That happened to me earlier this year too. I do bruise a lot more easily now that I take aspirin and clopidogrel but that bruise just appeared out of nowhere. I took a picture of it and will ask my haemo about it at my month-end appointment.

[Andra13 in reply to WileyFrench]

Do you think I should mention it next time I see the haematologist? Or am I being silly?

[WileyFrench in reply to Andra13]

Absolutely not silly! Tell your haemo for sure.

[Andra13 in reply to WileyFrench]

I’m still smoking a as well

[Chez1947 in reply to Andra13]

I am struggling to give up I have COPD and PV JAK2 positive,, have managed to cut it down as I was the proverbial chimney lol and in doing so it lowered my blood count so havent gone on any meds yet I was diagnosed 18 days ago, had blood test last Thursday wont know the outcome until after Easter,

[Helena303 in reply to Chez1947]

You can’t win I gave up smoking for 5 years. Went swimming gym. Then what good did it do me I caught Et CALR. So luck of the draw. You can’t win. My platelets starting playing up when I gave them up.

[Andra13 in reply to Helena303]

I’m smoking and drinking too much. I was really tired at work today and made a mistake I feel so guilty

[Helena303]

I was getting bruises appear before I was diagnosed. That’s mostly made me worry I had issues. I had low iron at the time.

[WileyFrench]

Yes it can be as aspirin is a blood thinner. I take one a day plus clopidogrel and I definitely bruise a lot more easily now.

[hunter5582]

Yes - all blood thinners, aspirin included, can cause unexplained bruising. Definitely discuss with your hemo-doc. Don't just assume it is the aspirin though. Bruising can be a function of how your platelets are behaving due to the MPN. When you are in thrombocytosis (with either ET or PV) your platelets may start to NOT stick together as well at higher levels. At some point, some with an MPN may develop Acquired von Willebrand Disease (which is actually a bleeding disorder). Diagnosis for this is actually tricky and it gets missed a lot because it presents differently than Congenital vWB. Lots of docs, even hematologists don't know much about this. Here is one of the better explanations hematologyandoncology.net/f... . I actually gave this to my hematologist as he was not familiar with the testing protocol. We are currently looking into possible Acq.vWB for me. All th ebest to you.

[Anag in reply to hunter5582]

Thanks so much for the link and information!!

[Belgobrit72]

M’y legs look like a dot-to-dot colouring page sometimes. I always bruised easily but now they are bluer and come from the smallest impact. However my haematologist always ask me if they are increasing and if I get some unexplained ones.

[Chez1947]

I have been bruising on my forearms for about 3 years long before I was diagnosed and taking aspirin. I thought it was my age as I have seen a lot of older people with it. I will mention it to haemotologist when I see him.

[Anag]

Hello Andra,

I have ET CALR and would have about 1100 thrombos without my meds. We try to keep the thrombos around 500-550. When I start bruising, I have to reduce the aspirin. My hemo says it’s too much. Then I don’t take any for a couple of days and continue in 4-5 aspirins a week. There’s a lot about aspirin taking and bleeding/bruising in the news These days. It is prescribed to many as a way of avoiding heart disease. They are finally saying that too many people are being harmed by it due to bleeding episodes. I just don’t know why there’s no home system for us to test out blood (just like the diabetics can) which would show out blood viscosity! THAT would be helpful instead of playing the aspirin guessing game!! Hope this helped. All the best

[Hydrox]

My consultant said it was the aspirin.

[azaelea]

I too have wondered whether my bruising is due to the Aspirin or the ET itself. Will ask when I next see Haemo.

[Mal42]

Hiya, I have always bruised quite easily. I have PV jak 2 on hydroxy. I have spontaneous bruising when i take aspirin too often, so only take 2 or 3 times a week. Heamo knows and says ok. As easy bleeding has its own problems, its just another problem we have to find our way through. Enjoy the sun, Mal

[mbr8076]

Hi Andra13,

I was diagnosed ET Jak2+ since Feb 2018 following a heart attack in November 2017 when I was put on aspirin and Plavix I would bruise a lot. About 6 months ago which was a year after the heart attack my cardiologist took me off Plavix but kept me on aspirin and I do not bruise as easily.