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Warning-sign checks

Cryoglobulinemia: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Get urgent or emergency help for:

    • A finger or toe becoming black, severely painful, or persistently blue
    • Sudden weakness, facial drooping, speech difficulty, or confusion
    • Sudden loss of vision or a severe new visual disturbance
    • Chest pain, fainting, or severe shortness of breath
    • Coughing up blood
    • Severe abdominal pain, especially with vomiting or bloody stool

    These symptoms may indicate blocked blood flow, major bleeding, or serious organ involvement.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek prompt medical advice for blood or foam in your urine, new swelling, rapidly worsening numbness or weakness, painful skin sores, or a clear drop in urine output.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange routine medical review if you develop repeated purple spots, unexplained joint pain, persistent tiredness, new numbness, or cold-related colour changes in your fingers or toes.

    These symptoms have many possible causes and need appropriate assessment rather than self-diagnosis.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Cryoglobulinemia. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.