bleeding

[Shaza123]

just wondering if anyone else out there has noticed that when you cut yourself even a slight nik it bleeds so much,or is it just me😟

[Shaza123]

I’m on 12 mg pred

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Shaza123]

Can be common side effect along with bruising -Pred weakens/thins the skin and the tiny capillaries just the surface.

Nothing to worry about, but you do need to protect skin as much as possible

[seamaid in reply to Shaza123]

I am on a low dose of Asprin - for a different condition but is a blood thinner and Im wondering if you are also taking that, as it seems to be almost common place to take it to help protect the heart .

[SheffieldJane]

Not particularly. Are you on anything else?

[Koalajane]

I get purple marks on my skin from the slightest of friction like putting my rucksack on. I sometimes knock my arms and it can cut and bleed a fair bit so much that i have to use a plaster while it is bleeding. My arms at the moment are a mess!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Depends on the person but that is unusual with just pred - are you on anything else?

[Ridge]

Oh my goodness yes! I work with my hands and am constantly nicking them! I’m now on blood thinners and it is even worse. I have a large supply of plasters in the work shop!

[Miacaro45]

Yes, Prednisone can thin the skin. I just added a blood thinner and wow! it is so difficult to stop the bleeding.

[Sophiestree]

Terribly. And it can take hours to stop if I have cut myself badly (my kitchen knives are just too good). I found the only way to stop the bleeding successfully if it's a bad cut is to use steristrips and cover it. I also take an age to heal now....

[Missus835]

Yes, not bleeding a lot so much as skin does cut easily and takes ages to heal.

[phebamom]

Yes, my rheumatologist will look at my arms and admit that it is his fault. He says " I'll own this", meaning he knows the prednisone is the cause. I recently ended up with my hematocrit falling dangerously low. The doctors suspected internal bleeding. Prednisone also thins intercellular walls and organ and digestive system walls. I was taking Vitamin E for my eyes along with the prednisone. Once I stopped the Vitamin E my hematocrit went back up. I am always anemic, having "Anemia of Chronic Disease", but things really went south when I was in Vitamin E. So, please while on prednisone, do not take any blood thinning medication you don't have to.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to phebamom]

I have been on pred for the last 14 years, for much of it at well above 10mg. For the last 10 years I have been on anticoagulant therapy, initially warfarin and was then switched to Pradaxa 7 years ago, I was getting interesting bruises on my shins until I got down to about 7mg pred (using Actemra) but normal cuts have been no problem, I do leave the Pradaxa until after I have a blood sample taken - saves waiting 15mins for it to stop bleeding!

[phebamom in reply to PMRpro]

Hi: Before I stopped the Vitamin E supplement If I knicked myself while shaving my legs it would be 24 hours before the bleeding stopped, even with a band-aid. that situation has improved dramatically since stopping the Vitamin E supplement. I have a hunch that my kidneys, which are very bad, just could not process the Vitamin E, since it is an oil soluble vitamin, and the levels just kept building up in my blood.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to phebamom]

Vit E is known to be a platelet inhibitor - like aspirin. It probably also depends what other medications you take.

One of those occasions where supplements are maybe NOT good for you!