Anyone had a recurring nose bleed problem?!

[Spazactaz]

I had never had one in my life (so I know it's not just dry air which the doctor tried to tell me at first).... and then one day I was blowing my nose, possibly too hard? And it started bleeding, and didn't stop for 3 weeks straight basically. I was in emergency nonstop.... they tried a few things that didn't work, but otherwise had no clue what to do.... my doctor doesn't know either and the ENT specialist apparently can't see me until APRIL!! This started beginning of December.

It lasted til Christmas then stopped.... I assumed it was healed after not bleeding for a few weeks after this. I was going INSANE without being able to skate... so I tried a camel spin last week... and after a few rotations I was gushing blood all over the ice... and now am having the constant nose bleeds again.

Just wondering if anyone here has experienced this or has suggestions? Since it looks like otherwise I'll just be bleeding to death at least until April.

[BigB08822]

They wont see you until April even after telling them this? Is there another specialist in your area you can try to see? That seems awful. Sorry that I can't help, I hope you get it taken care of sooner rather than later.

[Vash01]

Sorry to hear this. It can be really difficult to have nose bleeds. I used to have nose bleeds a few years ago, but they could be stopped by putting pressure on the nose. The doctor said that it was due to dryness. I live in Phoenix, where the air is very dry, and the membranes dry up which causes nose bleeds. I was able to stop mine by using a humidifier in my bedroom, and by using nasal drops.

I don't know if you live in a very dry climate. If not, I suggest seeing another doctor, because it seems the one you are seeing has not diagnosed the cause of the problem. From your post it sounded like the camel spin brought back the nose bleeds. I would highly recommend seeing as many doctors as you need to, until you get this diagnosed and cured.

Good luck.

[Vagabond]

Just wondering if anyone here has experienced this or has suggestions?

Experienced it? Yes. Suggestions? No.

For what it's worth, the frequency did eventually subside, but I still get them on occasion.

[Aceon6]

Frequent sufferer here. If your bleeds are caused by a defect in the blood vessel wall, the only permanent solution is to have it cauterized by an experienced ENT doctor.

[Wyliefan]

That sounds awful.

My dad used to have nosebleeds a lot. One thing he had to do was stop taking aspirin, as it thins the blood and thus raises the chances of having a nosebleed.

[Skittl1321]

My husband has frequent nosebleeds, up to five times a week, generally in the mornings, but not always. Using a nasal rinse, like NeilMed, and sleeping with a humidifier on has helped A LOT.

If yours is bleeding pretty much non-stop, that sounds like a different issue though.

[Spazactaz]

They wont see you until April even after telling them this? Is there another specialist in your area you can try to see? That seems awful. Sorry that I can't help, I hope you get it taken care of sooner rather than later.

Nope.. I called and practically begged, but they said they have no available spots. I think I'm going to try contacting my doctor and see if I can get a referral somewhere else..... at this point I'm willing to travel as far as needed to get in soon!

Frequent sufferer here. If your bleeds are caused by a defect in the blood vessel wall, the only permanent solution is to have it cauterized by an experienced ENT doctor.

at the ER I asked why they wouldn't do this, but they said they don't like to because so many people lose their sense of smell after. which really scared me at first.... but at this point i almost don't care anymore. i just want to skate again!!!!!

My husband has frequent nosebleeds, up to five times a week, generally in the mornings, but not always. Using a nasal rinse, like NeilMed, and sleeping with a humidifier on has helped A LOT.

If yours is bleeding pretty much non-stop, that sounds like a different issue though.

i've tried basically evvvvvvvverything.... humidifier, nasal sprays/rinse/gels... nothing seems to work but yeah I'm fairly sure it's not due to dryness anyway.

i'm so frustrated because i can't really work (coaching and dance partnering skating..) and my plans for next season were either to compete again, or skate with holiday on ice. if i'm unable to even do a camel spin, neither of those plans will work and my life will be overrrrrrrrrrrr. /dramatic

[danceronice]

My husband has frequent nosebleeds, up to five times a week, generally in the mornings, but not always. Using a nasal rinse, like NeilMed, and sleeping with a humidifier on has helped A LOT.

If yours is bleeding pretty much non-stop, that sounds like a different issue though.

Agreed. I get them chronically in the winter, but it's not a constant heavy flow of blood (because of prior blood issues, they WOULD probably admit me for a constant heavy blood flow.) I tend to wake up with SOME bleeding in the winter, because of the dry furnace air. Gushing blood during spins sounds like it is something other than cracked/bleeding sinuses. If they haven't sent you for a CT scan, strongly suggest to your doctor you need one.

[agalisgv]

I had never had one in my life (so I know it's not just dry air which the doctor tried to tell me at first).... and then one day I was blowing my nose, possibly too hard? And it started bleeding, and didn't stop for 3 weeks straight basically. I was in emergency nonstop.... they tried a few things that didn't work, but otherwise had no clue what to do.... my doctor doesn't know either and the ENT specialist apparently can't see me until APRIL!! This started beginning of December.

