1. < Autoimmune Diseases

Five days in hospital, no answers: Leg pain and bruising

Posted by longlostbrat @longlostbrat, May 7, 2022

Hello!
My 20 year old son and I were just released from a local hospital after five days and told, "Follow up with a hematologist, rheumatologist, and dermatologist." No one at the hospital had seen this before. I'm thinking the more eyes, the better, so maybe someone here has seen this.
He started with severe leg pain in the back of the left knee. He has a high tolerance for pain because he's had many medical procedures throughout his life including three open heart surgeries due to a congenital heart defect. After the pain came very light bruising in maybe two places, and petecheia all over both legs. This then became bruising all over both legs. The pictures were taken today. The pain started on April 25th, so as you can see, this has been a rapid progression.
His bloodwork over the course of the last five days showed that there was some sort of infection somewhere, though they could not locate it. His wbc count when we went to the hospital on Monday was 4.1. When they released us yesterday, it was 3.08. I don't know if there is any significance to that.
Anyway, I was just hoping someone has see something like this before and can point us in the right *or any!) direction.
Many thanks,
Robyn

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lmw | @lmw | May 9, 2022

Vasculitis and HSP can occur after a Covid infection. If the infection wasn't diagnosed he can have a blood test to check for Covid antibodies. A lot of people experience a Covid infection without any symptoms, or just a mild symptom like runny nose, although the virus can cause blood vessel damage even in a case that seemed very mild or asymptomatic.

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2 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 9, 2022
In reply to @lmw "Vasculitis and HSP can occur after a Covid infection. If the infection wasn't diagnosed he can..." + (show)
@lmw

Vasculitis and HSP can occur after a Covid infection. If the infection wasn't diagnosed he can have a blood test to check for Covid antibodies. A lot of people experience a Covid infection without any symptoms, or just a mild symptom like runny nose, although the virus can cause blood vessel damage even in a case that seemed very mild or asymptomatic.

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Welcome @lmw, It sounds like you may have some experience with similar symptoms. Do you mind sharing how you found Connect, were you searching for answers for a question you have?

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lmw | @lmw | May 9, 2022

Yes, thank you. I found an answer to my health question at Mayo Clinic Connect.

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longlostbrat | @longlostbrat | May 9, 2022
In reply to @lmw "Vasculitis and HSP can occur after a Covid infection. If the infection wasn't diagnosed he can..." + (show)
@lmw

Vasculitis and HSP can occur after a Covid infection. If the infection wasn't diagnosed he can have a blood test to check for Covid antibodies. A lot of people experience a Covid infection without any symptoms, or just a mild symptom like runny nose, although the virus can cause blood vessel damage even in a case that seemed very mild or asymptomatic.

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Hi, @lmw

Thank you for your input! He’s been vaxxed and boosted: no sign of COVID antibodies.

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longlostbrat | @longlostbrat | May 9, 2022

Thank you to everyone for your ideas so far! We came to the ED at VCU yesterday and were admitted. Hematology is high on the list of people seeing Sebastian, along with rheumatology and dermatology and a whole slew of people have already looked at him. The pediatric cardiology team have also already seen him. It’s very comforting. No local ED for us anymore.

I’ll let you all know when we have a diagnosis. Thank you, again, so much!

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3 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 9, 2022
In reply to @longlostbrat "Thank you to everyone for your ideas so far! We came to the ED at VCU..." + (show)
@longlostbrat

Thank you to everyone for your ideas so far! We came to the ED at VCU yesterday and were admitted. Hematology is high on the list of people seeing Sebastian, along with rheumatology and dermatology and a whole slew of people have already looked at him. The pediatric cardiology team have also already seen him. It’s very comforting. No local ED for us anymore.

I’ll let you all know when we have a diagnosis. Thank you, again, so much!

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@longlostbrat Good you followed your instincts. Now, please remember to take care of yourself, too. Deep breath, grab a cup of coffee or tea, try to relax. You've got this, you have Sebastian in capable hands now.

And please come back here for more support and let us know how Sebastian and you are both doing, okay? I care!
Ginger

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Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | May 9, 2022
In reply to @longlostbrat "Thank you to everyone for your ideas so far! We came to the ED at VCU..." + (show)
@longlostbrat

Thank you to everyone for your ideas so far! We came to the ED at VCU yesterday and were admitted. Hematology is high on the list of people seeing Sebastian, along with rheumatology and dermatology and a whole slew of people have already looked at him. The pediatric cardiology team have also already seen him. It’s very comforting. No local ED for us anymore.

I’ll let you all know when we have a diagnosis. Thank you, again, so much!

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@longlostbrat I’m so happy to hear that!! Too bad the other hospital didn’t send Sebastian to VCU in the first place!
Now that you know Sebastian is in good hands, you can take a break. Richmond must be gorgeous in the spring.
Please stay in touch. Like @gingerw says, we care about you and your son!

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artist01 | @artist01 | May 29, 2022
In reply to @astaingegerdm "Having worked in Pediatrics I thought of a condition like the one your son has now..." + (show)
@astaingegerdm

Having worked in Pediatrics I thought of a condition like the one your son has now called Henoch Schönlein Purpura, HSP, a type of temporary vasculitis. Most cases are seen in children, but it has been seen in adults too. I attach the link to the Mayo Clinic description https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/henoch-schonlein-purpura/symptoms-causes/syc-20354040
It looks like a vasculitis of some kind- basically an inflammation of small blood vessels- immune system related.
HSP mostly appears on the lower extremities.

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Hello @astaingegerdm.
I'm a bit shy to post this msg online since many of the Mayo Clinic Connect gang know me for having 'way too many autoimmune conditions, as well as multi-other diseases. However, your post caught my eye! Besides your having many autoimmune illnesses, as I do, you've mentioned being familiar with
'henoch schonlein
purpura'. The photo you posted looks very similar to the picture I'll attempt to post here. It's a photo of my legs on the 2nd day of a 3-day hospitalization for Prednisone infusion to help counteract my loss of vision caused by Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA).
I've had no luck in getting a diagnosis for my legs, which are also very painful and numb-ish from the knee down. My feet are quite red by morning. My own research queried 'vasculitis' but my former neurologist (I've recently moved) suggested 'veinous stasis'. I've been a controlled diabetic too. I see a new neurologist on June 2nd regarding my GCA and all its problems, so I'm hoping to bring this matter up with her too because of the painfully sleepless nights. If I don't manage to attach the two pictures herein, I'll keep trying. P.S. I had a stroke that same day! Would love to hear from you.

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artist01 | @artist01 | May 29, 2022

Hi @astaingegerdm
I didn't manage to attach photo in my msg so here's the first one. The right leg is swollen due to a developing DVE and subsequent stroke.

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