Baby aspirin & bruising

[harrie]

My oncologist has started me on 81mg (baby aspirin) per day for the prevention of a recurrance. I have been on it for 2 wks now and have recently noticed significant large bruises on my leg.
He said I may be quite sensitive to the aspirin so to discontinue for now.
Has anyone experienced significant bruising from baby aspirin?

[Ellie F]

Hi Harrie
Having had a recent encounter with low platelets the onc and haematologist both told me that some people's platelets are very sensitive to even small amounts of blood 'thinners' like aspirin, fish oil etc.
Did he check your platelets?? I know as soon as mine start falling even a little bit below the normal range I start noticing bruising on my knees and shins.
Ellie

[ElaineM]

Ellie is right. Please check your platelets. Aspirin is a blood thinner among other things. You might want to ask your oncologist if you can use another cox 2 inhibitor like Motrin instead of aspirin if you continue to get the bruising. If the bruising continues after that you might want to get a complete blood count and a blood chemistry test to check for other problems.
Some omega 3 oil, dark green leafy vegetables, dark purple fruits, foods with a little iron and a spoon a day of sesame oil may help the platelets. My platelets went down and those are the things my naturopath suggested I eat. My platelets more than tripled in two weeks after following his suggestions.

[Jean]

Harrie,
Try cutting the amount to every other day.
This is what I did and now no black/blue...

Good Luck.
Jean

[Cathya]

Maryanne;

I had a lot of trouble with bruising until my onc told me to stop taking extra vitamins, etc. and only take what he precribed....ie. arimidex, actonel, vit D, calcium, a multi-vitamin. Even now taking blood thinners and other medication for my stroke I no longer bruise.

Cathy

[harrie]

Thanks everyone. I found something great for getting rid of bruises....Arnica! A natural remedy for skins problems like bruises. Works very well.
I read somewhere that 2 - 5 tablets of baby aspirin is sufficient for getting the benefits of inhibiting recurrances.
I cut out my Omega 3 fish oil supplements since it can be anticoagulating.
After all the bruises are gone, will reintroduce slowly.

Jean, how significant were your buises?
Maryanne

[StephN]

As I read down this thread I was going to suggest Arnica which comes in various forms. But, you got "there" first.

I take Arnica Montana by Boiron. Also comes in cream and massage oil forms which I find very useful.

If I get a bruise, I use both and internal and external version to speed the bruise healing.

P.S. Works for sore muscles as well.

[harrie]

This is the first time I have ever tried the arnica. Got the gel form. It is AMAZING on how fast my big dak bruise disappeared!

[harrie]

Just to let you know that all the bruising stopped when I stopped the baby aspirin. Have resumed back on it now on a 3x/wk freequency. So far so good.