It lasted til Christmas then stopped.... I assumed it was healed after not bleeding for a few weeks after this. I was going INSANE without being able to skate... so I tried a camel spin last week... and after a few rotations I was gushing blood all over the ice... and now am having the constant nose bleeds again.

Just wondering if anyone here has experienced this or has suggestions? Since it looks like otherwise I'll just be bleeding to death at least until April.

::raises hand::

I have nosebleeds like nobody's business. It runs in my family. I'm not talking 5x a week, more like 5x a day sometimes.

Anyhow, I'm a pro at these at this point . So here's what I can tell you:

Doctors have always told me nosebleeds like these are caused primarily by these three things (in order):

1. Picking nose/blowing nose
2. Dry, cold weather
3. Location of blood vessels in nose

The way to help control them is to blow your nose much, much less; lubricate your nose in cold weather (swab it with vaseline or something similar frequently during the day, and use a humidifier at night); and avoid whipping your head around in cold, dry weather. Just fyi--ice rinks are by definition cold and dry .

As Aceon6 mentioned, you can have your nose cauterized--I had that done when I was little. It didn't affect my sense of small at all, but it hurt like crazy to have it done. Course, they were running late that day and didn't really do much to deaden the pain before cauterizing, so that was a big part of it. It stopped the nosebleeds for about a month or so, but not much longer than that. For me the big upside was my nose bled a lot less. I could lose a pint or more of blood in a single nosebleed (thereby necessitating a trip to the emergency room), but after having it cauterized, I didn't bleed as badly.

Course, I also got very good at learning to control and anticipate them, so that helped. The biggest help for me was moving to a more humid climate--nothing was more effective than that.

Anyhow, if you're not used to it, it may freak you out a bit at first. But it's really not a big deal, and really not something you need to run to an emergency room for unless you're losing a pint of blood. You really don't need an urgent visit to the ENT either. And you really don't need an MRI or CT scan.

[Spazactaz]

Wowwww, that's crazy! Is there nothing they can do to stop them for you permanently then, since cauterizing wasn't 100% successful??

The first time it happened, it bled for about 12 hours straight... (no idea how I'm still alive..) I was in the ER, they tried sticking that cocaine substance up there which did nothing... and they ended up putting this inflatable tampon up there... WORST pain of my LIFE. Had to wear it for 12 hours.... it also did nothing except force the blood out of the other nostril, and out my throat/mouth.

I do think I need it fixed urgently though. I have already taken 2 months off work.... my skaters don't have another coach or dance partner. I try coaching every once in a while in my shoes.... but I am pretty useless like this. Demonstrating even the simplest of spins or whatever would start it bleeding so I had to stop...... I'm losing SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much money I can't really wait until April, the skating season will be over :X

[agalisgv]

Wowwww, that's crazy! Is there nothing they can do to stop them for you permanently then, since cauterizing wasn't 100% successful??

Well, like others have said, it all depends on the cause. And the #1 cause as I've been told repeatedly is excessive nose-blowing/nose-picking. Second is dry weather. Some people (such as myself) are very susceptible to those conditions (if I have a clear nose and breathe in deeply on a cold day, I can count the seconds till I start to bleed depending on what part of the country I'm in).

In my case, I had two issues--frequent nosebleeds, and excessive nosebleeds. The cauterizing took care of the latter, but not the former. The former was more caused by climate (and I blow my nose a lot--i hate having a stuffy nose ). They said they could cauterize my nose again, but because of where my blood vessels were located and such, they didn't think it would be any more successful. TBH, it hurt *so* bad, I preferred to have nosebleeds than go through that again. It's not typical for it to hurt that bad though.

The first time it happened, it bled for about 12 hours straight... (no idea how I'm still alive..) I was in the ER, they tried sticking that cocaine substance up there which did nothing... and they ended up putting this inflatable tampon up there... WORST pain of my LIFE. Had to wear it for 12 hours.... it also did nothing except force the blood out of the other nostril, and out my throat/mouth.

Yep! That's what happens to me. If the blood can't get through my nostril, it pours down my throat and out my mouth. Seriously freaks people out.

I literally soaked an entire bath towel full of blood to the point where it dripped with it. And that was with doing the things you mentioned above. Cauterizing did fix that though.

Also, if I can tell a nosebleed is about to come on, I preemptively pinch my nose/put a wad of tissues tightly wound up my nose and start breathing through my mouth. That can be the difference between a few minute nosebleed, and a 30-60 minute one.

I do think I need it fixed urgently though.

If you're ending up in the ER because of blood loss, then it does need to be fixed. In my experience, nosebleeds of this type don't usually result in expedited ENT appointments though. Mine took many, many months as it wasn't considered urgent.

Have you tried using lubricants like vaseline in your nose several times throughout the day?

