ITP is only one of the reasons I experience easy bruising
Having numerous bruises has become my normal
The back of my left hand, the top of my right knee, my left shin, left calf muscle, right thumb, the top of my left foot, my inner right forearm, my right thigh, right shoulder, and right shoulder blade: These are all the places I currently have bruises. They vary in size, with colors ranging from yellow to a deep, dark purple. For a healthy person, this might be alarming, but because I’m living with rare chronic illnesses, this is normal for me.
Ever since I was a child, my skin has always bruised easily. Bump into the corner of a couch? That’ll leave a bruise. Lean over a railing to grab something just barely out of reach? Bruise. Drop a cup on my foot? Another bruise. Any kind of abnormal pressure on my skin has the potential to leave a mark.
I’ve had lupus for most of my life, and one of my doctors told me that anemia is a common comorbidity, affecting over 50% of lupus patients. That seemed like a valid enough reason for my bruising — but eventually, I learned there was more to it.
Far from ‘normal’
In 2018, I’d been feeling unwell for a while. No matter how much sleep I got, I was always tired. I had several unexplained nosebleeds, my gums bled every time I brushed my teeth, and I developed over a dozen bruises. I brushed it off as anemia or a lupus flare. But some routine blood work revealed my platelet count and hemoglobin were dangerously low.
A day of additional testing revealed I had a rare disease called immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), which causes the immune system to attack and destroy the body’s platelets. My medical team was a little shocked that I wasn’t more alarmed about my excessive bruising. But I told them I had lupus and anemia, so I’d brushed it off as normal.
One of the doctors laughed and said, “My friend, ‘normal’ is the last word I would use to describe anything in your medical profile.” That made me laugh out loud. She then explained that more than a handful of bruises with no known cause (such as an accident) should be reason enough for concern.
Years later, I still dwell on this sometimes. Are my bruises related to anemia, ITP, or atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome?
It’s often hard to tell, but it’s crucial for me to monitor my strange symptoms because quick identification can be the difference between life and death. Being able to identify what type of disease flare I’m experiencing allows me to start the correct treatment quickly. Unfortunately, that’s tricky with bruising, as it can be caused by several of my conditions.
Note: Bleeding Disorders News is strictly a news and information website about the syndrome. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Bleeding Disorders News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to bleeding disorders.Â
About the Author
