Poz on meds - do you bruise easy and heal slowly?

[Malesack]

Trying to determine if having thinner skin resulting in bleeding and bruising is a result of HIV or just aging.  Haven’t really found an answer anywhere I’ve looked.

Ex:  If you scrape your arm or leg on something gently and it seems to bleed or bruise easily, is it likely related to HIV (meds or no meds)?  Do cuts or bruises that used to heal in a few days seem to take a month?

[PozToxVersPig]

Most/all HIV medications influence your blood comp - which is why, if you're tested for VL/CDF, you'll also probably get a CBC (comp blood count).  Depending on your schedule with your doctor, this might be as frequently as every 3 months.

The HIV meds generally influence your platelets, white/red blood cells count(s), and iron levels [all influence clotting, vascular system things.  There are some supplements (Vit K, not iron - it can fuck with your meds) that can help but talk to your Dr.

If you get a significant bruise (I did many times) you can try:  1) mark the outer edge with a black permanent marker (if it's somewhere it won't be seen) - you want to watch for ongoing growth of the bruise after the first TWO days.  2)  After 24 hours it shouldn't continue swelling, have any discharge, etc.  If it spreads / swells after those timelines, I'd see your doctor.  3) cold compress for 15 minutes.  The bruise is not likely to do #1/#2.

[Erik62]

Fortuneately, I have never had problems with bleeding or healing because CA treatment & joint replacements etc could have made life very difficult at best or deadly at worst.