I feel for you though--being in an ice rink is a major trigger, and moving your head around in circles at high speeds is another trigger.

((((Spaz))))

[luna_skater]

I had frequent nosebleeds as a child and just seemed to grow out of them. The worst one I ever had was when I was on the couch with blood pouring out of my nose for two hours. They were most frequent in extreme weather (hot or cold).

I don't have a long-term solution, but this is the best method I've ever used when trying to stop them:

1. Take a piece of a cotton ball and put some Vaseline on it.
2. Pack the nostril that's bleeding and leave it for a few minutes.
3. When it seems like the bleeding has subsided or at least slowed, take the pack out, *blow the blood clot out*, then re-pack (cotton and Vaseline) and leave the nostril packed until the bleeding has stopped.

I learned this from my high school's wrestling coach, and it's never failed me. No pinching needed, and no tilting your head back (that just makes the blood run down your throat).

You can also do this in combination with a cold cloth on the back of your neck or your forehead to slow blood flow.

[judiz]

I'm assuming your primary doctor or the ER ran blood tests to rule out any illnesses that can cause nosebleeds?

[Vagabond]

But it's really not a big deal, and really not something you need to run to an emergency room for unless you're losing a pint of blood. You really don't need an urgent visit to the ENT either. And you really don't need an MRI or CT scan.

Well....

Only rarely is a nosebleed life threatening or fatal. In these cases, the hemorrhage (severe bleeding) is usually from an artery in a posterior location, higher and deeper in the nose. Posterior bleeds usually drain down the back of the throat, but can also bleed out of both nostrils. Also, in most cases of severe nosebleeds, the person has another health problem, such as high blood pressure or a bleeding disorder, or the person takes a blood-thinning medication that slows down the blood-clotting process.

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH...339/31235.html



Spazactaz, I would say it's better to be safe than sorry.

[Spazactaz]

If you're ending up in the ER because of blood loss, then it does need to be fixed. In my experience, nosebleeds of this type don't usually result in expedited ENT appointments though. Mine took many, many months as it wasn't considered urgent.

Have you tried using lubricants like vaseline in your nose several times throughout the day?

I was in the ER constantly at first... but now it's moreso just because I can't work... and the lack of income after 2 months I can't really handle any longer. If I just did a normal job it wouldn't be as big of issue.

I'm actually using a special nasal gel that I was recommended. And then when I called the ENT office they suggested I try polysporin in my nose as well. Anyone heard of that?!

I'm assuming your primary doctor or the ER ran blood tests to rule out any illnesses that can cause nosebleeds?

Yup.. no allergies.. clotting was normal, and everything else was apparently normal.
But I'm pretty sure this was just due to the blowing it too hard on a day it was extreeeeemely congested.... and now something is seriously ~injured~ in my nose.

[Really]

Spaz, I'm in the same general area you are (more or less), and I get nosebleeds now that I never used to get. It's been worse in the winter, so I've taken to using the sinus rinse, humidifier in my bedroom, etc, etc, etc. I'm fortunate in that mine aren't as severe as yours are, although getting them while I'm teaching a class is rather inconvenient!

I doubt the Polysporin will hurt you, and I hope you get into the specialist PDQ!

[numbers123]

I'm actually using a special nasal gel that I was recommended. And then when I called the ENT office they suggested I try polysporin in my nose as well. Anyone heard of that?!(

Yes, in some of those studies I talked about in the PM I sent you, compared vaseline, silver nitrate, neosporin or polysporin as a treatment.

Vagabond - I realize that you were trying to be helpful, but if Spaz had any of those conditions you mentioned she would have be diagnosed in the ED.

[myhoneyhoney]

My kids get recurring nose bleeds and the main causes for them was warm/dry air. They have some blood vessels really close to the surface in their nostrils so they are very prone to nose bleeds. They have had some pretty sever nose bleeds but it still wasn't enough for their Dr. to cauterize. I remember one time the school office called me, they were panicking because my youngest daughter's nose kept bleeding that day. Another thing is make sure you're consuming enough vitamin K. Vitamin K helps clot your blood. Also, have they told you if the bleed is coming from higher up/back of your nose or more towards the front. The ones higher up/back can be dangerous and should be looked at closely. Good luck, I hope you find the reason soon so it can be prevented.

Edited to add that taking vitamin e has the potential to thin blood and that may be one of the causes if you're taking vitamin e supplements.

[Aceon6]

i'm so frustrated because i can't really work (coaching and dance partnering skating..) and my plans for next season were either to compete again, or skate with holiday on ice. if i'm unable to even do a camel spin, neither of those plans will work and my life will be overrrrrrrrrrrr. /dramatic

Call the ENT back. They may not understand that the nosebleed is preventing you from working. (In their defense, it's not the first thing that would pop into my mind, either.) If that still doesn't work, call your primary doctor and explain that you cannot work, cannot wait for the April appointment, and need an alternate referral.