The big bruise I failed to pay attention to turned out to be a blood clot

“How long has this been here?” the doctor asked about a huge purple bruise on my left calf muscle he spotted while checking my legs, ankles, and feet for swelling and pitting. I’d been dealing with runaway edema for weeks, so I hadn’t given it much thought.

I live with several rare and chronic autoimmune and connective tissue diseases, particularly atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), since 2020, and immune thrombocytopenia, since 2018. Both diseases contribute to frequent bruising because they make me anemic, so the slightest bump into a chair or corner of a table can leave a mark.

I realized the bruise had been there for weeks. Longer than usual, for sure, and it hadn’t changed or faded at all. I could already tell by my doctor’s tone that he was going to add an ultrasound to the long list of tests he was ordering, to check for a blood clot.

Recommended Reading

Aug. 31, 2026 News by Margarida Maia, PhD

Blood disease helps trigger aHUS after childbirth in woman in rare case

My most recent medical mystery

I was at the doctor’s that day because I’d had several symptoms that weren’t normal for me — blood pressure spikes, increased pain in my joints and lower legs, chest pain, severe acid reflux, dizziness, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome flares, abnormal bruising, and kidney failure.

The week before, my medical team was most concerned with getting my blood pressure under control and reducing my lower-extremity swelling. My blood pressure was averaging 195/165 mmHg at most rechecks, putting me at risk of a stroke or heart attack, so I was placed on high doses of two types of water pills, furosemide and chlorthalidone.

This combination worked a miracle. Within six days, the edema in my lower legs and eyes was gone, my blood pressure was down to 140/80 mmHg, and I had no more chest pain. Plus, I lost 18 pounds! I was elated. But I didn’t realize I was trading one issue for another.

I began having lower back pain, and my sense of taste began to feel wrong — symptoms that can occur with a severe drop in kidney function. I soon got a frantic phone call from the lab that administers my aHUS treatment: my kidney function had fallen to 9%. Within hours, I was being seen by my nephrologist, who noticed the bruise.

Not a false alarm

I’ve had blood clot scares before. For me, aHUS triggers thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which results in small blood clots in my organs and is what caused kidney, liver, heart, and uterine damage in 2020. Since then, blood clot scares have all been false alarms, so I’d stopped mentioning large, lingering bruises as long as I felt OK.

But this was no false alarm. I do indeed have a blood clot in my left leg. Surgery to remove it was out of the question because my veins and arteries are damaged from years of hypertension and edema, so I was given a first round of IV thrombolytics.

A blood clot there doesn’t explain all of my issues, but treating it is a huge step in figuring out my latest medical mystery. My ankles and feet are beginning to swell again, and taking a break from the water pills and prednisone led to an Ehlers-Danlos syndrome flare, so I’ve dislocated my right hip four times since last week and can only walk with a cane.

All of this shows me why it’s important to monitor and stay on top of symptoms. I might not have rung the alarm about my bruise because I get them so often, but if I’d been paying more attention, I’d have noticed it was hot to the touch, unchanging, large, and painful — all telltale signs of a blood clot.

Note: aHUS News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of aHUS News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to aHUS.