Finger print bruises

My daughter was getting changed after swimming today and I could see another mum really looking at all her bruises. Her body, back and bottom (front and back) are totally covered in bruises and petechiae at the moment. When we got home I was looking at her bruises and realised that there were some on her back that were obviously from four fingers. We must have just picked her up and it bruised her. It's a good job we now know there is a medical reason for my daughters bruising or I'm sure social services would be round in the next couple of days.

Ha! That sounds familiar. I spent last weekend telling my son to put a jumper on over his T-shirt because the bruising on his arms looked so bad - like someone had taken a piece of two by four to him! And on holiday two years ago, I spent half a day with a dictionary, trying to work out how to explain ITP in Spanish, so convinced was I that someone would call their social services. I think you've just got to ignore the stares - easier said than done though I know!

Ali :laugh:

Even though other people shouldn't stare, you know that they do, and of course many of them will conclude that your child must be being abused! Even though it's a pain, you might want to just take the lead when you see someone staring and speak up and explain to them that your daughter has a blood disorder in which her platelets are very low, so she bruises easily from just about everything. You do a few things in the process: one, you're educating one person at a time, so that one of these days, people will recognize ITP, as readily as they do when they hear "diabetes". Who knows, maybe one day one of those people will encounter it in their own family! Two, you break the ice and the tension, and I think most people can accept an explanation like that. I can imagine that most of them are well-meaning and really are concerned for your child. Saying something will put their mind at ease, and, in turn, yours. Who knows? It may be an introduction to a new friend, too.

Also, I posted a thread in the Natural Treatments section a few weeks ago, on homeopathic remedies that can help with various kinds of bruises. Most are oral homeopathic remedies, but I've also listed some that are topical, and a few that are just natural substances that you can use. You might want to check that out, if you are inclined to a more natural approach, and want something that is safe and won't interfere with other treatments. Here's the link:
www.pdsa.org/forum/8-natural-treatment-methods/13113-homeopathic-remedies-for-various-kinds-of-bruises/

Good luck!
April

I must say i still cover up when i have bruises all my legs and arms. I don't think people will think my parents are responsible now (i am 25), but they may think i have a boyfriend who abuses me and i just don't like the look of them either. They stand out and look ugly and hidiuous

The day Tim woke up with bruises and petechiea all over his body I took him to the pediatrician and told them what I thought he had (since its in his dad's family I already knew). In the peds office I had to hold him to get a cbc. When he was admitted to the hospital he had a huge handprint (mine) on his back (bruised of course). When a nurse saw it, even knowing what was going on with his platelets, she looked at me like I had beaten him. That night he ended up with bruises in the shape of wrinkles from his sheet. Another time he had petechiae a police officer (this was when he was 12 and his ODD (behavior disorder) was full force. I had to restrain him to keep him from jumping over our balcony. I called the police to get him under control and when they got there one of them was trying to get the other to agree I had abused him. Thankfully the one in charge kept telling her that it wasn't abuse and they left after getting him under control.