Broken blood vessels?......

KaAl, I have some of those too, but I've never thought to ask why - I think there is always so much other stuff going on with me that I forget to mention this to my rheumy when I see him. Hopefully someone else here will know if this might be related to lupus.

Thanks ladies, can you tell me what they look like and how long you've had them? Do they ever do away?

KaAl

The ones on my hands look like I got poked all over with a red ink pin. The ones on my chest streaks of blood vessels some red some purple. The ones on my back are about quarter size and round but others on my back look like a zebra with red stripes. the round ones are more purple. It's pretty hard to explain. My SIL told me the ones on my back look better than they did last time she saw them. But that was 6 months ago. Frankly I havn't noticed them going away.  

carol

I really don't have a clue. I know I went to the doctor it was my first visit to her as I had just moved here. I was running a fever and from my knees to my toes were so swollen the looked like a tree trunk. She asked me if I minded if she looked at my back. So of course I said go for it. She saw these ugly vessels all over my back and said have you ever been tested for lupus? She ran some blood tests and called me back in and said my ANA is 1 2560 and my sed rate was way high. lots of other things I can't remember now.

I want to make it clear though. My PCP is convinced I have lupus but I have had another rheumy say I was fine and one said I have Primary Billiary Cirrosis. Which is another A/I. So what you have may be completely different from what I have. I do know that some A/I does cause your blood vessels to tighten up and cut off the circulation to your hands and feet.

This disease is so dang frustrating. I'm been coming here for a long time and I still have more questions than answers. Hopfully somone else will see this and have some better answers for ya.

hugs

carol 

butterflake, did you mean broken blood vessels? If you don't mind, what does yours look like?

Canuk, what does your broken blood vessels look like? Little dots or short little vessels? Are they actually broken cappilaries?

KaAl

Hi everyone - I'm starting to get these, too. Is there a way to PREVENT more from arriving? Is it just as simple as avoiding too much sunlight?
thanks,
Townsend

Hi,

  I get the red dots from lupus on my hands, arms and legs. The dots come and go for me. When I take prednisone I get the broken cappillaries on my face. They go away when I stop the pred.

                                                              Babs

Hey Meg . . . Sorry you have a new issue to deal with. A scary one at that. Thing is, ignoring it is SO much worse. If they can identify an issue, they can treat it agressively and help you hold onto your health as long as possible. Do keep us posted on this sis. . . . start a new string when you see the neuro. . . I know others will want to follow your progress. I see you have Lupus and Crohns . . . do your lupus meds help your Crohns?? does pred help crohns?? I have been dealing with spells of inflammatory bowel and I am sure that the anti-inflams I take do help it . . . but I have a script now for medrol dose pack in case I have a flare and was wondering if that would also help the bowel inflammation. Thanks for your help. Blessings!

*sigh* . . . This is such a tough decision. Thank you so much for your help . . . I'm just getting my breath back from another attack . . . darned. OK . . . I'm going for the dose pack . . . I hope it helps faster than three days . . . but I bet we all would like immediate relief of our junk. Thanks so much, Meg, for your help! KaAl . . . . SO sorry I highjacked your string . . . thanks sis. Blessings!

No prob Rosie, highjack awayyyyyyyyyy!!!


canuck, yup that's what I have, tiny little blood vessels......I had these on my arms ever since I can remember but recently i noticed them on my chest, yuck!!

KaAl

I wanted to put in my $0.02, I have had a horse shoe shaped broken capillary pattern on the last 2 - 3 ribs also a small spot on my right bicep, and one at the base of my SCM near the collar bone.  I believe they are from sitting too much folded forward causing pressure and lack of blood to that area.  Breathing from the chest seems to be a big proponent of continuous forward folding.  Slouching with my shoulders against the back of the chair and my low back on the seat was a common position for me.  Much of the way through High School and College I played a LOT of video games, mostly computer at first but then I went on to console.  When I say a lot, I mean a lot.  Talking about 8 hours+ a day for many years, sometimes extending into 36 or 48 hour stints - though those were extreme and didn't occur frequently.  I have since quelled this behavior.

I highly doubt I have Lupus, I normally get over any sickness within a day or so and barely get sick.  The key I am trying to work on is pushing the bottom of the rib cage and upper middle chest out and up.  Also trying to expose my torso to sun as it hasn't seen it in years.  As for the bicep spot?  That was my mousing hand, incredible stress for long periods of time on the arm.  The neck?  The SCM on that side will not relax, due to scoliosis and sciatic pain causing me to shift and turn for long periods.  There are also some pretty intense trigger points in those areas too which are maintaining the pressure, tightness and lack of blood flow.  I have been trying to address them but there are so many from all this abuse and I work in an office at a computer all day so that isn't helping.

Don't know if that helps any, I have been to doctor's and they have seen this and none have mentioned any kind of lupus.

And I am not saying that this is everyones reason for having them, just that in my experience this has been the case for me and may help those with similar patterns.