Bloody hell!

October 9, 2006 9:45 AM

Chronic nose bleeds - how do I stop them?

I have had nosebleeds since I was a kid. Aside from that, I have no serious health problems. However, these nosebleeds can get really annoying since they can happen at inconvenient times, often last a long time (sometimes over 20 minutes), not to mention the amount of blood I lose.

I've been told there's a type of surgery I can get to lessen the amount of nosebleeds that I get, but I'd like to know:

1. Has anyone here had success stopping nosebleeds in some other way? Or,
2. If you've had the surgery, can you tell me what the procedure was like and if it has helped?

I've googled and found this, but it wasn't very helpful. I do not have symptoms of a tumour or sinus cancer, nor do I have allergies. Thanks in advance.

posted by catburger to health (17 comments total)

And to avoid the inevitable, I am not a chronic nose picker :P
posted by catburger at 9:46 AM on October 9, 2006

I had chronic nosebleeds when I was a kid - my dad took me to a new doctor one day, who without warning stuck a long item that looked like a fireplace match up my nose, and held it there for quite some time as it cauterized the vein.

It hurt like hell during and for a while after, but I never had another severe nosebleed again.
posted by pinky at 9:49 AM on October 9, 2006

Go see a specialist ENT (ear-nose-throat) doctor (otolaryngologist) - they'll probably stick a camera up there to see what's up and if you're lucky, a little cauterization will (painlessly) close off the weak zone.

Well worth the $$! Losing blood sucks, and swallowing it or having it run down into your lungs can cause long-term health issues.
posted by Aquaman at 9:56 AM on October 9, 2006

I had chronic severe nosebleeds growing up. In college it got really bad, so much as that if I barely bumped my hose it would start gushing. And I had night time bleeds too. Chonic bleeding is scary, and gross when it is coming out of your nose. I west to a couple of ENTs and all recommended the cauterization of all the vessels in the inner lining of my nostrils. I got it done. It didn't really hurt; I do remember it being uncomfortable but not too bad. The month after was shit, though. You'll have a lot scabs and will not be allowed to blow (or pick) your nose.

I haven't had a nose bleed since, and it has been nearly 10 years. I did lose some of my sense of smell, which I did notice. I assume I lost some of my sense of taste too, which I didn't, can't notice. After I had the cauterization, I really started loving extremely hot spicy foods, though.
posted by sulaine at 10:11 AM on October 9, 2006

I second the recommendation to go to an ENT. In the meantime, you do keep things moist up there, don't you? Frequent application of saline sprays or gels (or even, ick, vaseline), can really help as a preventative measure.
posted by treepour at 10:13 AM on October 9, 2006

I too, had the cauterizing done as a kid; IIRC I was becoming anemic due to the frequency & severity of the nosebleeds, an hour long at times (at which point I got a few ambulance rides to the hospital). The only thing I remember about the procedure though is being held down by the nurse so they could strap the anesthesia mask on. I was 3 or 4 y.o. at the time.

Didn't completely stop them, though they have lessened considerably as I've aged. When I get them now, it's usually due to a weather change (ie sudden cold < -> hot or humid < -> dry) and the fact that I haven't eaten enough iron-rich foods in the preceeding days.

Mom used to stick Neosporin up my nose with a Q-tip after the bleeding trickled off. Yuck. (think: neosporin flavoured sinus drainage.) I think she did this based on the doc's advice to help prevent future nosebleeds.

My trick now though is to rub a piece of ice or cold washcloth on the back of my neck to stop the bleeding quicker, eat a big bloody steak and spinach later in the day, and don't jump straight into my usual boiling hot morning shower.
posted by romakimmy at 10:15 AM on October 9, 2006

For me, it was a combination of less decongestants and a Aprilaire humidifier.

Thinks like Kleenex with Aloe or saline spray did nothing, but YMMV.
posted by fellion at 10:17 AM on October 9, 2006

Thanks for all the responses so far. sulaine, I don't think my nosebleeds are as severe as yours, but I think I might still look into the cauterization. It sounds like it would be the best solution, but I am scared about the part about losing some sense of smell.

romakimmy, I do the cold washcloth thing on my neck/nose/chest and it helps. And yes, I do try to keep my nose moist. I use Rhinaris, which has polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol in it, but I don't use it regularly (which I should in the dry winter months). My doctor has also told me to avoid spicy foods.
posted by catburger at 10:24 AM on October 9, 2006

My nosebleeds stopped this summer after having surgery for a deviated septum. The change for me has been nothing short of remarkable. I had had chronic nosebleeds my entire life to that point and the rest of your symptoms sound very similar to my own.

I also had the cauterization done several years ago but it had no effect. The cauterization is mostly painless but you will still feel a strong pinch during the cauterizing even with the local anesthetic.

I'll echo the call to see an ENT. It will be obvious to him or her the cause of your nosebleeds and the correct treatment.
posted by mordecaibrown at 10:39 AM on October 9, 2006

I got cauterized as a kid (but it was, I seem to remember, these heated bead things) and that fixed it.
posted by mckenney at 10:47 AM on October 9, 2006

The loss of sense of smell was not anything the doctors told me about and I didn't think of asking about it. I noticed it gradually but I don't really miss much. I can still smell. Sometimes it takes me longer to pick up a scent, but I generally do smell nearly everything that everyone else smells, just not as strongly. It is an advantage in some instances.
posted by sulaine at 10:55 AM on October 9, 2006

I wouldn't put Neosporin up your nose. Products with petrolatum can work their way into your lungs and cause problems. Use a preparation specially formulated for noses, as suggested above.

You say you are otherwise healthy and don't have cancer, but you should also have a general workup, which can detect anemia and coagulation problems. The latter can be caused merely by taking too much aspirin as a prophylactic against heart disease.
posted by bad grammar at 11:01 AM on October 9, 2006

Have you considered going to a ear, nose, and throat specialist and asking him about the problem?
posted by LeisureGuy at 11:09 AM on October 9, 2006

My mother had the cauterization done, but avoids things that tended to make hers worse (such as red wine and asprin).

She highly suggests going to an ENT to make sure that these aren't symptoms of something else worse.
posted by sperose at 12:37 PM on October 9, 2006

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I will make an appointment with an ear, nose and throat specialist as soon as I can.
posted by catburger at 12:53 PM on October 9, 2006

Sort of previously - I still stand by my praise of cauterization. I think I've had one (minor) bleed over the last two years.
posted by Remy at 1:08 PM on October 9, 2006

I got nosebleeds at least once every two months growning up.

They completely went away at about age 20.
posted by prodevel at 4:53 PM on October 9, 2006