hi Eve,

sounds awful !!

ni i haven't ever had that problem ... i insist i press with a cotton pad after my Bloods to limit the bruise you would expect to get but nothing more.

if it doesn't improve i would be inclined to make an appointment with your GP Nurse.

Suzanne x

Hi Eve

It sounds very unusual, is it painful to touch? If it appeared soon after the blood was taken it sounds as though there may be a less obvious link. Did someone grip your arm tightly whilst taking the blood? Some drugs, such as methotrexate, can increase the possibility of bruising.

I think I would feel inclined to get it checked if you are unable to account for it. Hope it settles soon.

Lyn x

thanks for your responses and I did get myself to the gp nurse yesterday after the consultant suggested that I get my platelets checked. her view was that there would probably be nothing wrong with my platelets as they were great just two weeks ago and she thinks the vein was blown, where the vein is punctured twice, once with the initial insertion and then again (perhaps at the side) accidentally. pressure at the first puncture site would not have stemmed the flow from another puncture site and the blood flows into the surrounding tissues. Anyway it is nicely yellow-turning 8 inch bruise but my mind has been put at rest.
.....eve x