Does this sound right

[Robbyn]

I woke up yesterday morning with a very, very dark black eye. My doctor said I probably rubbed my eye too hard. I have been on Coumadin since Feb. and nothing like this has happened before. I am also on 25 mg of Prednisone daily, for a vascular disease and am concerned about this.

Does anyone bruise this easily on Coumadin? Thanks for any insight into this.

Robbyn

[geebee]

Robbyn,
I have never had a black eye from pressure but I have had bruises that occurred during the night. I have a tendency to sleep on my side with my hands pressed between my knees. I have often awakended with bruises on my hands from the pressure of the bones in my knees. My INR has been stable for 24 years so it is just a side effect of being on coumadin. I would think rubbing your eye could also cause the same problem and, since the area around the eye is so sensitive, bruising could look even worse.
Not that it's any of my business, but do you have a bedmate? Perhaps you were "smacked" in the middel of the night by your partner turning over. That has happened to me also, not in the eye but ribs, arms, etc.
I would be concerned if this turns out to be a recurring thing but a one-time bruise is probably "normal".
Smiles, :)
Gina

[thecman321]

This is somewhat common.
There are very fine blood vessels around your eye and skin around your eye.
Doesn't take much to bruise them. Sleeping with your face on your arms is all it takes.

C

[allodwick]

Did you just start the prednisone? Many doctors don't believe that prednisone affects warfarin, but I have seen spectacular bruising from starting prednisone when someone is already on warfarin. You need your INR checked right away.

It appears than less than 20 mg of prednisone per day doesn't do much but above that amount there seems to be problems.

[Ross]

Most certainly get your INR checked right away and I do hope that don't have to keep you on Prednisone too long. That stuff cost me a hip, so it's nothing to be on for the long term. My doseage started out like yours and progressed up to 60mg a day for 5 years.

[Robbyn]

I believe you are right Al. It seems that Prednisone thins the skin. I started on 80 mg in July and now I am down to 25 mg. When you say Prednisone effects Warfarin - do you mean different ways other than bruising. I have been on Coumadin since Feb and still have to go weekly to have my INR checked. Although I do take quite a few new drugs since July. By the way my INR was 3.7 on that day.

Thanks alot for all the responses.

[allodwick]

Large doses of prednisone increase the INR - so they cause bruising.

[Granbonny]

WHY..are you still having to go weekly for your INR testing?11 months now?...Hope you are getting a finger prick and not a blood draw. :eek: Is your INR that much off?........I have thin skin, due to my age..64..and the least little nip from my cat..will make me bleed..but clots just after a few seconds. Then the ugly scab for a few days.. :eek: Other than the cat nips have no bleeding or brusing..My INR today was 3.5..A little on the high side..but will eat more greens. :p Bonnie

[Herb M]

I often find large bruises on different parts of my body for which I do not remember any injury.

[Robbyn]

Hi Bonnie,

Yes, I am still getting blood drawn. I also have very difficult viens. Too deep, so there is basically one vein that works and it's quite scarred now. I usually have it done in the hand now.

Quite frankly I have so many other health problems I have been somewhat ignoring the INR. Two weeks ago it was 5.7 and the next week it was 2.2 and I have no idea why. Perhaps all the drugs I have to take. It is VERY frustrating.

I don't know about the finger prick test. Is this home monitoring? I live in Canada so maybe it is different up here.