Question:
I was wondering what can cause constant bruising?

I was wondering what can cause bruising?I know that my Iron was low at my one month visit with the surgeon so I have taken my iron every day. Then my potassium was low so I was put on potassium pills. I take all my supplements. Of course I will call my doctor but I bruise and then they last so long. It is all over my legs. Any ideas? 6/27/03 292/230 -62lbs    — horserider0146 (posted on September 11, 2003)

September 11, 2003
Great question, I'm wondering about this myself. I notice one bruise on my lower thigh yesterday and today I have a few more bruise near both my wrist. At my last visit, my doc told me it was too soon to do more blood work, so I wasn't worried about it, but now I'm not so sure. I see my surgeon on the 24, which I usually end up feeling like it's a waste of my time. I'm off to do some research on bruising.
   — Rosa F.

September 11, 2003
What KIND of iron? Do you take them with vit C? How much vit C in a day do you take? Not counting what's in your multis, of course. That's only a drop.
   — vitalady

September 11, 2003
Within 2-3 months of our WLS, both my daughter and I started noticing "painless" bruising that just popped up all over our legs. We asked our surgeon, and he told us to add an additional 500 mg. Vitamin C tablet to our daily multivitamin. He suggested that we take the additional Vitamin C for 4-6 weeks. The bruising was gone within two weeks, and we have not had that problem again in the past 3 1/2 years post-op. There are, however, several things that can cause increased bruising, so I would advise that you notify your MD of the problem. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

September 11, 2003
Vit. K deficiency can also be a part of it.
   — Chris T.

September 12, 2003
Definitely a vitamin issue, not minerals...talk to your dietician or PCP, see if you should double up on your multi-vitamins or take some extra C. Good luck!!!
   — Deborah M.

September 12, 2003
I was brusing like crazy and my vitamins were all in top-notch shape!! For me, it was losing fat... the blood veins that service the fat retract, and the blood that was there has to go SOMEWHERE, so it creates a bruise! If your vities are in the mid-to upper normal range, I wouldn't worry... it is just your body losing fat and clearing out the old blood! :~) My entire abdomen was full of bruises for MONTHS... and my legs had bruises like crazy... I kept freaking out over it and my doc kept doing blood work and everything kept being just fine!! lol... I lost 212 lbs in 16 months, though... so that was why I bruised so badly! :~)
   — Sharon m. B.