Dots of Blood

[Asbeck]

Can this "bleeding" be symptom of Prednisone withdrawal? GCA flair? I have been on this forum before. And thank you for all your help. I'm at the 5 year mark. I am using the slow method to taper Prednisone from 7 mg. to 6.25 mg. I have finished "one high followed by three lows." I am on the fourth day of "one high followed by four lows." I feel pretty well, just suffering from some brain fog. I was doing elevated planks with my forearms on a bench covered by a towel. This placed pressure on my forearms. Dots of blood leaked through a very thin shirt from a "bruise" on my forearm onto the towel. I changed the towel and did it again. Again there were dots of blood seemingly from the same bruised spot. This was not blood from a typical cut--sort of a minor gush. Instead there were maybe 20 little dots of blood, more the first time than the 2nd. They were like little petechiae, but not just spots on my skin--the blood actually came through onto the towel. I can't seem to sense (by feeling) blood on the "bruise." It seems to have come only on account of the pressure. These bruises might be called lesions. They are very blood red. Dots of blood on this bruise would be hard to see. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Once before when I was taking a little less Prednisone than this, I seemed to have bleeding at various places, such as female places and the forearms. But I am 68 years old. Normal female bleeding is out of the question. This other time I reacted by raising my Prednisone (I also had some GCA flair symptoms) and my platelets & kidneys checked out OK. Fairly frequently I have a small amount of blood coming from my nose. Blood and nose pain were one of my worst symptoms before I was diagnosed. But I do not fail the ?ANCA? test for Wegner's. Can this forearm "bleeding" be a symptom of Prednisone withdrawal? A pending flair? I mostly have GCA. Sometimes I have PMR, but I don't seem to get PMR as severely as do most of you. Any help would be appreciated. I had been thinking that I was getting well. Will see the Rheumy on Oct. 5th. She's not great about responding in between appts. Thanks again.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Sorry, not something I have ever heard anyone mention. But female bleeding should NEVER be taken as normal. I really would ask a doctor - because I can't think of a reason for it to be pred. High doses yes, low doses or withdrawal - no.

[SheffieldJane]

This should be investigated as a matter of priority. Try your GP as a first port of call.

[Asbeck]

Thank both of you. I have learned to trust your judgment. I will get it checked out ASAP. My Rheumy doesn't seem to return emails and texts. But she will see me at the drop of a hat. My neuro-ophthalmologist is very strange. (I think that he may be an autistic savant.) But he DOES immediately respond to written inquiries. Both seem to try very hard to take care of me. I even have a hematologist. (My mother had ITP, and he was the 1st doctor I saw. He cured her. He might be the correct doctor in these circumstances.) So I'm in good hands. Interestingly, overall, I feel pretty well. Notice that I am doing planks at the gym!!!!!! If this is an isolated event given the deepness of the lesion, I might actually be in remission. Thanks again. I will get checked out ASAP.