Just noticed this today: MDS and bruising?

Good morning, @twitt1949 Last week I think we chatted about unexpected bruising, along with the bleeding gums you’re experiencing. This can be directly related to the decrease in platelets that we talked about. Platelets are cells in the blood responsible for helping blood to clot. When there are fewer platelets circulating in the blood stream there may be a tendency to see little signs of bruising on the body, sometimes for no apparent reason.

If you notice that the area is warm, swollen or painful then it’s a good idea to have a doctor check it out to make sure it’s not a blood clot. But considering your other symptoms it seems logical that it is due to your MDS side effects.
Since this seems to be above the sock line, were you doing a lot of standing yesterday?

Hi Lori
Well I'm always on my feet, walking around, working in the shop etc. The first thing I noticed was a slightly firm, dime size bump on the outside of my calf half way between my knee and my ankle. Kind of like when you get stung by a ground bee, but I don't recall it hurting. Then one day later the bump disappeared and looks like the picture on the other side of my calf. Not painful but is a little sore if I push on the upper yellowish area. No bump any more and turning blueish/yellowish down to the arch of my foot. I don't think its anything to worry about right now but I'll keep an eye on it.
You could be and are probably right about platelets and I don't recall bumping or anything happening to it. Thank you for reminding me about the platelets and what the lack of can cause.
My wife has been reading all our conversations and she has been very impressed with you and your knowledge of MDS. She said to thank you.

One thing I've noticed the last 8 hrs is both of my legs don't feel right. They are kind of tingling and are somewhat uncomfortable. If I move them around it does make them feel a little better but not normal. No more additional discoloring, just feel weird. Actually the blue and yellow is disappearing/fading away. Does this sound like just part of MSD? As time goes on, what are normal signs that MDS is progressing?

@twitt1949 When we have a diagnosis of anything, we tend to then blame every new symptom, twinge, or what have you, on the disease we’ve been handed. I’ve gone through that too.

With the decrease in platelet levels and maybe some of your other blood numbers too, you have a lower volume of blood/liquid circulating through your system. Your circulation may change as well. The symptom you’re describing this morning, with the tingling that improves when you walk around, might be circulation issues in your legs from standing in one place for any length of time. So it might be helpful to make sure you stay well hydrated to pump up the volume, take frequent walks for a few minutes or longer and, take time out during the day to lie down and elevate your legs. To do that properly, your legs should be over your heart. I just suggested this to another member yesterday, to get legs over your heart. Lie down on the sofa and swing your leg or legs up onto the back of the sofa. Fifteen or twenty minutes or so, a couple times per day will help with circulation. See if that helps.
The blue and yellow disappearing from your bruised area is totally normal. It is the body resorbing the damaged cells and repairing the tissue. It’s all good. ☺️

Please ask your doctor for a CBC with differential (if not doing this routinely already). This quick/easy/cheap blood test will show if you have a problem with platelets. As a person with known MDS, you are at risk for AML.
AML can begin very suddenly, with fatigue, bruising, or severe infections, depending on which blood cell lines fall first. Your bruises might be caused by low platelets. My AML was diagnosed because I asked my hematologist to follow-up when all my blood cell lines suddenly fell below normal levels (discovered with a CBC with differential). I went from pre-leukemia to full-on disease in 2 very short months.
There is nothing excessive in routine CBC monitoring to ensure that an AML transition is not missed.
Best of luck to you!