Question:
Why am I bruising?

Hi, I am 15 weeks post op. I started at 220 and I am down 60 lbs to 160. When i get home from the gym I look at my legs and I have bruises everywhere. What causes this? Is this a caused by a vitamin defeciency?    — Jennifer L. (posted on October 27, 2001)

October 27, 2001
I just asked my surgeon this 2 weeks ago at my check up. It CAN be a deficiency, but he also said when we lose weight the cushioning that protected the capillaries is no longer there. As a result they are more exposed with very thin walls and when we get bumped they bleed very easily. It takes time for them to develop a thicker wall. At almost a year post I notice I bruise much less than I did.<p> Congrats on the fantastic weight loss!
   — Jo (Part 2) C.

October 27, 2001
Are you taking 2 multi vites? Dry vite E? Vite C? Those can all help with bruising. Dry E helps with hair, skin, nails and capillary walls (more stuff for boys), and since we malabsorb some fats & oils, we no longer get a predictable amount of A, D, or E from our foods.
   — vitalady

October 27, 2001
Jennifer - have you had your blood workup done lately. We are both at 15 weeks. I started at 240 and have lost 63 lbs. I have been noticing bruising all over me for the past two weeks or so. Found out that I am anemic. Have increased iron and they are also watching my B-12, as deficieny in the two and how they interact together can cause what they call pernicious anemia. A symptom of that is the excessive bruising for no reason. Don't mean to scare you, but you might want to have it checked out!
   — gina P.

October 27, 2001
My daughter and I noticed the same "phenomenon". When we asked our surgeon about it, he told us to add extra Vitamin C to our daily vitamin supplements. We did that for several weeks and the problem disappeared completely...don't ask me why, but it worked :-)
   — Diana T.

October 28, 2001
Vitamin C Vitamin C Vitamin C!!
   — michelle R.