Dr. Hive - unusual bruising with photos

[Ginevra]

First, yes, I agree if this persists, a doctor needs to be pursued. But still I want to talk to my smart people about this. 
 

About five or six days ago, I was preparing dinner and I suddenly noticed my right wrist was very painfully bruised right at the juncture of my very visible veins. I have had a bruise like this before if a trauma happens directly on the vein. It was painful enough that I applied ice to it for a half hour or so. I am attaching a picture but I took the picture today after the other incidents so you can’t see the bruising much now. 
 

So. Last night, again when I was making dinner, I noticed my left index finger was very painfully bruised right at the PIP joint. Same type of bruise that normally only occurs if something strikes directly on the vein, but if that happened, I didn’t notice it. Picture from this morning. 
 

At the same time, I also noticed that one of my smaller toes felt sore as well, but I had shoes on and didn’t investigate it. I looked at it this morning while putting my socks on and, sure enough, It is also bruised at the joint, and once again I have no memory of doing anything to the toe. 
What can this be? 

[Katy]

Have you been on a blood thinner?  Taking a lot of fish oil or turmeric to prevent inflammation or blood clots or covid?

Have you drastically changed your diet?

If not, go into your doctor for a cbc pretty quickly, mostly because of how recent your cancer treatment was. 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Katy said:

Have you been on a blood thinner?  Taking a lot of fish oil or turmeric to prevent inflammation or blood clots or covid?

Have you drastically changed your diet?

If not, go into your doctor for a cbc pretty quickly, mostly because of how recent your cancer treatment was. 

No, no blood thinners or supplements (other than D, but I don’t think that does that, right?) I am on Tamoxifen post cancer but I don’t think that does it either. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

Get it checked out, but we do bruise more easily as we age because blood vessels and skin become weaker and thinner. 

[Acadie]

The one on your toe reminds me a little of Covid toes, but I don't think it was painful when my daughters had it. And they never had bruises anywhere else. 

I know you're looking for ideas but I would get this checked out sooner rather than later, like call today and see what the doc says. 

ETA: One thing I notice is all 3 are in your extremities. The theory with Covid toes is that micro clots form and drain down to the toes, which is where you can see the bruising. I'm not suggesting this is Covid toes but just spitballing and wondering if there could be a similar mechanism of draining toward your extremities. They seem like odd places to develop a bruise if you don't remember any trauma. 

Edited September 28, 2021 by Acadie

[Acadie]

Is your finger swollen, or is that just the angle of the photo? 

The other two don't look swollen to me in the photos, at least. 

[J-rap]

My mother seems to have really delicate skin, and it did start bruising more easily as she got older.  I know I seem to pop my blood vessels more often as I get older!

 

[Katy]

Call your doctor today.  A CBC is a cheap way to make sure everything is ok.

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, Acadie said:

Is your finger swollen, or is that just the angle of the photo? 

The other two don't look swollen to me in the photos, at least. 

My finger was swollen and my wrist was when it happened. I don’t know about toe because I didn’t look at it until the next day. 

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, Katy said:

Call your doctor today.  A CBC is a cheap way to make sure everything is ok.

What does this mean? I want to ask for the right thing.

[Jean in Newcastle]

3 minutes ago, Quill said:

What does this mean? I want to ask for the right thing.

CBC = complete blood count.  So ask for lab work to be done.  It's just a screening test but should be able to pinpoint if more a more detailed look is necessary or if it's not anything of note. 

[matrips]

Have you received a vaccine or booster lately?  Some people develop a blood disorder that has a symptom of easy bruising.

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, matrips said:

Have you received a vaccine or booster lately?  Some people develop a blood disorder that has a symptom of easy bruising.

I did get a flu vax recently 

[ktgrok]

41 minutes ago, Katy said:

Call your doctor today.  A CBC is a cheap way to make sure everything is ok.

CBC checks levels of red and white blood cells and platelets. 

19 minutes ago, Quill said:

I did get a flu vax recently 

I'd also ask for an autoimmune panel, since it seems to be centered around joints, and because of the recent vaccination (which can trigger autoimmune stuff). If drawing blood anyway, may as well do that too. And your doctor may want to add a few other things on, based on your cancer treatments - but only he'd know what that would be.