Dear Nurse,

I have had some health issues over the last few years with 3 major back surgeries in 2010, staph in my spine contacted during the back surgeries, diagnosed with Hep 3, 2 stays in the hospital with Hepatic Encephlaitis (don't know how to spell a lot of these words correctly), at one point I was in renal and liver failure and most recently 2 episodes of cellulitis. Due to a lot of work at self healing, learning to eat right, changing my meds and just taking really good care of myself, my kidneys are doing fine and my liver is doing much better except for the presence of many gallstones (which really don't bother me) according to my liver specialist at my last visit she wants me to avoid any surgeries unless necessary because I have bleeding issues, bad circulation in my lower extremities including vericose veins in my legs and have had to have at least 20 blood transfusions over those same years. I am 52 and even though I have been extremely busy over the last 3 weeks with my sons wedding and all that stuff I recently noticed (especially over the last week) that my blook is coming up just under the surface when I scratch myself and am bruising really bad and don't know where they are coming from. It reminds me of my mother and grand-mothers limbs, they looked like blood blisters or something. I know I'm getting older but this just started happening over the last couple of weeks really bad. Can you give me an idea of what causes it and what kind of doctor I need to see?

Just Curious in Dallas

There isn't much you can do about the blood bruises, and you are in your fifties; they are caused by skin aging, skin becomes thinner, losing a protective layer of fatty tissue underneath; we all age differently. What you have is not uncommon and I know unsightly. A dermatologist would be the professional to see.