# Clotting/bruising after IV...should I be concerned? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 8, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clotting-bruising-after-iv-should-i-be-concerned/440619 "2008-03-08T19:34:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Shroud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clotting-bruising-after-iv-should-i-be-concerned/440619/1 "2008-03-08T19:34:42Z")
Yesterday I had minor surgery to remove some screws from my ankle. The jittery anesthesiologist made a bit of a mess when trying to place an IV (always fun watching my own blood spurt). Today, I took off the bandage, and about an inch away from where she poked me is a stippled dark bruise. So, this being only my second IV, I’m wondering, is this just a typical result of bad IV placement? Or is a blood clot going to break off in my arm and go into my heart and kill me? :eek: I mean, either way, it’s cool, whatever. ETA: Just asking for your own IV bruising anecdotes, not medical advice. ---
**Author:** ![Walpurgis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Walpurgis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walpurgis)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clotting-bruising-after-iv-should-i-be-concerned/440619/2 "2008-03-08T19:47:38Z")
I’m not a doctor or nurse, but here’s what I think I know: A bruise is a localized bleeding under the skin. Your body will absorb the blood, and as that happens the bruise becomes lighter over time. I’ve almost never had an IV without getting a bruise afterwards - when the blood vessel is punctured to insert an IV, there’ll be some “spill”, so to speak. Since bruises are fluid, they can wander - my mum had a bruise in her forehead once which finally settled on her cheekbone, giving her a black eye instead. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clotting-bruising-after-iv-should-i-be-concerned/440619/3 "2008-03-08T21:38:21Z")
I don’t recall getting any bruises after IVs, but I’ve **certainly** had them **many** times after getting blood drawn for tests. Given that, I wouldn’t be too shocked at a bruise after an IV (assuming it wasn’t too horrendous) if the person putting it in was a lousy shot. ---
**Author:** ![Daerlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Daerlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daerlyn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clotting-bruising-after-iv-should-i-be-concerned/440619/4 "2008-03-08T21:59:14Z")
My last blood test left me with a vein-shaped bruise running three or four inches up my bicep. It went away of its own accord in the usual bruise healing period and I suffered no ill effects. It was kind of neat looking though. ---
**Author:** ![Public\_Animal\_No.9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Public\_Animal\_No.9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Public_Animal_No.9)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clotting-bruising-after-iv-should-i-be-concerned/440619/5 "2008-03-08T22:12:20Z")
I frequently donate blood, and if the nurse isn’t skilled at inserting the needle, I’ll usually have a bruise that lasts a week or more. The last time the guy was particularly inept, and I ended up with a multi-hued bruise that lasted about 3 weeks. I’ve never had any problems other than bruising, though. No soreness, circulation problems, or anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clotting-bruising-after-iv-should-i-be-concerned/440619/6 "2008-03-08T22:24:25Z")
I’ve had those plenty of times, too - no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clotting-bruising-after-iv-should-i-be-concerned/440619/7 "2008-03-08T23:12:55Z")
I had a huge bruise from by wrist to my shoulder after a improperly placed IV while selling plasma. For 2 hours my blood was being taken out of my veins and “spilling” under my skin on the way back in, I guess. It was horrible and hurt at the time, and, of course, later. The technician wouldn’t unhook me, either, even though it was painful and I knew something was wrong. And I didn’t really press the issue because I needed the money- no kidding- to buy my 80 year old grandma a birthday gift. I never want to be that poor again. Anyway, I lived on to share this anecdote. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Shroud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clotting-bruising-after-iv-should-i-be-concerned/440619/8 "2008-03-08T23:52:42Z")
**Zjestika** : Oh dear god. :eek: If it’s any consolation, you’ve made a random Internet person feel better about his 1-inch square veiny bruise. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clotting-bruising-after-iv-should-i-be-concerned/440619/9 "2008-03-09T00:18:29Z")
Glad I could help!