Bruising with swelling sensation

Lately the rate at which I'm gaining new signs and symptoms seems to be accelerating.

The newest one is what is happening to my legs. I'm used to chronic pain and allodynia throughout my whole body, but this is different. My legs feel VERY tender and sore and swollen. They don't look swollen... But they do look bruised. I keep getting bruises all over my legs that fade in and out. A bruise will be there for a few hours, disappear for another few hours, then come back again. Even when you can't see the bruises, my legs still feel just as tender, swollen and painful. Again, there is no swelling but just the sensation of swelling.

This has been developing and worsening over the last fortnight to the point where I can't ignore it now, because it's so painful.

What is causing this? Is it part of fibromyalgia?

I have had my ANA tested twice before, and I'm about to get it tested again.

3 years ago:
ANA 1:160 for speckled and homogenous
Comment: check for SLS and other autoimmune diseases if clinically indicated.

1 year ago:
ANA 1:160 for speckled and homogenous
Comment: no increase in ANA so not indicative of autoimmune disease. 5% of the healthy population have an ANA of 1:160.

Now:
about to have ANA levels tested again.


I recently started taking the birth control pill again. I always used to take this and never reacted to it this way before. I tried going off it half a year ago but all I ended up with was 5 months of having my heavy period again. I get really bad menstruation and I just got sick of it so I asked to be put back on the pill again. I read that the pill can cause this reaction, but I was on it for almost 3 years before and never reacted to it before. Could this be a new reaction to the pill?

Malar rash - at least it looks like it
Oral ulcers
Blood disorder - possibly
Abnormal ANA
Serositis - possibly, I get acid reflux pain, panic attack pain AND chest pain that is worse with deep breathing
Neurological - sometimes I think I have mini seizures, and other times I'm not sure if I'm just hyperactive and not clear-thinking, or if I get psychosis
Anti-DNA antibodies... I seem to remember having an abnormal blood test result to do with anti-DNA

It does sound familiar, but I don't have swelling, photosensitivity or hair loss. I have only the sensation of swelling.

My legs always feel achey, swollen, tender, and they do bruise easily, but the bruises stay for more than a few hours. I have varicose veins, so have always associated the discomfort with that.

Hi I'm new to this site, my rheumatologist advised i do CBT but i came across this and decided i should get in contact with people in a similar situation to myself. I was diagnosed in 2010 with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and antiphospholipid syndrome. I to have the sensation of bruised and swollen legs but recently i have started with pain and tenderness in both my achilles tendons. I am also experiencing really bad brain fog with a bad memory, pins and needles throughout my body and muscle spasms in my hands. I am in constant pain, cannot exercise and have had a gain in weight. Can anyone at all help with advice as to what I can try or any pain relief I could try from my Doctor. My sleep pattern is all over the place and it is driving me to distraction and affecting my husband's sleep as well.