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Has anyone else had bruising issues in treatment? I've had all kinds of bruises show up all over my body, many of them I either don't remember their originating injury, or they are just surfacing from my system, or from past wounds. And they take a very long time to go away.
Since it's summer and they are often exposed, a lot of people are pointing them out to me, being very concerned, and asking me if I've had a test for anemia.
To me, this is just one more way that it's very hard to explain this condition to people around me. Thank god my husband understands. A few of my other friends seem to keep forgetting that I'm dealing with this, or they want to be reminded of the details again, because it's so foriegn to them. So, the bruising is an outward manifestation that prompts the questioning.
Bruising
I have not had excess bruising through treatment. Maybe you should have a blood test to see if you are anemic?
bruising
i have--and I'm not anemic. I got this really intense rash--then I scratched it and I was covered in bruises. Someone actually asked me if my boyfriend was beating me! Matia says this is actually very common--so I wouldn't worry.
Breaking it down
Hi Camille,
Glad to hear that you got that book (IBS) Anyhow, what I got from that book is because our intestines cannot absorb nutrients properly read that minerals, vitamins, etc that essentially, we are all starving as IC patients. Vitamins play such a critical role in so many enzymatic processes in the body. Vitamin especially is important in carbohydrate metabolism and other things. Vitamin C and E play a double role in repairing the body and then removing free radicals from damage. So... long story super short... if we cannot absorb our vitamins because of damaged intestines, we cannot function properly... Healing bruises is a HUGE enzymatic process that goes on in the body and requires several nutrients. I bruise very easily and some of them I am wondering where in the heck I got it from.
As the intestines heal, then we can properly absorb nutrients and then carry on with our bodily functions in an efficient manner. I "feel" you though... it is very scary. I don't like seeing random bruises on my body.
Hope this helps... Let me know what you think of IBS for dummies. I think you will find it very informative. I skip over some of the western stuff but just because that is in there, doesn't discount the rest of the information.
Take care,
Jeanette
If we are not absorbing
If we are not absorbing vitamins because of damaged intestines, isn't that essentially Celiac disease? Is that what we all have? I don't think so, but it sounds similar. Does anyone here have that too who can better explain? I have not been tested but gave up gluten for a couple years and definitely felt a difference (for the better). Matia says we don't need to live gluten free once we are back in balance. I'm confused.
Similiar symptoms different diseases
Celiacs is an allergy specifically to the protein called gluten found in wheat including spelt and rye. It is unknown as to whether or not oats cause a problem for celiac patients and they are advised to stay away. The cause of celiacs is thought to be genetic and there are a TON of markers and tests done to see if one has it. Interestingly the markers looked for in men are different in women. (I am personally not buying that celiacs is a genetic disease, but that is what the "experts" say)
An IC patient could in theory have ceiacs, but IC patients do have necessarily have celiacs if that makes sense. They are two separate things. (very interestingly though, I "googled" IC and celiacs together and many celiacs patients also have IC--- I think it is because there is just wide spread inflammation everywhere) It is like saying an IC patient can also have cancer, but most IC patients do not.
Anyhow, I believe that gluten (for celiacs) and yeast/bacteria (for IC) patients tear up and destroy the intestinal lining thus making it difficult for absorbtion of nutrients. So... even though the cause of the intestinal damage is different, the overall symptoms look the same. I guess maybe a good analogy would be the difference between someone who has pneumonia and someone who has TB. Both are going to cause crazy coughing, maybe even blood, and spots on the lungs in an x-ray, but both diseases are caused by completely different bacteria.