Nose Bleeds

[barry1010]

I get a lot and can't see the point of pinching my nose, the blood just runs down my throat causing me to cough it up or be sick.
Any suggestions for dealing with them better?

[ducksie]

Pinch the bridge of your nose tight for at least 10 mins and lean forward not back, you don't want to be injesting it, hold your head over a basin or something. If it's still bleeding heavily for more than 10 mins or so (especially if you are on blood thinners) seek medical help, my mother suffered with them terrible,epistaxis the medics called it. Doing what I suggested was a great help for her

[gingejbee]

Yes, you've got to pinch hard and lean forward.
(My nosebleeds -some years ago- were symptoms of high bloood pressure, btw).

[rowanwitch]

Probably worth asking for an ENT referral (if you are not taking blood thinners which might explain it. )

[10ClarionSt]

Good luck with the ENT referral. If you get one within 12 months you'll have done well.

[Sqad]

barry.......when it is bleeding give your nose a good "blow" getting rid of blood clots etc, then immediately give your nose a "good spray" with an OTC vasoconstrictor e.g.ephedrine 1%.........and wait with your nostrils nipped and head leaning forwards.
If bleeding continues after 30 mins then repeat the procedure.
If it then continues go to A&E.

[bhg481]

Do you monitor your blood pressure? Like ginge I had frequent nose bleeds until I was put on medication for high blood pressure 4 years ago and I haven't had a nose bleed since. My blood pressure was not seriously high ie, only just above the 150 mark and I have an aversion to taking medication if it's not absolutely necessary; it turned out it was absolutely necessary as it wrecked my aorta as well. Don't mess about with high blood pressure.

[Sqad]

I have never been able to convince myself that nose bleeds have anything to do with high BP.
Just an observation.

[pastafreak]

My father had them...my sister had them...my brother has them. I went through a period in my late 20s of somewhat frequent ones. (The very first seemed to be triggered by overuse of nasal sprays).
Can there be a 'weakness' in the blood vessels in that area...can some people just be more pre-disposed to them? I seem to remember sister having hers cauterised. Just curious.

[anneasquith]

Well that’s interesting sqad, all these years and the first observation was ‘ check blood pressure “.
Always a school day on AB .

[Peter Pedant]

and he's a schnozzle-doctor!

[anneasquith]

I know !!!

[Barsel]

This probably isn't the right thing to do but I roll up a tissue and stuff it up that nostril.
If the tissue gets full of blood, I put a fresh tissue in.
Eventually the blood forms a huge clot which I leave alone for a while as I don't want to disturb it in case it sets it off again.
When I think it's safe, I gently remove the clot with a tissue but don't blow my nose until the next day.
Have you been to see the doc about it Barry, to see what causes it and to check if you are not anaemic?

[bhg481]

I used the Barsel method in the days when I had node bleeds - it was very effective and convenient.

[Barsel]

Node bleeds?Have you left a tissue up there?

[jennyjoan]

funny a programme was on TV some two weeks ago about nose bleeds and the guy was tortured with them - he went somewhere and got a little thing up inside his nose cauterized and he never looked back.

[Buenchico]

Back in my teenage years, I suddenly started having a lot of (reasonably severe) nose bleeds over a period of several weeks. So I went to my GP. He took a look up there and diagnosed an infection, leading to him prescribing an antiobiotic ointment that I had to smear up my nose. It solved the problem for good in a very short space of time.

So, if your problem persists, it might be worth having a word with your GP.

[wiltsman]

Yes, I agree with jennyjoan's comments. I had regular nose bleeds during my teens, had the cauterization procedure - that cured the problem. Now, umpteen years later, still no nose bleeds!

[choux]

My late father had a nose bleed that persisted for 20 days and he was hospitalised for a fortnight. The location of the ruptured blood vessel meant he could not be treated by cauterisation so the nose was packed out with whole bandages and he had blood transfusions.

A friend had a severe nose bleed in my house and went through a whole, quality kitchen roll in 30 minutes. I packed a tampon into her nostril and drove her to the surgery where she was successfully cauterised. Sometimes DIY first aid works well :)

[barry1010]

I have had my limit of cauterisation, apparently, and my blood pressure is fine.
I do of course pinch my nose and lean forward but that doesn’t stop the blood running into my throat.
I am fed up of blood stained sheets, pillows, clothes…

I will try the ephedrine. Can it be used with Naseptim, Sqad?

[barry1010]

Sqad, the nasal drops are out of stock/not available everywhere. Have they been withdrawn?