Unusual Bruising and vitamin deficiency?

Hi everybody,

How are you?  I am due for my one year post-op labs in a few weeks, however, I have been noticing that I have been bruising very easy and have no reason why.  I wake up and find bruises on my arms, legs hands, some very bad, some not so bad. 

Does anyone know of a vitamin deficiency that is related to this sort of thing?
While I attended my follow up visit with my neurologist in Dec.,  I had him draw additional blood work for part of my labs because I was previously a smidge low in A, and iron, but they are in a healthy range now.  calcium was good, d was also good.

If there isn't a direct correlation between bruising and vitamins, has anyone else noticed this?  I have NEVER been a bruising type person.  i also thought perhaps it was from losing 120 pounds and lack of cushion :)

I just want to make sure that with all my previous and current health issues that I am on top of this.  Trying not to be a hypochondriac, but it has caught my attention.

Thank you in advance,

Alex

Have you had a standard CBC?  What were your platelet levels? The only time I had a problem with bruising was when my platelets were very low. (Not to scare you, but I turned out to have acute leukemia....but that was 17 years ago, and I'm still here - yea!). 

Laura,

Before i was diagnosed with IIH and MS, i had an elevated white blood cell count but nothing drastic.  it fact when I look back at labs, it was elevated for a few years and then itd return to normal. 
My first thought was Leukemia, thats exactly why I posted this.
I hope its nothing of that nature cause i'm dealing with a lot as it is, but i need to keep on top of these things because ignoring them sureley wouldnt help.  Did you have associated headaches by any chance?  What were your symptoms?
I have never had Vitamin K checked I will ask!

Well, first off, it's MUCH more likely to be a Vit K deficiency than anything else, especially with the DS malabsorbing K.  So don't panic!!!

My first symptoms were excessive fatigue all the time, then I started bruising. After that I started having blackouts and racing heart with simple exertion (like taking a shower).  I'd been having symptoms for over two months by the time I got in and they diagnosed me, so I was in fairly advanced stages by the time I got treatment. In retrospect, I realized my gums had been bleeding when I brushed my teeth for a while, and I was also having rectal bleeding with bowel movements.

Get your K checked - I bet that's the problem, especially if you've not been supplementing K.  Vits ADE and K are the four biggies that DSers malabsorb, and must be supplemented in dry form.  You can order them from vitalady if you can't find them anywhere else. I have some info on my profile about a basic supplement schedule from vitalady, of course everyone should tweak their supplements according to their labs.  Keep us posted on what you find out....

Thanks for the info.  Like I said, trying not to be a hypochondriac, but finding out I had MS and the other neuro issue was something I caught early because I just hadent felt like myself.  Fatigue is always terrible, I feel like collapsing and drunk a lot of the time, even just from simple exertions like showering.  Some days are okay hbut more bad than good.  I know thats a side effect of the MS.  But the MS symptoms were also a side effect of the IIH medications i was prescribed, so you can understand why im a little loony :)

I'm going to get my levels checked and then if theres not a deficiency, time for step 2.

Thanks for the advice Laura :)

No problem Alex - After being hit with an out of the blue catastrophic diagnosis, it's easy to think the worst of any little symptom! The important thing is to let your doctor know and start working on a cause, rather than just ignoring the symptoms and hoping they'll go away (which is what I did at first). Good for you for getting your levels checked.  Keep us informed, and feel free to PM me anytime if you need to.  Take care!

I am assuming that IIH is intrcranial hypertension. If so, I have been diagnosed with this too. The weight loss was suppose to be the cure for it, but it didn't have any effect on the IIH. I was on Diomax which gave me metabolic acidosis. I'm off now and feeling better. If you are taking Diomax a side effect to this drug is unusual bleeding or bruising.

Hi Carol :)

Actually, I have been on diamox for 3 years and just recently stopped it.  The weight loss didnt change the IIH even though they said it would.  When I stopped the diamox is when I noticed the start of the bruising.  I never had any issues previously. 
Did they ever tell you to drink Baking soda and warm water for your Metabolic acidosis?  I would on occasion when the joints would start to hurt or diamox would cause strange sensations.  It works wondered, not good tasting but would help.

What have you noticed thats different that you are off of the Diamox?  Appetite? 
Which doseage were you on?

Have you had your vitamin K or folate level checked lately?

Red,. 

I havent had Vit K or folate checked since Sept.  and I  appearently was not definient then or else im sure they would have told me.  I need to obtain a copy of that bloodwork from the surgeon.  I have never supplemented with Vit K either though, so I would not be surprised.