Skin Disease?

[Jasko]

Hello my dad had an Aortic Valve replacement and Maze Procedure done 4 months ago he has been doing really good . He started working 2 weeks ago and now we started to notice on his back and chest RED DOTS everywhere and some on his legs , there aren't any on his arms. I was wondering if anyone knew to what it might be related. Could it be because of his job cause he sweats alot, he works in a t-shirt so that area is open there aren't any red dots there? He is going to see the doctor tomorrow.

Anyone

Thanks in advance

 

[tobagotwo]

What type of valve did he receive? Is he on Coumadin?

Best wishes,

 

[Cris N]

Make sure the dr gets a full list of ALL medications he's on. Many of them advise against sun exposure. Could be any number of things - something as simple as overloading the washing machine and not getting the soap rinsed out well enough can cause a rash. Does it itch? Or hurt?

 

[Mary]

Sounds like those dots Rain gets. Remember, she said she can tell if her INR is high by looking at her legs and seeing them.
I can't remember the name; maybe someone else will.

 

[PJmomrunner]

I wonder if high INR would cause one's skin to be more sensitive/reactive to a contact dermatitis irritant (perhaps to detergent, as Cris suggested)? Is this Rain's issue?

 

[Jasko]

Thanks for the replies, BTW he had an metal valve replacement and yes he is on coumadin.

Anybody else has any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Yaps]

May be his b/p..when mine is to high I get those dots on my arms and legs... I think its the vascular system pushing to hard...hope he is ok..love the pup

 

[Mb]

Hello!

My guess is that the Dr. will say it is the coumaden. My husband gets these same dots, from time to time. I can't say they seem to be related to anything.....like sun, stress, over working. Just one of the many minor things that can happen with that particular life saving drug.

Good luck to your Dad. And, God bless you for caring enough to do some research.

Marybeth

 

[Mary]

I wonder if high INR would cause one's skin to be more sensitive/reactive to a contact dermatitis irritant (perhaps to detergent, as Cris suggested)? Is this Rain's issue?

No,
It's not a reactive condition except to a higher INR. If I get time, I'll look back through Rain's posts. Of course, if Rain sees this, maybe she'll reply herself.

 

[Jasko]

Well my dad was by the doctor today and she told him it's nothing to worry aobut it will go away in 6-7 weeks its porbaly due to him switching to new clothes that were laying around for a while in a closet she said

 

[gijanet]

Petechiae

Petechiae

Sounds like petechiae to me. Katie has had a petechial rash a couple of times. Might want to check it out if your dad is on aspirin or coumadin just to be safe, but I would point blank ask if it is petechiae or not as it might not occur to his GP. J.

 

[Jasko]

Whats petechiae and yes he is on Coumadin?

Thanks

 

[gijanet]

Petechiae

Petechiae

Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you as this is probably nothing to worry about, but I would get it doublechecked just to be safe. The concern, as I understand it, would be with the platelet count.

Katie has had two incidences of petechiae. The first time I thought it was a heat rash because it was just on her trunk - front and back, where her clothes rubbed and it was summer. Her ped, though, immediately diagnosed it as petechiae. Katie was on just aspirin therapy at the time - not coumadin, but her ped ordered a blood test anyway to check her platelet count. Her platelet count was a little below the norm, but nothing to be concerned about, and the petechiae went away after a few days. The second time I knew what it was and took her in. The ped ordered a blood test again just to be safe. Again, Katie's platelet count was a bit low, but nothing to be overly concerned about. Just as before, we did nothing different, and it went away on its own as before.

So, it wouldn't hurt to run this back by your dad's GP, especially if he is not well-versed in coumadin. I have to confess that we are new to coumadin, too, but I assume that the concern would still be with the platelet count.........dunno if that would mean that the INR is too high, too........maybe someone else on here could shed some light on that.

Here is one site's definition of petechiae (sorry I can't remember which one I got it off of, but if you google it, I'm sure you can find some stuff):

Definition of Petechiae
Petechiae: Pinpoint flat round red spots under the skin surface caused by intradermal hemorrhage (bleeding into the skin). Petechiae are red because they contain red blood that has leaked from the capillaries into the skin. Petechiae are quite tiny (less than 3 millimeters in diameter) and do not blanch when pressed upon.

There are many conditions in which petechiae may be seen. These conditions range from very minor to very major. The common causes of petechiae include local injury and trauma, allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases, viral infections that impair blood coagulation (clotting), thrombocythemia (an abnormally high platelet level), certain medical treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), leukemia and other bone marrow malignancies that may lower the number of platelets, and sepsis (bloodstream infection). Petechiae are commonly seen right after birth in the newborn and after violent vomiting or coughing. Drugs such as the anticoagulants warfarin (Coumadin) or heparin, aspirin, and cortisone can also cause petechiae.
--------------
Again, please remember that Katie had it twice and was fine both times. I just thought I should alert you that this is a possibility and might be worth keeping an eye on. I truly hope this helps and didn't mean to alarm you. Hugs. J.

 

[Jasko]

Thank you much, it sounds ot me like that those are really small dots (3 millimiters) , however my dads are much bigger, he saw the doctor today and she said it's just a rash that will go away in about 6 weeks. He also had a bloodtest done just to see what his INR is .


Thank you all

 

[gijanet]

Oh, I am so glad............

Oh, I am so glad............

I would think that if his INR is fine, then everything should be okay. Did they say what it was, or do you have to call back tomorrow? With Katie's lab draws, we are never able to find out until much later that afternoon or the next day.

Anyway, I am glad that there is no need for concern. Hugs. Janet

 

[Jasko]

Hello well my dad had blood taken out yesterday so they called him and said to start taking 4mg of Coumadin now instead of 5, which is fine by us. However this morning he noticed a big oval shaped rash(not sure) I mean it doesn't itch, it doesnt hurt or anything and when you press on it id doesn't become pale, its pretty big in size, probably about 4.5cm or around 2 inches.Anyone has any ideas?

Thank you Jasko

 

[Jasko]

Hello, well not it started to appear on his arms as well and it itches there too? Anybody any ideas what kind of rash it could be?

Thanks Jasko

 

[gijanet]

Ya might want to........

Ya might want to........

post a new thread under the anticoagulation forum since this sounds like it just might be coumadin related. How long has his dosage been upped? It should take about three days to fully load into his system. We are too new to coumadin ourselves to offer you much more insight, but the gurus usually do check the anticoag thread. Good luck and hope it gets better soon. Hugs. J.