Bruising Easily - Is Something Wrong??

Alright, so recently I've noticed that I bruise pretty easily.

Its been a good couple of weeks and only just now is the previously enormous bruise on my outer thigh going away. Over the weekend I procured a bruise on my right arm/wrist from playing quarters, at least that one doesn't look as bad as my leg did (which was purple/blue/green/everything). Honestly the bruises all look pretty nasty, not just brownish bumps. They're all red/purplish or just look like they hurt a lot - even though they don't.

Not to mention the numberous other random bruises that I can't even begin to try and figure out how I got (these don't look so nasty).

I don't think its a blood clotting problem, as I donated blood yesterday and didn't bruise at all (which is just weird, as I usually DO bruise when giving blood).

I've tried doing some research and read that losing weight can cause you to bruise more easily, but when I was thinner I never bruised like this at all.

I'm currently taking 80mg Strattera, 20mg Adderall XR, and 40mg Celexa.

Strattera is the only new medicine I'm taking and I've seen a few other people as about whether or not it can cause bruising, but so far all my searches have gone dead ended.

I'm pretty confused and starting to get a little concerned. Are there any foods or vitamins to help with this? I've always had pretty fair/sensitive skin, but if I fall down I don't want it to look like I got into a fist fight.

I don't know if you're medicine would cause bruising you'll have to check that with a doc.

By "quarters" did you mean the drinking game??  Cuz drinking thins your blood make it much easier to bruise. I've gotten many a horrific looking bruise after drinking, even if it was just a drink or two.

Do you ever take asprin? that thins your blood too

oops - double post-

perhaps the bruising could be a deficieny in something. I know blood thinning meds like warferin (sp??) can cause people to bruise easily and conditions which cause the blood to be unable to clott properly also cause this. I think you should really get this checked out to by a doctor as there are more serious illness realted to easy bruising like lukemia and she/ he will be the only one able to give you proper tests and a definative answer.

I never take asprin at all. And yes, by quarters I mean the drinking game. :P

I expect to get a bruise or two from drinking, that much is normal. Honestly the one I got on my leg was what really alarmed me - it looked terrible! I don't drink regularly either, so I know there's no way it could account for all the bruising I've been having.

I was sort of worried it might be a clotting problem, but since I just recently donated blood and its healed just fine.

If it keeps up  I'm going to drop by my university's health clinic and ask. Until then though, does anybody know of any vitamins/foods/lifestyle changes that could possibly help out or improve my body's ability to prevent bruising?

A lot of the bruises don't necessarily show up quickly either. Sometimes it takes a day or two for them to start to really look terrible.

And thanks for all the helpful feedback!

Just wanted to add my two cents...this used to happen to me to. I asked my doc about it once and she told me that people who are pretty stressed out can bruise a lot easier. My guess is that when someone is stressed, your immunity is lower (which is why people sometimes get sick alot when they're stressed) so maybe it just takes a bruise longer to heal when you're stressed out. Just a thought though. I started taking a multivitamin and a Vitamin B complex, and it has seemed to help. But all in all, I would ask a doctor if you are worried, or if the problem prosists.

Thank you for the reply shorty!

I wasn't aware that stress could affect bruising, or at least I hadn't considered it. I've been a ton more stressed than usual lately too (for understandable reasons). I'm not sure if my stress level will be changing any time soon though, but I'll try to remember to take one of the multivitamins I have semi-regularly (I dislike swallowing them) and see if that helps.

If stress can make a difference though, that's probably a pretty big factor in my sudden bruising problem. Thank you very much!

You should go to see your doctor... If you're bruising badly that can by symptomatic of several medical problems and you need to get it checked out.  Quoting from the NHS Direct website....

"Some people are naturally more likely to bruise than others, for example, because they don't have as much fat covering their arms or legs. But if you suddenly get lots of bruises, or start to bruise for no apparent reason, tell your GP. Unusual bruising is sometimes a symptom of illness, such as a problem with your liver or blood-clotting mechanisms."

My regular doctor is currently 2 states away, but I have pretty good insurance, so I'll check with the health clinic until I can set up meeting a doctor through insurance. I know Strattera can in some rare cases cause some sever liver problems, but I've been so busy as of late I forgot completely about it.. I haven't noticed any jaundice or anything, but I've been so busy lately I honestly haven't thought to check. I tend to be pretty sensitive to medicines. Thank you very much for bringing my liver back to my attention!

As for the spot on my arm where I gave blood a few days ago.. its starting to bruise now.. which seems late to me.

I'm sure the drinking doesn't help, but I specifically asked my doctor before leaving for university again whether or not I could occasionally binge drink every so often at parties and such, which he said should be fine as long as I don't do it too regularly.

The liver thing was a smart thing to point out. You're useful as always gi-jane, what would we do without you!

I know that my anemia contributes to my bruising quickly and easily.

Speak to your doctor as soon as you can. Even if you have to give them a call on the phone.

For those who may want to know.

I went to get checked out about my concerns and ask a doctor about it.

More or less, since my worst bruises I could remember how I got them do heal and seem to have been decreasing and my liver seems ok, I was pretty much told to keep an eye on things and if any other symptoms make themselves known or the bruising starts to get worse to go back to the doctors.